Fragments In Focus
A History of the Holocaust
New Digital Exhibition Available at fragmentsinfocus.ca.
Fragments in Focus: A History of the Holocaust (Fragments), is a new bilingual online teaching resource developed by the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) for teaching about the Holocaust in BC classrooms. Fragments in Focus is aligned with BC’s Social Studies 10 curriculum, and the BC Ministry of Education has supported this work. The website is designed for students in Grades 6–12 and combines curated primary sources with historical text, integrated learning activities, and structured teacher support. The diverse range of primary sources that populate the site—artefacts, photographs, letters, documents and survivor testimonies—focus a deeply human lens on the history of the Holocaust and help students engage directly with the past.
Extensive, Unique Primary Sources
The site presents over 160 original items from the VHEC collection, fragments of history which once belonged to survivors, eyewitnesses and historians in British Columbia. They are organized into 19 themes that cover key topics and reflect diverse perspectives, including victims, perpetrators, bystanders, resistors, and rescuers.
Interactive Features
High-resolution 3D models allow students to examine select artefacts from all angles, revealing details even a physical museum visit would not. An interactive map allows students to trace a family’s escape, while a timeline lets them situate artefacts within broader historical events. Related materials—such as letters, photographs, testimonies, and translations—add context to individual artefacts.
Organized for Learning
Content is arranged into three chronological eras: Pre-War Life, the Holocaust, and Aftermath. Each era features a historical overview, a reflection video by a historian, and thematic galleries illustrated by primary sources. This structure supports understanding of historical progression, context, and community responses over time.
Integrated Student Activities
Each thematic gallery includes a classroom-ready activity that prompts engagement with primary sources and application of historical thinking skills. Students are encouraged to analyze evidence, interpret context, consider multiple perspectives, and reflect on ethical dimensions of history. Activities align with the BC Grade 10 Social Studies curriculum but can be adapted for Grades 6–12+.
Comprehensive Teacher Support
The downloadable teacher’s guide explains internationally recognized guidelines for Holocaust education and offers practical advice for using primary sources to achieve pedagogical goals. The website is supported by the VHEC’s education experts who provide advice, training, and resources to teachers using the site.
Flexible and Accessible
Fully bilingual in English and French, Fragments meets current accessibility standards, ensuring usability for people of all abilities and on any device. Teachers can deliver a complete Holocaust unit or use selected thematic segments to supplement existing lessons. The resource is equally effective for in-class projection, independent or group work, and online learning.
Download Companion Teacher’s Guide & Lesson Plans
Fragments is a bilingual online teaching resource developed by the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) for teaching about the Holocaust. Supported by the BC Ministry of Education for use in BC classrooms, the website is designed for students in Grades 6–12 and combines curated primary sources with historical text, integrated learning activities, and structured teacher support.
English
Student Activities
Teacher's Guide
A History of the Holocaust
Français
Activités pour les élèves
Guide de l'enseignant
Une histoire de l'Holocauste
Why Use Fragments In Your Classroom?
Primary sources are invaluable for helping students understand historical events in a direct and personal way. Instead of relying solely on secondary interpretations, students get to see the actual traces of the past. This makes history tangible and real, bridging the gap between abstract historical narratives and the lived experiences of individuals.
Presenting these primary sources in a well-organized, themed structure helps guide students through complex historical content. By dividing the material into the eras and themes, students can see the sequence of events, understand cause and effect, recognize continuity and the change, and place individual experiences within the broader historical framework.
The website is designed with educational intent. The text and materials are curated at an eighth-grade reading level, making them accessible and age-appropriate for middle and high school students. This accessibility is crucial for fostering engagement. When students can understand and relate to the material, they’re more likely to develop a meaningful connection to the history being taught. It also helps teachers who may not be specialists in Holocaust studies by giving them reliable, ready-to-use resources.
Fragments supports critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. By encountering primary sources, students are encouraged to ask their own questions, consider multiple perspectives, and develop a more nuanced understanding of history. This kind of learning fosters not just historical knowledge, but also empathy and moral reasoning. Students learn not only what happened but why it matters.
The new digital exhibition is available at fragmentsinfocus.ca.
The VHEC will offer professional development sessions to introduce the Fragments website and other new VHEC teaching resources to support educators as they implement the updated Social Studies 10 curriculum:
Vancouver, Sept 19
Richmond, Sept 22
Burnaby (BCSSTA Conference), Oct 24
Kelowna, Oct 24
Prince George, Nov 10
Vancouver, Nov 21
Nanaimo, Dec 5
Victoria, February 13
Contact us at education@vhec.org to sign up for a professional development session or request to have one held in your local district.
