Mandel Fellowship - United States Holocaust Memorial Museum -
a note from Ms. Hesse
The Holocaust is something that intrigued me when I was a high school student. I found myself frequently reading books on the topic to discover more. In 1998, I was one of twenty teachers who traveled to Eastern Europe on a Fulbright Group Projects Abroad, spending six weeks visiting Holocaust sites and learning the history. The visit to Auschwitz forever changed me. Walking where so many walked hoping for the impossible, was so intense that none of us spoke to one another or even so much as looked at each other. The year following that trip I participated in the Mandel Fellowship Program at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which entailed a week of intensive and extensive training at the museum conducted by Holocaust scholars and survivors. I have done many presentations for teachers, as well as immersed my own students in that history.
My Mandel Project (secondary students):
| shadow.pdf |
Visual Historical Timeline
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website is by far the most comprehensive Holocaust website.
MY PROJECT FOR THE UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Participation in the Mandel Fellowship required a selected project that focused on an area of interest to the Fellow. I developed an affective curriculum for secondary which focused on concept words and utilized primary source documents, literature, and Holocaust memoirs as a springboard for discussion and personal reflection. The Concept words were: Self-Deception, Acceptance, Suffering, Evil, Altruism, Power, Paradox, Forgiveness, and Vision. I have used this curriculum with gifted student four times.
This project was by far the most challenging thing I have ever done. It was critiqued several times by Dan Napolitano, who was the then Director of Education for the Museum. The first time I got the curriculum back after mailing it to him, I was frantic --it was covered in red ink. I read his critique, worked on corrections, and then mailed it back to him. This process continued three times. When it was finished I was proud of the work, knowing it was excellent. I will be forever thankful to Dan for mentoring me in this process.
This project was by far the most challenging thing I have ever done. It was critiqued several times by Dan Napolitano, who was the then Director of Education for the Museum. The first time I got the curriculum back after mailing it to him, I was frantic --it was covered in red ink. I read his critique, worked on corrections, and then mailed it back to him. This process continued three times. When it was finished I was proud of the work, knowing it was excellent. I will be forever thankful to Dan for mentoring me in this process.
on-line WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum... EXCELLENT
Check out "WORDS THAT REMAIN" - a collection of powerful quotes from those who know... (LINK)
Miss Hesse's FAVORITE HOLOCAUST BOOKS --the ones I go back to again and again
"Auschwitz and After"
|
"A Survivors' Haggadah" edited by Saul Touster Shortly after the liberation of the camps a Passover Seder was held at one of the refugee camps under the auspices of the U. S. Army. For this Seder, the images of the Egyptians were replaced by those of the Nazis. This book is a replica of that Haggadah.
|
"Art from the Ashes"
|
"Nightfather"
|
On-Line Exhibitions - Springboards for Research! (from USHMM)
The following are several presentations I have used with both teachers and students. The Lidice, Terezin, and Auschwitz slideshows include many photographs I took at those sites as well as information I learned while there. The slideshow that explains the victim groups is the most important for anyone seeking to learn about the Holocaust --it is based on the work of Dr. William Frederick Meinecke --a video of his presentation can be found at:
http://www.ushmm.org/education/foreducators/will/
VICTIMS - explains why various groups were targeted
Auschwitz --while we were there we did not speak, we didn't even look at one another... This presentation shares information about Auschwitz I and Birkenau --little more than a few miles apart. I will never forget the silence of that place.
"Who Will Carry the Word?"
Follow the LINK to the Holocaust play, "Who Will Carry the Word?" written by Charlotte Delbo about her experiences in Auschwitz. This group of young women gave everything possible to the performance --it was remarkable. Teachers wishing to have the complete play may use the contact box on the homepage and request a free DVD.
