Social awareness is defined by the Collaborate for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) as, "the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures." To develop social awareness, students must build skills in perspective-taking, empathy, appreciating diversity, and respecting others.  source: “Core SEL Competencies.” Casel, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, 2017, https://casel.org/core-competencies/.    

This guide provides resources to build general social awareness and address Holocaust education as specified by Senate Bill 1828. The week of January 23-27, 2023 has been chosen as the date for Texas Holocaust Remembrance Week. (International Holocaust Remembrance Day is Friday, January 27th, which is the date that Auschwitz was “liberated” by Allied troops.) 

Holocaust Remembrance Week should include age-appropriate instruction. 

1. Information about the history of and lessons learned from the Holocaust;
2. Participation, in person or using technology, in learning projects about the Holocaust; 
3. The use of materials developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission. 

*Please note that the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission (THGC), like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, does not recommend explicit Holocaust instruction before 6th grade. Elementary schools may choose their own materials that cover broader themes, such as community, tolerance, being an upstander, and anti-bullying.

 Source:  Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission

Teachers and librarians may promote this curated collection of historical and contemporary stories related to the Holocaust and social awareness. 

Log in through Launchpad or use the Classlink or Sora app on your mobile device to browse and borrow these or other books in our collection.    

Teachers and librarians should also familiarize themselves with the resources and philosophy of teaching about sensitive topics as outlined in the following resources:

• Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission
  • Printable written overview of the Holocaust
  • Printable Red Flag Terms
  • Online Digital Library for Educators (ODLE)
• Guidelines for Teaching about the Holocaust