2 HOURS OF CONTENT - A detailed and well differentiated editable history lesson all about what went on during the Holocaust and how each of the camps operated as well as what daily life was like for the different inmates. There is a lot of content here, so you may want to teach this over 2 lessons.
The lesson is very easy to just pick up and use and includes a detailed PowerPoint, a variety of activities, source questions, clip tasks, exam-styles practice questions, active tasks and more.
This assembly resource has been created with KS3 and KS4 secondary students in mind to be delivered on Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January). This resource has been created on Microsoft Powerpoint Teacher Notes have been added to the notes section underneath each relevant slide on the Powerpoint to support with the delivery of the content. I am a history teacher and the content of this assembly resource is an extension of a type of activity that I would deliver to my history students when teaching the holocaust.
This assembly resource offers a brief exploration using skills of inference of a historical artefact and relies upon student contributions through teacher questionning. A link to a Youtube video has been provided as part of this resource (please ensure you have access to youtube prior to use) This resource also makes reference to the 2026 Holocaust Memorial Day theme of ‘Bridging Generations’.
The utmost care has been taken to ensure this resource has been created with the utmost respect to the victims of the holocaust and to ensure that students have the opportunity to connect and empathise to the human beings to whom the attrocities of the holocaust were committed. There a no images or corpses in this resource - however the murder of victims is discussed.
I really hope you enjoy delivering this assembly and that your students find it engaging and valuable. If you are able to leave a review once you have taught it, I would be really grateful.
Teaching Holocaust in history? Check out lessons from my scheme of work!
Lesson 1: Ordinary Things
Lesson 2: Challenging stereotypes
This lesson contains:
A starter that asks students to study a source image of Jews cleaning the streets. they are asked analytical questions about it and will return to the image later.
An overview of the key words for the lesson, which are ‘perpetrators’, ‘collaborators’, ‘bystanders’ and ‘resisters’. There is then a chance for students to make notes on each as you go through the next 4 slides with images.
A task to return to the source and judge who they believe in the picture fall into each of the categories. The extension is to consider why it’s sometimes hard to decide on the difference between those doing and those collaborating.
A colour-coding activity to look at a series of scenarios and judge what category of guilt they are to be placed in.
An extension of this task to then map the numbers of each scenario on a plot graph to note the impact of each and the level of ‘active’ or ‘non active’ each scenario showed. this can lead to greater analysis of the consequences of different peoples’ actions.
A review of the learning.
Attachments:
1 x Powerpoint Presentation
1 x Word File
A complete set of Holocaust Memorial Day assemblies for Primary, Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary learners, fully aligned with the 2026 theme Bridging Generations. These ready-to-use PowerPoints provide age-appropriate explanations, clear historical context and structured reflection opportunities to support remembrance and understanding. Ideal for whole-school assemblies, tutor time or PSHE.
Each presentation offers comprehensive, fully written slide text so staff can deliver confidently without additional planning. The assemblies explore key ideas including prejudice, discrimination, how the Holocaust unfolded, and why remembrance remains essential as survivor numbers decline. The theme of Bridging Generations is woven throughout, helping pupils understand their role in carrying forward memory, promoting respect and building inclusive communities.
The Primary assembly introduces the Holocaust sensitively, focusing on kindness, fairness and stories of courage, supported by clear explanations about Jewish communities and the importance of choosing respect.
The Lower Secondary assembly provides structured historical context, survivor perspectives and reflective links to modern responsibility and inclusion.
The Upper Secondary assembly delivers a more analytical exploration of genocide, propaganda, human rights and the enduring significance of memory, asking students to consider their part in confronting prejudice today.
This pack is suitable for schools seeking a high-quality, professionally written resource that supports thoughtful, meaningful commemoration across age groups while meeting curriculum and pastoral needs.
School assembly for secondary schools for Holocaust Memorial Day 2026 - theme “Bridging Generations”.
I delivered this every day to years 7 to 11. It was very well received by pupils and staff.
Gives scale of the Holocaust in numbers, the stages of the Holocaust, and German laws which led to the dehumanisation, ostracisation and ultimately the mass murder.
