Facing History and Ourselves

Facing History and Ourselves is a character education curriculum for middle and high school students that aims to promote core character education values and develop moral reasoning skills. Students examine historical events, particularly those leading to World War II and the Holocaust, through readings from the Facing History and Ourselves Resource Book: Holocaust and Human Behavior, films with study guides, guest speakers (such as Armenian, Cambodian, and Holocaust survivors), literature, and journal writing. The typical unit runs 4-8 weeks or a semester and includes class discussions about identity, group membership, obligations to others, and individual decision-making in society. Teachers participate in professional development seminars including an intensive five- or six-day Summer Institute and apply the content and approaches to their own teaching. The developer provides follow-up classroom support during the school year in person, by phone and email, and on the website, as well as through conferences, seminars, and online discussions.