Oak Mountain Middle School students create butterflies for Holocaust Children’s Memorial

Oak Mountain Middle School sixth grade students and their social studies teachers paid homage to the 1.5 million children who lost their lives in the Holocaust. Under the guidance of teachers Christy Holt, Carla Higginbotham, Chris Wood, and interventionist Gretchen Luenberger, the students used a variety of mixed mediums to create 404 butterflies.

The butterflies are being sent to the Holocaust Museum Houston to be added to their collection of 1.5 million handmade butterflies that will represent each victim. This exhibit will be a lasting visual representation of these children and is currently scheduled to open in Spring 2014. The museum has already collected an estimated 900,000 butterflies.

This project is even more meaningful to Luenberger. Her grandfather and great aunt were Holocaust survivors who escaped from Germany, and many others of her family perished during this horrific event.

The Oak Mountain Middle School Social Studies Department dedicated this project in remembrance of Luenberger’s family as well as millions of others who lost family members during the Holocaust.