April 4–5, 2024
Location: Viterbo University, FSPA Lobby
Keynote Speaker: Samuel R. Harris, Holocaust Survivor
Registration: Registration link and workshop schedule will be live on Sept. 1, 2023.
More than ever, it is important to teach about the Holocaust to prevent atrocities from being repeated. Thus, the educators' workshop will empower middle and high school teachers who want to learn more about teaching the lessons of the Holocaust in their schools and will feature national and local Holocaust scholars. "To be exposed to Holocaust scholars working in this field and survivors who bring an immediacy to the subject is key,” says Bill Younglove, instructor and teacher supervisor at California State University, Long Beach. “Area teachers are no doubt the chief beneficiaries, but the community at large should consider itself fortunate to have such an ongoing program in its midst."
2024 Workshop Presenters:
About Sam R. Harris, Keynote Speaker
Samuel R. Harris is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors. He was four-years-old when WWII broke out and Nazi soldiers invaded his village in Poland, killing his parents and most of his family. He played an instrumental role in the opening of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center of which is president emeritus. Harris is a proud recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Mr. Harris will give two presentations. The first is a keynote presentation on Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center, Viterbo University. This presentation is open to the public and no registration nor ticket is required. All are welcome.
Mr. Harris’s second presentation is a school show. This ticket-only presentation in partnership with Arts for Young America is Thursday, April 4 at 10 a.m. Priority seating for school groups to attend Sam R. Harris's presentation will be offered to educators who sign up for Viterbo's D.B. Reinhart Institute's Annual Teaching the Holocaust Workshop by Wednesday, Jan. 31. The workshop registrants must then organize their group and register for the school show through Viterbo's Arts for Young America.
Teaching Resources
Squirrel is Alive
The educational content for Squirrel is Alive will include interactive materials for classroom use. Strategies for before, during, and after reading will include discussion questions, writing prompts, and classroom extensions allowing students to engage directly with the text and understand both the historical context and the contemporary application of the book. The materials will be designed for middle school and high school use, and will align to national standards and best teaching practices. Anticipated completion date is Sept. 1, 2023.