The chain of events is covered with Pastor Martin Niemoller’s poem “First They Came…”, followed by the stages of the Holocaust as described by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.
Pupils are then asked to think about how the German anti-Jewish laws put in place from 1933 to 1939 would have affected them.
Assembly finishes with images of victims and their names, ages and hometowns. Original photo image and a larger, colorised image to enhance.
The victims are from a wide range across Europe.
Assembly host asks the audience to repeat their names in unison. For younger years, Call and Response their names. For older, more reluctant audiences, quietly reflect on the victims and say their names in private later.
No atrocity or graphic images are included.
This lesson contains:
A ‘do it now’ starter based on previous learning on the course, but this can be edited to suit what you have taught.
An overview of the situation n 1939 after Hitler had invaded Poland and started WW2. Students then find out that Jews were forced to move into ghettos. Students define the word in their books. There is then a short video from YouTube to reinforce this idea.
A closer look, in particular, at the Warsaw Ghetto. Students find out where it was, how many went there and how it looked. This is a video from YouTube that reinforced this information and gives some insight into life in the ghettos, as well as an optional clip from Schlinder’s list which I have edited with questions across the screen to consider as it’s playing.
The main activity for the students to study 4 source ‘packs’. Each info card has 2-3 pieces of information and images, as well as ‘prompts’ for them to consider and help them make notes about what life was like in their worksheet tables. There is an extension activity on the board.
A slide which goes over the major consequences of the ghettos for students to add to their notes if they didn’t get them.
A plenary to get students to consolidate their learning with some simple questions.
Attachments:
1 x Powerpoint Presentation
2 x Publisher Files
This great value Holocaust bundle includes the following lessons/resources:
Nazi Laws
Life in Ghettos
Concentration and death camps
documentary questions
This download includes everything you need to teach these lessons - all powerpoints, clips, activities, instructions, worksheets and information sheets. Scaffolding and challenge activities are included where possible. All lessons last at least one hour and are fully editable. Activities have been designed to promote thinking and discussion.
Please take a look at our growing TES shop where you can find free or inexpensive lessons:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/DiscoveringHistory
SAVE £££ BY BUYING OUR GREAT VALUE BUNDLES!
If you are happy with your resource, PLEASE LEAVE US A REVIEW! If, by any chance, you encounter any issues with the resource, please email us at discoveringhistoryuk@gmail.com and we’ll try to solve them for you.
We have a wide range of KS3 & GCSE History lessons on their way, please keep an eye out - follow our social media pages for freebies, new resources and interesting facts!
Got a lesson suggestion? Or looking for something in particular? Email us!
Description
Whole-School Assembly for UK Secondary Schools | KS3 KS4 KS5
Deliver a powerful, respectful and professionally sensitive Holocaust Memorial Day assembly for UK secondary schools, based on the official 2026 theme: Bridging Generations.
This fully scripted, ready-to-deliver assembly helps students understand:
• What Holocaust Memorial Day is
• Why remembrance matters as survivor voices are disappearing
• How memory, testimony and responsibility pass from generation to generation
• Why the lessons of the Holocaust still matter today
It is carefully written to be suitable for whole-school delivery and to be politically impartial, safeguarding-aware and appropriate for KS3, KS4 and KS5.
It also includes clear staff guidance on how to handle sensitive questions about current conflicts, including Palestine and Gaza, in a calm, balanced and non-political way.
What’s Included
• Fully scripted Holocaust Memorial Day assembly (no prep needed)
• Slides and speaker notes covering:
o The Holocaust and Holocaust Memorial Day
o The 2026 theme: Bridging Generations
o Why memory and testimony matter
o A powerful Anne Frank slide
o A safe present-day relevance section focusing on warning signs such as dehumanisation and hatred
• Staff guidance slide and notes for handling sensitive comments about:
o Israel, Palestine and Gaza
o Current conflicts
o Genocide language
• Reflection moment and closing message
• Fully Editable
• Suitable for KS3, KS4 and KS5
Ideal For
• Holocaust Memorial Day assemblies
• UK secondary schools
• Form time, tutor time or year group assemblies
• RS, History and Personal Development (PSHE )
• Schools wanting a safe, non-political, high-quality, ready-to-use assembly resource
Why Teachers Choose This Assembly
• Avoids controversial political positions
• Does not compare current conflicts to the Holocaust
• Does not use contested genocide labels
• Focuses on remembrance, human dignity, responsibility and challenging prejudice and hatred
This lesson contains:
A starter with a ‘math’ question from Nazi Germany to get students thinking about the effect that such messages would have had on the acceptance of violence towards Jews.
