1. What is genocide?
2. Ask students to list situations that might be categorized as genocides.
3. Provide students with the actual list of genocides that have occurred in the 20th century. Inform students that this is only a sampling of cases.
- What are some of the causes of genocide?
- Can genocide be prevented?
4. Hand out the article entitled "8 Stages of Genocide" and allow students some time to read through it.
*Note: Language may need to be simplified depending upon grade level of students.
5. Once students have read the article, divide students into groups of four and have the groups select a genocide that they wish to research. Prior to the selection process, teachers may wish to narrow down the list of genocides that students are able to choose from.
6. Students will be provided with library time to research their topic and produce the following:
a. A one-page summary of the selected genocide.
b. A display board that traces the history of the genocide and breaks down this history into the 8 stages of genocide (as per the article provided).
c. Optional: A symbolic emblem to represent the genocide that they have researched. This emblem will be placed on a large classroom timeline once all research projects have been completed.
7. Students will present their findings to the class.
At this time, teachers may wish to revisit the "history of the ICC" timeline (from the Introductory ICC lesson) and compare the dates of the researched genocides to the ICC timeline.
Note: Teacher may wish to develop a large timeline using mural paper. This timeline can be displayed in the school once the project is complete. Draw a long line and use today's date to mark the end of the line. Divide the line using the following significant dates:
