What is Testimony?
Drawing upon USC Shoah Foundation's vast library of audiovisual testimony from survivors and witnesses of genocides, Teaching with Testimony empowers students to find their voices and take action for a better future. Through engaging activities, students will explore how testimony can be leveraged to create lasting and impactful changes in our communities and beyond, as they delve into the profound personal narratives that shape our understanding of history and humanity
Educator Guides
Testimony and Civic Skills
This guide provides educators with tools for helping their students understand the power of testimony and the connection the resources have to helping students think about their own civic skills. By pairing testimonies with ready-to-use activities, students can reflect on habits and behaviors that strengthen themselves and their community.
Why Use Testimony?
In this guide, you will learn how to use testimony to empower your students through integrative learning. Incorporate firsthand testimonies from individuals who have experienced and witnessed genocide into your curriculum. This immersive approach not only fosters empathy and understanding but also provides a profound connection to history, enriching students educational experience across various subjects.
Civics Suite Activities
The Testimony and Civic Skills ready-to-use activities are designed to be student facing explorations that help students analyze the ways in which testimony can introduce and reinforce important civic skills like empathy, courage, resilience, and more. This ongoing series provides educators with flexible and more narrowly focused resources that put students in control of their own learning as they listen, analyze, and reflect on the testimonies they viewed.
Empathy
Students will engage in a structured analysis of testimonies to explore the significance of empathy in fostering positive societal contributions. They will utilize a firsthand account note catcher to organize their insights and will be encouraged to share their reflections through various mediums such as paper and pencil or digital submissions.
Courage
Students will delve into the multifaceted role of values and virtues like patriotism, respect, and courage in both personal experiences and the broader American society. Through analyzing testimonies, they aim to deepen their comprehension of demonstrating courage, aligning with the learning target to discern ways in which they can exhibit bravery in their actions and interactions.
Resilience
Students will explore the significance of values and virtues such as patriotism, civic duty, respect, and courage in both personal and societal contexts. By analyzing testimonies, they aim to grasp how resilience can be cultivated within their community, aligning with the learning target to understand their role in building resilience through collective engagement and support.
VirtualField Trip
Celebrate the power that every student has to resist injustice in their world and contribute to a better future through the decisions and actions they make today.
