2012-2013 Chronological Resources
(Key: E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, TR = Teacher Resources)
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
2 180th anniversary of the Battle of Bad Axe, a conflict between the US and Native Americans. The Battle of Bad Axe was the final Battle of the Black Hawk War, a war between White settlers and militia in Illinois and the Michigan Territory on one side, and the Sauk and Fox tribes under Chief Black Hawk. The end of the war allowed much of Illinois and present-day Wisconsin to be opened for further settlement.
The Black Hawk War of 1832, by James Lewis. This project presents articles and searchable primary source materials describing the Black Hawk War of 1832. (M) http://bit.ly/vXOGy1
4 70th anniversary of the riot at the internment camp in Santa Anita. Inmates at the Santa Anita “Assembly Center” (where Japanese people were forced to live in converted horse stables during WWII) rioted against military personnel while they conducted an unannounced search for contraband items such as radios and Japanese language books. Military police brought in tanks and guns to end the incident.
Densho. Densho’s mission is to preserve the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during WWII. Includes lesson plans based on these testimonies. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/aeM9K3
Children of the Camps: WWII Internment Timeline. This website includes historical documents, pictures, a timeline, and detailed information about WWII internment camps. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tUcc4T
5 50th anniversary of the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela. Mandela, an anti-Apartheid activist in South Africa, was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, for which he served more than a quarter century in prison. After his release he helped bring about the end of Apartheid and served as the first president of post-Apartheid South Africa
Mandela lesson plan, by Oxfam. Explore the life of Nelson Mandela and the differences between biography and autobiography with these materials for English and Literacy. (M)http://bit.ly/f6GQ47
8 Eid al-fitr begins at sundown on 8/7 (Islam). Eid Al-Fitr, meaning “Feast of Fast-Breaking” is one of the major holidays of Islam and comes at the end of the holy month of Ramadan to celebrate the end of fasting. It is often celebrated over the course of three days, with the first day marking the end of Ramadan. The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eye. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being debated.
Islamic Celebrations, by Teachers’ Domain. In this video from Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, members of the Islamic Center of Washington, DC discuss the religious and spiritual significance of the Eid Al-Fitr annual event. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/uFXEix
BBC Schools: Guide to Ramadan. This site includes basic information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, as well as links to lesson plans intended to help students understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim people. A lesson on Islamic art is included here. Follow links to “BBC Food” for information on Eid al-Fitr around the globe. (E, M, H) http://bbc.in/bFTw84
The Arab World in the Classroom: An Introduction to lslam, by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. An Introduction to Islam is a 16-page reader-friendly guide that can be downloaded for free to share with teachers and students. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/islam411
12 International Youth Day. International Youth Day, created by the UN, is designed to draw attention to cultural and legal issues surrounding youth.
Youth Media Info Center, by the FreeChild Project. One way for students to participate in International Youth Day is to use media to examine their world and the issues they face and to tell their own stories. This website provides a list of youth media organizations, resources and publishers to support your students’ projects. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/rXTS9k
14 170th anniversary of the ending of the Second Seminole War. The Second Seminole War (1835-1842) was the longest and most expensive war ever fought against Native Americans. Threatened by US military efforts to forcibly relocate their tribe, the Seminole joined forces with their Black Seminole neighbors, descendants of freed or escaped black slaves. At the war’s end many Native Americans were forced to move West, but some were allowed to stay in a reservation in Southern Florida.
The Cherokee/Seminole Removal Role Play. The role play encourages students to explore the dynamics that led to Native American forced relocation from the inside. As they portray individuals in some of the groups that shaped these historical episodes, the aim is for them to see not only what happened, but why it happened—and perhaps to wonder whether there were alternatives. (M, H) http://bit.ly/vT0KrP
The Relocation of Native Americans in Florida. A lesson plan detailing the United States’ attempt to relocate Native American tribes, specifically Seminoles, in Florida. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/rZ5fYn
23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. This day was designated by UNESCO to memorialize the transatlantic slave trade. The date honors the 1791 slave rebellion in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic), an uprising that would play a crucial role in the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.
Resources on Remembering the Slave Trade, by Human Rights Education Association. A rich collection of links to study guides, websites and other links for teaching about abolitionism and the slave trade in the United States as well as materials on modern day slavery. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/cuCQFH
A Forgotten History: The Slave Trade and Slavery in New England. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that examines slavery in New England and the effects of the trade on slaves and slavery for the new Americans of the time. Materials include videos, graphic organizers, lesson plans, and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/uyVzP3
Follow the Drinking Gourd, by Jeanette Winter. Follow the Drinking Gourd tells the story of “Peg Leg Joe” who went to different plantations teaching slaves a folksong whose lyrics contained directions for following the Underground Railroad to freedom. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/shKZd6
Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt, by Deborah Hopkinson. Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt is about a young slave who plays an unusual part in the Underground Railroad. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/vttMaJ
24 Howard Zinn, historian and civil rights activist, born (1922-2010). Zinn, a White historian, was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement and argued against both the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. Zinn also wrote A People’s History of the United States, which details historical events from the viewpoint of the common American.
The Website of Howard Zinn. This official site includes tributes and links to many of Zinn’s projects, including video clips from The People Speak, print and video interviews and more. (H)http://bit.ly/d62in0
A People’s History of the United States: Abridged Teaching Edition: The Civil War to the Present. Abridged Teaching Edition of A People’s History of the United States has made Howard Zinn’s original text available specifically for classroom use. Each chapter in Volume II provides exercises and teaching materials that allow students to begin a critical inquiry into the American past. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/sXFVj1
You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train, First Run Films. This documentary traces Zinn’s amazing life. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/vFrUIf
26 10th anniversary of Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. This law, aimed at animal rights activists, prohibits people from interfering with “animal enterprise,” which includes businesses and universities that use or sell animals or animal products. It brands these activities as terrorism although no one has been killed or seriously injured in the name of animal advocacy. The Act provides severe penalties for nonviolent illegal activities such as civil disobedience.
Animal Rights Weekend Warrior, by Ingrid E. Newkirk. Created by the cofounder of PETA, this set of cards offers 52 projects that help animals. Each card describes a different way children can improve the life of an animal, or to effect change for thousands of animals—whether it’s cheering up a lonely “backyard dog,” “veganizing” a cafeteria, educating your neighbors or providing your local birds with a bath. (E, M) http://amzn.to/vzuuJ8
Equal Justice Alliance Website. The Equal Justice Alliance is a coalition formed in October of 2006 to preserve freedom of speech and assembly by attempting to stop the passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA). (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vxxhuM
27 Mary Anderson, labor leader and women’s rights advocate, born (1872-1964). Anderson, a labor leader that advocated for women in the workplace, was the first director of the Women’s Bureau of the US Department of Labor and served for five presidents. Through her efforts, Anderson saw the number of women workers more than double.
Women Deserve Equal Pay, by the National Organization of Women. For full-time, year-round workers, women are paid on average only 78 percent of what men are paid; for women of Color, the gap is significantly wider. This website includes information and activities to address the pay gap. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/8fjvZy
30 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tuskegee Syphilis study. From 1932 to 1972, poor, rural Black men infected with syphilis, a fatal disease, were denied treatment so doctors could study the progression of the disease. The men who participated in this study thought they were getting free health care from the US government and were not told they had the disease. Twenty-eight men died as a direct result of syphilis, 100 died of related complications, 40 wives were infected, and 19 children were born with congenital syphilis.
Miss Evers’ Boys, directed by Joseph Sargent. Miss Evers’ Boys is a 1997 HBO television film starring Alfre Woodard and Laurence Fishburne, based on the true story of the decades-long Tuskegee experiment. Streams on YouTube, or can be purchased as a DVD. (H) http://bit.ly/uX8GJx
31 Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, journalist and civil rights advocate, born (1842-1924). Ruffin was an African-American publisher, journalist, civil rights advocate, suffragist and editor of Women’s Era, which went on to become the first newspaper published by an African-American woman. She used her writing to support the women’s suffrage movement and to speak out against racism. She also wrote for numerous other newspapers, magazines, and publications and founded the Women’s Era Club.
Address to the First National Conference of Colored Women, by Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin. This speech given at the first meeting of the Women’s Era Club shows the importance of women’s clubs and how these clubs were a vital component of the social justice movement. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tHQ3h2
Women’s Work: An Untold Story of the Civil Rights Movement, by Putting the Movement back into Civil Rights Teaching. This lesson allows students to explore the important and extensive role of women in the Civil Rights Movement and highlights the fact that participation of women crossed racial and ethnic lines. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/epER41
September
1 40th anniversary of the first national convention of the Raza Unida Party. The Raza Unida Party, organized by Chicano activists in Texas in 1970, sought better housing, job, and educational opportunities for Mexican-Americans. The party developed in many other states and held its first national meeting on this date.
Latino American/Chicano Studies, by PBS Teachers. This site offers lesson plans, activity ideas, and media resources on the topics concerning Latino American/Chicano studies such as culture, immigration and civil and human rights. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/rpInpD
1 90th anniversary of the Daugherty Injunction, an anti-labor judicial decree. A federal judge issued a drastic injunction against striking, assembling, picketing and other union activities in response to a major, nationwide strike by railroad shop workers. The strike eventually died out and shop workers had to accept pay cuts.
Whose Fruits and Just Desserts?, by Dawn J. Bixby Saari. Students will examine the causes and consequences of labor strife between 1900 and 1920, taking into consideration the needs and wants of labor and the reactions of “capital.” (H) http://bit.ly/uBfuys
Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin. This children’s book addresses labor conflict and resolution through the story of a fictional farmer whose cows start making demands. (E)http://bit.ly/rvRF1a
3 130th anniversary of the first Labor Day Celebration. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882. An estimated 10,000 workers marched in the parade. The holiday emerged from the ranks of organized labor at a time when they wanted to demonstrate the strength of their burgeoning movement and inspire improvements in their working conditions.
Who Built America: Working People and the Nation’s History, by the American Social History Project. A two-volume textbook examining the history of the United States from the perspective of working people accompanied by a collection of videos. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uLUcIN
40 Books about labor, compiled by The Cooperative Children’s Book Center. A bibliography of 40 children’s books about labor. (E, M) http://bit.ly/aCGFjS
Work, Workers & the U.S. Labor Movement, by Emma Rose Roderick. An eight-lesson activity for fifth grade social studies helps students explore issues of work and workplace conflicts through reading, discussion, interviews, and investigation. (E) http://bit.ly/t5KvcH
The First Labor Day, by the Library of Congress. This website details the events of the first Labor Day celebration and contains links to other resources such as photographs and prints. (M, H, TR)http://1.usa.gov/49Ga8f
7 90th anniversary of Brazil declaring its independence from Portugal. After a series of setbacks, Britain and Portugal finally recognized Brazilian independence by signing a treaty on August 29, 1825.
Brazil: From Colony to Democracy, by The Choices Program. This site provides supplemental materials that can be used to teach about Brazil, from Portuguese colonialism through present-day Brazil. Materials include graphic organizers, videos, student activities and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/sSMKHP
8 International Literacy Day
Why Did This Happen? Content Perspective, Dialogue: A Workshop Model for Developing Young People’s Reflective Writing, by Susan Wilcox, Ed.D. This curriculum from The Brotherhood/Sister Sol helps young people engage in critical inquiry, develop a love of learning and transform their lives. (TR) http://bit.ly/sJmlpi
Guys Read, by Jon Scieszka. This website has resources to support boys to develop a love of reading. (TR) http://bit.ly/czNzT
Teaching for Joy and Justice, by Linda Christensen. This book reveals what happens when a teacher treats all students as intellectuals, instead of intellectually challenged. Through story upon story, Christensen demonstrates how she draws on students’ lives and the world to teach poetry, essay, narrative and critical literacy skills. (TR) http://bit.ly/vtl2xg
10 Medea Benjamin, political activist, born (1952). Benjamin spent many years working as a nutritionist and economist for multiple councils, including the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. In 1988, Benjamin co-founded Global Exchange in San Francisco, aimed at finding and supporting fair trade alternatives. Benjamin also co-founded the feminist anti-war group Code Pink: Women for Peace.
Global Exchange Website. The Global Exchange website is a wealth of resources for learning more about how the global economy works, who are the players, how do they make decisions, who benefits, and who suffers. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/twugJA
15 30th anniversary of a protest that helped launch the environmental justice movement. State officials in North Carolina had selected Warren County, a predominantly low-income African American community, as the site to bury PCB-contaminated soil. When four years of litigation and negotiation failed to halt project, local citizens marched to the landfill and lay down in front of trucks, launching six weeks of civil disobedience. The toxic soil was buried anyway, but the protests helped launch a movement that brought together the fight against race and class injustice with the environmental movement.
Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood, by PBS. This science lesson helps students investigate how chemicals negatively affect neighborhoods. The lesson includes role-playing ideas and links to the EPA. (M, H) http://to.pbs.org/9EGzAq
Environmental Justice: Warren County, NC PCB Archives. This website chronicles the history leading up to and including the six-week protest campaign. (M, H) http://bit.ly/vlpQhK
15 First day of Latino Heritage Month. Latino Heritage Month begins on September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
The ABCs of Teaching about Latino Heritage Month, by Teaching Tolerance. A compilation of essays, lessons, videos and activities to help students gain a deeper understanding of past and present struggles for Latino civil rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/d5lMXr
¡Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History, by the Southwest Organizing Project and Collision Course Video Productions. Based on the book 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, edited by Elizabeth Martínez, this two-part video in English offers a compelling introduction to the history of Mexican-American people. (M, H) http://amzn.to/ICPLKF
17 First anniversary of the start of Occupy Wall Street. Based in Zuccotti Park on Wall Street in New York City, OWS was a series of demonstrations protesting social and economic inequality, corporate greed and the power and influence of corporations, particularly from the financial service sector. By Oct. 9, similar protests were going on in 70 major cities and internationally, other “occupy” protests modeled themselves after OWS in over 900 cities.
Occupy Movement Political Education Workshop, by Build the Wheel. This site offers a list of curriculum and resources helpful to use for political education. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/ntlFvi
Occupy Wall Street: Background & International Context, by Mark Engler. In this lesson, students use two readings from the OWS protests to think critically about the issues raised. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/ncRSfC
We are the 99%: Occupy Wall Street Protest, by Jinnie Spiegler. In this lesson, students will learn about OWS including the meaning of 99%, wealth and wealth disparity, and what some of the protestors want. (E) http://bit.ly/qcnyMg
Resources I’m Using to Discuss Occupy Wall Street, by Stephen Lazar. On this page of his blog, Lazar, a Social Studies and English teacher in Brooklyn, shares the resources he’s using to discuss OWS with his students. (TR) http://bit.ly/qxo6Uh
U.S. Economic Inequality is rising. What can we do about it?, by Julie Weiss. In this lesson, students will examine the 2011 Pew Research Center report as well as other data that shows the overall economic inequality in the US. This will allow them to explore systemic factors that maintain and further economic inequality and discuss strategies to combat it. (TR) http://bit.ly/nWjkLk
Who are the 99%? Ways to Teach About Occupy Wall Street, by Sarah Kavanagh, Holly Epstein Ojalvo and Katherine Schulten. In this lesson, students are introduced to Occupy Wall Street, then investigate the movement more deeply through articles, pictures, photographs, video, slogans, quizzes and more. (TR) http://nyti.ms/ogNEcj
21 First anniversary of the execution of Troy Anthony Davis. Despite overwhelming doubts about his guilt, Davis was executed by the state of Georgia in 2011. In 1991, Davis was convicted of murdering police officer Mark MacPhail and maintained his innocence during the twenty years between his conviction and execution.
