2012 Summer Institutes for Secondary Educators

(7th – 12th grade)

Save the Date:

July 16 - 20: Teaching the Holocaust

July 23 - 27, 2012: Teaching Genocide & Human Rights 

August 1 - August 3, 2012: Advanced Holocaust Studies Seminar

The Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center provides teachers with the tools they need to improve and enhance their classroom instruction of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights in alignment with the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Education Mandate. Because of the difficulties and challenges in teaching this subject matter to students, our institutes prepares teachers to approach these subjects with sensitivity, knowledge of the history, precise language and definitions, and the use of specific teaching strategies and methodologies.

Educators learn how to present the history of the Holocaust, genocide and human rights in a way that helps students understand the implications of man’s continued inhumanity to man. These lessons  encourage students to face today’s societal choices and create thoughtful citizens who are prepared to take a stand rather than be bystanders.

By bringing to the forefront character dimensions and ethical aspects of history, educators can enhance the relevance of the subject matter they teach to the student’s natural interests and questions, increasing student engagement. The institutes provide teachers pedagogical knowledge and strategies needed to create students who do not merely learn history, but also challenge, interpret and create their own conclusions about the world around them.

Feedback from Past Participants

• "Thank you for this journey of knowledge and the call to action. My spark of interest has become a blaze."
• “Life changing. Inspiring. Hopeful.  Best professional development I’ve attend.”
• "I just want to take a moment and thank you and everyone involved with last week's Institute. It was an amazing experience! I feel energized by thinking about how I can get my students involved."
• "The speakers that you obtained will stay with me forever."
• "Thanks for everything--I will spread the word about this unbelievable experience!"

Learn More

• 2012 teaching the Holocaust  >

• 2012 teaching Genocide & Human Rights  > 

Generously Supported By

The Marion Freeman Green Educational Trust

Polk Bros. Foundation, and

Mayor Richard M. and Maggie C. Daley Education Fund

This educator training program is supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. 

Photos courtesy of IHMEC Collection