6th Grade
Informational Text
910L
Learning About the Holocaust
Passage Summary:
In the informational text "Learning About the Holocaust," Michael A. Signal discusses the persecution and violence Jewish people suffered during World War II.
When and How to Pair:
Read this text before starting Number the Stars to build students’ background knowledge about the Holocaust. Keep in mind that elementary students learn history best through individual accounts and may have difficulty connecting stories to their larger historical context. As such, this article is intended to start a discussion about the importance of diversity in society and the dangers of hatred and discrimination. To ensure students understand the key details in this text, we suggest a few tips. First, preview the vocabulary words defined within the text before reading. Second, turn on Guided Reading Mode to help students monitor their comprehension as they read. After reading the text, use Discussion Question 1, “In the text, the author discusses how Jews were targeted during the Holocaust. How is this an example of prejudice? How did this prejudice lead to the persecution of Jews? How do you think discussing this example of prejudice from the past can help us today and in the future?” to solidify students’ understanding.