EDUCATION – TEACHING TOOLS

“An amazing opportunity for teachers to engage students in discussion about history and how we treat one another today.”

A teacher in New Mexico

The lessons from Esther’s art and story are immediate and understandable, nurturing empathy and courage while bringing the Holocaust to life in a markedly different way than the black-and-white photos more typical of the period.

About the Lessons

The lessons use Esther’s art and story and the Holocaust as the primary content. They are designed for grades 5 – 12.

Two types of lessons are provided (see FAQ for descriptions and the Guide to Using Lesson Plans), along with fillable PDF graphic organizers and reference documents:

  • fully standards-aligned traditional lesson plans (PDFs)
  • online, interactive, multi-media Sutoris

The lessons address five core themes:

  • Social Studies and History
  • English Language Arts
  • Art Appreciation and Art Integration
  • Social Justice and Civic Engagement
  • Jewish Studies

Children Escaping War and Conflict

Students learn to analyze basic human needs, draw similarities between survival stories, and apply their learning to current and contemporary events.

Children Escaping War and Conflict (PDF)
Children Escaping War and Conflict (Sutori)

Key Themes: Compare & Contrast, Basic Human Needs, Unaccompanied Minors, Family Separation, Human Migration, Social Studies, World History, Current Events

Social Justice and Human Rights

Teach about the underlying principles of freedom, equality, fairness and justice

Social Justice and Human Rights (PDF)
Social Justice and Human Rights (Sutori)

Key Themes: Social Justice, Equity, Holocaust, Genocide, WWII, Human Rights, Civic Engagement

Esther in Her Own Words and Images: Artwork and Testimony as a Primary Source

Teach how to use first person accounts, primary and secondary sources and artifacts while following Esther’s journey and exploring the Holocaust.

Esther in Her Own Words and Images (PDF)
Esther in Her Own Words and Images (Sutori)

Key Themes: Informational Text, World War II (Europe), Holocaust, Artifacts, Art, Testimony, First Person

World War II in Poland

Enrich student learning about the history of Poland and Jews in Poland before, during and after World War II through the use of timelines.

World War II in Poland (PDF)
World War II in Poland (Sutori)

Key Themes: Timelines, World War II (Europe), Holocaust, Unaccompanied Minors, Timelines, First Person Accounts, Jewish Life, Poland

Upstanders, Bystanders, and Victims

By analyzing the artwork of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz as a primary source, students will learn about World War II and address the moral dimensions of the Holocaust and bullying.

Upstanders, Bystanders and Victims (PDF)
Esther in Her Own Words and Images (Sutori)

Key Themes: World War II (Europe), Holocaust, First Person Accounts, Jewish Life, Poland, Primary Sources, Art, Victims, Perpetrators, Heroes, Upstanders, Bystanders 

Jewish Concepts and Values – Coming Soon

This lesson will address three Jewish concepts:

  • Welcoming the Stranger
  • Peace in the House
  • Jewish holidays and traditions

Key Themes:

Symbolism, Dreams and Metaphors – Coming Soon

Key Themes:

Story Cloths

How story cloths present first person accounts, preserve culture and traditions, and speak up for social justice.

Instructions - Creating Story Cloths (PDF)
Story Cloth Traditions (Sutori)

Key Themes: Personal narrative, autobiography, art, social justice, cultural preservation

Unsung Heroes

A four-part lesson with extensions teaching how to use evidence-based argument to answer the question: “What makes an unsung hero?”

Unsung Heros (PDF)

Key Themes: English Language Arts, Evidence-Based Writing, Digital Storytelling 

Additional Teaching Resources

Guide to the Fabric of Survival Exhibit

Explore Esther Nisenthal Krinitz’s survival story as told through her art.

Fabric of Survival Teacher's Guide (PDF)
Fabric of Survival Student Questions (PDF)
Guide to the Exhibit (Sutori)

Guide to the Film Through the Eye of the Needle: The Art of Esther Nisenthal Krinitz

 The questions and activities in the guide use the art and story of Esther Krinitz Nisenthal as a springboard to learn more about the Holocaust and World War II and to convey the importance of telling one’s own story.

Film Viewing Guide (PDF)
Film Viewing Guide (Sutori)

Key Themes: World War II (Europe), Holocaust, First Person Accounts, Jewish Life, Poland, Primary Sources, Art, Upstanders, Bystanders, Victims, Perpetrators,Heroes

Worksheets for Students

The Graphic Organizers/Worksheets below are fillable PDFs on which the students can do their assignments and, when completed, print out or submit digitally.

View or Print these resources:

FAQ – Lesson Plans and Sutori Lessons

What Are the Traditional Lesson Plans?

  • appropriate for grades 5 – 12
  • adaptable by teachers to local classroom needs
  • fully standards-aligned
  • use stand-alone in any order or as additions to existing units
  • multiple entry points across subject areas
  • available as downloadable PDFs with links

How Can Teachers Use These Lesson Plans?

View the Guide to Using Lesson Plans. Also, to help the students complete their assignments, provide the Fillable Graphic Organizers and Charts (above) that are referenced in the lessons.

What Are Sutori Lessons?

  • online, student-centered, interactive teaching tool
  • expanded material complementing the traditional lesson plans
  • richly-resourced, curated literature, videos, audio, images, and news to the class
  • presentation mode for classroom teachers
  • ease of use for home-schooling parents
  • supports independent, collaborative or guided student study
  • easy to copy and share your best practices with your learning community

How Do Teachers Use Sutori?

Read about how teachers have used Sutori.

How Can I Learn About New Lessons, Updates and Workshops?

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How Can I Give Feedback?

Use our Educator Feedback form to let us know how you used the lesson(s).