Teach Troy Davis, by Educators for Troy. This site offers information, videos, resources, assignment and project ideas and more that can be used to teach about the case of Troy Davis. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/qpmqib
Death Penalty: What is it? What do we think about it?, by Marieke van Woerkom. Through this lesson, students will study Troy Davis’ case and explore different perspectives and facts about the death penalty. Resources include facts, readings, video links, and more. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/pSZhOi
22 20th anniversary of National Law Publication’s report “Unequal Environmental Protection.” The special report chronicles the double standards and differential treatment of people of Color and Whites in environmental protection. The report showed that White communities received faster cleanup and harsher punishment of polluters than communities of Color, regardless of the socioeconomic makeup of the communities.
Environmental Justice, by Jenna Thomas and Eli Il Yong Lee. This workshop expresses the intersectionality of environmental injustice and presents the history and root causes of environmental justice. It includes a symbolic role-play that will help youth visualize the elements of environmental debates between corporations and community organizers. This lesson is free, but you have to register with buildthewheel.org to access it. (H) http://bit.ly/rTJ14v
What the (Bleep) is the Green Economy?, by Green for All. This video introduces young people to the green economy movement and how it has the potential to impact environmental racism while providing jobs for low-income communities of Color. (M, H) http://bit.ly/ij8lfG
Introducing Kids to the Idea of Environmental Racism, by Teaching Tolerance. Poor and minority neighborhoods are the ones most likely to face environmental hazards. These lessons help your students grasp the impact of environmental racism and the environmental justice movement. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/natrace
Editorial Cartoons: Poverty/Environmental Justice, by Teaching Tolerance. Through analysis of a political cartoon, students will understand the impact of inequality on environmental justice. (M, H)http://bit.ly/ttcartoon
22 World Carfree Day
An Inconvenient Truth. This film explores Al Gore’s commitment to expose the myths and misconceptions that surround global warming and inspire actions to prevent it. The site includes a study guide and interactive activities. (H) http://bit.ly/sw1Unz
The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge, by Joanna Cole. In The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge, Ms. Frizzle and her students study climate change, observe carbon emissions and explore alternative energy sources. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/vVzjjR
Why Are the Ice Caps Melting?, by Anne Rockwell. This book offers young students information about the greenhouse effect, how global warming is affecting the planet, and ways in which readers can fight global warming. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/vuuSCG
23 90th anniversary of the end of US occupation of the Dominican Republic. In an attempt to prevent European control of what would become the Panama Canal, President Roosevelt obtained an agreement with the Dominican Republic in 1905 to control Dominican customs. Following the Dominican president’s assassination in 1911, the US took control of the nation in 1916. The Hughes-Peynado agreement was signed in 1922 to end occupation.
The Dominican Republic, by Anne Callin, Ruth Glasser, and Jocelyn Santana. A collection of essays, oral histories, poetry, fiction, analysis, interviews, primary documents, timelines, maps and interactive and interdisciplinary teaching aids on the history, politics, and culture of the fourth largest Latino community in the United States. (M, H) http://bit.ly/w3ZM8b
25 Cherríe Moraga, publisher and writer, born (1952). Moraga, whose writing focuses on her experiences as a Chicana lesbian, co-founded the first publishing company dedicated to the writings of women of Color in the US.
Cherríe Moraga website. Website provides information on Moraga, her projects and upcoming appearances. (TR) http://bit.ly/sBqhzw
26 Gloria Anzaldúa, writer and scholar of Chicano culture, born (1942-2004). Anzaldúa was a leading scholar of Chicano cultural theory and Queer theory. She wrote and edited several works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction on these topics.
Exploring Borderlands, by American Passages. As part of a larger unit, this series of lessons focuses on Anzaldúa’s concept of a new “mestiza” consciousness and borderlands. Includes some background and activities. (H) http://bit.ly/uzlZCd
26 20th anniversary of the first Critical Mass bike ride in the US. Critical Mass rides are gatherings of cyclists at a set time to travel together through a city or town. The first ride was held in San Francisco and was originally called Commute Clot.
Have Wheels, Will Travel, by YES! Magazine. A visual learning exercise that introduces students to bamboo bicycles. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/ca96cb
What is Critical Mass?, by Time’s Up. Gives some history and background for Critical Mass and information about its goals and how to get involved. The Second link is a Wiki for CM rides around the globe. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/nz8nux
Tools for Life: A Start-Up Guide for Youth Recycling & Bicycling Programs, by Transportation Alternatives. This website has a guide for helping youth to start bicycle recycling programs based on the successful NYC Recycle-a Bicycle program. Includes curricula and resources. (H) http://bit.ly/cC94Dh
27 50th anniversary of the publication of Silent Spring. Silent Spring, written by Rachel Carson, has been credited with launching the environmental movement and contributing to the ban on DDT 10 years later. Carson accused the chemical industry of spreading disinformation, and public officials of accepting industry claims uncritically.
Bill Moyers Journal Unit on Silent Spring. This is a lesson plan designed for middle to high school classrooms, which focuses on the first chapter of Silent Spring. (M, H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/tjT0B4
Heroes of the Environment, by Harriet Rohmer. Heroes of the Environment contains 12 true stories of people across North America doing things to help the environment. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/ufsBfz
30 First day of Banned Books Week.
IndyKids. The Nov/Dec 2008 issue of IndyKids features a piece about an activity a New York library did with its students to celebrate Banned Books Week. (E, M) http://bit.ly/tkbpYP
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read, by American Library Association. American Library Association page on Banned Books Week including events, lists of banned books and ideas for action. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/xBuZJ
30 50th anniversary of the first National Farm Workers Association convention. Hundreds of delegates gathered in Fresno, CA for the convention. The NFWA later merged with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee to become the United Farm Workers of America, which organized boycotts of grapes, and after five years of struggle, finally won a contract with major grape growers in California.
Food, by The Change Agent. This issue of The Change Agent features articles and activities that explore how the food choices we make impact the lives of people around the world, our environment, and the planet. Also includes articles about the farmworkers and the grape boycott, and a Chavez timeline. The resource is available after free registration at: http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/backissues.htm. (TR) http://bit.ly/IVjT5N
Got Food? Thank a Farmworker. A collection of classroom discussion questions and additional resources related to farmworkers. (E, M) http://bit.ly/2sLs4I
October
1 World Vegetarian Day/First Day of Vegetarian Awareness Month
Chew on This. This book, accompanied by a teachers’ guide, gives a behind the scenes perspective on the fast food industry and how fast food companies feed off of young families and young adults. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/v7dqp4
The Meatrix Trilogy. The Meatrix is a four-minute online animation that spoofs the Matrix movie trilogy while educating viewers about the problems with industrial agriculture and today’s meat supply. The website provides a wealth of resources about sustainable food and healthy living. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/JC9bM
1 First day of LGBT History Month/Coming Out Month
Safe Schools Coalition Month-by-Month Planning Page. Month-by-month planning provides information and lessons that speak to the intersections between LGTBQI history and other heritage months. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/j5FQX
Welcoming Schools. Welcoming Schools is a guide for administrators, educators, parents and guardians who want to strengthen their school’s approach to family diversity, gender stereotyping and bullying. It is specifically designed for use in K-5 learning environments and is inclusive of LGBTQI families and individuals in the broader context of diversity. (E) http://bit.ly/bN8CiT
Popular Education: LGBT Issues, by Californians for Justice. This workshop helps participants break down the idea of a gender binary, understand the connection between sexism and heterosexism/transphobia, and gain a deeper understanding of transgender issues. The materials are free, but you must register to use www.buildthewheel.org to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/vQguOx
Acting Out: Combating Homophobia Through Teacher Activism, by Mollie V. Blackburn, Caroline T. Clark, Lauren M. Kenney, and Jill M. Smith. This book chronicles how teachers from urban, suburban and rural districts joined together in a teacher inquiry group to challenge homophobia and heterosexism in schools and classrooms. (TR) http://amzn.to/J74c6r
And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, and Henry Cole. This book is based on two male penguins in New York’s Central Park Zoo who became a couple and were given an egg to raise. The most banned book of 2009, And Tango Makes Three has won many awards and has been at the center of numerous censorship and culture war debates on same-sex marriage, adoption and homosexuality in animals. (E) http://bit.ly/cupJUa
1 First day of Disability Employment Awareness Month
Disability Social History Project. This site contains a wealth of information including a list of “Famous and Not So Famous” people with disabilities, a timeline and a history of the word “handicapped” via the Serendipity link. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/eH6WGA
Disability History Museum. This site was designed “to promote understanding about the historical experience of people with disabilities by recovering, chronicling, and interpreting their stories.” This searchable collection offers documents and images related to disability history in the United States. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/JAD9r
Education for Disability and Gender Equity. More resources as well as detailed lessons related to physics, biology, government and culture. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/slt193
4 Bernice Johnson Reagon, singer and activist, born (1942). Reagon founded the a capella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, an African-American women’s ensemble whose work draws largely from Black sacred music traditions. Reagon, a Civil Rights Movement activist, promoted ideas of justice and freedom through her music.
Sweet Chariot: The Story of the Spirituals. This site includes articles, videos and audio clips related to the history of Spirituals. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/v6x0dl
Sweet Honey In The Rock Teacher Resource Guide. While this guide was originally designed to accompany a live performance, the K-12 lesson plans and background information can be used with a Sweet Honey in the Rock CD. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/w91mCa
Bernice Johnson Reagon, by Bill Moyers. Bill Moyers interviews Reagon about the meaning and history of music in the African-American experience. (E, M, H) http://to.pbs.org/umrPK4
5 World Teachers’ Day. World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers in 1966.
Granito de Arena/Grain of Sand; Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad/A Little Bit of So Much Truth; Desde el Filo de la Navaja/From the Edge of the Blade. Three films that document different aspects of community based movement against state government in Oaxaca. The first film documents the three decades long struggle by the teachers’ union to democratize their union. The other films specifically focus on the 2006 “rebellion,” which led to the temporary toppling of the state government. (TR) http://bit.ly/sKfd21 http://bit.ly/uVWryq http://imdb.to/tdXYDh
7 11th anniversary of the War in Afghanistan. US and allied forces attacked Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The war, which was supposed to destroy terrorist training grounds, was still ongoing at the time of this printing.
Whose Terrorism?, by Bill Bigelow. This lesson uses fictional countries to engage students in critical analysis of terms such as ‘terrorism’ and ‘patriotic’ and the ways they are being used for political ends. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/w1VdDn
Conscientious Objection: Youth and Militarism, by the American Friends Service Committee. The American Friends website has a host of materials about militarism, alternatives to the military, counter-recruitment and conscientious objection. (H) http://bit.ly/5I6ff
Media Construction of War: A Critical Reading of History, by Project Look Sharp. Includes a 125-page kit that analyzes Newsweek coverage of the Vietnam War, Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. Students will learn core information about the wars in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, how media influences public opinion of current events, and how to ask key media literacy questions and identify bias in the news. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/bKAvnb
Teaching with the News: The United States in Afghanistan: Analyzing Political Cartoons, by The Choices Program. This lesson allows students to analyze a series of political cartoons to understand different viewpoints on US involvement in Afghanistan. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9EeGIe
The United States in Afghanistan, by The Choices Program. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that brings students into the policy debate about the US presence in Afghanistan. Materials include graphic organizers, videos, maps, images, and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/rOtp9Q
8 Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus Day Observed)
Rethinking Columbus, edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. 90+ lessons, interviews, poems, etc. that re-evaluate the myth of Columbus and issues of indigenous people. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/hJjxBA
1492, a song by Nancy Schimmel. A great song to use to teach about Columbus’ arrival from the Native American perspective. (E) http://bit.ly/unw71d
11 National Coming Out Day. National Coming Out Day is an internationally-observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues.
Safe Schools Coalition. An incredible wealth of resources for educators for supporting LGBT youth and creating safer school environments. Explore the entire site, or use the link for specific resources on coming out. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9FQkmx
The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project operates a nationwide crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGTBQ youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives through its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/uYuV7o
12 220th anniversary of the first celebration of Columbus Day in the US. The first celebration, held in New York and other US cities, commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus landing in the “New World.” Although people celebrated the event since the colonial period, Columbus Day didn’t become an official state holiday until 1906 in Colorado. It became a federal holiday in 1937.
Transform Columbus Day. Transform Columbus Day is an alliance of social justice groups who are committed to challenging traditional ethnocentric views of Columbus as pioneer and sole discoverer of the Americas. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/3syjAe
12 520th anniversary of Columbus landing in the “New World.” When the Italian explorer arrived on the island of Guanahani (now the Bahamas), he got a friendly reception from the Native people, the Taíno. Columbus’ men later captured some of them and sold them into slavery. This initial encounter was the first step in the European conquest of the Americas, which led to the mass death of Native peoples and the decimation of Native cultures.
Reconsider Columbus Day, presented by Nu Heightz Cinema. This short PSA asks people to reconsider whether the crimes of Columbus should be celebrated. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9ILuXF
The People vs. Columbus, et al., by Bill Bigelow. This role-play begins with the premise that a monstrous crime was committed in the years after 1492, when perhaps as many as three million or more Taínos on the island of Hispaniola lost their lives. It’s a free download excerpted from Rethinking Columbus. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/hRdbSf
14 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The discovery by President John F. Kennedy of a Soviet nuclear missile instillation in Cuba prompted a major standoff between the two nations, bringing them to the brink of nuclear war. The conflict was resolved after the Soviets agreed to remove their weapons in exchange for a promise by the US not to invade Cuba.
The Cuban Missile Crisis: Considering its Place in Cold War History, by The Choices Program. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that examines the Cuban missile crisis and the relationship between the US and Cuba. Materials include videos, lesson plans and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/s5OtiG
15 White Cane Day. White Cane Day celebrates the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the importance of the white cane as a symbol of independence.
The Sound of Colors, A Journey of the Imagination, by Jimmy Liao. The story follows the narrator, a woman who has lost her sight, through her journey around the city. She navigates the subway and the city she knows, with language and description that tap into her imagination, as well as her innermost thoughts and feelings. (E) http://bit.ly/tmY4A1
16 World Food Day. World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16 in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.
