Author:
Joanna Pruitt
Subject:
Literature, World Cultures, Journalism, English Language Arts, Composition and Rhetoric, Language, Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading Informational Text, Reading Literature, Speaking and Listening, World History, Cultural Geography, Ethnic Studies
Material Type:
Activity/Lab, Lesson, Lesson Plan, Reading, Student Guide
Level:
High School, Community College / Lower Division, College / Upper Division
Tags:
  • ELA
  • ESUCC
  • End of Novel Project
  • Genocide
  • Holocaust
  • NE ELA
  • Presentation
  • Research
  • Social Studies
  • ne-ela
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
    Language:
    English
    Media Formats:
    Text/HTML

    Education Standards

    The Genocide Scrapbook Project

    The Genocide Scrapbook Project

    Overview

    This Lesson Plan was created by Joanna Pruitt as part of the 2020 ESU-NDE Remote Learning Plan Project. This original lesson is for classroom use; however, there is a virtual option as well. Educators worked with coaches to create Remote Learning Plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    The attached Lesson Plan is designed for Grades 9-12 English Language Arts students; however, this could also be used as a Social Studies project as well. Students will evaluate credible sources through research on genocides post World War II after completing a novel unit covering the Holocaust. Students will also create scrapbooks using summarizing, citation, informative writing, textual evidence, caption writing, and persuasive writing. Students will also be expected to demonstrate oral communication skills as they have to present their projects to the class. Students will use background knowledge to clarify text and also gain a deeper understanding by using relevant evidence from a variety of sources to assist in analysis and reflection of informative text. 

    Introduction

    What is scrapbooking?

    According to The Spruce Crafts at https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/what-is-scrapbooking-2960505

    Scrapbooking, a crafting and documenting activity, involves taking books with blank pages and adding photos, memorabilia, journaling, and embellishments.

    Also known as cropping, the primary purpose of scrapbooking is to preserve memories for future generations, but a secondary purpose often is to exercise your creativity as you display your memories in a scrapbook.

     

    What is The Genocide Scrapbook Project?

    The hatred and injustice imposed upon Jews and other groups that led to attempted genocide during the Holocaust may be over, but the practice of injustice and genocide for a variety of ethnic, political, and religious groups continues throughout the world today.

    Students will do research the Internet and in back issues of newspapers and news magazines to find out about the other groups of people who have suffered from prejudice and intolerance since the Holocaust of World War II. They will create a scrapbook of pictures, news headlines, and articles depicting these events. Students must be prepared to present their scrapbooks to their teacher and classmates. 

     

    What terms are important to know before we begin?

    Crimes against humanity and genocide are two distinct concepts. They became part of international law in the mid-1940s, after the end of World War II, and really around the time of the Nuremburg trials. (1) 

    Crimes against humanity: According to the International Criminal Court, crimes against humanity focuses on the killing of large numbers of individuals to protect the group as a whole. (2) Ex. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki may also fall under war crimes; however, the intent of the bomb was a humanitarian mission meant to save lives. If they hadn't dropped the bombs (killing roughly 200,000 people), mainly civilians, the war would have been prolonged which would have caused more deaths than the ones killed in the bomb. In other words, they felt that killing a few hundred thousand civilians would be better than risking an equal or greater number of dead American and Japanese soldiers. (5)

    Genocide: The United Nations defines genocide as any group with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group...Genocide focuses not on the killing of individuals but on the destruction of groups. (2) Ex. This is what happened during the Holocaust. Hitler and his Nazi Party tried to wipe out entire groups of people from the face of the planet.

    War Crimes: The term "war crimes" refers to serious breaches of international humanitarian law committed against civilians or enemy combatants during an international or domestic armed conflict. (3) Ex. During the early stages of the Iraq War, the United States Army and CIA personnel committed a series of human rights violations against the detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Some of these crimes included both physical and sexual abuse, torture, and murder. (6)

    Massacre: A massacre is like a genocide, but it is on a smaller scale. Ex. Instead of wiping out the entire Jewish race, a massacre may occure when soldiers are ordered to kill all the Jews in a specific area like the Jewish quarters. (4)

     

    Remember, this project is focusing on Genocide and not

    Massacre, War Crimes, or Crimes Against Humanity.

