Breaking the Spiral
Breaking the Spiral: The Escalation of Hate During the Holocaust
The Holocaust didn’t happen overnight, there were steps along the way that allowed beliefs to lead to violence. In this program, students will explore the escalating actions and choices that paved the way for the Holocaust to happen. Using the Museum’s Spiral of Hate, students will analyze artifacts, testimony, and information to find the choices and actions that allowed hate to intensify. Students will then examine how the Spiral of Hate framework applies to the world today and support their own ideas on ways they can break the spiral.
This program includes an exploration of our Permanent Holocaust Exhibition, and the option to participate in either our Impact lab, Holocaust Testimony: Survivor and Descendant Speakers or Special Exhibition Program, when available.
Program Duration:
Program only – 2 hours
With additional experience – 3 hours 15 minutes
Maximum Number of Participants:
Program only – 75
With additional experience – 100-150
Recommended Grade Level:
7th – 12th Grade
Pricing:
Students – $6
Chaperones – one free ticket for every 10 students or $12
Dates Offering:
Spring 2027
Have any questions? Email [email protected]
Additional Information
This program is structured in three parts: a pre-workshop, a guided exploration of the Permanent Holocaust Exhibition, and a conclusion workshop with the option to add on our Impact Lab program, Holocaust Testimony: Survivor and Descendent Speaker, or, the Special Exhibition, when available.
Throughout the program, students use the Museum’s Spiral of Hate framework to identify how actions, choices, and events escalated during the Holocaust. Students begin in a pre-workshop. Museum educators will introduce the definition of the Holocaust, explain the Spiral of Hate framework, and prepare students for what they will be looking for in the exhibition. Students will discuss how beliefs, language, laws, and actions can build on one another over time escalating to genocide.
While exploring the Permanent Holocaust Exhibition, students will work in small groups to examine artifacts, survivor testimony, photographs, documents, and exhibition text to understand the progression of the Spiral of Hate. Museum educators will support students as they move through the exhibition, ask questions, and help students connect what they are seeing to the larger historical timeline of the Holocaust.
The program ends with a conclusion workshop where students will share examples they found, place them within the Spiral of Hate framework, and discuss how choices made by individuals, groups, and governments contributed to the escalation of hatred and violence. The workshop also gives students time to reflect on what it can mean to interrupt or challenge the Spiral of Hate today.
Please note, due to high demand, your students might participate in the workshop and share the space with other schools during their program.
Sample Schedule
Arrival time: Please arrive within the 15-minute window before your experience starts. Students will need time to get off the bus, go through security, and, if needed, use the restroom. If you arrive after your start time or more than 15 before your program, modifications may have to be made.
Welcome & Pre-activity workshop (20 minutes)
Session 1 (1 hour 15 minutes)- Permanent Holocaust Exhibition activity
Optional Session 2 (1 hour 15 minutes)- Additional Experience which can include the Impact Lab, Holocaust Testimony: Survivor and Descendant Speakers, or the Special Exhibition, when available
Conclusion Workshop (25 minutes)
If your group exceeds the per session limit of participants then your group will be divided in half during each session then flip and do the other activity during the second session.
Session 1 (1 hour 15 minutes)
Group A: Permanent Holocaust Exhibition Activity
Group B: Additional Experience
Session 2 (1 hour 15 minutes)
Group A: Additional Experience
Group B: Permanent Holocaust Exhibition Activity
Meet the Missouri Holocaust Mandate
All of our programming is designed up to help schools meet the Missouri Holocaust Mandate. To learn more visit Missouri Holocaust Education Mandate Resources
Additional Experiences:
Add additional experiences to your group’s visit. Please note, we only recommend picking one additional experience for an in-person field trip experience.