How’d That Get on My Plate?, by the Institute for Humane Education. Everybody eats, but how often do we stop to think about how the food on our plates got there? This lesson encourages participants to explore how sample ingredients in our food might affect the environment, people and animals, and what humane alternatives might exist. (M, H) http://bit.ly/vAXtU6
IndyKids Summer 2009, by IndyKids. This issue of the progressive newspaper for kids includes a special feature on food justice. There is also a teacher’s guide. (E, M) http://bit.ly/uYRfsf
The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Young Readers Edition: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, by Michael Pollan. Based on Pollan’s best-selling adult book of the same title, this version is written for teens. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/utIarp
Food First: Institute for Food and Development Institute. A list of books published by the Institute for Food and Development that examine the connections between human rights, social justice and food. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/viRzGF
Food, Inc. Classroom Discussion Guide, by TakePart.org. This guide, to be used with Food, Inc., helps students connect the issues behind mass production of food and abuse of government subsidies of major food corporations to the challenges of keeping food healthy and affordable. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/8fBGuz
17 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Handouts on Poverty, by Paul C. Gorski. Handouts on many topics, but several on class, poverty, and equity in education. (TR) http://bit.ly/uLvAio
Finding Solutions to Hunger, by Kids Can Make a Difference. An educational program for middle and high school students focused on the root causes of hunger and poverty, the people most affected, solutions, and how students can help. (M, H) http://bit.ly/cYEDNd
A Kids’ Guide to Hunger & Homelessness, by Cathryn Berger Kaye. This book aims to explain the issues of hunger and homelessness and includes stories of how children around the world have helped their community deal with these issues. It is also a workbook that includes facts, quotes, write-on pages and resources. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/rMioaO
Teaching Economics as if People Mattered, by United for a Fair Economy. A collection of lesson plans about economics from a social justice perspective. (H) http://bit.ly/6AIy7u
17 First day of Ally Week. Ally Week involves a week of activities designed to encourage students to be allies against anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools.
GLSEN’s Safe Space Kit. The NEW Safe Space Kit features the Guide to Being an Ally, which provides concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, educating about anti-LGBT bias and advocating for changes in your school. (M, H) http://bit.ly/1i6D8N
The Power of Words: Examining the Language of Gender, Ethnic and Sexual Orientation Bias. The lessons in the Power of Words encourage students to explore the words used in the United States to label ethnic groups, women and sexual minorities and to examine the ways in which these words reveal our nation’s social landscape. The curriculum offers standards-based lesson plans for use in language arts and social studies classrooms. (M, H) http://bit.ly/rYtgwu
18 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. The Water Pollution Control Act, often referred to as the Clean Water Act, is the primary federal law governing water pollution. The act is aimed at restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.
Global Concerns Toolkit: Water, by Concern Worldwide. Concern Worldwide has developed a resource guide, educator toolkit and interactive mock summit where students get involved in the current debate over what economic policies should be used for the distribution of water. (M, H) http://bit.ly/tVpNq8
22 110th anniversary of Takuji Yamashito being barred from practicing law. The Washington State Supreme Court determined that Yamashito, a Japanese immigrant and University of Washington Law School graduate, was not eligible to become a naturalized citizen because he was Japanese and therefore not eligible to practice law. Yamashito was an activist for Asian-American rights who also challenged the law against Asians owning land. He was posthumously honored as a member of the state bar 99 years later, in 2001.
State Supreme Court denies citizenship for UW School of Law grad Takuji Yamashita, by HistoryLink.org. This website provides background information on this decision and includes a picture of Yamashito. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/uATMrR
23 110th anniversary of the end of the Great Anthracite Coal Strike. The Great Anthracite Coal Strike (May 12 – Oct. 23, 1902), was a strike of 147,000 coal miners over union recognition. President Roosevelt appointed mediators to arbitrate the negotiations between the coal operators and miners because the strike threatened to shut down the winter fuel supply to all major cities. The miners achieved a 10% pay increase and a reduction in workday hours.
The Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902. This website contains a detailed narrative of the strike. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/uHKDNU
26 National Intersex Awareness Day. Intersex Awareness Day is the (inter)national day of grassroots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.
Intersex Initiative Website. A website with information about intersexuality. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/tSqmKw
26 Eid al-Adha begins at sunset 10/25 (Islam)
The Best Eid Ever, by Asma Mobin-Uddin. During Eid, Aneesa is sad that her parents are thousands of miles away for the Hajj pilgrimage until her grandmother gives her a beautiful gift that comes in handy when she meets two sisters who are refugees and in need of her help. (E) http://bit.ly/uvueDf
27 20th anniversary of the murder of Allen R. Schindler, Jr. Schindler, a Petty Officer in the US Navy, was murdered by his shipmate Terry M. Helvey for being gay. Schindler had previously reported being harassed because of his sexuality, but the Navy denied having any knowledge of such instances after his murder. The events led to President Bill Clinton’s passage of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” bill.
Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Takes Effect, by PBS Newshour. This PBS news footage of the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell provides an article and downloadable video clip along with warm up and discussion questions. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/tjtCGI
30 Mix It Up at Lunch Day. Mix It Up is an annual event sponsored by Teaching Tolerance that seeks to break down the barriers between students and improve intergroup relations.
Mix It Up at Lunch Day, by Teaching Tolerance. Teaching Tolerance provides free Mix It Up lessons and activities for teachers to use to organize a successful Mix It Up at Lunch Day and promote social border crossing all year long. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9okQRj
31 Halloween
What Do Halloween Costumes Say?, by Teaching Tolerance. A variety of activities to raise awareness about the potential of stereotyping in Halloween costumes. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/3YNftY
Reverse Trick or Treat, by Global Exchange. This kit lets children help end the exploitation of adults and children working in the cocoa industry and raise awareness of Fair Trade. Trick-or-treaters hand out Fair Trade chocolate bars to adults, with informational cards attached, to explain the problems of the cocoa industry and how Fair Trade presents a solution. (E) http://bit.ly/ph5dpd
Ohio Univ. Students to Classmates: We’re a Culture, Not a Costume, by Jorge Rivas, Colorlines. This article tells the story of Ohio Univ. student Sarah Williams, President of Students Teaching About Racism in Society (STARS). The group created an educational campaign called “We’re a Culture, Not a Costume” in response to racist costumes often worn on Halloween. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/seCYEf
November
1 60th anniversary of the explosion of the first US hydrogen bomb. The US detonates the world’s first thermonuclear weapon, the hydrogen bomb, on Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific. The test gave the US an advantage in the nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union. The hydrogen bomb was approximately 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb, the type dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII.
President Obama: Toward a ‘world without nuclear weapons,’ by Alan Shapiro. An introduction and two student readings explore Obama’s pledge to move toward nuclear abolition, obstacles to it, and current analysis from author Jonathan Schell. Discussion questions and suggestions for further inquiry and citizenship activities follow. (H) http://bit.ly/avLTUt
1 First day of Native American Heritage Month
American Indians in Children’s Literature Blog, by Debbie Reese. Debbie Reese’s blog is one of the finest collections of resources and critical perspectives on teaching about Native Americans. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/3HATt
The Alcatraz Proclamation: A Primary Document Activity. Teaching Tolerance offers a wealth of activity ideas tied to Thanksgiving, Native mascots and indigenous people’s proud heritage of resistance. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9sPNbx
We Shall Remain. We Shall Remain is a PBS mini-series and multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Five 90-minute documentaries spanning 300 years tell the story of pivotal moments in US history from the Native American perspective. Website includes teacher’s guides. (H) http://to.pbs.org/10DjT
Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes, by Rethinking Schools. Narrated by Native American children, the DVD Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes teaches about racial stereotypes and provides an introduction to Native American history through the eyes of children. Includes teacher’s guide and other resources. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/tr5Tf
1 El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Celebrations: Day of the Dead Mini-Unit. Students will learn about Día de Los Muertos through the use of writing, art, cooking and incorporating the Spanish language. (H) http://bit.ly/cdVtoC
1 World Vegan Day. Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing and any other purpose.
Eating Animals, by Jonathan Safran Foer. Eating Animals explores the many stories we use to justify our eating habits—folklore and pop culture, family traditions and national myth, apparent facts and inherent fictions—and how such tales can lull us into a brutal forgetting. With a focus on the meat industry, the book also explores the way cows and chickens are treated for the production of our milk and eggs. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/32Rc0a
The Vegan Society. The Vegan Society is an educational charity that promotes and supports the vegan lifestyle. The Society was formed in 1944 by a group of vegetarians who recognized the ethical compromises of eating eggs and dairy products. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/KqoU6P
3 40th anniversary of the Trail of Broken Treaties march on Washington DC. In an effort to bring attention to Native American issues, the American Indian Movement and other groups organized a car caravan from the West Coast to DC to present a set of demands. After a few demonstrations they occupied the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ national office building for a week.
Framing Red Power, by Jason A. Heppler. This is an online collection of historical documents and articles about the Trail of Broken Treaties. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/uc1xwV
6 Election Day
It Ain’t Just About a Vote: Defining Democracy for Movement Building, by Project South. This toolkit asks students to take a broader look at democracy and citizenship. Each exercise was created specifically to begin conversations on the larger, longer-term view of democracy, struggle and movement building. (M, H) http://bit.ly/rN7L7X
Money in Elections: What is it Doing to America?, by Alan Shapiro. Three student readings, discussion questions, and suggestions for inquiry engage students in exploring the role of money in electoral politics. (H) http://bit.ly/sUIgLr
11 Veteran’s Day (Observed Monday, 11/12)
Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau. Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau provides knowledgeable speakers who share first-hand information about military service and war. They present facts and views that are necessary for a young person to consider in making an informed choice about military service. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/rPEMnz
Do-It-Yourself Ribbon Stickers, by The Pinky Show. The Pinky Show is an animated online TV show featuring a cat named Pinky. This one-and-a-half-minute episode discusses how to make an alternative to the yellow “support our troops” ribbons. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/u3VSzW
Voices in Wartime Education, by The YES! Education Program and Voices in Wartime Education Project. This site seeks to enable students to engage deeply with the subject of war by hearing and re-telling the personal stories of witnesses to war and then engages students in imagining and creating a less violent world. The site includes the film’s trailer, curricular materials and poetry. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/cYDW7i
12 Naomi Wolf, author and feminist, born (1962). In her book The Beauty Myth, Wolf argues that beauty is a socially created concept that harms women by creating unattainable standards. She is a spokesperson for third-wave feminism, a movement that started in the 1980s and embraces the diversity of the female population. Wolf has also written on the importance of women claiming their sexuality, as well as the importance of politics and empowerment.
Feminism, by Californians for Justice. The intent of this popular education piece is to critically analyze popular culture and the way it portrays women, to define what feminism is and how it connects to race. The materials are free, but you must register to use www.buildthewheel.org to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/vdT2IH
13 90th anniversary of Takao Ozawa vs. United States. When Ozawa attempted to have his classification as “Japanese” changed to “White” in order to obtain citizenship, the US Supreme court found Ozawa ineligible because he wasn’t “Caucasian,” or of ancestry from the Southern Caucasus region. Three months later, a Sikh immigrant brought a similar case and was also denied.
Race – The Power of an Illusion, by California Newsreel. This documentary series attempts to clear away the biological arguments about race and leave starkly visible the underlying social, economic and political conditions that disproportionately channel advantages and opportunities to White people. The site includes a teacher’s guide. While the series can be ordered from PBS, many parts are available on YouTube. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/109nn
13 Diwali (Deepavali), Indian Festival of Lights (Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism)
Lights for Gita, by Rachna Gilmore. Author Rachna Gilmore introduces readers to Divali, one of the most important holidays observed by Hindus all over the world, through the eyes of Gita, a young immigrant girl. The author’s site includes a teacher’s guide and other books about Hinduism. (E) http://bit.ly/KCeUSp
15 Muharram begins at sundown 11/14 (Islam). Muharram is the beginning of the first lunar month of the Islamic calendar.
My Name is Bilal, by Asma Mobin-Uddin. In this book, Muharram feels the need to hide his Muslim religion in fear he will be teased by other students. (E) http://bit.ly/w4nStZ
Salaam – A Muslim American Boy’s Story, by Trish Brown. This is a biography about a Muslim American boy named Imran. It tells about how he likes to do the same things that most children his age do. Not everyone understands what it means to be Muslim, and through his story, Imran tells about how Muslims strive to be good people, just like those of other faiths do. (E) http://bit.ly/tBgIH7
16 Glenn Burke, baseball player, born (1952-1995). Burke was the first major league baseball player to publicly acknowledge his homosexuality.
Speaking about Silence: Addressing Homophobia in the Sports. Resources for teaching about and addressing homophobia in sports. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9Pnwsg
19 Stephen Soldz, psychologist and anti-war activist, born (1952). In 2007, Soldz argued that professional psychologists should be banned from participating in the interrogation of war prisoners. Soldz argued that those involved had created and utilized torture techniques against detainees. As a result, the American Psychological Association issued a resolution stating their stance against such interrogation practices.
Torture and War Crimes: The U.S. Record in Documents. Have US forces violated international law in their treatment of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo? Has that treatment amounted to torture or war crimes? If so, who should be held responsible? This link provides a wide collection of excerpts from original materials to use as a basis for student exploration. (H) http://bit.ly/tAkrI6
20 Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
Beyond the Binary: A Tool Kit for Gender Identity Activism in Schools, by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Transgender Law Center, and The National Center for Lesbian Rights. This guide includes information for helping students deconstruct some of the myths behind gender identity. It can be used to develop plans for Transgender Day of Remembrance, or for action planning to change school policies that are not supportive of all students. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9wjXL2
Luna, by Julie Anne Peters. This novel is told from the perspective of a young woman who is dealing with her brother’s decision to live as his true female self, Luna. It is included in the Gay-Straight Alliance Network’s list of recommended books for and about LGBTQ youth. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uXD94h
The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals, by Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper. Transgendered and gender variant children have a hard time of it. They are generally discouraged by their families and bullied at school. This handbook is for families and teachers who want to understand and support children’s self-definition. (TR) http://bit.ly/rQ4LZY
The Youth and Gender Media Project. The Youth and Gender Media Project encompasses a growing collection of short films that capture the diversity and complexity of gender non-conforming youth. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uZMJPy
22 Thanksgiving
Oyate. Oyate is a Native American organization that lists recommended children’s books on Native American history and culture. The website features Thanksgiving resources and provides criteria for evaluating the quality of books about Native Americans. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/4DUTbG
Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes, by Rethinking Schools. Narrated by Native American children, the DVD Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes teaches about racial stereotypes and provides an introduction to Native American history through the eyes of children. Includes teacher’s guide and other resources. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/tr5Tf
Thanksgiving Mourning, by Teaching Tolerance. In this activity, students will explore the perspectives of two Native American authors about the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday and then draft letters to them. (M, H) http://bit.ly/qy6im
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving, by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Marge Bruchac. Produced in collaboration with the Wampanoag Indian Program at Plymouth Plantation, 1621 weighs Wampanoag oral traditions and English colonial written records against the popular myth of “brave settlers inviting wild Indians over for turkey dinner.” (E, M) http://bit.ly/xpc312
23 Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day (BND) is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists.
The Story of Stuff, by Annie Leonard. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute free downloadable video that explores consumption and exposes the connections between different environmental and social issues, while providing suggestions for action. (E, M, H) Website: http://bit.ly/vXj7EC Reading guide: http://bit.ly/vXj7EC
Labor Rights in the Classroom. Workers all over the world suffer from conditions that many would consider unbearable. These conditions are in part a result of corporations taking advantage of workers and their rights. The lessons on this website help students to understand how consumerism and corporate greed here in the US affect workers around the world. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bVIovt
Rethinking Globalization. A collection of lesson plans that helps to introduce issues of corporate power, wealth distribution and power to youth. One sample lesson has cookies representing wealth distributed to students who represent the global population – some students receive more cookies than others. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/uvPb0p
26 Sarah Grimke, abolitionist and women’s rights advocate, born (1792-1873). Grimke, an early advocate for the rights of women in the US, wrote and lectured about abolitionism and women’s rights at a time when women were not supposed to speak in public.
