Empowering Voices Through History: A New Curriculum Inspired by The Ice Cream Man
American School of The Hague (ASH) is excited to share our involvement in the development of an innovative educational curriculum inspired by writer, director, and ASH parent Robert Moniot’s powerful, award-winning short film, The Ice Cream Man.
 
The Ice Cream Man, a film currently in contention for the Academy Award for Best Live Short Film, tells the true story of Ernst Cahn, a Jewish ice cream parlor owner who became the first person in the Netherlands to be arrested and executed by the Nazis for resistance activities.
 
Supported by the proceeds of the upcoming December 12 Red Carpet Premiere of The Ice Cream Man and in collaboration with the Anne Frank Center at the University of South Carolina, the curriculum is designed to promote critical thinking and empathy among students, empowering them to advocate against hate and stand up for the oppressed. Through a multidisciplinary approach and integrated language arts, social studies, and film & media studies, the program is a testament to ASH’s commitment to excellence in social-emotional learning.
 
Corey Harbaugh, curriculum design expert, and Holocaust scholar brings a depth of expertise that fosters meaningful learning experiences. In this interview, he discusses the curriculum’s potential to inspire students and contribute to building more empathetic societies.
 
The Heart of the Curriculum
 
The Ice Cream Man curriculum aims to transform how students engage with history, emphasizing empathy, critical thinking, and personal connection. Through storytelling and testimonials, Harbaugh seeks to humanize history and help students build stronger connections to its relevance in today’s world. Harbaugh explains, “When students encounter history through personal testimony, it fosters deeper engagement and understanding.”
 
Students experience the impact of the narrative up close as they revisit specific scenes, analyzing the director’s creative choices—such as character development, historical layering, and emotional tone. This approach encourages critical thinking about how stories are told and how media shapes our understanding of history.
 
Beyond the film, students grow their knowledge of the Holocaust’s impact in the Netherlands, and uncover lesser-known stories of resistance. Through archival testimonies and guided discussions, students turn into active participants – not passive recipients – of learning.
 
Harbaugh highlights that curiosity is key: “For today’s learners, you have to ignite their curiosity. Once you do, they use tools like historians, asking questions and drawing their own conclusions.” This curriculum blends historical knowledge with emotional intelligence, media literacy, and critical analysis. It ensures students leave with more questions than answers, sparking a lifelong passion for learning and empowering them to connect the past to the present in meaningful ways.
 
Nurturing Humanity Through Social-emotional Learning
 
At ASH, social-emotional learning is central to our mission. In a world increasingly focused on metrics and resume bullets, this program offers a vital reminder of the role humanity plays in education. The curriculum taps into students’ social-emotional development, helping them engage deeply with complex historical narratives and the moral challenges they present. Harbaugh shares: “The Ice Cream Man is a reminder of humanity in education. We’ve been so focused on outcomesthat we’ve sometimes lost sight of the human stories that define us.”
 
Bridging the Film and the Curriculum
 
With scenes in Wassenaar and Amsterdam, The Ice Cream Man brings fresh perspectives to Holocaust education. While much Holocaust curriculum focuses on Eastern Europe, this program sheds light on lesser-known stories from the Netherlands. Harbaugh notes that students often know Anne Frank, but many stories about the Holocaust’s impact in the Netherlands are yet to be discovered. Harbaugh’s intention with the curriculum is to bridge that gap, using the film as a starting point to explore stories of heroism, tragedy, and resilience unique to the region.
 
The film’s layered narrative allows students to explore not just history but also the craft of storytelling. Harbaugh, who has extensive experience with Holocaust education, highlights the film’s educational value: “It’s a beautiful and powerful piece of art. Every time I watch it, I discover new layers. It’s an incredible tool to help students develop critical thinking skills and engage with media in an active, meaningful way.”
 
Collective Support
 
Parents and the broader school community play a crucial role in bringing this vision to life. Funding this curriculum means more than enhancing academic learning; it’s an investment in character development and global citizenship.
 
By supporting this initiative, the ASH community ensures that students are equipped to question, empathize, and advocate. As Harbaugh explains, the ultimate goal is for students to leave the classroom with new questions and a desire to seek deeper information and understanding. By connecting historical studies to students’ lives and the world around them, the development of this curriculum not only honors the past but also prepares young minds to shape a more compassionate future. It is a profound reminder that education is about more than academics—it’s about fostering humanity.
 
We look forward to supporting this important initiative on December 12th at The Ice Cream Man premiere and meeting and learning with director Robert Moniot and actors Noah Emmerich and Derek de Lint. Tickets available here.