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Educational Outreach header

Free PowerPoint Classroom Presentations

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.

Please note: These PowerPoint presentations are not for distribution and are intended for in-class use only by the Coordinator of Educational Outreach.

  1. 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.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  2. Antisemitisms: Facing the Longest Hatred in a Post Holocaust World

    An overview of the history and development of antisemitic tropes and ideas from Pre-Christian anti-Judaism to Christian anti-Judaism and antisemitism to modern antisemitism. This presentation broadly examines the difficult relationship between Judaism and Christianity and Christianity's wrestling with its own assumptions and traditions while facing the darkness of the Holocaust. The current manifestation of antisemitism as anti-Zionism will be explored. This history is critical to any understanding of the origins of anti-Judaic thought, its pernicious persistence, and its current resurgence.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  3. Traveling and Studying 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.

  4. Holocaust Denial: Deceit and Distortion

    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) will be presented as will the role of the historian as witness. Fundamental denier motives, distortions 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.

  5. The Rise of the Nazis: 1933-1939
    (Middle School)

    This presentation will focus on the origins and rise of the Nazis; the accession to political power; the human rights violations and antisemitic policies. How do human rights violations escalate without being checked and what is the responsibility of individuals when facing such violations? A major focus will be how we create the 'other' and how to be an upstander in the face of a perpetrator or bully. An ideal introductory presentation for high school and middle school dealing with the issues of personal and social responsibility and resisting bullying behavior.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  6. The Rise of the Nazis: 1933-1939
    (High School)

    Geared specifically to high school students, this presentation will focus on the rise of the Nazis within German society and within the greater context of general European democratic collapse. The accession to political power through manipulation of law and political violence will be explored. How do human rights violations escalate without being checked and what is the responsibility of individuals when facing such violations? A major focus will be how the 'other' is created. How do we recognize this human trait and yet strive to be an upstander in the face of a perpetrator or bully? An ideal introductory presentation for high schools dealing with the issues of personal, civic and social responsibility.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  7. 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.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  8. 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 him and his family; and his post war experiences. The writing of Night and approaching it in the classroom will be discussed. The story is told through his quotes and his message for humanity.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  9. A "Perfect Storm": Antecedents and Precursors to the Holocaust

    This presentation examines the preexisting prejudices, myths, anxieties and fears that the Nazis astutely utilized to not only become a mainstream political party, but one with "moral authority" within German society. Focus will be given to persecution of the offspring of French-African soldiers after World War I; homosexuals; the handicapped; the Sinti and Roma; Jehovah's Witnesses; and the Jews. In the cases of these minorities, professionals and many segments of society became invested with the questions thrust before them and wrestled - through growing frustration - to imagine more radical solutions…from sterilization to deportation to… While obsessed with "the Jews", the Nazi persecution of these other groups helped them develop "useful" ideas and techniques that would emerge in the Final Solution. Nazism existed and was attractive precisely because it could effectively "other" the other. In confronting issues such as homophobia and racism this presentation seeks to emphasize the need for eternal vigilance for the "other" in our midst.

  10. 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.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  11. 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.)

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  12. 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.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  13. Anne Frank - An Indestructible Voice

    This presentation frames Anne's Frank's voice and experiences within the historical context of her life. Special attention is given to the life of Otto Frank and the memories of Hannah (Goslar) Pick, Anne's childhood friend. The life and decisions of the Frank family (such as emigration and going into hiding) are placed within the context of the Nazi era. Otto Frank's failed attempt to get his two children (Margot and Anne) into the United States is highlighted. This presentation also traces the family's history after their betrayal in the Secret Annex.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  14. 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)

  15. 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.

  16. 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: U.S. immigration policy and the quota system, U.S. attitudes of pacifism, isolationism, racism, xenophobia and antisemitism in the 1930s, Evian Refugee Conference, Voyage of the St. Louis; and the failed Wager-Rogers kindertransport bill. In addition, Allied knowledge and responses to the Holocaust will be examined.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  17. 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.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  18. Genocide's Early Warning Signs

    What is required to prevent genocide? Why is important that we develop educational models that bear witness to the Holocaust and genocide in the hope that present and future generations take responsibility for building a world free of antisemitism, intolerance, and hate? Using the Eight Stages of Genocide developed by Gregory Stanton of Genocide Watch this presentation examines the urgent need to develop effective measures to recognize and deter genocide at its early stages. The U.N. Genocide definition will be discussed as each of the eight stages towards genocide (Classification, Symbolization, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Preparation, Extermination, and Denial) are illustrated using the experiences of the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda, and Darfur. Suggestions for prevention are discussed at each stage. By identifying the subsequent stages that draws a society towards genocide (such as abusive, racist, and threatening language) this presentation seeks to empower students to make such things culturally unacceptable.

    Pre-presentation reading assignments:
  19. 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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