Angelina and Sarah Grimke: Sisters of Social Reform. Students learn about women in history who worked to abolish slavery. They learn about the importance of goals and ambitions. (E) http://bit.ly/6OVUST
December
3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities
ADAPT. ADAPT is a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists. Teach and learn about their struggle to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tFn5PZ
10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for Ableism, by Chloë Myers and Hank Bersani Jr. Rethinking Schools article supports teachers to notice the omission of persons with disability in children’s literature. This exclusion lessens the likelihood that the histories, experiences or feelings of people with disabilities will be discussed in our classrooms. (TR) http://bit.ly/tBev3J
Inclusion on the Bookshelf, by Teaching Tolerance. An article about the importance of using children’s books that include characters with disabilities. Includes recommended books. (E, M) http://bit.ly/5GBVIR
5 70th anniversary of the Manzanar Riot. The Manzanar Riot was one of the most significant acts of resistance in the Japanese internment camps. Thousands of prisoners protested after one prisoner was arrested on suspicion of beating another prisoner who was believed to be too friendly to the prison administration. Two people were killed after guards fired on the protesters.
Manzanar National Historic Site, by U.S. National Park Service. This NPS website offers a wealth of information on the Manzanar War Relocation Center for both teachers and students. Resources include history, multimedia, field trip planning information, and curriculum materials for various levels. (E, M, H, TR) http://1.usa.gov/vkGWlR
8 Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
Under the Bodhi Tree, by Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. This book tells the story of the Buddha’s life, from his birth as a pampered prince, through his cultivation and enlightenment, to his founding of the Buddhist sangha and his final Nirvana. (E, M) http://bit.ly/sfwpqS
10 20th anniversary of Rigoberta Menchú Tum winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Menchú Tum, a (Quiche) Maya from Guatemala, fought for indigenous and women’s rights, ethnocultural reconciliation and land reform in her country.
Indigenous Rights: Popular Education, by Californians for Justice. This popular education piece aims to help participants understand the struggle of indigenous people in the United States and globally on a historical and present-day level and to learn about environmental racism. The materials are free, but you have to register with www.buildthewheel.org to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/sZCnqO
Rigoberta Menchú, by Teaching Tolerance. This site offers information about Menchú’s life including a timeline, her story and discussion questions. (H) http://bit.ly/rGhW3W
10 Human Rights Day. This day celebrates the UN’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through a variety of events throughout the world.
Human Rights in Action. The UN’s cyberschoolbus page for students to explore the history of human rights, and ways to advocate for human rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/a5TSHf
Human Rights and Service-Learning: Lesson Plans and Projects, by Kristine Belisle and Elizabeth Sullivan, Amnesty International-USA and Human Rights Education Associates (HREA). The manual contains lessons and service-learning projects. The lesson plans are divided into five human rights topic areas: environment, poverty, discrimination, children’s rights to education and health, and law and justice. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/byc6E8
The Human Rights Education program (HRE) of Amnesty International. The Human Rights Education program was designed to support teachers to promote the human rights principles and positive value system that are set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Site includes curricular guides, letters for parents, lessons to use with popular films and more. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/d1D1BS
We Are All Born Free, published by Amnesty International. Published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, We Are All Born Free uses pictures by internationally renowned artists to illustrate the meaning of these rights. (E) http://bit.ly/v1jRdL
12 Brandon Teena, victim of anti-transgender violence, born (1972-1993). Brandon Teena, born Teena Renae Brandon, began identifying as a boy during adolescence. After two acquaintances discovered he was anatomically female, the men assaulted and raped Teena and, days later, shot and killed him. Teena’s life became the basis for the film Boys Don’t Cry, and his story led to increased lobbying for hate crime laws in the US.
Boys Don’t Cry, directed by Kimberly Peirce. Boys Don’t Cry is a film about Brandon Teena, a transgender man (Hilary Swank), who pursues a relationship with a young woman, (Chloë Sevigny), and is beaten, raped and murdered by his male acquaintances after they discover he is anatomically female. The picture explores the themes of freedom, courage, identity and empowerment. (H) http://imdb.to/1fy4s4
15 130th anniversary of the formation of the Indian Rights Association. Founded by White men who believed they were “friends of the Indian,” this social activist group was dedicated to helping Native Americans assimilate into American society. Although in some ways they advocated for the protection of the rights of Native Americans, they believed that Native cultures were inferior and many of the policies this influential group advocated furthered their destruction.
Being an Ally, by Committee Against Racial and Ethnic Discrimination. This packet has been compiled to facilitate a workshop, which aims to introduce ideas of anti-oppression, privilege and ally-hood in a friendly and accessible way. The materials are free, but you must register with www.buildthewheel.org to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/uFBPla
17 150th anniversary of General Order No. 11. Major-General Ulysses S. Grant issued General Order No. 11, which included the demand that all Jews leave the military district in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Grant wanted to end a black market in Southern cotton, which he believed was largely run by Jewish traders. A few weeks later, President Lincoln revoked the order after an outcry from Jewish merchants.
Jewish-American History Foundation. Primary sources related to General Order No. 11, including the order, Jewish reactions, and the rescinding of the Order. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/zvzM8Y
18 International Migrants Day. There are close to 200 million migrant workers in the world. The UN marks this date to recognize this diverse group of workers and the economic, social and political contexts that affect their rights and livelihood.
Calling the Doves/El canto de las palomas, by Juan Felipe Herrera. This picture book is Herrera’s memoir of his childhood as a son of migrant farmworkers. Written in English and Spanish, it celebrates the work, skills and love of Herrera’s parents. (E) http://amzn.to/vSyfw9
ICED, by Breakthrough. This is an online game about immigration. ICED puts you in the shoes of an immigrant to illustrate how unfair immigration laws deny due process and violate human rights. Includes teacher’s guide. (H) http://bit.ly/tUnuk5
24 60th anniversary of the Immigration and Nationality Act going into effect. Before World War II American immigration policy was designed specifically to exclude all Asians and peoples of Color, restrict Southern and Eastern European immigration, and encourage the arrival of Western Europeans. This new law, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, got rid of exclusion laws against Asian countries, but maintained preference for Western Europeans. It also shifted the focus of immigration law to denying people based on their ideological views, a response to the growing fear of communism.
Major Events in US Immigration History, by the Partnership for Immigrant Leadership and Action. This timeline provides a detailed history of immigration in the US as well as a parallel graph of levels of immigration over time. It has a West Coast focus. (M, H) http://bit.ly/b9y14w
The New Americans, by PBS. This film follows a diverse group of immigrants and refugees as they leave their home and families behind and learn what it means to be new Americans in the 21stcentury. Accompanying lessons trace the history of immigration and question the fairness of immigration policies. Film available on iTunes. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/d8tEdW
The Trail of Dreams. This site and film tell the story of four undocumented young people who embarked on a 1,500-mile walk from Miami, FL, to Washington, DC in 2010. Their goal is to share their stories so that everyday Americans understand what it’s like for the millions of immigrants, especially young people, unable to fully participate in society. (M, H) http://bit.ly/b9ZL9M
26 First day of Kwanzaa (Umoja = Unity)
The Official Kwanzaa Website, maintained by Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa. This website provides information about the symbols, values and rituals of Kwanzaa. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/2wtSIp
27 Second day of Kwanzaa (Kujichagulia = self-determination)
Kwanzaa books at Busboys and Poets. A collection of children’s books on Kwanzaa. (E) http://bit.ly/t7iv0g
28 100th anniversary of the first publicly owned mass transit system in the US. Previously, urban mass transit had been run by private companies. San Francisco launched the first public system with its Municipal Railway streetcars.
Streets Education. Streets Education helps classroom teachers and schools weave pertinent ideas about urban livability and advocacy into their curriculum. Includes lessons on mass transit. You can download free sample lessons online or order the full curriculum. (E, M) http://bit.ly/bysbou
In Impact Man Lesson 4 of 5 – Transportation, by No Impact Project. Educators can use this lesson to help students explore how improved street design could encourage more of their classmates to use active forms of transportation to get to school. (M, H) http://bit.ly/vpJTu4
28 Third day of Kwanzaa (Ujima = collective work)
Seven Principles, by Sweet Honey In The Rock. A song that teaches the seven principles of Kwanzaa. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/vNc77L
29 Fourth day of Kwanzaa (Ujamaa = cooperative economics)
Cultivate.Coop. Cultivate.Coop is an online hub for pooling knowledge and resources on cooperatives. It is a space to collect free information for those interested in cooperatives, and one where people can build useful educational tools for the co-op community. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/ekaidO
January
1 150th anniversary the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day in 1863, in the middle of the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued an executive order freeing all slaves in Confederate states (the order did not apply to slaving-holding states in the Union). The Proclamation made abolition a central goal of the war.
A War to Free the Slaves? Teaching Activity PDF, by Bill Bigelow. In this activity, students examine excerpts from Lincoln’s first inaugural address, the rarely mentioned original Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution that Lincoln promised to support, and the Emancipation Proclamation to explore some of the myths about the Civil War. (H) http://bit.ly/fE29mG
National Archives & Records Administration’s Featured Document: The Emancipation Proclamation. This website features pictures of the preliminary, original transcript of the Emancipation Proclamation and describes some of its limitations. (M, H, TR) http://1.usa.gov/RtHar
1 130th anniversary of the founding of the American Anti-Vivisection Society. A group of Philadelphians formed the American Anti-Vivisection Society inspired by their relationships with British and Irish leaders such as Frances Power Cobbe. The group’s goal was to regulate the use of animals in science and society. In the following years, however, AAVS refocused its mission, dedicating itself to the complete abolition of vivisection in the United States.
American Anti-Vivisection Society. The organization’s website with current issues and campaigns to protect animals. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/1iCtTL
10 Best Things We Can Do For Animals, by YES! Magazine. A colorful poster illustrating Jane Goodall’s list of simple ways people can help animals. (E, M) http://bit.ly/gqBP5v
KARE: Kids 4 Animal Rights and Education. KARE is a “kid” run website with activities and resources for students who care about animal welfare. (E, M) http://bit.ly/u1Pas3
Council of All Beings, by the Institute for Humane Education. What does a mountain wish for? A wolf? A cow? A river? Participants “become” a being or part of nature and share the lives, concerns, hopes and wisdoms of their being in a Council. (E) http://bit.ly/sxZ44d
3 Lucretia Mott, women’s rights activist, born (1793-1880). Mott was a White activist in the women’s rights and abolitionist movements. Offended by the way in which women were excluded from the anti-slavery movement, she helped organize the first women’s rights convention. She later became the first president of the American Equal Rights Association, an organization formed to achieve equality for African Americans and women.
Discourse on Women, by Lucretia Mott. Mott raised awareness of the unfair treatment of women in the US through her pamphlet, “Discourse on Women,” in which she details examples of restrictions on women and the role placed on women by American society. The link leads to the text of the speech that led to the pamphlet. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/bc8NkW
4 90th anniversary of the Rosewood Massacre. After a White woman who lived near the Black town of Rosewood, FL claimed she was beaten and raped by a Black man, a group of White men lynched a Rosewood resident. Black people defended themselves, prompting Whites to burn down the town and hunt those trying to escape. Six African Americans and two Whites died in a week of violence.
Rosewood, film directed by John Singleton, rated R. Rosewood is a 1997 feature film, staring Ving Rhames, Don Cheadle and Jon Voight. While based on historic events of the 1923 Rosewood Massacre in Florida, the film introduces fictional characters and changes from historic accounts, which led to much debate. (H) http://bit.ly/vZroxQ
Remembering Rosewood. This website contains a great deal of the documented history of the Rosewood Massacre. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/5EXOEY
5 110th anniversary of Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, a landmark case about Native American sovereignty. Lone Wolf, a Kiowa Native American leader, brought a suit against the US government after Congress attempted to force the Kiowa to give up some of the lands that they had been guaranteed in a treaty. In Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock the US Supreme Court decided Congress had the authority to break any treaty with Native Americans and dispose of land protected under treaties.
Indian Removal, Teaching Activity PDF, by Gayle Olson-Raymer. This downloadable teaching guide provides ideas for Chapter 7 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on the American policy of “Manifest Destiny” and Native American resistance to their own displacement. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vXUZzQ
In the Courts of the Conqueror: The 10 Worst Indian Law Cases Ever Decided, by Walter R. Echo-Hawk. This book analyzes ten cases that expose the use of nefarious legal doctrines to decimate Native American rights and culture. Each case study includes historical, contemporary, and political context from a Native American perspective, and the case’s legacy on Native America. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/uep8F8
7 Sadako Saski, victim of the bombing of Hiroshima, born (1943-1955). Sasaki was two years old when an atomic bomb was dropped near her home in Hiroshima, Japan during WWII. Sasaki, who developed leukemia ten years later, is remembered for her attempt to fold 1,000 origami cranes before she died.
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, by Eleanor Coerr. This is a children’s book about Sadako. The second link is to a compilation of lessons and resources that can be used with the book. (E) http://bit.ly/t7UJux http://bit.ly/vfyE6k
Atomic Cover-Up: The Hidden Story Behind the U.S. Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This Democracy Now! segment revisits the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki with guest Greg Mitchell, co-author of Hiroshima in America: A Half Century of Denial, with Robert Jay Lifton. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/oHn7K6
Visual Learning: Paper Cranes for Peace, by YES! Magazine. Students analyze a photo of a paper crane project related to the Iraq war. (E, M) http://bit.ly/tjjM6L
11 Alan Stewart Paton, South African author and anti-apartheid activist, born (1903-1988). Paton was a White anti-apartheid activist who wrote Cry, the Beloved Country, a novel that was banned in South Africa because it critiqued the country’s social inequalities. He also helped found an anti-Apartheid political party.
Cry, the Beloved Country, Teacher Guide, by Elizabeth Larkin on Score. This website contains lesson plans with relevant links, designed to supplement the teaching of Cry, the Beloved Country. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/K10DmK
Freedom in Our Lifetime: South Africa’s Struggle, by The Choices Program. This site provides supplemental materials to a unit that explores the history of South Africa and the development of a race-based society and the effects of apartheid on individuals and society. Materials include videos maps, lesson plans, graphic organizers, and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/rKMmxt
14 50th anniversary of Governor George Wallace’s infamous “Segregation Now” address. Incoming Alabama governor George Wallace was an ardent supporter of racial segregation who fought against federal efforts to integrate Alabama schools. In his inaugural address he used the phrase, “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” which became a rallying cry for those opposed to integration and the Civil Rights Movement.
The Civil Rights Movement in American Literature: Activity Ideas, by PBS Teachers. Lesson six on this site focuses on “Great Speeches” and the way in which language is used to inspire and incite. Students will compare Wallace’s speech with other speeches of the time that were delivered to keep segregation or push integration, including speeches by A. Philip Randolph and Malcolm X. (M, H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/t018ZH
Remaking History: Barack Obama, Political Cartoons, and the Civil Rights Movement, by Hasan Kwame Jeffries. This essay offers a compelling analysis of the ways that political cartoons addressing Barack Obama’s presidential campaign reflect common distortions of movement history. Includes information about George Wallace starting on page 10. (H) http://bit.ly/u8h33M
15 10th anniversary of the European Union Ban on Animal Testing for Cosmetics. The EU banned the use of animals for the testing of cosmetic products.
