Supporting Holocaust Survivor Testimony in Teaching

CPD Resources for Teachers

Using recorded Holocaust survivor testimony in the classroom

Our suite of CPD resources is designed to support you in including recorded Holocaust survivor testimony in your classroom teaching. Below you will find a handbook and three accompanying CPD videos to help you better understand why and how to include testimony in your teaching. Our resources offer clear guidance, practical strategies, and reflective insights to help you include testimony thoughtfully, safely, and meaningfully with your students.

The handbook can be read in full here, however we suggest that the handbook and videos can best support you if used in the following order:

Introduction

Handbook Part 1.1 – Purpose of this handbook Handbook Part 1.2 – Who is this handbook for? Handbook Part 1.3 – How to use this handbook

Foundations

Including oral Holocaust testimony in teaching

Handbook Overview & why teachers should read and apply this section Handbook Part 2.1 – Why testimony matters in teaching and learning about the Holocaust Handbook Part 2.2 – Understanding testimony across archives Handbook Part 2.3 – Age-appropriate use of testimony Video CPD Video 1 – What is recorded Holocaust testimony? Video CPD Video 2 – Teaching with testimony: age, appropriateness & selection

Lesson guidance and assembly activities

Handbook Overview & why teachers should read and apply this section Handbook Part 3.1 – Pre-War Jewish life Handbook Part 3.2 – Antisemitism Handbook Part 3.3 – Jewish refugees to Britain Handbook Part 3.4 – Ghettos Handbook Part 3.5 – Jewish resistance Handbook Part 3.6 – Liberation Handbook Part 3.7 – Assembly guidance Handbook Part 3.8 – Divergent students/adaptive teaching

Additional Guidance

An introduction to teaching about the Holocaust

Handbook Overview & why teachers should read and apply this section Handbook Section 1.1 - Why teach about the Holocaust? Handbook Section 1.2 - When and where to teach about the Holocaust? Handbook Section 1.3 - What to teach about the Holocaust? Handbook Section 1.4 - How to teach about the Holocaust? Handbook Section 1.5 - Learn more

Additional Guidance

Further reading — Including oral Holocaust testimony in teaching

Handbook Overview & why teachers should read and apply this section Handbook Section 2.1 - Translation, language, and the mediation of experience Handbook Section 2.2 - Chronology, memory, and the conditions of recall Handbook Section 2.3 - Selecting testimony thoughtfully Handbook Section 2.4 - Using testimony to deepen historical thinking Handbook Section 2.5 - Emerging technologies: interactive testimony and artificial intelligence (AI) Handbook Section 2.6 - Practical classroom strategies Handbook Section 2.7 - A summary of core principles for teachers

Additional Guidance

Emerging technologies – A deeper dive

Handbook Overview & why teachers should read and apply this section Video CPD Video 3 – Emerging technologies: opportunities and concerns Handbook Section 3.1 - Teaching and learning about the Holocaust in the digital age Handbook Section 3.2 - Examples of emerging applications of new technologies Handbook Section 3.3 - How to responsibly use and mitigate risks of emerging technologies

Further Resources

Handbook Online testimony collections Handbook Additional resources for teachers

Together, these lesson plans, guidance, videos and resources will help you bring survivor voices into your classroom with confidence, sensitivity, and purpose, supporting learners in listening closely, thinking deeply, and engaging with the Holocaust in a humanising and historically grounded way.

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Videos

CPD Videos

Three 10-15 minute videos on recorded testimony, classroom practice and emerging technologies, including AI and interactive tools

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