High school English and Holocaust Literature teacher Heather Lewis first learned about “six word stories” at an educators’ conference years ago, but could never find a way to incorporate them into her curriculum – until she discovered USC Shoah Foundation’s 100 Days to Inspire Respect program.

Inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s aggressive plan for his first 100 days in office, USC Shoah Foundation is releasing a new educational resource on IWitness for 100 days beginning January 20. The resources focus on themes of tolerance, human rights and empathy.

With her students at Mountain View High School in Mesa, Ariz., Lewis completed Day 1, an activity called My Story Matters: Power of Story, after receiving an email about 100 Days to Inspire Respect.

In the activity, students examine stories that have the power to strengthen our human connection or create deep divides leading to hate, intolerance, and violence. Through listening to personal stories told by survivors and witnesses of genocide, students deepen their understanding of how testimony counters stories of hate that isolate and dehumanize. As a result of the activity, students construct a six-word story. 

Though she had never used IWitness in class before, Lewis was impressed by the breadth and ease of the 100 Days resources and how well they address current events.

“I just fell in love with it,” Lewis said. “It’s perfect for what’s going on in our country today. There’s a lot of hate and negativity. Learning how to counter it is such an important lesson for students to learn.”

Lewis and her students enjoyed watching the testimony clips that are included in the activity, and she was proud of them for being so enthusiastic about what they learned. In fact, the students displayed their six-word stories on a bulletin board in the classroom.

“They were so willing to share [their work], and they wanted to create a wall displaying this message,” Lewis said.

As seniors almost ready to graduate, Lewis noted that the lessons they learn from 100 Days about tolerance and empathy will soon become even more relevant to them as they make their way into the adult world.

Lewis said it’s helpful to look at the 100 Days calendar to see what’s coming so she can plan how to pair activities with her future classroom activities. She hopes to continue implementing 100 Days to Inspire Respect as the program continues.

“I appreciate that these resources are easy and ready for you to use,” Lewis said. “I hope it’ll inspire other teachers. The kids are really receptive to these lessons.”