Cosmetics and Household-Product Animal Testing, by PETA. Information from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals about the realities of animal testing and alternatives to it, including a “Cruelty Free Shopping Guide.” (M, H) http://bit.ly/axbwyw
What Price Beauty, by the Institute for Humane Education. This activity encourages students to explore and think critically about the impacts of the ingredients in the personal care products that they use on themselves, other people, animals and the environment. (H) http://bit.ly/smkBBh
EU bans animal testing for cosmetics, by Tim Franks. The original news article announcing the decision. (H, TR) http://bbc.in/nhKMxK
16 Religious Freedom Day. Religious Freedom Day is the anniversary of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.
Maintain Neutrality, by Teaching Tolerance. This link provides a collection of lessons designed to help teachers maintain the distinction between “teaching religion” and “teaching about religion.” Explore the site for a wide array of other lessons and resources on the topic. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9B9stE
Taking a Closer Look at Religions Around the World, by Teaching Tolerance. This lesson offers a starting point for exploring religions and faith traditions, creating an ongoing respectful dialogue about religious tolerance. (M, H) http://bit.ly/d0WqIg
Respecting Nonreligious People, by Teaching Tolerance. Students often learn the importance of respecting people of different religions, but what about people who do not hold religious beliefs at all? This lesson introduces students to people who choose not to follow a religion. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/nonrelig
Tanenbaum Education Program. Tanenbaum produces both free lesson plans and curricula that you can purchase that focus on inter-religious understanding. (E, M) http://bit.ly/vs0mDR
17 120th anniversary of the overthrow of the last Native monarch of Hawai’i. A coup d’état led by local US businessmen and supported by the US Marines deposed Queen Lili’uokalani. The Queen had been trying to secure more power for Hawai’ian Natives. Hawai’i was annexed to the United States in 1898.
The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawai’i, by the National Archives. Lesson plan using original documents about Native Hawai’ians who organized against the annexation of Hawai’i by the United States. (H) http://bit.ly/sYs2NE
Resistance in Paradise: Rethinking 100 Years of U.S. Involvement in the Caribbean and the Pacific, Teaching Guide, edited by Debbie Wei and Rachel Kamel. This teaching guide focuses on the role of US involvement in countries such as Hawai’i, Guam, Puerto Rico and more. Filled with illustrations, cartoons, photographs, poems, stories, and historical and contemporary documents that are formatted for easy reproduction for classroom use. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/rsJayw
Act of War: The Overthrow of the Hawai’ian Nation. A comprehensive documentary that focuses on the events surrounding the overthrow of the Hawai’ian monarchy in 1893. Through archival photographs, government documents, films, political cartoons and dramatic reenactments, Act of War explores colonialism and the conquest of a Pacific Island nation by western missionaries and capitalists. (H) http://bit.ly/uetbEK
Tourism, Colonialism, and Resistance in Hawai’i, by Wayne Wah Kwai Au. This lesson focuses on the history of Hawai’i and the impact of colonization and tourism. At the end of the PDF there is an excellent list of additional resources. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/sHHpJE
21 10th anniversary of the US Census Bureau announcing that Latinos are the largest minority group in the US. With more than 37 million Latinos in the country in January of 2003, the US Census Bureau reported that Latinos had passed African Americans as the biggest minority group.
Latino USA: A Cartoon History, by Ilan Stavans and Lalo Alacraz. A graphic history of Latino’s in the United States that covers from Columbus to the year 2000. (M, H) http://bit.ly/rsIxH5 http://bit.ly/t6ZDzf
21 Martin Luther King Day
Liberation Curriculum, by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. Lesson plans, primary resources and articles based on the Martin Luther King archives at Stanford University. (H) http://bit.ly/fakvex
Putting the Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teaching, by Deborah Menkart, Alana Murray, and Jenice L. View. The book includes interactive and interdisciplinary lessons, readings, writings, photographs, graphics and interviews, with sections on education, labor, citizenship and culture, and reflections on teaching about the Civil Rights Movement. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/uPIYBc
Dr. King and the Movement, by Teaching Tolerance. This site provides lessons and resources for addressing Dr. King and his dream, including a ‘do’s and don’ts’ guide for MLK day. (E, M, H)http://bit.ly/mlkmov
22 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. This landmark US Supreme Court decision determined that women had a constitutional right to an abortion. Only eight years earlier abortion had been illegal in every state except in limited circumstances, leading more than a million women each year to seek illegal, unsafe procedures. This controversial decision has been at the center of an ongoing debate about the morality of abortion.
Revisiting Roe v. Wade, by Annissa Hambouz and Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer, NYTimes Learning Network. This site provides a lesson plan to teach students about the American anti-abortion movement and Roe v. Wade from both sides of the debate. (M, H, TR) http://nyti.ms/vJSFi8
Chapter 19: Women, Gays, and Other Voices of Resistance, by Gayle Olsen-Raymer, Teaching with Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Chapter 19 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on the emergence and legacy of the 1960s counterculture, as well as the movements it helped create. Includes primary sources from Adrienne Rich and Susan Brownmiller on the struggle for reproductive rights. (M, H) http://bit.ly/t0FWWT
27 40th anniversary of the Paris Peace Accords. The Paris Peace Accords, signed by the US and the North and South Vietnamese, were intended to end the Vietnam War and the US military involvement. US troops did begin to withdraw, however, the war continued until 1975. More than 58,000 American troops died in Vietnam. It is estimated that between 1 and 2.5 million Vietnamese died during the war, along with hundreds of thousands of Cambodians and Laotians.
American Experience: Return with Honor, by PBS. This site houses information on the film, which tells the story of American prisoners of war in North Vietnam, and also contains timelines, descriptions of people and events, and a teacher’s guide. (M, H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/uP4iTq
Sir! No Sir!, by David Zeiger, Displaced Films. Sir! No Sir! tells the story of the GI movement to end the war in Vietnam. Website includes links to materials on the current antiwar movement within the military. (M, H) http://bit.ly/6hUsRu
The Limits of Power: The United States in Vietnam, by The Choices Program. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that examines key decision points marking US involvement in the Vietnam War. Materials include lesson plans, web links, and other resources. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/uqeFYu
28 50th anniversary of the last state to hold out against school integration enrolling an African American student. African American student Harvey Gantt enters Clemson University in South Carolina.
Remember: The Journey to School Integration, by Toni Morrison. Toni Morrison has collected a treasure chest of archival photographs that depict the historical events surrounding school desegregation. (E, M) http://bit.ly/uLtCo7
28 José Martí, Cuban revolutionary, born (1853-1895). Martí was a poet and philosopher who fought for Cuba’s independence from Spain. He also argued against the threat of US expansionism into Cuba.
Guantanamera: A Poem and a Song, by Phyllis Gron, The Kennedy Center ARTSEDGE. This lesson allows students to compare the revolutionary activities of José Martí and Pete Seeger through a song by Seeger with lyrics by a poem by Marti. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vb9htV
February
1 First day of African American History Month
The African American Experience and Issues of Race and Racism in U.S. Schools, compiled by Working to Improve Schools and Education (WISE). A list of links to a number of resources useful in teaching about African-American schooling experiences. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/tJv2aI
African American Odyssey, by Library of Congress. Comprehensive online display of materials and primary resources related to the African-American experience. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/aXfZMt
4 Rosa Parks, civil rights activist, born (1913-2005). Parks was an African American civil rights activist whose decision not to give up her seat on a public bus to a White person when asked to by the driver helped launch the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955, widely considered the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. Parks became an international icon of resistance to racial segregation.
Rosa, by Nikki Giovanni. Children’s book, beautifully illustrated, that gives a clearer and more accurate picture of Rosa Parks and all that she did and stood for. (E, M) http://bit.ly/v12yhJ
If a Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks, by Faith Ringgold. In this book, a bus “does” talk, and on her way to school a girl named Marcie learns why Rosa Parks is the mother of the civil rights movement. At the end of Marcie’s magical ride, she meets Rosa Parks herself at a birthday party with several distinguished guests. (E) http://amzn.to/tiKFAy
Teaching With Documents: An Act of Courage, The Arrest Records of Rosa Parks, by the National Archives. Original documents related to Parks’ arrest and associated lesson plans. (H) http://1.usa.gov/bAbt5f
The Politics of Children’s Literature: What’s Wrong with the Rosa Parks Myth, by Herbert Kohl. This background reading for teachers challenges the image of “Rosa Parks the Tired” presented in most curriculum. (TR) http://bit.ly/dLCyZ0
10 Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year, books reviewed by The Asian American Curriculum Project. A review of children’s books from several Asian cultures about the Lunar New Year. (E) http://bit.ly/aabooks
Shanghai Messenger, by Andrea Cheng. Shanghai Messenger is about a young Chinese girl, the child of an American father and Chinese mother, who travels back to China to visit her extended family and explore her roots. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/tVVSjp
10 Tet, Vietnamese New Year
A Chinese New Year Celebration, by IndyKids. Bilingual essays by students discussing what Chinese New Year is about and what it means to them. (E, M) http://bit.ly/tT2ME6
Vietnamese Americans Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide, by Teaching Tolerance. This curriculum guide sheds light on the complexities of the Vietnamese-American experience. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9Q1L0r
11 110th anniversary of Japanese and Mexican laborers coming together to form a union. The Japanese-Mexican Labor Association formed to protest conditions in the sugar industry in Oxnard, CA. Their strike was successful, but they were later denied a charter by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) due to their large Japanese membership.
Strangers from a Different Shore, by Ronald Takaki. This book offers a good survey of Asian-American history. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tHoLeH
12 220th anniversary of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. This act authorized the arrest or seizure of fugitive slaves in any state and made it a crime to assist a slave in escaping. This law supported the Fugitive Slave Clause of the Constitution, which guaranteed the right of slave owners to recover an escaped slave.
Fugitive Slave Simulation. Students face the critical issue of the Fugitive Slave Bill that gave Southerners the right to regain their runaway slaves and return them to bondage. (H) http://bit.ly/vxB2ZI
Payback Time, by Tara Mack for The Guardian. This site contains an article in which descendants of slaves discuss recompense from the US government for the labor that their ancestors provided that helped build the nation. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/tTKQFe
12 100th anniversary of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones’ arrest. An elderly Mother Jones helped organize a strike of coal miners in West Virginia. When the mine companies hired private security to suppress the miners, the strike became violent. Jones was arrested and sent to prison. Her imprisonment gained national attention and led to an inquiry into the working conditions of coal miners.
Mother Jones: Labor Leader (Graphic Biographies series). This graphic novel tells the story of Mary Mother Jones, a leading labor union and child labor activist in the late 1800s and early 1900s. (E, M) http://amzn.to/t3u38W
The Most Dangerous Woman in America? The Mock Trial of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, by ExplorePAhistory.com. This site contain a lesson plan in which students conduct a mock trial of Mary Harris “Mother” Jones. The site also links to additional resources including a PBS webisode on Jones. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/vm5kEs
14 Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day in the Classroom, by International Labor Rights Forum. This lesson plan explores workers’ rights in the cut flower industry and how consumerism on Valentine’s Day in the US affects workers abroad. Also includes an educator resource page called Labor Rights in the Classroom, with links to lesson plans on the topics of child labor, sweatshops, workers’ rights and the Sweatfree Schools movement. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tFAlAq
Fair Trade in the Classroom, by Global Exchange. Through this Valentine’s unit, students learn about child labor and how it’s used by big chocolate companies. Students take social action by telling these companies that they should sell Fair Trade products instead. (E, M) http://bit.ly/95yZbZ
15 10th anniversary of the 2003 global anti-war protests. On this day coordinated protests opposing the then-imminent Iraq War took place all over the world. According to the BBC between six and ten million people took part in protests in up to sixty countries during the weekend of the 15th and 16th.
Media Construction of Peace, by Project Look Sharp. Unit 8 (near the bottom of the link) focuses on the 2003 anti-war protest and helps students critically analyze media representations of the war and the anti-war movement. This unit is part of larger kit that explores how antiwar movements have been perceived and how the media has impacted that public perception. (M, H) http://bit.ly/tO06hU
15 Saraswati Puja (Hinduism)
Information on Hinduism, by Mandy Barrow. This site provides some basic information about Hinduism for children. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/cXh0zX
15 Parinirvana – Nirvana day (Buddhism). Some Buddhists celebrate this holiday on Feb. 8.
Becoming Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha, by Whitney Stewart. This book follows Buddha from pre-birth prophecies through his pampered youth, his break with royal life and his quest for enlightenment. (E) http://bit.ly/udMbPl
18 Presidents’ Day
Write the Truth, by Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. Peterson describes an inquiry project in which his fifth graders investigated which US Presidents owned slaves and wrote letters to textbook publishers to demand that this information be included. (E, M) http://bit.ly/svqysP
19 90th anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling that Indians are not White. Bhagat Singh Thind was born in Punjab and came to America in 1913. He attended college in the US and fought in US Army during WWI. A 1790 law limited naturalized citizenship to White people. When he was denied US citizenship he challenged the decision in court arguing that as an Indian of high caste he was in fact of the Aryan race (meaning of Indo-European descent) and therefore White. The court rejected his claim.
Race: A Teacher’s Guide, by the American Anthropological Association. This teacher’s guide serves as a teaching tool to assist educators in addressing race and human variation in the classroom. The guide meets national and select state standards for science and social studies, and teachers may use the various lesson plans to develop a module on race and human variation for biology, social studies or social science classes. (M, H) http://bit.ly/dIgQBj
19 50th anniversary of the publication of The Feminine Mystique. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan discusses the unhappiness of middle-class White women who are stuck in the home. This influential work is widely credited with sparking the beginning of second-wave feminism in the US.
Media Construction of Social Justice, by Project Look Smart. Unit 5, Women’s Liberation, looks at the second wave of feminism through a media literacy lens, starting with the publication of The Feminine Mystique. Lesson one asks students to analyze the messages in the book’s cover. (M, H) http://bit.ly/weTbAW
The Feminine Mystique, by Betty Friedan. First published in 1963, this book defined “the problem that has no name,” and helped launch the Second Wave of the feminist movement. (M, H)http://bit.ly/tMVlxW
21 International Mother Language Day. International Mother Language Day is observed yearly by UNESCO member states to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Artistic depictions of the Bengali Language Movement. This website shares poems and songs written as part of the Bengali Language Movement which was a political effort in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) that advocated the adoption of Bengali as an official language. (M, H) http://bit.ly/t3BWfM
Say Hello, by Rachel Isadora. Say Hello tells the story of a young girl greeting others in their native language including Arabic, French, Spanish, Italian, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese and Swahili. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/tLTGAA
What is Your Language?, by Debra Leventhal. What is Your Language? Is a book about a little boy who travels and meets people from different countries. Through his travels, he explores 10 different languages. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/rPKFHO
21 Nina Simone, singer and civil rights activist, born (1933-2003). Simone wrote, arranged and sang music in a variety of styles including gospel, pop and blues. During the Civil Rights Movement she began to perform and record more songs with protest and cultural pride themes such as “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” She eventually moved to Barbados and other countries to avoid paying taxes in the US as a protest against the war in Vietnam.
