We Remember the Holocaust
Katie O'Malley

Mathematics

Teacher of the Lesson: Katie O'Malley
Lesson Topic: Mathematics
Grade Level: Fifth
Approximate Time: 45 to 60 minutes

Objectives:

1. Students will classify the victims of the Holocaust into groups using various characteristics such as where they come from, who they were, age, gender, etc.
2. Students will graph the acquired data in a pie chart.
3. Students will produce fractions from the pie chart and information obtained.

Materials:

• information on the victims of the Holocaust (obtained from the library by students?)
• overhead and pens
• student guide sheet

Procedures:
Introduction --

1. We know that 6 million individuals died in the Holocaust, but do we really know who they were?
2. Explain to the students that in this lesson we will find out who those victims were and how they represented the population.
3. Start by either having the students obtain the information or obtain it for them and present it on the overhead.

Sequence of Instruction --

1. As a class on the overhead, organize the information into a chart format so that creating the pie chart will be easier.
2. Once the chart is completed and the students have classified all of the victims, ask them how we might go about making a pie chart to represent this data. Ask questions like, What does the six million represent? [the whole] So, if the number of men victims in the Holocaust were 3 million, what fraction of the whole would that represent? How did you know that? Can you explain it for the rest of us?
3. Continue in this probing format with the students until a pie chart has been created. It is important to note that some of the characteristics overlap and therefore, it may be appropriate to do more than one pie chart. For instance, one for gender and one for nationality.
4. Once the fractions are created, we can use them to make our very own math problems, reinforcing our skills in addition and subtraction of fractions. One example might be... If we add together the fraction of individuals who are less than 6 years-old to those who are men, we get what?

Closure --

1. Pass out the sheet of problems for the students to try. Also, have the students write two problems of their own and then test their partner on them.
2. Conclude by reinforcing the idea that the 6 million people who were victims of the Holocaust cannot be grouped together so generically as one, but rather had very many differences between them. It personalizes the number for the students more!!

Adaptations

For those slower learners, take a small group of them aside for extra practice once the class is given time to work. Here, it is important to take everything a notch slower, reinforcing the concepts as we go along.

Reflection

My goal in this lesson is to keep the flow of the lesson moving. It is essential not to become bogged down. If it is necessary, take a small group aside to work with on a more individual basis.