Night by Elie Wiesel Activity - Pyramid of Hate Slides, Article, and Assignment

Night by Elie Wiesel Activity - Pyramid of Hate Slides, Article and Assignment: Help students understand how prejudice escalates with this impactful Pyramid of Hate activity designed to deepen their historical and literary analysis of Night by Elie Wiesel. Using the Anti-Defamation League’s Pyramid of Hate as a framework, students examine how bias—left unchecked—can build from small acts of discrimination to systemic violence and genocide. Paired with a nonfiction article on the history of the Holocaust, this Night activity gives students the tools and resources to make powerful connections between Night by Elie Wiesel and real-world history.

This is included in a unit plan:
>>> Night by Elie Wiesel Unit Plan

Included in the Night by Elie Wiesel Pyramid of Hate Activity:

➡️ Pyramid of Hate Presentation Slides: Introduce students to the Pyramid of Hate with this 18-Slide PowerPoint presentation with definitions and real-world examples at each level—from biased attitudes to genocide. The presentation directly connects to events in Night by Elie Wiesel, helping students visually and conceptually understand how small acts of hate can evolve into large-scale atrocities.

➡️ Nonfiction Article – History of the Holocaust: This student-friendly article outlines the historical rise of antisemitism and the systemic persecution that led to the Holocaust. The reading provides essential background knowledge to support the analysis activity and strengthen historical context.

➡️ Night Pyramid of Hate Student Assignment: Students apply their knowledge by finding quotes from Night and facts from the article that correspond to each level of the pyramid. This organizer helps students trace the escalation of hate across the memoir and history, encouraging critical thinking and empathy.

How the Night Pyramid of Hate Activity Works:

1. Begin with the presentation to introduce the Pyramid of Hate and guide students through examples of each stage.
2. Provide the nonfiction article for students to read, either independently or in groups, to build background knowledge on the Holocaust and the progression of hate.
3. Assign the student worksheet, where students find and org quotes from Night by Elie Wiesel and facts from the article under each level of the pyramid—biased attitudes, acts of bias, systemic discrimination, bias-motivated violence, and genocide.

© Presto Plans

➡️ Want 10 free ELA resources sent to your inbox? Click here!