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Free PowerPoint Presentations
for the Classroom
Tom White, the Coordinator of Educational Outreach, is available to present the following series of PowerPoint presentations in your classroom. These presentations are designed for 90-minute blocks, but can easily be adapted to any classroom format. The topics below have also been developed into separate presentations for different level abilities of students. These can be scheduled on relatively short notice. E-mail: twhite@keene.edu or phone: 603-358-2746.
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Judaism & Historical Anti-Judaism
For classes such as World Perspectives I, Western Civilization, Intro to Holocaust, or Sociology, this presentation gives an overview of the history of Judaism and its religious traditions, ideas, and values. The roots of historical anti-Judaism are also traced, from antiquity to the European Middle Ages. This is a key beginning for any study of the Holocaust.
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A History of Anti-Judaism & Antisemitism
An overview of the history of antisemitism from pre-Christian anti-Judaism to Christian anti-Judaism to modern antisemitism. This history is critical to any understanding of the origins of anti-Judaic thought, its pernicious persistence, and its current resurgence.
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Traveling in Israel
This presentation is the culmination of three weeks studying at Yad Vashem (Israel's Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority) in Jerusalem. This January 2007 tour will illustrated the geography and history of Israel. Particular focus will be given to the Old City of Jerusalem as well as Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. Additionally, the landscapes of the Galilee, Masada and the Dead Sea, the Jordanian and Lebanese borders will be visited. The presentation will end by highlighting the Yad Vashem campus.
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Confronting Holocaust Denial
Holocaust denial is an active propaganda effort to deny the reality of the approximately 6 million victims of the Shoah. This presentation will answer questions such as, "How do we know what we know?" "Who would deny the Holocaust and why?" The context and origins of Holocaust denial (initiated by the Nazis themselves), categories of Holocaust distortion, main denier motives and tropes will be examined. Using the documented facts of the Shoah, this presentation will illustrate how denier arguments have no basis in truth.
Using the documented facts of the Shoah, this presentation will illustrate the role of the historian and how denier arguments have no basis in truth. Current origins and implications of deniers (from 'Western' racists to the Middle East) will be discussed.
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Terrorism: The Nazi Connection
Although Christianity and Islam have a long history of anti-Judaism, many antisemitic myths were unknown in the Muslim world for centuries. Although the Quran has negative references to Jews, those passages were often ignored or forgotten. Only in the 20th century have Muslim extremists adopted antisemitism in its most virulent form. The genocidal nature of this antisemitism and its emergence in the Middle East has connections to Nazi Germany. By exploring the Grand Mufti, Haj al-Husseini's close relationship with Hitler, Himmler, and Nazi Germany this power point reveals the truth behind one of the origins of terrorist ideology. Haj al-Husseini cleverly combined the European myth of "devilishly powerful Jew" with the "inferior" Jew (apes/monkeys) of the Hadith, attempting to make traditional European antisemitism compatible with Muslim tradition. The vast majority of Muslims are not terrorists and often live in relative harmony with their Jewish neighbors. Terrorism is not an expression of political initiative, but a continuation of Nazi ideology that envisioned the annihilation of the world's Jews. Contemporary images from the Middle East are explored as the newest mutation of antisemitism is confronted.
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The Rise of the Nazis and Evolution to Genocide
This presentation will focus on the origins and rise of the Nazis; the accession to political power, and the human rights violations and antisemitic policies. A major focus will be on how human rights violations escalate without being checked and the responsibility of individuals when facing such violations. Topics included are: definition of the Holocaust, the magnitude and scope as well as the personal nature of the Holocaust, the humanity of the victims, anti-Judaism and antisemitism, Nazi ideology and racism, Nazi government policies and actions, initial arrests and camps, Eugenics, Kristallnacht, and the T4 Program.
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The Nazis and the Holocaust (1933-1944)
Similar to presentation #6, "Rise of the Nazis," this PowerPoint broadly traces the assumption of power by the Nazis, Nazi ideology, the securing of political power, the rise of the police state, T4, and the evolution of Nazi policy towards the "Jewish Question." This serves as a general historical introduction of the evolution of Nazi Germany into a genocidal state and includes the escalation of policy into the development of the death camps.
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Discrimination and Law in Nazi Germany 1933-1938
The Nazis passed more than 2000 laws in their persecution of Jews. This simple figure shows how the Nazis were obsessed not only with the "Jewish Question," but also in their need to act "legally." Hitler had a great contempt for law, but saw its use as absolutely necessary in his war to progressively remove human rights from those he perceived as dangerous threats to the German Volk. Why? This presentation deals with the legal dimension of the Holocaust and its role in the lead-up to the "Final Solution." The actions of the police and the judiciary will be highlighted with a particular focus on Franz Schlegelberger. He served in the Ministry of Justice from 1931 to 1942. For the last seventeen months of his service, Schlegelberger was director of the Ministry of Justice. Key themes in the development of human rights violations will be discussed to illustrate early warning signs of genocide.