Media Construction of Social Justice: Unit 4: Black Freedom/Civil Rights, by Project Look Sharp. Unit 4 uses songs, including Simone’s “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” to explore messages about Black identity. Includes song clips, worksheets and more. (M, H) http://bit.ly/ucIU2G
24 Purim begins at sundown on 2/23 (Judaism)
Judaism 101. Website for basic information about Judaism and Jewish holidays and customs. (E, M, TR) http://bit.ly/cYCpN7
27 40th anniversary of Native Americans occupying Wounded Knee. About 200 Oglala Sioux and American Indian Movement activists occupied the town of Wounded Knee, South Dakota, the site of a massacre of Native Americans in 1890, demanding that negotiations over treaties that the US government had not honored be reopened. Federal law enforcement officials surrounded the town. The ensuing gun battles ended in the death of two Native Americans. The 71-day occupation ended with both sides agreeing to disarm.
We Shall Remain: Episode 5 Wounded Knee, by PBS. We Shall Remain is a mini-series and multi-media project on Native history. Episode 5 focuses specifically on the Wounded Knee incident. (M, H) http://to.pbs.org/9O6AqP
March
1 First day of Women’s History Month
Gender Issues, by Ithaca College WISE. This site includes a list of links, a bibliography and a list of films related to gender issues. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/sZUmpg
Beyondmedia Education. Beyondmedia Education’s mission is to collaborate with under-served and under-represented women, youth and communities to tell their stories, connect their stories to the world around us, and organize for social justice through the creation and distribution of media arts. Videos available for viewing and purchasing. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/v1Kaix
3 100th anniversary of the women’s suffrage parade in DC. The march was scheduled to coincide with President Woodrow Wilson’s inauguration to draw attention to their demand for a federal suffrage amendment. The group of 5,000 to 8,000 marchers, most of whom wore white costumes, were attacked by onlookers, which generated sympathy for their cause.
The Women’s Suffrage Movement, by Deidrah Scott. This unit plan helps students explore the history of the Women’s Suffrage Movement, Women’s rights, and Women’s History Month. It also provides links to relevant resources such as documents from the Library of Congress, PBS webisodes, and DVDs from The History Channel. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/sE6ovu
3 110th anniversary of the Anarchist Exclusion Act. This act allows immigrants to be excluded on the basis of their political opinions.
U.S. Immigration History, by Radical Designs. Comprehensive timeline of US Immigration Law. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/oWYLsf
The Blast: Complete Collection Of The Incendiary San Francisco Bi-Monthly Anarchist Newspaper From 1916-1917 That Gave Voice to the Worldwide Anarchist Movement, by Alexander Berkman.Amazing collection of primary source material from West Coast Anarchists at the height of the movement in the US. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/JTI3Jv
3 150th anniversary of the Conscription Act. On this day, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Conscription Act (also known as the Enrollment Act) requiring the enrollment of male citizens between ages 20 and 45, the first national conscription (the Confederacy had instituted a similar policy a year earlier). However, the rich could pay to avoid military service. The draft prompted considerable backlash and led to the New York Draft Riots (see July 13).
Should the Draft be Reinstated?, CNN, Time, Washington Post. Mainstream news coverage from this debate can be used to fuel an in-class debate on Conscription in modern times. It can also be linked to class discussions about how the media shapes public perception. (H) http://wapo.st/uLkCE6 http://ti.me/567E9x http://bit.ly/vabJhr
Northern Racism and the New York City Draft Riots of 1863, by Kevin Kelly, UMBC Center for History Education: Teaching American History Lesson Plans. In this lesson plan, students analyze primary sources and personal accounts of the NYC Draft riots, which will help them draw conclusions about the existence and power of Northern racism toward African Americans. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/vSyy8j
4 80th anniversary of Frances Perkins becoming the first woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet. A personal witness at the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, Perkins devoted her life to the rights of workers. As Secretary of Labor, Perkins was the architect of many of Roosevelt’s New Deal advances, including Social Security.
Frances Perkins Center. This site briefly describes Perkins, but contains links to other sites that describe her accomplishments. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/epz6Az
8 International Women’s Day. German socialist Clara Zetkin in 1910 proposed March 8 as a working-class women’s holiday to celebrate past victories and carry the fight forward.
Not Yet Rain, by Lisa Russell of Governess Films. A film about unsafe abortion and reproductive rights in Ethiopia told through the voices of women who have struggled for safe health care. The website has other resources about how to get involved. (H) http://bit.ly/mNVoB
3 Women’s Stories of Another Color. Three lesson plans with audio downloads of women storytellers. 1) Nepantla: Caught Between Two Worlds, Growing up Mexican American in Los Angeles. 2) The Spirit Survives: The American Indian Boarding School Experience: Then and Now. 3) Hidden Memory: Internment: Knowing Your Family’s Story and Why it Matters. (M, H) http://bit.ly/sK8CnJ
Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai: Shaking the Tree, by Marieke van Woerkom. To mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, students think about women they admire, learn about African leader Maathai, and discuss the Peter Gabriel song Shaking the Tree. (H) http://bit.ly/t11Crk
20 10th anniversary of the Iraq War. The US invaded Iraq, supported by a few international allies, claiming Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The WMD were never found. After toppling the Iraqi government, the US occupied Iraq for nearly a decade, battling an anti-US insurgency as sectarian violence wracked the country. Combat troops were withdrawn from Iraq at the end of 2012.
Camouflaged: Investigating How the U.S. Military Affects You and Your Community, by NYCoRE. This resource collection is a tool for educators to help students explore the role of the military in their lives and in their communities. (M, H) http://bit.ly/w4D7oe
The Recruiter, directed by Edet Belzburg. This curriculum, which accompanies the documentary, The Recruiter, provides teachers with tools to take students beyond their own perspectives on war, and into the lives of teenagers choosing to enlist in the United States Army. It also prompts discussion about the personal circumstances of the teenagers themselves and the nature of the war in which they are participating. (H) http://bit.ly/ubiIbI
Teaching about War, resources from Radical Math. A link to several lessons and resources that help students understand the cost of war through mathematics. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/radwar
A Global Controversy: The U.S. Invasion of Iraq, by The Choices Program. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that draws students into the debate on the US’ decision to invade Iraq in 2003. Materials include readings, activities, videos, maps, poetry, web links and more. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/sjcsSO
The Lessons of Iraq, by The Choices Program. This lesson allows students to critically analyze the “lessons of Iraq” through reading four short articles. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/tBXWsU
21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorates the lives of the anti-apartheid demonstrators killed on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa.
Know Your Rights on Campus: A Guide on Racial Profiling, and Hate Crime for International Students in the United States, by Harvard’s Civil Rights Project. This guide provides students with the facts they need to protect themselves in school. Written with college students in mind, this is still a helpful resource for high schoolers. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/Ka0rQr
10 Ways to Fight Hate, by Teaching Tolerance. This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate, along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who worked to push hate out of their communities. (M, H) http://scr.bi/d71XT9
100 Years of Progress Poster, by YES! Magazine. This poster highlights celebrated “firsts,” landmark court cases such as Brown v. Board of Education, and legendary protests such as the March on Washington, as well as lesser-known political, social and cultural milestones that have gradually marked the way. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9wA1mY
This is the Dream, by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander. This is the Dream chronicles the Civil Rights Movement through lyrical verses, photographs, newspaper clippings, and illustrations. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/vEbvc3
22 World Water Day. This day is held annually to highlight water issues and to advocate for universal access to sustainable, freshwater resources.
Measuring Water with Justice, by Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. This article discusses several strategies to teach about the costs of producing water, who should have rights to drinking water and how oil spills affect ecosystems and communities. (E, M, TR) http://bit.ly/rxObc5
Flow: For the Love of Water, directed by Irena Salina. This film builds a case against the growing privatization of the world’s dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/2w3gIl
26 90th anniversary of You Chung Hong becoming the first Chinese American to practice law in California. On this day, Hong graduated from USC Law School and later became the first Chinese American to run a law office in Los Angeles, advocating for the rights of Chinese Americans. Hong worked to repeal the Chinese Exclusion Act, helped rebuild LA’s Chinatown and became a specialist in immigration law.
Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, PBS curriculum and documentary. This documentary describes the ways the first arrivals from China in the 1840s, their descendants, and recent immigrants have “become American.” Facing History offers a teaching unit to accompany the film. (E, M, TR) http://to.pbs.org/MQcxL
31 César Chávez Day
Viva La Causa: The Story of César Chávez and a Great Movement for Social Justice, by Teaching Tolerance. This short documentary film and accompanying teacher’s guide explore the Grape Strike and Boycott led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. The free teaching kit includes a 39-minute film on DVD and a teacher’s guide. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/ffoc4E
Harvesting Hope: The Story of César Chávez, by Kathleen Krull. This picture book chronicles Chávez’s youth and the struggles he endured on his journey to becoming a leader. The second link is to a teacher’s guide. (E) http://bit.ly/cechbook http://bit.ly/tLyjqJ
Model Curriculum and Resources for Teachers. This curriculum on the life and work of César E. Chávez from the California Department of Education includes biographies, pictures and other resources provided to help teachers prepare lessons for this holiday. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/cb8NfJ
April
1 180th anniversary of Prudence Crandall opening a school for African American girls in Connecticut. Crandall, a White school teacher, opened a private school for girls in 1831, but when she admitted a Black student, White families withdrew their daughters. In response, Crandall opened a school exclusively for Black girls in 1833 but the school was repeatedly attacked, and she and one of her students were arrested. Under unrelenting attack, Crandall closed the school in 1834.
From Canterbury to Little Rock: The Struggle for Educational Equality for African Americans, by the National Park Service. This lesson plan includes readings, maps, photographs, and activities that will help students examine how Crandall challenged existing attitudes towards the education of African Americans in pre-Civil War New England. Students will also compare the events that occurred in CT in the 1830s to the events in Little Rock, AR in the 1950s. (TR) http://1.usa.gov/sNsoa2
1 National Poetry Month
Growing up Hip-Hop, by kahlil almustafa. In this collection written throughout his youth and young adulthood, award winning poet kahlil almustafa captures the experiences, contradictions and healing that have defined the hip-hop generation. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/utbiVK
The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook, Volume 1, by Marcella Runnell Hall and Martha Diaz. The H2ED Guidebook addresses the tenets of critical Hip Hop pedagogy, framing the issues of concern and strength within Hip Hop culture. The book offers an array of innovative and interdisciplinary lesson plans for teachers by teachers. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uQXXc2
Brave New Voices. Brave New Voices is a national poetry slam competition that truly engages everyone involved, from the participants to the adult mentors and audience members. The first episode of the HBO series which chronicles the 2008 festival is available online. (M, H) http://bit.ly/IOHkLk
Hip Hop and the Classics for the Classroom, by Alan Sitmor and Michael Cirelli. This collection of lesson plans analyzes the poetry of Hip Hop and compare its motifs, themes and general poetic devices to the poems traditionally studied in order to teach the core elements of the poetic craft in an appealing, relevant and accessible manner. (M, H) http://bit.ly/arzHBR
1 First day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The month of April has been designated Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) in the United States. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.
Advocates for Youth. Their website has an education resource center that offers K-12 educators lesson plans, curricula, national standards and state legislation to use in their classroom and community. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/6aiCSa
NO! Confronting Sexual Assault in Our Communities. This documentary explores the impact of sexual violence on Black women and girls. As the incidents of violence and sexual assault continue, this film can be used to support both women and men, regardless of race, as they learn to navigate the challenging terrain of sexuality–without violence. 2nd link is to a facilitator’s guide to the film. (H) http://bit.ly/filmNO http://bit.ly/guideno
Tough Guise. Tough Guise is aimed at a general student audience to analyze masculinity as a social construction, a performance, or a role; in short, a tough guise. The film links violence to the construction of masculinity around domination and violence. (H) http://imdb.to/u8BXK7
7 World Health Day
Critical Condition and other films about healthcare. Films from P.O.V. and Media That Matters about healthcare. (H) http://to.pbs.org/sGen3S
Health and Healthcare Resources, by Radical Math. A collection of materials for teaching about health and healthcare through mathematics. (M, H) http://bit.ly/radhealth
Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?, by PBS. This seven-part series exploring race and socioeconomic disparities in health investigates how the social circumstances in which we are born, live and work can actually get under our skin and disrupt our physiology as much as germs and viruses. The website includes a classroom section, discussion guide and video clips. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/eSKw
Health: The Big Picture, by The Change Agent. Issue 28, March 2009 of The Change Agent explores students’ experiences dealing with health challenges and their individual and community-based responses to those challenges. It also contains information about the US health insurance industry, student-recommended home remedies and more. The resource is available after free registration at: http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/backissues.htm (TR) http://bit.ly/zUqblo
7 Holocaust Remembrance Day
Days of Remembrance. The Museum has extensive resources for honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/WuFDI
Paper Clips, directed by Elliot and Joe Fab. This documentary shows how students in Tennessee responded to lessons about the Holocaust – with a promise to collect a paper clip for each individual killed by the Nazis. The result, a memorial railcar filled with 11 million paper clips standing permanently in their schoolyard, shows how a committed group of children and educators can make a difference. (E, M, H) http://amzn.to/9mdnwR
One Survivor Remembers. One Survivor Remembers tells the unforgettable story of Gerda Weissmann Klein’s six-year ordeal as a victim of Nazi cruelty. The free teaching kit includes the documentary and lesson plans. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/17OwOL
Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. This book tells the story of a young girl and her life in Denmark during World War II. Annemarie and her family are determined to help Ellen survive the “relocation” program for all Jews. These sites include lesson plans for the book. (E) http://bit.ly/cesQaT http://bit.ly/dt7xp8 http://bit.ly/XjSNZ
Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals: Online Exhibition of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This online exhibit provides resources, photographs and more to learn about the Nazis’ persecution of homosexuals. (M, H) http://bit.ly/91L1sK
12 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King being arrested in Birmingham. King, along with other civil rights leaders, was arrested for leading anti-segregation protests. While incarcerated he wrote “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” in which he argues that all communities are connected and that injustice impacts everyone.
Making Connections, by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. A collection of lesson plans about the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/tyCpBY
Media Construction of Martin Luther King, by Project Look Sharp. Teacher guides, student handouts, overviews, and assessments aimed at helping students critically analyze the media’s construction of MLK. (H) http://bit.ly/4yKYkH
Letter from a Birmingham Jail. This site provides full text of the letter. (H) http://bit.ly/fRSs
14 Vaisakhi (Sikh)
My Sikh Year: A Year of Religious Festivals, by Cath Senker. This book moves chronologically through the calendar year and looks at the typical events, customs and celebrations celebrated by Sikh children. (E) http://bit.ly/wLQQtK
18 30th anniversary of Alice Walker winning the Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple. Taking place mostly in rural Georgia, Walker’s most popular novel focuses on the lives of Black women during the 1930s in the South. The story addresses issues of race, gender and violence.
The Color Purple Interdisciplinary Unit, from The History of Jim Crow. This interdisciplinary unit focuses on Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple. It combines language arts skills, such as journaling, note taking, essay writing and group discussion. (H) http://bit.ly/KsM60y
19 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto in German-occupied Poland during World War II fought back against the Nazis’ efforts to transport the remaining ghetto population to the Treblinka extermination camp. The insurgents were eventually defeated. It was the largest single revolt by the Jews during the Holocaust.