An activity to complete a knowledge organiser worksheet as you lead them through the powerpoint, covering:
* The Prophecy speech
* Increased number of Jews under Nazi control
* Madagascar Plan
* The Wannsee Conference (with 2 videos from YouTube that shows what happened and what was decided).
* Where the Holocaust took place
* What happened at the camps
* Death through work and gas chambers
* Auschwitz as a short study.
* A final plenary to consider the human impact of Auschwitz.
Attachments:
1 x Powerpoint Presentation
1 x Publisher File
This lesson contains:
A starter to consider what students already know about the Holocaust. Students then draw a mind map to gather ideas about why they study it, what happened and when and to whom.
A video from YouTube which consolidates this and allows students to add to their knowledge. A slide then has suggested responses for some green pen work.
An activity to study 3 interpretations of the word ‘Holocaust’ and students find common factors between them, making their own definition at the bottom of the worksheet.
An introduction to stereotypes and students can annotate the picture of a Jewish stereotype. This will allow later study of German propaganda against the Jews. Students also have some slides to see on modern stereotypes which may interest them, before looking at how the Nazis then portrayed them.
A plenary to describe two features of the Jewish stereotype.
Attachments:
1 x Powerpoint Presentation
1 x Word File
1 x Publisher File
Topic: Jewish persecution and the Holocaust
End and legacy of the Holocaust
Lesson 1 FREE - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12727364
KS3 SoW
This SoW is designed in detail and is both differentiated and engaging, and allows you to move pupils through content efficiently. As a result, lessons can take around two periods to deliver and are sequenced to flow through this period of time comprehensively.
Made to the highest standard and constructed using current research, both dual coding and retrieval practices are at the heart of this unit. A colour scheme also runs throughout to ease both your delivery and students comprehension.
An outline of the SoW can be viewed below: Jewish persecution and the Holocaust
Anti-Semitism in Europe pre-1914
Pre-war anti-Semitism in Germany
Nazi anti-Semitic beliefs
Nazi anti-Semitic policies
Origins of the Holocaust
The ‘Final Solution’
Interpretations of the Holocaust pt. 1
Interpretations of the Holocaust pt. 2
Jewish resistance
End and legacy of the Holocaust
L11. Other genocides
L12. Causes of genocide
Assessment
Additional: Knowledge Organiser
Any question please do feel free to get in contact:
teachercentralltd@gmail.com
Best FREE Resources (Teacher Central)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/britain-losing-and-gaining-an-empire-12973075
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/financial-literacy-12898983
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/romeo-and-juliet-12908635
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shakespeare-12908634
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-gcse-12863697
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/animal-farm-free-sow-12942163 (FREE SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/slavery-sow-12843084 (FREE SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12727408 (FREE SoW)
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/russia-1917-91-from-lenin-to-yeltsin-12834552
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/TeacherCentral?sortBy=lowestPrice&p=5
I hope you find this SoW useful. If you have, I have created a series of resources.
AQA GCE 2O A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45
The aim of this lesson is to assess whether the war in the East was the main reason for the implementation of the Final Solution. and Nazi genocide policies.
This lesson can be delivered over two, with the breath and depth of information covered.
Students begin with a recap of some key dates in their implementation of anti-Semitic policies. The significance of the Wannsee Conference is explained, with a comprehension task and timeline guide to examine in the move towards the Final Solution.
There are some key multiple choice questions to answer as well as some map analysis of the concentration and extermination camps across Europe.
