Arts

Hate Crimes Legislation

In October 2009, President Barack Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The new law expands the definition of hate-crime victims, requires additional tracking of hate crimes by the FBI and removes previous restrictions on the prosecution of hate crimes. In these lessons, students will review the nature of hate, understand how laws are created in America, review and present statistical information related to hate crimes, compare the new law to previous hate-crimes legislation and deepen their knowledge of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.

Professional Development

Fighting Prejudice and Discrimination Against People With Learning Disabilities

In these lessons, students will work toward understanding what it means to have a learning disability. The goal is make them aware of prejudice and discrimination aimed at those with learning disabilities.

Framework

The March Continues

On November 5, 1989, thousands of people gathered in Montgomery, Ala., to witness the dedication of the Civil Rights Memorial. It is a granite monument inscribed with the names of 40 martyrs who gave their lives fighting for civil rights. Since then, a museum has been added to the memorial. One of its displays, “The March Continues,” honors later campaigns for social change. These movements were based on the nonviolent principles of the civil rights era.

In this lesson, students will work from core readings and then apply creative and critical thinking skills to design a monument for one of these later movements.

Objectives
Students will:

School Lunches: Cultural Relevancy in the Cafeteria

This lesson seeks to open students’ eyes to the variety of experiences that they and their classmates have at lunchtime. By thinking about diverse students’ needs and experiences, students who complete this lesson enhance their awareness of and respect for diversity, and their commitment to equity.

Framework

Reducing Gender Stereotyping and Homophobia in Sports

Recently, professional football players Brendon Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita spoke out to support marriage equality. Their advocacy brings to the surface a discussion that has been going on for a long time about homophobia in professional sports. It raises questions about homophobia and gender stereotyping in school sports, too. This lesson asks students to identify and discuss homophobia and gender stereotyping in athletics, and think about how to combat these attitudes and behavior at their own schools.

Professional Development
You can read some general guidelines about how to teach about gender stereotyping and homophobia at:

What Makes a Family?

Students use the 2010 Census to explore family diversity and the different ways to define a family. They research about the experiences of Michael Oher, a professional football player for the Baltimore Ravens, who scrambled for survival without a family. To wrap up, students create a We Are Family mural to celebrate family diversity.

Framework

School Segregation Today

Teaching Tolerance offers activities and resources about the winding road toward, and away from, integrated schooling in the U.S.

:: Paying Our Respects to Brown (Grades 5-12) In his essay, Julian Bond says the Supreme Court's ruling this summer "is likely to be remembered as Brown's final e

Little Rock Nine: Activities

Activity Ideas

:: Primary Documents (Grades 4-7): President Eisenhower waited nearly a month before sending federal troops to protect the Little Rock Nine.

The Promise of Brown

Activity Ideas

:: A World Apart (Grades 3-7) In her interview, Beverly Daniel Tatum says: "Many social organizations that were once all white are now 'integrated.' However, … residential segregat

Interpreting Wealth Disparities

Classroom experiences that critically investigate the causes and meaning of poverty in our own nation offer students tools for change, and new ways to interpret the world around them.

A Math and Art Activity for Grades 6 and Up

Objectives

Syndicate content