Year 8's learn about the Holocaust
In December 2011, the whole of Year 8 spent a PSHCE day in preparation for 'Holocaust Memorial Day'. The theme for the day was 'Survival'. During the morning, after a short introduction from Mrs Pearman, the students worked in groups going through the journey of a young boy called Paul and his family, a journey that lasted more than ten years, taking him to several different European countries. Paul was 11 years old at the beginning of his journey and did not understand the hatred being shown to different groups of people at that time.
The students had to find out the reasons why the Nazis persecuted the Jews, through the eyes of someone their own age. They also listened to witness testimonies from survivors from all over Europe and learnt that it was not just Jews who were persecuted but also Roma and Sinti gypsies and Jehovah's Witnesses to name but a few. Some found it difficult to understand why these events happened but they found it an interestring subject to learn about.
Mrs Pearman said "The purpose of the morning was to look at the Holocaust without looking at pictures of gas chambers and their victims but by understanding the individual stories of real people who survived to be able to tell their stories like Paul."
In the afternoon, after reflecting on what they learnt, the students took it in turns to create a triangle of images from the Holocaust that were put together to create three large Stars of David, a badge the Jews were made to wear. Other students created small shoes reflecting the symbols of Auschwitz, the largest and most notorious concentration camp.
Mrs Pearman added "Hopefully next year we will be able to take this one stage further and invite a Holocaust survivor to come and talk to the students about their own personal experiences as well as learn about Paul's journey."
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