This lesson plan uses group work, creative writing, and multimedia to teach subjects including History, Literature, Civics, Social and Political Education, Philosophy, Language etc. It is also useful in discussions about multiculturalism, war and peace, the Second World War, crimes against humanity, genocide and holocausts (e.g. the Jewish Holocaust), modern European history, moral and ethical issues, struggle for survival, etc.

Overview information

Teachers: Pecoler Lorieta, Eskenazi Milutinovic Marsela, Isailovic Vera, Sterjova Daniela, Saric Melika, Cirino Katiusca
Type of school: Primary public schools, Public High Schools  
Subjects taught: History, Civic Education, Social Studies
Primary category: Sephardic Jewry in the Balkans
Grade level of students: Primary school - grade 9 (aged 14). High school – first to fourth year of studies (aged 15 to 18)
Total duration: One 45 minute lesson

Summary

In this 2015 Milton Wolf Prize winning lesson, students examine the extent to which individual choices shape community dynamics. By watching Survival in Sarajevo, examining images, engaging in group discussions, and creating a final project, students are able to explore how individuals have the capacity to make great changes in the world. This lesson lends itself to themes of community service and action, leadership, and responsibility.

Teachers use this activity for any project where students are asked to create a story on film or another visual presentation (Prezi, PowerPoint), including the Virtual Walking Tour project (students research the Jewish community in their town and create an online tour using Google Maps that others can take). The goal of this activity is to help students see how a story told in film is told through narrative, visuals and audio. Students watch a short Centropa personal story film three times, each time focusing on one aspect of the film-making.