Should we teach the Holocaust and/or Nazism in the Primary Classroom? Help for my dis

[samuelsmiles03]

Hey,

My name is Sam Munnings and I am in my 2nd year at UWE training to be a primary school teacher. I am specialising in History and doing a bit of research for my dissertation, hope you can all help...

Should we teach the Holocaust and/or Nazism to Primary School pupils?

If you dont mind give a reason for your answer.

You are a legend and thanks for the help.

Sam xxx

[sweetsass]

I would wait til middle or high school for that one.

[mkreher]

I agree...I think it's important for children to learn about the holocaust, but I don't think they would fully understand until middle school.
Good luck on your dissertation!

[aelliott]

Well, Social Studies units don't even touch base with any "history" lessons until 3rd-4th grade...and even then, it's about your community, state, etc...
So although it's important for them to learn about it, most units, and even tradebooks don't touch on it until AT LEAST 5th grade..maybe even up to middle school..

[teacher333]

We do start teaching it in the upper elem. grades in our District, through trade paperbacks such as "Number the Stars" and "Snow Treasure", but just touch upon that period in time, using the terminology but not going into graphic detail - that is covered in depth at the high school level. Even at the 5th grade level, once we start reading these books, the questions are many, and the kids are amazed that any one group of people would have such power and/or control over another. Many of the 5th graders are aware of current events and are able to tie this type of historical information into what is going on in other countries. Anything grade lower than that I would not think appropriate.