Considered the worst event in human history, the Holocaust of WWII is a complex issue to explain to a child. Teaching the Holocaust helps us to ensure those who lost their lives are not forgotten and that others will not repeat the mistakes of history. Providing a child the basic facts of the situation will allow them to decide their own course of further research and investigation or act as reinforcement of studies in the classroom. It is not recommended to teach the Holocaust to very young children due to the disturbing circumstances of millions of deaths.

Instructions
1. Step 1
Explain that for many centuries Jewish people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs and were often viewed as outsiders. Use the term antisemitism in your explanation and look the word up online with the child to reinforce this fundamental concept.
2. Step 2
Let the child know that during the 1930s a very anti-Semitic man known as Adolf Hitler became the leader of Germany, due to high unemployment and disillusionment, and made many laws that restricted Jewish people's lives.
3. Step 3
Mention that Jews in Germany were forced to wear the Star of David on their clothing to identify themselves as Jews and were arrested by Hitler's men, called Nazis, on a massive scale. The term "round up" is appropriate here.
4. Step 4
Tell the child that the Jews of Germany, and eventually the Jews of surrounding countries were all forced onto cramped dirty trains with no food or water for many hours and transported to concentration camps.
5. Step 5
Ensure the child knows that a concentration camp was a horrible place, where people were starved almost and often to death as they worked like slaves under terrifying and brutal conditions. For older children, the "selection process" could be discussed at this point.
6. Step 6
Inform the child that these concentration camps operated during World War II (1939-1945) and were not closed down until the camps were liberated by Allied forces at the end of the war. The term "genocide" is appropriate here.
7. Step 7
Conclude by telling the child that during the war, 6 million Jews, 3 million gypsies, homosexuals and political prisoners, and 5 million Russians were murdered by the German Nazis using gas chambers. Make sure the child understands that they are being told this to teach them the importance of tolerance and cultural understanding.
8. Tips & Warnings
• The Diary of Anne Frank, whether book or movie, is a great way for children to relate to the events of the Holocaust through a child eyes.
• Use reputable academic websites to expand on the basic facts of the Holocaust. The amount of exposure to details and photographs of the Holocaust must be age appropriate.
(Adapted from www.ehow.com)