Courageous Compassion: Irena Sendler and Her Impact on the World

Courageous Compassion: Irena Sendler and Her Impact on the World

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will understand the courageous efforts of Irena Sendler and the impact of her actions on the world.

What do you already know about Irena Sendler and her contributions during World War II?

Who was Irena Sendler?

Irena Sendler was a Polish social worker who saved around 2,500 Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.

Life in the Warsaw Ghetto

The Warsaw Ghetto was a walled-off area in Warsaw, Poland, where Jewish people were forcibly confined by the Nazis during the Holocaust.

Irena's Underground Network

Irena organized a network of people to rescue Jewish children, providing them with new identities and placing them with non-Jewish families or in convents.

The Impact of Irena's Actions

Irena's bravery and compassion saved the lives of thousands of children and continues to inspire people around the world.

Recognition and Legacy

Irena Sendler's heroic actions were recognized posthumously, and she has been honored with numerous awards and memorials.

Interactive Discussion

Ask students to share their thoughts on Irena Sendler's actions and the impact of her bravery on the world.

The Power of Individual Actions

Irena Sendler's story demonstrates the profound impact that one person's courage and compassion can have on the world.

Reflection Activity

Ask students to write a brief reflection on the lesson, focusing on what they have learned from Irena Sendler's story.

Video Clip: Irena Sendler's Legacy

Show a short video clip about Irena Sendler's legacy and the impact of her actions on the lives of those she saved.

Conclusion and Takeaways

Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson and encourage students to consider how they can apply the lessons from Irena Sendler's story in their own lives.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.