Myth: The Holocaust Didn’t Happen

GRADE LEVEL: High School

COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, Language

SEL STANDARDS*: Self Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness

About this Lesson Plan

Part of a series of lessons, students will examine seven of the most common antisemitic myths. For each myth, students will use ADL’s Antisemitism Uncovered resource to examine its history and historical context. Students will analyze historical and contemporary examples of each myth to understand its impact of antisemitism on the Jewish community and society at large.

This lesson will examine the myth that the Holocaust didn’t happen.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will understand the definitions of antisemitism, myth and trope and their connection.
• Students will examine the claim that the Holocaust didn’t happen and the purpose of this myth.
• Students will analyze the expressions and impact of examples of the antisemitic myth that the Holocaust didn’t happen.
• Students will understand how Holocaust denial functions as an antisemitic conspiracy theory and why denialism is a form of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
• Students will recognize the connection between antisemitism and other forms of hate, bias and oppression.

*Based on CASEL's SEL Framework