We are proud to present you with lesson plans inspired by Roberta Grossman’s Who Will Write Our History, a documentary drama about the secret archives of the Warsaw Ghetto – an extraordinary project initiated in 1940 by Emanuel Ringelblum. The archives comprise a unique collection of documents, one of the most important testimonies to the Holocaust of Polish Jews. The archive has been inscribed into UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” world heritage list.
To learn about the creators of the Ringelblum Archive and its history, please read the introduction prepared by Education Department of Warsaw Jewish Historical Institute. Below you will find five lesson plans designed by experienced educators, aided by eminent historians and teachers. The educational materials are suitable for secondary school students and may serve as introduction to elements of the core curriculum in subjects including Polish, history, social studies, ethics, and homeroom classes.
Emanuel Ringelblum and his team considered a multifaceted and thorough documentation of life in the Warsaw ghetto and the Jewish tragedy during the Holocaust as of utmost importance. That is why – in an attempt to let the archives’ authors speak for themselves – our lesson plans use documents that come directly from the Archive. The documents are currently stored and preserved at the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw and owned by the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland. We are convinced that the wealth of documents comprising the Ringelblum Archive will provide a useful educational tool to better understand the fate of Polish Jews during World War II.
The film will be screened in selected theaters starting January 27. Dedicated screenings for school groups can be organized upon request. To organize a screening please contact a movie theater in your hometown. If this is impossible, please contact the film distributor.
Cezary Kruszewski: cezary.kruszewski@next-film.pl
Bartłomiej Bilski: bartek.bilski@next-film.pl
Educational initiatives related to the film Who Will Write Our History have been made possible through the support of Al and Gayle Berg Family Foundation.
