Interactive objects for Middle School and High School students
Trunks of Hope seek to humanize and to personalize the story of the Holocaust by honoring and memorializing a survivor. Using a Trunk as a teaching tool beckons students to bear witness to the complex and profound journey of an individual eyewitness from trauma to triumph. With students, teachers will analyze artifacts within their historical context and explore what they reveal about the experiences of that eyewitness. Engaging with the Trunks of Hope materials through an empathetic lens of inquiry will nurture in students a sense of responsibility to become active global citizens fighting hatred, intolerance, and injustice in our world today.
Learn more about Trunks of Hope and how to request a trunk here: https://www.ctvoicesofhope.org/trunks-of-hope/
“At times, while the students were studying the photographs, touching the artifacts and watching the videos, they were overwhelmed by sadness, tears, anger and shock when hearing about Leon’s life. And yet… They were profoundly inspired as to how Leon was able to live a life of nobility, integrity and kindness despite the indescribable hardships he had to endure. They left our classroom with a deep respect for survivors of the Shoah and survivors of all catastrophes, past and present.” - Connecticut teacher
Critical Thinking Check:
- Did you learn something new about the Holocaust from these objects?
- How did this new knowledge challenge your previous ideas?
- What is the most memorable piece of the survivor's story?