Classroom pack
Teaching the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Two lessons for grades 9 to 12, ready to teach and written by a survivor. I was ten in 1994. I survived the massacre at the commune office near Butare, and I’ve spent years talking with students about what happened. This pack gives teachers accurate history, clear lessons and a survivor’s voice, with no graphic images.
20-page PDF · Grades 9 to 12 · About five class periods · Instant download after secure checkout with PayPal
Classroom pack · PDF
$19
One teacher’s classroom license
- Two complete lessons
- 11 printable claim cards
- A survivor’s voice in Kinyarwanda and English
- Print copies for your students
Secure checkout through PayPal. Your download link appears right after you pay.
Good for
- High school social studies
- World history
- English and literature
- Holocaust and genocide units
- First-year college
- Michigan Public Act 170
What’s inside
A 20-page PDF you can print or project. Used together, the parts fill about five class periods, close to the six hours Michigan recommends for genocide education in grades 8 to 12.
Teacher notes
How to prepare students, the right words to use, and what to avoid, including simulations and graphic images.
Background and timeline
A short student reading on what happened and why, and a timeline from 1933 to today with moments from my own story.
Lesson 1: What the world knew
A discussion guide for Linda Melvern’s A People Betrayed, with a reading plan, questions, UN documents to read alongside it, an activity and a writing task.
Lesson 2: Spotting genocide denial
Six common moves deniers make, 11 claim cards to sort, a fact-checking method, and a simple test for telling denial from fair criticism.
A survivor’s voice
Short passages from my own writing, with my sister’s words in Kinyarwanda and English, and questions for discussion.
Handouts and reference
A printable chart for Lesson 1, cut-out claim cards, an answer key, a glossary, sources and further reading.
Try one claim card
In Lesson 2, students sort claims like this one into denial, fair criticism or established fact.
Card F
“The UN tribunal said there was no conspiracy, so there was no genocide.”
Show the answer
Denial: twisting a court ruling. In 2008 the tribunal acquitted Théoneste Bagosora of conspiracy, for lack of proof against him, and convicted him of genocide in the same judgment.
How it works
1
Buy securely
Checkout runs through PayPal, so your payment details stay with PayPal.
2
Download right away
Your download link appears as soon as you pay, and a copy comes by email.
3
Print and teach
Print the handouts and claim cards for your class, or project the readings.
Want a survivor in your classroom?
The pack works on its own, and it works even better with a visit. I speak to classes in person in West Michigan and online anywhere, and I can connect you with other survivor speakers.
Common questions
Do students need to read A People Betrayed?
Only for Lesson 1, which is built around the book. If time is short, it names four core chapters. Lesson 2 and the survivor’s voice section stand on their own.
Will it work for middle school?
Lesson 2 and the survivor’s voice section work for older middle school students. Lesson 1 is better for grades 11 and up. Please read the pack before you teach it.
Does it include graphic images?
No. The pack uses documents, discussion and testimony, and leaves out graphic details.
Can my whole school or district use it?
One purchase covers one teacher’s classroom. For a school or district license, write to me at justicesurvivors98@gmail.com.
What if my download doesn’t work?
Email me at justicesurvivors98@gmail.com with your order details and I’ll send the file.