Middle School Lesson Plans

These lessons introduce middle school students (grades 6–8) to the history of the Terezín (Theresienstadt) concentration camp during the Holocaust through themes of creative resistance, resilience, identity, propaganda, and the experiences of children. Students will explore how prisoners used music and art to maintain their humanity and defy oppression, examining works like Verdi’s Requiem, Viktor Ullmann’s The Emperor of Atlantis, and the children’s opera Brundibar.

Each lesson can be taught independently or as part of a sequence, with worksheets, discussion prompts, artist biographies, and extension activities that teachers can adapt to fit their classroom. Resources include the documentary film Defiant Requiem, primary source artifacts, guided listening exercises, and historical readings. All materials can be downloaded and printed for free.