     

    Note: The original lesson was written by Aldana Spinozzi at http://5thyearliterature.blogspot.com/2008/10/night-scrapbook-project.html

    Vocabulary definitions came from the following websites: 

    1. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/03/whats-the-difference-between-crimes-against-humanity-and-genocide/274167/

    2. https://www.csce.gov/issue/genocide-and-crimes-against-humanity

    3. https://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/CD/FS-2_Crimes_Final.pdf

    4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genocidal_massacre

    5. https://theweek.com/articles/716819/atomic-bombings-hiroshima-nagasaki-war-crimes-full-stop

    6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse

    Genocide Scrapbook Criteria

    1. Create a scrapbook out of construction paper or another material (not notebook paper). It must be bound in some way and look like a real scrapbook. Note: Google scrapbooks if you are unsure of what one looks like.
    2. Design and decorate your cover to look like a real scrapebook cover. Make sure to title the scrapbook and include your name as the creator.
    3. You may focus on one event or on several events of genocide from around the world. It must have happened after World War II, or I will not accept it. World War II ended on September 2, 1945.
    4. Be sure to title each page and explain each picture, news article, or other pieces of evidence used on each scrapbook page in a brief typed description/summary (between 50-150 words).
    5. You must have at least eleven pages in your scrapbook (not including the front or back cover). Ten pages of research and one page for your work cited in MLA format at the end of the book. Note: One side of the page is considered one page.
    6. On the back cover of your scrapbook, state your feelings regarding what you learned during your research, how you feel about intolerance toward others in general, and come up with a solution and plan of action on how we can stop genocide from happening again. This needs to be a minimum of 250 words.
    7. Make sure effort and neatness is used on every page of the book.

    Genocide Scrapbook Rubric

     10 Points5 Points0 Points
    1. TimeAll required items are included and turned in on time.Some items are turned in on time.Assignment was late.
    2. DesignStudent’s scrapbook looks like a real scrapbook and is bound with a title and name.Student attempts to make a scrapbook, but did not succeed.Student makes no attempt at making their assignment look like a scrapbook.
    3. LengthThe book has ten pages of information and one page for work cited.The book only has 5-9 pages of information and/or may be missing one page for work cited or work cited doesn't have its own page.Student has less than five pages of information and is missing a work cited page.
    4. Front CoverThe front cover looks like a scrapbook and includes a title and the student’s name.The front cover doesn't look like a scrapbook and may be missing a title and/or the student’s name.There is no title or name on the front cover of the scrapbook.
    5. Back CoverThe back cover includes personal opinion on research, intolerance, a solution, and a plan of action in a minimum of 250 words.The back cover includes personal opinion on research, intolerance, a solution, but may not have a plan of action or it has less than 250 words.

    There is little to no opinion on the back cover.

    6. Pages TitledStudent has a title neatly placed on each page.Student has a title neatly placed on some of the pages and/or titles are not placed neatly on the pages.

    Student didn't put titles on the pages.

    7. Summary/ Captions

    (50-150 Words)

    Student has a summary/caption for each object, picture, article, etc. neatly typed on each page.

    (Under 50 Words)

    Student has a minimal summary/caption for some of the objects, pictures, articles, etc. neatly or not neatly typed on some of the pages.

    Student rarely gives or doesn't give a summary/ caption for objects, pictures, articles, etc.

    8. Effort/ Neatness

    Items are neatly placed on each page. It is obvious the student put effort into the project.

    Some items were placed neatly on the page; however, some of the items aren't placed neatly on the pages. It is obvious the student put some effort into the project

    Student just threw the scrapbook together and no effort was made to make it look nice.

    9. GrammarThere are no errors in grammar.There are five or fewer grammar errors.There are more than five grammar errors.
    10. Subject MatterSubjects within the scrapbook reflect the objectives and requirements of the assignment.Some subjects within the scrapbook reflect the objectives and requirements of the assignment.Student chose subjects that are not a part of the assignment requirements.
    11. PresentationStudent presents their scrapbook professionally.Student is being goofy while presenting their scrapbook.Student doesn't present their scrapbook.

    12. Plagiarism/ Work Cited

    ***If there is plagiarism, your entire project will receive a 0.

    Student includes a work cited page at the end of the scrapbook on its own page that includes all its sources and is formatted correctly in MLA format.Student attempts to make a work cited page but may not be on its own page at the end of the scrapbook or may be formatted incorrectly.Student doesn't have a work cited page or just gives the URLs of the websites instead of creating a work cited page in MLA format.
       