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Between Dignity and Despair: Jewish Life in Germany 1933-1938
Using Marion Kaplan's work, this presentation deals with gender. "Along the stations toward extinction … each gender lived its own journey." Using images and memoirs, the focus here is on the role of everyday Germans, on a daily level in the social death of their neighbors. Often overlooked is the initiative of ordinary Germans in complying with the new tone of the government without serious legislation being passed in the early stages of the regime. Also misunderstood is that the mixed messages being sent did not make the so-called "writing on the wall" clear until 1938. A comparison of the male and female German Jewish experience will reveal the difficulties in accurately assessing the dangers facing this small minority of Germans.
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The Holocaust (1941-1945)
This presentation focuses on the evolution to genocide that took place from 1939 to 1945. The major emphasis is on how Nazi policy developed from forced emigration in the 1930s to the "Final Solution" by 1941. Specific attention will be placed upon the racial laboratory of Poland 1939 to 1940 and how Nazi policy evolved from the difficulties in implementing the fantasy world of Hitler, Himmler, and the SS. Events will be explored from the context of the time and not from hindsight. Topics to be covered are: defining the Holocaust and genocide, emerging role of the SS, Difficulties and failures of emigration policy, Evian Conference, the Holocaust within the context of World War II, the failure and complicity of the Wehrmacht, T4, the Commissar Order, Wannsee Conference, the Einsatzgruppen, and the "Final Solution."
(For advanced classes.)
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Elie Wiesel: Profound Fear & Extraordinary Hope
This PowerPoint presentation traces the life of Elie Wiesel from his birth in Sighet, Romania; his early, formative years; the round-up of his family and deportation to Auschwitz; the fate of he and his family; post war experiences, and the writing of Night. The story is told through his quotes and his message for humanity.
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Hiding and Passing: Background for Europa, Europa
This PowerPoint traces the life and times of Solly Perel in preparation for showing the film Europa, Europa. Using events and images from his early life through the end of the war (including photographs of himself, the places, and other characters portrayed in the movie), this presentation addresses such issues as: factors in deciding to hide or pass as a non-Jew, the dangers and difficulties in hiding or passing, and the difficulties and personal impact of hiding or passing during the Holocaust.
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Dry Tears: Using Testimonies to Teach the Holocaust
This presentation is designed to assist teachers who are using Nechama Tec's Dry Tears. An overview of Poland during the war and the difficulties in choosing to hide or, as in Nechama's story, try to "pass" as a non-Jew. Factors influencing a decision to hide or pass and the dangers and consequences in attempting either are examined.
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Teaching About Anne Frank – A Singular Voice
An examination of the life and diary of Anne Frank. Questions to consider as well as possible pitfalls are discussed. The life and decisions of the Frank family (such as emigration and going into hiding) are placed within the context of the Nazi era.
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The Righteous: Danish Rescue
This PowerPoint was designed for elementary students reading Number the Stars. It gives a general account of the history of the rescue of Danish Jews. (Grades 5-8)
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Rescue and The Righteous: Resisting Evil/Weapons of Hope
Using the Jewish foundation for the Righteous' eight "Traits that Transcend" this presentation seeks to introduce students to the subject of rescue during the Holocaust. Rescue will be placed in its historical context while approaching the question of how these people did what they did to save Jews. Examples of a "Righteous Among the Nations" will be using to illustrate each trait as well as a contemporary figure to reinforce how these traits transcend the confines of history.
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The United States and the Holocaust: Context and Memory
A contextual examination of what the U.S. knew about the Holocaust and how it reacted. U.S. policy is presented in context of the years of peace (1933-1939) and the years of war (1939-1945). Topics covered include: the Eugenics movement, 1936 Olympics, Evian conference, immigration policy, the Voyage of the St. Louis, the Holocaust, when was information received?, Henry Morgenthau Jr. vs. the State Department, and why the Allies did not bomb Auschwitz.
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Sudan: Genocide in Darfur
Darfur is now probably the world's worst humanitarian crisis. This PowerPoint presentation begins with the definition of genocide and brief video clip, "Darfur Destroyed." It will then highlight the current situation in Darfur, the background history, and the geographic and politically sponsored catalysts that have led to genocide. Sudanese government actions against Darfur currently include: Inflaming ethnic conflict, impeding international humanitarian access, resulting in deadly conditions of life for displaced civilians, bombing civilian targets with aircraft, and murdering and raping civilians. This presentation will be a call for "disruptive empathy" (the idea that we need to immediately get involved to stem the tide of history). Ideas for individual and group action will be presented in this call to help those suffering the effects of genocide.
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Other
It is my job to create presentations to fit your needs. If you are a U.S. history teacher, for example, and need a one-day lesson on the Holocaust to fit into your packed WWII curriculum, I am able to do that. I want to create more shows/presentations that will be useful to teachers. I am also able to find ways to use the state standards to fit Holocaust or human rights education into your school. Do not hesitate to contact me.
I am also available at a moment's notice to discuss issues, to sit on panels, to engage in question and answer sessions.
For more information, contact:
Tom White
Coordinator of Educational Outreach
603-358-2746
twhite@keene.edu
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Complete List of Presentations