Free lesson plans and source documents that support a meaningful, inquiry-based exploration of history.

How can examining human rights atrocities help learners understand the past, interpret the present, and consider responsibilities for the future? Teaching and Learning About Human Rights Atrocities and Genocide: The Holodomor in Ukraine supports educators and learners in developing an in-depth understanding of this dark chapter in twentieth-century history using critical inquiry.

Developed in collaboration with the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium (HREC), a project of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta, with additional assistance from the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, this collection includes:

• curriculum-aligned learning materials for grades 6–12
• curated source documents with teacher notes and student tasks
• briefing sheets, image sets, activity sheets, and assessment materials

As April marks Genocide Awareness Month, these materials support meaningful, inquiry-based exploration of complex and difficult histories. Learners explore questions such as:

• What important lessons can we learn from studying the causes of human rights atrocities?
• How did the Holodomor affect individuals and communities?
• What evidence helps us understand why the Holodomor is recognized as genocide?
• What connections can be drawn between past atrocities and contemporary events?

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Photo credit: Alexander Wienerberger, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons