Designed to assist secondary school social studies, English, and humanities teachers as they teach about the Nazi Holocaust, the first of two volumes serves as an introduction to the concept of human rights. Divided into a rationale and two units, each unit includes a statement of purpose, a list of objectives, and a group of learning activities and student materials. Because the guide is not a textbook, but rather a collection of materials and activites about the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, the learning activites are not arranged in a developmental order and may be taught in any sequence. A chart presenting a model for a two-week course of study provides lesson topics objectives, and questions. Following a rationale for studying about the Nazi Holocaust and genocide, Unit I deals with the roots of intolerance and persecution, denial of reality, indifference, prejudicial attitudes, conformity, and obedience to authority. Unit II, "Precursors of the Holocaust," focuses on genocidal theories, pseudoscientific racism, technological aspects of genocide, and a case study explaining the plight of the Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire during the deportation of 1915 to 1916. Handouts are included and guidelines for helping teachers deal with sensitive topics, design lessons, and select those readings which best fit his or her course or program are provided. (LH)