    Total: _____/120

     

    Student Examples

    Lesson Plan with Nebraska State Standards

    Strategy:

    Focus:

    Researching 

    Comprehension

    Standard:

    Indicator:

    Grades: 9-12

    LA 10.1.1 / 12.1.1 Concepts of Print: Students will demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of print.

    LA 10.1.3/ 12.1.3 Word Analysis: Students will use phonetic analysis to read and write grade-level text.

    LA 10.1.4/ 12.1.4 (a) Fluency: Students will develop accuracy, phrasing, and expression while reading a variety of grade-level print/digital text to support comprehension.

    LA 10.1.5/ 12.1.5 (a, c, e) Vocabulary: Students will build and use conversational, academic, and content-specific grade-level vocabulary.

    LA 10.1.6/ 12.1.6 (a, d, f, g, k, l, m, n, o) Comprehension: Students will construct meaning by applying prior knowledge, using text information, and monitoring comprehension while reading increasingly complex grade-level literary and informational text.

    LA 10.2.1/ 12.2.1 (a, c, d, h, i, j) Writing Process: Students will apply the writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writing using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and other conventions of standard English appropriate for grade-level.

    LA 10.2.2/ 12.2.2 (a, b, c) Writing Modes: Students will write in multiple modes for a variety of purposes and audiences across disciplines.

    LA 10.3.1/ 12.3.1 (a, b, d) Speaking: Students will develop, apply, and refine speaking skills and strategies to communicate key ideas in a variety of situations.

    LA 10.3.2/ 12.3.2 (a, b, c) Listening: Students will develop and demonstrate active listening skills across a variety of situations.

    LA 10.4.1/ 12.4.1 (a,b,c) Information Fluency: Students will evaluate, create, and communicate information in a variety of media and formats (textual, visual, and digital).

    LA 10.4.2/ 12.4.2 (a, b) Digital Citizenship: Students will practice the norms of appropriate and responsible technology use.

    Objective/ Learning Target:

    The students have finished reading their novel about the Holocaust. Students need to understand that genocide isn't something that happened only in the past. It is something that is happening in the world today. Through research, students will construct a scrapbook detailing either one event or several events of genocide that has happened since World War II.
    Time Required:

    0.5 day to give instructions

    2.5 days to research, type summaries and essays, and print items for the scrapbook.

    2 days to construct the scrapbook.

    1-2 days to present the scrapbooks to the class. (Depending on the size of the class.)

    Materials Needed:

    Computers and Internet Access

    Printers

    Construction Paper, scissors, glue, and other items students might need to use in their scrapbooks.

    Note: I provide the basics for the scrapbooks. If the students wish to bring additional items from home, I allow them to do so.

    Strategy Overview and Rationale:

    The hatred and injustice imposed upon Jews and other groups that led to attempted genocide during the Holocaust may be over, but the practice of injustice and genocide for a variety of ethnic, political, and religious groups continues throughout the world today.

    Students will research the Internet, in back issues of newspapers, and in news magazines to find out about the other groups of people who have suffered from prejudice and intolerance since the Holocaust of World War II. 

    Step-by-step instructions:

    1. Prerequisite: Knowledge of the events of the Holocaust during World War II and what genocide means.

    2. Review of terminology (Genocide, Massacre, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity). Remind students that this project is focusing on Genocide and not Massacres, War Crimes, or Crimes Against Humanity.

    3. Teacher explains the objectives, outcomes of the project, and its purpose.

    4. Teacher briefly explains what a scrapbook is. If they need additional explanations or visuals, they may Google scrapbooks.

    4. Teacher explains the expectations and goes over the rubric with the class.

    5. Students have two days to research, do their required writing, find pictures, and print all items needed for the scrapbooks.

    6. Students have two days to assemble their scrapbook.

    7. Teacher will explain what is expected during student presentations. Students will present their scrapbooks to the class.

    Resources:

    1. The example news article: https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/magazines/marketing-site/holocaust-teacher/Holocaust-Interview.pdf

    2. The original lesson was written by Aldana Spinozzi at  http://5thyearliterature.blogspot.com/2008/10/night-scrapbook-project.html

    3. Virtual Scrapbook Examples: https://edu.glogster.com/glogpedia?order=updated&discipline=&subject=&search=hutu

    Meta Tagging:Holocaust, Genocide, ELA, Social Studies, End of Novel Project, Research, Presentation