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, by Facing History and Ourselves. A collection of ten readings with connections to broader themes at the end of each individual reading. (H) http://bit.ly/vA1Y1Q
22 Earth Day
Environmental Protection Activities and Online Games, by the Institute for Humane Education. Among other great resources and lesson plans, this website hosts several online games that help students explore issues of environmental sustainability. (M, H) http://bit.ly/8to5et, http://bit.ly/9dwxYj
Race, Poverty and the Environment. This journal links issues of racism and poverty with environmental justice. Some recent resources are available for free to download; older resources require a purchase. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/rtuLVm
Fancy Nancy: Everyday is Earth Day, by Jane O’Connor. In Fancy Nancy: Everyday is Earth Day, Nancy learns in school that “every day is Earth day.” She tries to impose strict green rules to her family but she learns to balance her environmental enthusiasm with common sense. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/sGT2gu
The Earth Book, by Todd Parr. This book features vibrantly colored cartoons and offers simple activities followed by clear explanations of how these actions can have a large impact on the health of our planet. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/vkSFDD
I’m Not Too Little to Help the Earth, by W.Y. Taylor. This book teaches young children about things they can do during their everyday routines to help the Earth. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/u3Nh1k
24 Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. This observance is held annually to commemorate the victims of the massacre and deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.
Teacher’s Guide for Cobblestone Armenian Americans, by Lucine Kasbarian. This teacher and classroom guide provides lessons to teach about the Armenian genocide, genocide denial, social justice, ethnic preservation and ethnic identity. This guide accompanies the May 2000 edition of Cobblestone children’s magazine. (E, M, H) Archive of articles: http://bit.ly/t9ntvX Teacher’s guide: http://bit.ly/sL7Dzf
Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians. This resource provides students with the latest scholarship on the genocide. (H) http://bit.ly/936fqB
Confronting Genocide: Never Again?, by The Choices Program. This site contains supplemental materials to a unit that examines how the US responded to five cases of genocide, including the Armenian Genocide. Materials include videos, maps, graphic organizers, surveys, and web links. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vVZ67s
28 First day of Screen Free Week
Turn Off TV…Turn on the Possibilities, by Pat Degracia from Kitsap County Health District. Describes the significance of TV Turnoff Day. This site includes a log that students and families can use to report how many hours of television they watched during this week compared to a normal week. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/d5AKWk
Organizer’s Kit. Includes kits that you can purchase as well as fact sheets about children’s television viewing habits. (E, M, H) http://www.tvturnoff.org/
30 210th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. In 1803, the United States paid France 60 million francs for a vast stretch of land from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains that eventually became 15 US states. President Thomas Jefferson allowed slavery in the acquired territory. As the land was settled, more and more territory was taken from Native Americans.
Empire of Humanity, by Howard Zinn, Rethinking Schools, Summer 2008. Howard Zinn’s article frames American Imperialism from the foundations of the country until today. The article was expanded into a graphic text and an accompanying video. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/rszinn08 http://bit.ly/zinnempireorder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arn3lF5XSUg
Missouri State Archives: Missouri’s Early Slave Laws. History of Black Codes in Missouri and Louisiana through the 1850s. (M, H, TR) http://1.usa.gov/blackcodes
May
1 10th anniversary of the US Navy closure of Camp Garcia firing zone in Vieques, Puerto Rico. The US Navy withdraws from Vieques, Puerto Rico, following four years of protests. Vieques was bombed an average of 180 days per year, and studies concluded that the area had higher incidences of cancer, infant mortality, and toxic contamination than other areas of Puerto Rico.
The University of Connecticut Puerto Rican and Latino Studies Project: The Vieques Struggle. Motivated by their visit to Vieques and discussions with island residents, University of Connecticut students developed this film to publicize the years of human rights struggles by island residents. The health crisis, health disparities, and reparation claims against the United States Navy are documented in this film as a means of advocacy and show of support for the ongoing struggle. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vXhDyL
Vieques: Worth Every Bit of Struggle (5 Min Video Link TV). In this film, Puerto Ricans recount the grim story of the “occupation” of Vieques – their health impacts, the protest movement, and the eventual exit of the US military. (H) http://bit.ly/tadZMG
Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz’s Testimony on Vieques, Puerto Rico, from Voices of a People’s History of the United States. A speech by Ismael Guadalupe Ortiz, an activist against US occupation of Vieques. The speech is read by Mario Murillo. (M, H) http://bit.ly/skT9ly
1 10th anniversary of President Bush declaring the end of major combat operations in Iraq. Standing on an aircraft carrier in front of a “Mission Accomplished” sign, President George W. Bush declared the US had achieved victory in Iraq. Since 2004, more than 4,000 coalition troops and more than 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died.
Media Construction of War: A Critical Reading of History, by Project Look Sharp. Includes a 125-page kit that analyzes Newsweek coverage of the Vietnam War, the Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan. Students will learn core information about the wars in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, how media influences public opinion of current events, and how to ask key media literacy questions and identify bias in the news. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/bKAvnb
Terrorism: How Should We Respond?, by The Choices Program. This lesson allows students to use role-play to explore four policy options on the issues of how the US should respond to terrorism. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/quiW0e
1 International Worker’s Day/May Day. International Workers’ Day, or May Day, recognizes the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. It also commemorates the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886, in which Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight-hour day, killing several demonstrators.
3PLUS-U. This UN Cyberschoolbus site provides an interactive experience for students to inquire about labor rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/so5iaC
The Power in Our Hands: A Curriculum on the History of Work and Workers in the United States, by William Bigelow and Norman Diamond. This celebrated book provides entertaining, easy-to-use lesson plans for teaching labor history. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/rtAWyl
1 First day of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
Asian-American Curriculum Projects. An extensive catalog of resources and services that underscore the importance and diversity of the Asian-American experience. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/2unIYN
Ancestors in the Americas, by Loni Ding, PBS. This series and companion website provide stories, timelines and historical resources helpful in teaching about the experiences of Asian Americans. (M, H) http://to.pbs.org/rMYJYG
A Century of Challenge and Change: The Filipino American Story. The aim of this curriculum is to highlight the historical and cultural experiences of Filipino Americans within a multicultural and global context by emphasizing ethnic pride, cultural connections, critical thinking and community activism. (E, TR) http://bit.ly/8YgL2J
My Name is Yoon, by Helen Recorvits. My Name is Yoon is about a Korean girl who has difficulty adjusting to her new life in America. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/tn5FXo
3 World Press Freedom Day
IndyKids. IndyKids is a free newspaper and teaching tool that aims to inform children on current news and world events from a progressive perspective and to inspire a passion for social justice and learning. It is geared toward kids in grades four to eight and high school English Language Learners. IndyKids is produced five times during the school year. (E, M) http://bit.ly/dnlh5
Media Literacy Lessons, by Educators for Social Responsibility. Six lessons that help students deconstruct the media messages and the construction of the news. While the lessons are free, you will have to create a free account to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/9gnRUt
5 Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Despite this victory, France eventually defeated Mexican forces and occupied the country for three years.
“Celebrate, don’t desecrate Cinco de Mayo,” by Educational Justice blog. Article tracing the origins of the celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the United States to the Chicano anti-imperialist movement in the 1960s. (TR) http://bit.ly/ccDwhK
Cinco de Mayo Inc. This blog is dedicated to documenting and critically examining the commercialization of Cinco de Mayo. This Mexican holiday has become more popular in the US than in Mexico in part because of corporate America’s desire to make millions off the Latino consumer market while perpetuating damaging stereotypes about Latinos and Latinas and not educating the American public about the historical significance of this day. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/rryYIN
6 International No Diet Day (INDD). The INDD is an annual celebration of body acceptance and body shape diversity. This day is also dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness of the dangers and futility of dieting.
Reshaping Body Image, by Teaching Tolerance. This lesson is intended to help students examine how people of varying shapes and sizes are typically viewed in our society. How and why have perceptions of beauty and body image have changed over time? (H) http://bit.ly/dVObJ0
7 National Teacher Day. Celebrate National Teacher day by re-asserting what you believe is in the best interest of teachers and students. Link up with like-minded educators to take action inside and outside of your classroom.
Teacher Activist Groups. The Network of Teacher Activist Groups (TAG) is a national coalition of grassroots teacher organizing groups. Together, they engage in shared political education and relationship-building in order to work for educational justice both nationally and in their local communities. Look for a group near you or find a local cause and get involved! (TR)http://bit.ly/ihT9QP
11 World Fair Trade Day
Getting Involved in Fair Trade, by Angene Wilson. Students will learn about Turkish and Ugandan women working in fair trade organizations, study the ten standards of fair trade and, in a small group, write a proposal for involving a school club in selling fair trade items. (M, H) http://bit.ly/csTZgo
Raising the Bar: Kids Say No to Cheap Labor for Chocolate!, by IndyKids. IndyKids cover article for highlighting Hershey Chocolate’s use of child labor on its cocoa plantations in Africa. Highlights fair trade and social action. (E, M) http://bit.ly/snKlPb
Think Fair Trade First, by Ingrid Hess. In Think Fair Trade First, Stella and Henry discover the world of Fair Trade when searching for a birthday present for their mother. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/uOz4vG
12 80th anniversary of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. In an effort to decrease crop surpluses and thus raise the value of crops, the AAA paid landowners to not plant part of their land. That money was supposed to be shared with tenant farmers, but often was not. The inequality helped fuel the growth of the Southern Tenant Farmer’s Union, one of the few unions in the 1930s that was open to all races.
Southern Tenant Farmer’s Union: Black and White Unite?, by Bill Bigelow and Norm Diamond, Zinn Education Project. This teaching activity examines efforts by Black and White workers to overcome deep divisions and racial antagonism. Students are faced with a “What would you do?” assignment that helps them grasp many of the difficulties in achieving some degree of racial unity. (M, H) http://bit.ly/rYmZcW
12 Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day Proclamation-1870, by Julia Ward Howe. Poem by Julia Ward Howe advocating that women from around the world organize to resolve conflicts peacefully. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/eT5sy
15 International Conscientious Objectors’ Day
Conscientious Objection: Youth and Militarism, by the American Friends Service Committee. The American Friends website has a host of materials about militarism, alternatives to the military, counter recruitment and conscientious objection. (H) http://bit.ly/rDo8f7
DMZ: A Guide to Taking Your School Back From the Military, by The War Resisters League. DMZ is a comprehensive counter military recruitment organizing manual for youth activists and their allies. (H) http://bit.ly/lqSoky
Why War Is Never a Good Idea, by Alice Walker. Poet and activist Alice Walker personifies the power and wanton devastation of war in this evocative poem illustrated by an unflinching look at war’s destructive nature and unforeseen consequences. (E) http://bit.ly/v5s6Au
17 Lena Levine, advocate for woman’s rights and anti-poverty activist, born (1903-1965). Levine, a psychiatrist and gynecologist, advocated for issues such as free access to birth control, women’s right to sexual enjoyment, and sex education. Also an anti-poverty activist, she used her writing and speeches advocate for the empowerment of married women.
The New Sex Ed: Empowered Youth Strengthening Communities, by Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice. These organizing tools and resources present sexuality education justice that is holistic, relevant to ALL people, and grounded in young people’s communities. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bpLv2t
17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). IDAHO aims to coordinate international events to promote respect for lesbians, gays and transgendered people worldwide.
And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. And Tango Makes Three (based on a true story) is about a penguin family living in New York City’s Central Park Zoo that is a bit “different.” A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/ssujzy
Molly’s Family, by Nancy Garden. Molly’s Family is about a five year-old girl with two moms and her struggle to understand the true meaning of family. A summary, link and activities are available on the 6 Elements of Social Justice Ed. Book Blog, which contains an annotated list of children’s literature for the elementary classroom. (E) http://bit.ly/uhvpoX
International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) Website. Resources about LGBT injustices all around the world and ways to contribute to campaigns fighting for LGBT justice. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/5Oazc
19 300th anniversary of the Boston Bread Riot. In the early 18th century, the city of Boston had very little arable land. Most grain had to be imported. Merchants hoarded grain or sold it to foreign markets exacerbating food shortages. The shortage prompted a series of riots by Boston’s poor, who were ineligible to vote, of which this one was the last.
Mass Moments. This website contains timelines, maps, audio files and teacher resources (i.e. lesson plans) about the Boston Bread Riot and other important moments in Massachusetts’ history. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/w20bD1
25 African Liberation Day. African Liberation Day was first established in 1958 after African leaders and political activists gathered at the first Pan-African conference held on African soil.
Wonders of the African World, by PBS. Join Henry Louis Gates, Jr. as he takes you on a journey to discover a wealth of African history and culture in Wonders of the African World. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/3BHM0I
Africa Access. Organization whose aim is to help schools, public libraries, and parents improve the quality of their children’s collections on Africa. This site includes an online database of reviews of children’s books about Africa, bibliographies for specific research topics related to Africa, and awards for the best children’s books on Africa published in the US. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/K1g9m
I Didn’t Know There Were Cities in Africa!, by Teaching Tolerance. Article with do’s and don’ts in teaching about modern Africa. (E) http://bit.ly/9pooY
25 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity. Leaders of 32 African nations ended their conference with a pledge to found the OAU, whose central goal was to decolonize the rest of Africa, aiming to end White rule in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), South Africa, Mozambique and Angola.
Africa, by PBS. Interactive site on Africa with images, information and teacher tools. (E, M, H) http://to.pbs.org/sBgUDu
The Story of Africa, by the BBC. Outline of African history from early history to independence that includes audio recordings from the BBC. (M, H) http://bbc.in/mrld5
25 Vesak (Buddhism)
Wesak, by Open-Sez-Me Books. Information and activities to recognize Wesak or Vesakha and learn more about Buddhism. (E) http://bit.ly/vSEhrH
29 70th anniversary of the appearance of Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. The image of Rosie the Riveter has become a cultural icon, representing the American women who began working in factories while men were overseas fighting during WWII. Her image is often used as a symbol of feminism and women’s economic power.
Beyond Rosie the Riveter: Women’s Contributions During WWII, by Sean Irwin. In this lesson, students use primary, secondary, and multimedia resources such as the “We Can Do It” poster to explore the many ways in which American women contributed to the war effort during WWII and how their efforts marked political, economic and military changes. (H) http://bit.ly/J4BEvX
30 40th anniversary of Crystal Lee Sutton being fired from J.P. Stevens. Sutton was fired from the J.P. Stevens textile plant in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina for trying to organize a union to fight poor working conditions. The 1979 film Norma Rae, starring Sally Field, is based on Sutton’s early union work.
5 Basic Steps to Organize a Union. Student friendly step-by-step guide to starting a union from the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America’s website. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/chKJvp
Norma Rae, directed by Martin Ritt. This 1979 film, based on Crystal Lee Sutton’s life, is about Norma Rae, a southern textile worker employed in a factory with horrible working conditions. Rae’s concerns lead her to become involved in struggling to unionize the factory. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/tblJsW
Where’s Your Shirt From? Second Graders Learn to Use Data to Change the World, by Mary Cowhey. This site tells the story of how Mary Cowhey’s second graders used their data collecting and sorting skills to make a connection between the clothes they wear, where they were made and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. (E, TR) http://bit.ly/tAq3Vt
30 James Earl “J.E.” Chaney, civil rights activist, born (1943-1964). Chaney was one of three American civil rights workers who were murdered during Freedom Summer by members of the Ku Klux Klan near Philadelphia, MS.
Selma, Lord Selma. Selma, Lord, Selma is the true story about a young girl’s desire to actively participate in the Selma, Alabama Civil Rights Movement because she was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (E, M, H) http://amzn.to/vh5WBl
June
1 170th anniversary of Isabella Baumfree changing her name to Sojourner Truth. Truth, an African American activist and former slave, spoke out against slavery and in favor of women’s rights. Truth said she changed her name because it reflected her calling to travel around the country and speak the truth about slavery.
