Reading and Language Arts

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.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, on Nov. 3, 1979, in the absence of a dissuasive police presence, a caravan of white supremacists confronted demonstrators preparing for a “Death to the Klan” rally. The rally was being organized by the Communist Workers Party (CWP), previously known as the Workers Viewpoint Organization (WVO).

Racial profiling occurs when law enforcement agents impermissibly use race, religion, ethnicity or national origin in deciding who to investigate. This lesson focuses on racial profiling. Students learn what the term means, discuss why it matters, conduct research and present their insights.

Police are important providers of essential community services. They deserve our respect and support, but when they misuse their authority, they can also harm people. Community members must be empowered with awareness and steps they can take to address profiling or other abuses of police authority when they occur.

This lesson asks students to think about how school districts can address the needs of increasingly diverse populations. It takes as its starting point a debate in New York City’s public schools. New Yorkers are asking whether or not Muslim holidays should be school holidays, as some Christian and Jewish holidays are. This question is relevant in many cities, districts and states. The activities ask students to engage with the question and think critically about best actions to take.

I capitalized on my 10^th-graders’ obsession with their hair by devising a writing exercise that I hoped would open a dialogue between my black and white students. As part of a unit on individuality, I had them write a “hair-ography”—an autobiography told from the viewpoint of one’s hair.

In this lesson students will do research to find out who aren’t/what isn’t being represented by the 2010 census. This may include ethnic groups who are forced to choose the “other” category or write in their heritage under the question on race. It can also include undocumented immigrants, homeless people and transgender individuals, all who will find there is no way to indicate their specific experiences on the upcoming census. This activity is designed to improve students' understanding of issues relating to the upcoming census.

This lesson focuses on the different means that the Constitution provides for people to bring about change. While each of the methods the lesson presents worked in the Civil Rights movement, all three are currently being challenged in the marriage equality movement. Keep up to date on the ongoing struggles by doing Google news searches of marriage equality. Keep a class log of updates from the states where marriage equality is being challenged.

This lesson uses the strategies of “student questioning for purposeful learning” (SQPL) and jigsaw grouping to engage students in examining Constitutional issues related to school-based grooming policies.

In this jigsaw activity, students will review information from brochures/websites about local hair care providers, interview a local hair care provider, synthesize the material and teach it to others. Students will identify similarities and differences between the providers and gain a deeper understanding of diverse ways people care for their hair.

Explore the U.S. Census data and create your own!