Introduction to Classroom Materials
The Defiant Requiem Foundation offers free, ready-to-use lesson plans that bring the story of creative resistance during the Holocaust into your classroom. These materials explore how Jewish prisoners in the TerezĂn concentration camp used music, art, and intellectual expression as acts of courage and defiance — anchored by the remarkable story of conductor Rafael Schächter, who taught fellow prisoners to sing Verdi’s Requiem.
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Who Are These Materials For?
Our curriculum spans three grade levels, each with age-appropriate content, activities, and discussion prompts:
- High School (Grades 9–12): Three sets of in-depth materials spanning social studies, English language arts, music, and art. These include four modules built around the documentary film Defiant Requiem, five lessons developed in partnership with the Leo Baeck Institute around their virtual exhibit “Last Stop Before the Last Stop,” and two lessons exploring the Theresienstadt Archive at Smith College. All lesson plans are designed to be flexible. Teachers can use materials that align with their subject area, combine lessons across disciplines, collaborate with colleagues, or pull out individual activities to integrate into existing units. Every set includes worksheets, discussion prompts, and extension activities.
- Middle School (Grades 6–8): Four lesson plans exploring music as resistance and resilience in TerezĂn through the stories of Rafael Schächter, composer Viktor Ullmann, and the children’s opera Brundibár. Lessons can be taught independently or as a sequence.
- Upper Elementary (Grades 4–6): A flexible series introducing students to Schächter’s story through guided film viewing and hands-on activities. Available in a condensed two-lesson format or an expanded six-lesson format.
How to Access the Materials
All classroom materials are available completely free of charge. To get started, simply register for a free account on this site. Once you’re logged in, you can browse, download, and print any of the lesson plans and resources across all grade levels.