Ain’t I a Woman, by Sojourner Truth. Sojourner Truth’s historic speech performed by Alfrie Woodard for Voices of A People’s History of the United States. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/1VUsD
1 First day of Caribbean American Heritage Month
Caribbean Connections Series, by Teaching for Change. Teaching for Change has developed this six-book series that brings the Caribbean experience to the classroom. (H) http://bit.ly/vk1EAg
1 First day of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
Beyond Tolerance: A Resource Guide for Addressing LGTBQI Issues in Schools, by NYQueer and NYCoRE. A comprehensive resource guide with activities, websites, organizations and an annotated bibliography to support educators in addressing queer issues. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9nCcFt
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Curriculum. The website features tools and resources for teaching about gay issues, for addressing homophobia and for supporting students to start Gay/Straight Alliances. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9vID87
2 Cornel West, civil rights activist and author, born (1953). West, an American philosopher, author, critic, actor and civil rights activist, is best known for his contribution to the post-1960s civil rights movement. A professor at Princeton University, his work focuses on the role of race, gender, and class in American society and the means by which people act and react to their “radical conditionedness.”
Cornel West Quotes, by Goodreads, Inc. This website houses several West quotes and also provides links to purchase his books. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/voIA97
2 150th anniversary of Harriet Tubman leading a raid that freed hundreds of slaves. During the Civil War Tubman became the first woman to lead an armed assault when she guided three gunboats in a raid against Confederate forces in South Carolina. More than 700 slaves were rescued as they fled captivity.
The Underground Railroad, by National Geographic. The Underground Railroad affords many educational opportunities. The activities presented here, especially the interactive journey, offer readers an emotional as well as historical experience regarding slavery. The Classroom Ideas are tailored to various age groups. (E, M, H) http://on.natgeo.com/tQ9bPs
Teaching With Documents: The Fight for Equal Rights: Black Soldiers in the Civil War, by the National Archives. Lesson plan using original documents about Black soldiers during the Civil War. Includes information about Tubman’s wartime activities. (H) http://1.usa.gov/9aBJZm
4 UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. Appalled by the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression, in the 1980s the United Nations General Assembly decided to commemorate June 4 of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. It reminds people that throughout the world there are many children suffering from different forms of abuse, and there is an urgent need to protect the rights of children.
Teaching the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict through Dual Narratives, by Samia Shoman. This curriculum provides insights into the challenges of teaching the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suggestions for how to present the historical context and current situation using essential and unit questions, and methodology for teaching peace attempts and barriers to peace. (H) http://bit.ly/vUi2ot
A Little Piece of Ground, by Elizabeth Laird w/ Sonia Nimr. This novel is about a young boy named Karim who is living through the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (E) http://bit.ly/rxsebu
Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Short video of Alice Walker reading a letter from Rachel Corrie, a young, White American who traveled to the Gaza Strip as part of the International Solidarity Movement and was killed by a bulldozer operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes by the IDF. (H) http://bit.ly/aKr5Q4
Palestine Education Project. The Palestine Education Project (PEP) is a collective of educators, activists and artists committed to Popular Education about the struggle for justice in Palestine. The curriculum has been developed in various educational and community spaces throughout the US and Palestine over a six year period. (H) http://bit.ly/rYeVGI
10 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. This federal law amended the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 with the aim of abolishing sex-based wage discrimination between men and women.
Teaching American History: Meeting the Standard, by Joann Johnson. This site provides a lesson plan in which students will learn about the impact of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, and connect its enactment to President Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women and its effects on wages in today’s market. (M, H) http://bit.ly/s5BplQ
10 10th anniversary of the Ontario Court voting in favor of marriage equality. Ontario was the first place in North America to allow same-sex marriage, followed by Massachusetts in November of the same year.
Safe Schools Coalition Marriage Equality Page. A list of resources from ice-breakers to talking points about the movement to create marriage equality. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/txb0tb
Operation Marriage, by Cynthia Chin-Lee. Set in the San Francisco Bay area months before the passage of Proposition 8 banned gay marriage in California, this elementary picture book tells the story of two kids who take matters into their own hands. (E) http://bit.ly/vD3UDF
How Did Marriage Equality Become Law in New York State?, by Julie Weiss. After learning that New York made gay marriage legal, students explore how the bill came to be passed—including the strategies and personal experiences that influenced legislators’ decisions. (H) http://bit.ly/lXt2OK
12 World Day Against Child Labor. The World Day Against Child Labor is recognized to raise awareness and activism to prevent child labor.
Stop Child Labor Lesson Plans, by International Labor Rights Forum. Lesson plans connected to several anti-child labor campaigns including cocoa farms, and cotton and rubber plantations. (M, H)http://bit.ly/yKVlbE
Iqbal, by Francesco D’Adamo. A powerful story based on the real life and death of a Pakistani child sold into slavery. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/uSbGOa
Do You Want Slavery With That? Modern slavery is still ubiquitous. In this lesson, students hear about it from the slaves themselves (through their stories) and consider what they can do to help. (M, H) http://bit.ly/8hF8vJ
Raising the Bar: Kids Say No Cheap Labor for Chocolate, by Octavia Davis and Lisa Goodman. IndyKids article highlighting the protests against Hershey’s for their use of child labor on their cocoa farms in Africa. Discusses fair trade as well as the involvement of children in the cocoa growing process. (E, M) http://bit.ly/snKlPb
Teaching With Documents: Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor. This site contains reproducible copies of photos documenting the role of child labor in the development of the industrial United States. (M, H) http://1.usa.gov/3qo8vl
Slavery Footprint, by Made in a Free World. This interactive site highlights modern day slavery and describes industries and products that use modern day slaves. Users can also take a survey that calculates the number of slaves that work for them. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/nRx50c
12 50th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Evers was an African-American activist who fought to end segregation in his home state of Mississippi, organizing boycotts against segregated facilities. He became active in the Civil Rights Movement after returning from overseas service in WWII and led the NAACP in Mississippi. Evers was fatally shot in front of his home by the KKK.
A Tribute to Medgar Evers: Education Resources. This tribute site contains a photo gallery, a virtual tour of Evers’ home, interviews with family and friends, and education resources like a 5-day curriculum guide. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/vxHDGM
14 70th anniversary of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. The US Supreme Court determined that students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance or to salute the American flag.
CIVIO–A Civil Rights Game, by Reach and Teach. CIVIO is a strategy card game that explores the relationship of issues, freedoms, laws, and Supreme Court cases that have both strengthened and reduced civil rights and civil liberties. Includes information on West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, Roe v. Wade and Lawrence v. Texas. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bo1bEG
17 50th anniversary of a Supreme Court decision on Bible reading in school. In Abington School District v. Schempp the US Supreme Court declared school-sponsored Bible reading in public schools to be unconstitutional.
We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution. This site contains six units that examine important concepts connected to the Constitution. Lesson 28 uses landmark court cases such as Abington School District v. Schempp to explore how the First Amendment affects the establishment and free exercise of religion. (TR) http://bit.ly/uxrOkF
19 140th anniversary of Susan B. Anthony v. United States of America. On November 18, 1872, Anthony was arrested for voting in the state of New York in an 1872 Congressional election. Anthony was tried and convicted for voting illegally because she was a woman and fined $100, which she refused to pay. However, the trial gave Anthony the opportunity to spread her arguments more widely.
Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, by Ken Burns and Paul Barnes. This film shows the struggle and development of women’s rights and Anthony’s and Stanton’s contributions to the movement. (E, M, H) http://to.pbs.org/XICld
The People Speak. A re-enactment of Susan B. Anthony’s rousing speech that she gave at her trial for illegally voting as a woman. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9XI965
19 Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.
Slavery and Indentured Servitude, by Michael Ray. This six-minute digital history of slavery includes the voices of slave survivors as well as pictures that depict the struggles and inequities that these individuals had to face. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/uuIyHj
Been Here So Long: Selections from the WPA American Slave Narratives, by the New Deal Network. Here are seventeen of the approximately 2,300 American Slave Narratives collected by the Federal Writers Project with lesson plans. (H) http://bit.ly/uy2uKF
Perspective on the Slave Narrative, by EdSITEment. Lesson about the Narrative of William W. Brown, A Fugitive Slave (1847). The book is analyzed both as a work of literature and for its contribution to the abolitionist movement. (H) http://1.usa.gov/hjAWP5
20 120th anniversary of the founding of the American Railway Union. The American Railway Union, one of the largest labor unions at the time, was founded during the economic crisis of 1893. It was led by Eugene V. Debs and, as the largest labor union at the time, sought to unite all railway workers.
History of Railroad Unions in the U.S. Comprehensive collection of documents, videos and links about the history of Railroad Unions in the United States. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/uxlfHB
Eugene V. Debs, by Milestone Documents. This site offers information about Debs and his impact as a Socialist leader and co-founder of the American Railway Union. The site also includes further reading, study questions, and speech transcripts. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/vzPybb
22 30th anniversary of the appeal of the last racial classification law. The Louisiana state legislature repealed the last racial classification law in the US. The criteria for being classified as Black was having 1/32nd Negro blood, effectively having one Black great-great grandparent.
Race: The Power of an Illusion, by California Newsreal. A three-part documentary and companion website on perceptions and notions of race. Rather than focusing on biology, the series focuses on the role race plays in social and economic advantages and disadvantages. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/123Q3b
23 10th anniversary of the affirmative action admissions policy of University of Michigan Law School being upheld. The Supreme Court ruled that race can be one of many factors considered by colleges because diversity has educational benefits. This was a departure from the original logic of affirmative action, which was understood as an effort to correct historical discrimination.
Affirmative Action: How Far Have We Come?, by Tim Wise, NPR. Tim Wise, a leading White antiracist writer, discusses affirmative action with specific mention of the University of Michigan case. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/ctqbSv
25 James Meredith, civil rights activist, born (1933). Meredith, who is African-American, applied to the segregated University of Mississippi. After he was denied twice, the NAACP took up his case. The US Supreme Court ruled that he had the right to be admitted, and he became the first African American student at the University of Mississippi, an event that was a flashpoint in the Civil Rights Movement.
New York Divided: James McCune Smith, by New York Historical Society. The New York Historical Society’s virtual exhibit, New York Divided, examines the roots of slavery and the racial divide in New York City through the Civil War. Brief biographical information and a portrayal of Smith by actor Danny Glover can be found in the section focused on important people. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/sKyFel
26 International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The International Day in Support of Torture Victims was created by the UN General Assembly in honor of those who have been impacted by torture.
The Road to Guantánamo, directed by Mat Whitecross and Michael Winterbottom. Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantánamo Bay for two years until they were released without charge. Free online version available at Teach Peace’s website. (H) http://bit.ly/sAf6Pb
27 National HIV Testing Day. National HIV Testing Day is an annual campaign encouraging people to “take the test, take control.”
AVERT: Averting HIV and Aids. A variety of resources and information, including quizzes, handouts, videos and lessons for teachers and teens about living with and preventing HIV/AIDS. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uq5WS7
30 100th anniversary of the California Alien Land Law of 1913. Japanese immigrants formed a large portion of the labor force in Los Angeles, CA and they quickly moved from laboring on farms to owning them. In 1913 the California Legislature passed a law barring Asian immigrants from owning land or property, but permitting three-year leases.
Environmental Justice in Los Angeles: A Timeline. A timeline provided by the Environmental Defense Fund describing environmental justice in Los Angeles, California from 1863 to the 21st century. (M, H) http://bit.ly/uLYFEi
July
4 Independence Day
Frederick Douglass Fights for Freedom, by Bill Bigelow. A lesson to introduce students to the numerous and varied ways African Americans resisted their enslavement, using the autobiographical Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, published in 1845. It includes a video of Danny Glover reading Douglass’ speech questioning what Independence Day means to African Americans. (H) http://bit.ly/twIr1s
6 Leonard P. Matlovich, American soldier and advocate for gay rights, born (1943-1988). Matlovich was an American soldier who fought in Vietnam and subsequently became one of the most visible advocates for gay rights in the 1970s. Leonard was discharged from the Air Force for being gay. He sued and won, but accepted a financial settlement to leave the service immediately afterwards.
Safe Schools Coalition. Dates, events, national holidays, etc for LGBT. (TR) http://bit.ly/j5FQX
9 Ramadan begins at sundown (Islam).
Ramadan, by Susan L. Douglass. This book talks about Ramadan, which is a holy time of year for Muslims all around the world. It is the time when Muslims fast and pray each day between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is the time when family and friends come together and at the end of Ramadan, Muslims have a special celebration called Eid al-fitr. (E, M, TR) http://bit.ly/tHwrHI
Arab Stereotypes and American Educators, by Marvin Wingfield and Bushra Karaman. A teacher resource on the impact of Arab stereotyping on students. (TR) http://bit.ly/cXjoy4
13 150th anniversary of the Civil War Draft Riots. The Draft Riots were a series of violent eruptions in New York City that resulted from discontent with new laws passed to draft men to fight in the Union Army. These laws allowed people to buy their way out for $300, which angered poor Whites. Rioters attacked military targets and then turned their anger towards the city’s Black residents, including an orphanage full of children that was burned to the ground.
The Draft Riot Mystery, by Bill Bigelow, Zinn Education Project. In this teaching activity, students are invited to use historical clues to solve a mystery about the real story of the Draft Riots. (E, M, TR) http://bit.ly/owsaN0
20 90th anniversary of the introduction in Congress of the Equal Rights Amendment. Three years after women won the right to vote, the ERA was introduced in Congress by Senator Curtis and Representative Anthony, both Republicans. It is authored by Alice Paul, head of the National Women’s Party, who led the suffrage campaign.
First Lady Lesson Plan: What Happened to the Equal Rights Amendment?, by Averil McClelland, Kent State University. In this lesson, students will examine the Equal Rights Amendment, which was not ratified, in order to understand the process by which Constitutional Amendments are written and approved. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/uAvANf
25 50th anniversary of the Partial Test Ban Treaty. The Partial Test Ban Treaty (PTBT) prohibits most nuclear weapons tests. The treaty has been signed by most countries in the world.
Nuclear Weapons: What Should Our Policy Be?, by The Choices Program. This unit engages students in consideration of a balanced range of views on the questions that surround the future of nuclear weapons. The material in this 2-day lesson is drawn from a larger curriculum called The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons. (H) http://bit.ly/uIMKs0
28 110th anniversary of Mary “Mother” Jones bringing children to Roosevelt’s home to protest child labor. Jones, then 70 years old, led 100 children on a 3-week march from Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s house in Long Island, New York to protest child labor. On July 28, at the end of the march she and three of the children attempted to visit him at his home, but were turned away by his assistant.
Kids at Work: Lewis Hine and the Crusade Against Child Labor, by Russell Freedman. Photobiography of early twentieth-century photographer and schoolteacher Lewis Hine, using his own work as illustrations. Hines’ photographs of children at work were so devastating that they convinced the American people that Congress must pass child labor laws. (E, M) http://bit.ly/s8A6c3
Kids On Strike!, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. This book tells the story of children who stood up for their rights against powerful company owners. Some strikes led by young people were successful; some were not, but all are a testimony to the strength of mind and spirit of the children who helped build American industry. (E, M) http://bit.ly/rQ198r