Name: _________________________________ HR: ______________________
Holocaust Survivor Speech Assignment
In the documentary we watched in class, you were introduced to the terrible genocide known as the Holocaust. Eleven
million people of Jewish descent were killed during this unimaginable time by German Nazis. There are people who
made it out alive and have lived to tell their stories. This assignment introduces you to the setting of our next novel
study “Boy in the Striped Pajamas” by John Boyne.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has a section on their website called “Meet the Holocaust Survivors.”
Here you can scroll through 13 pages of different Holocaust survivors, read their stories, and learn about their life. Some
individuals are still alive today, and others have passed:
https://www.ushmm.org/remember/holocaust-survivors/volunteers
You can also use the website https://memoirs.azrielifoundation.org/recollection/#home|view-all and read about the
different victims of the Holocaust, some who survived and others who did not.
You will pick ONE individual to research from the websites and make notes about their story.
You will then write a speech surrounding their personal experiences during the Holocaust. This speech will be given as if
YOU were them (write in the point of view of the survivor/victim).
Below are some research questions you can answer in your speech about your chosen individual:
1. Where were they born?
2. How old were they during the Holocaust?
3. What happened to their family?
4. What are some specific events they remember about the Holocaust?
5. Any other information you found that you think is important.
You will be presenting this speech to the class on MAY 22ND, 2025
Ensure you use proper language during your speech that will not be found offensive. If you are unsure about certain
words, check with your teacher. You can have a script to read off of while you present, but ensure you are making eye
contact with your audience and using a reasonable volume level.
Outcomes 4 3 2 1
Constructs meaning and Holds attention of Consistent use of direct Displays minimal eye Holds no eye contact
makes connections entire audience with eye contact with contact with audience, with audience, as
through speaking the use of direct eye audience, but still while reading mostly entire report is read
contact, seldom looking returns to notes from the notes from notes
at notes
Speaks with Speaks with Speaks in uneven Speaks in low volume
fluctuation/change in satisfactory variation volume with little or no and/ or monotonous
volume and expression of volume and expression tone, which causes
to maintain audience expression audience to disengage
interest and emphasize
key points
Demonstrates skills Demonstrates full Has somewhat clear Attempts to define Does not have a grasp of
and processes for knowledge with purpose and subject; some purpose and subject; the information
inquiry and research explanations and examples, facts, and/or provides weak examples,
elaboration statistics that support the facts, and/ or statistics, Does not clearly define
subject; includes some which do not adequately subject and purpose;
Provides clear purpose data or evidence that support the subject; provides weak or no
and subject; pertinent supports conclusions includes very thin data or support of subject; gives
examples, facts, and/or evidence insufficient support for
statistics; supports ideas or conclusions
conclusions/ideas with
evidence
Communicates ideas Significantly increases Raises audience Raises audience Struggles to increase
in an informed and audience understanding and understanding and audience
persuasive manner understanding and awareness of most knowledge of some understanding of
knowledge of topic; points points knowledge of topic
convinces an audience
to recognize the
validity and importance
of the subject
Explores events and Demonstrates a thorough Demonstrates a clear Demonstrates some Struggles to demonstrate
issues from different and insightful understanding of the awareness of the historical understanding of the
points of view understanding of the historical context context historical context
historical context
Shows sensitivity and Sensitivity/empathy for May occasionally show A lack of sensitivity or
empathy for other points other points of view some sensitivity for other empathy for other points
of view points of view of view may be evident