Case Studies on Auschwitz and Ceija’s Story give context to the horrific crimes committed by the Nazis in this period.
The final parts of the lesson focus on Jewish resistance (with a colour coding activity to complete) as well as a note on the death marches and questions over who bears responsibility for the holocaust.
The lesson is quite literacy heavy. There is some exam practice to be completed at the end on the implementation of the Final Solution, with a focused markscheme provided if required.
An enquiry question posed at the beginning of the lesson will be revisited throughout to track the progress of learning during the lesson and the subsequent unit of work.
The lesson is available in PowerPoint format and can be customised to suit if required.
It is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.
I have created these set of resources for the History Key Stage 3 National Curriculum ‘challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day.
These lessons are also useful if you are studying Germany at GCSE, where never enough time can be devoted to the holocaust in depth and which students find so fascinating.
The central question throughout these nine lessons is to find out who is to blame for the holocaust. They are closely linked together and students continually plot their ideas around a lightbulb, which can be referred back to each lesson (either dated or colour coded) to show progress throughout.
Pupils will learn the significance and impact of the holocaust on the wider world and be able to see the causes and consequences of the systematic attacks on Jewish communities & anti-Semitism throughout Europe since the Middle Ages.
They will learn key historical terms such as discrimination, persecution and genocide and understand the differences between concentration and extermination camps. They will be given sources to analyse such as the evidence from Anne Frank’s diary or an anti-Semitism tax return from Norwich in the Middle Ages and make historical inferences from them. Furthermore they will be able to write structured accounts and narratives of who was to blame from the Camp Guards or Himmler and the SS, to Josef Mengele, Adolf Hitler, the German people and the Einsatszgruppen units.
The 11 lessons are broken down into the following:
L1 An introduction to the holocaust
L2 Anti-Semitism in Britain
L3 Anti-Semitism in Europe
L4 Extremism to Extermination
L5 How was it organised?
L6 Who was to blame?
L7 Jewish Resistance
L8 Liberation of the extermination camps
L9 Diary of Anne Frank
L10 Nuremberg Trials
L11 The hunt for Josef Mengele
Each lesson comes with suggested teaching and learning strategies and are linked to the latest historical interpretations and ideas used by current history teachers.
The lessons are fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit. I have included a couple of free lessons to give an idea of what is being offered.
I strongly recommend using GCSE style questions from your chosen exam board and markschemes to assess the pupils at the end of this unit, which are always available on line.
The Holocaust: A Timeline
PowerPoint presentation; quiz and task sheets looking at the Holocaust chronologically from 1933 to 1948.
Could be useful for those studying the rise of Nazi Germany and/or the Holocaust.
This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge relating to the The Holocaust. It contains comprehensive sections on:
Holocaust overview;
Stages of the Holocaust;
Key People;
Holocaust Timeline;
Important Holocaust Events;
Life in the Concentration Camps.
The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). It is most suitable for students in upper KS2 and KS3.
This assembly has been created for Holocaust Memorial Day. It starts by putting into perspective the sheer number of people murdered in the genocide by focusing on the figure 6,000,000 in real terms. It then considers how intolerance; racism and prejudice escalates and eventually can lead to genocide - testimonies of survivors are used to capture this. Have we learnt from the Holocaust? No - map of genocides around the world since the Holocaust. The assembly then moves onto the theme of resistance - what happens when people don’t speak out - clip of Marin Niemoller’s poem. The assembly end with the discussion of what can happen when people do act resist with a focus on Oskar Schindler - last 5 minutes of Schindle’s list included so that students can reflect on how many lives can be saved when people bravely resist brutality.
Duration: 30 minutes, but can be adapted if you don’t have this much time.
Suitable for KS2 - KS5
The Nazi treatment of minorities is placed in its cultural context and the concept of the master race is examined. The various groups targeted by the Nazis are looked into with a focus on the 'Jewish Question.&' The radicalisation of Nazi policies from rhetoric through Aryanisation to extermination are examined. Questions for discussion occur on slides throughout the presentation. The PowerPoint contains some slides with graphic images but the preceding slide contains a warning about what follows.
Quick View
