Social Studies

Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Black History: Activity

How do you ensure students get the most out of black history and Black History Month? Here are some suggestions. DO... Incorporate black history year-round , not just in ...
That's Not Fair!: Activity

Students will experience the effects of unequal resources on student achievement, share their thoughts about educational disparities and take action to bring about change. Art ...
Girls Can Be Plumbers?: Activity

This activity helps early-grade students begin to think about gender roles, stereotypes and career choices. Materials: "School Workers" display (made in advance, see ...
Gender Shouldn't Limit You!: Activity

What are the political gender biases among young students? Would they elect a girl president? Problem: Sometimes a group of children doesn't think another kid can do ...
Women and Political Power: Activity

The struggle for women's equality isn't over. Use these resources in your classroom to discuss the modern-day fight for political equality. The gender gap -- unequal access ...
Gender Separate Dialogue Groups: Lesson

How do girls and boys see themselves? How do they think they’re seen by others? What do gender stereotypes teach kids about who they’re supposed to be? Materials: Pen and ...
Racial Disparities Jigsaw Mini-Unit: Lesson

In this mini-unit, students investigate racial disparities and their underlying causes and identify steps individuals and society should take to alleviate them. Objectives ...
Celebrating Connections: Activity

This activity can help students understand the similarities and differences in various religious traditions. Perspective In the following activity, students will look at ...
Allies: A Discussion Activity: Activity

Educator and author Mara Sapon-Shevin offers strategies and ideas to help students become allies -- people who stand with or for others. After leading students in a discussion about ...
Bullying: Tips for Students: Activity

This checklist provides suggestions for what kids can do when bullying occurs – written for students being bullied, students who witness bullying and the bullies themselves. If you ...
Students Speak Out: A Discussion Activity: Activity

This collection of student essays showcase models of student interrogation of racial disparities and racism. Discussion questions for classroom exploration are included. A Call ...
The Geography of Diversity: Activity Exchange

Ancestry study opens the door for geography lesson To raise geographic awareness, I asked my 4th-grade students to research their ancestry. As students identified various countries ...
Anonymous Writing Partners: Activity Exchange

Anonymous journaling helps portray the reality of bullying Signs of bullying are sometimes difficult for teachers to catch -- someone "accidentally" tripping someone in the ...
A Timeline for Change: Activity Exchange

Timeline activity helps foster a spirit of activism "It is that long-term change that I think we must see if we are not to lose hope." -- Howard Zinn In an ...
Defining Multicultural Terminology: Activity Exchange

As a veteran teacher of English, literature and history, I have employed many different lessons to encourage my students to seek understanding of other cultures. To this end, I ...
'I Am Special': Activity Exchange

I begin my lesson by telling students that we're going to have a guessing game with only two hints. They are to guess what subject we're going to be discussing by first listening to two stories. The ...
Christmas Curriculum: Unintended Consequences: Article

This classic article from Childhood Education explores the downfalls of popular Christmas curriculum and rings as true today as it did 20 years ago. Celebration of Christmas is a ...
The Alcatraz Proclamation: A Primary Document Activity: Activity

On November 20, 1969, Alcatraz island became the unlikely stage for a landmark event in the Native American rights movement. Framework During the late 1960s, the public largely ...
Against the Current: Activity

As the nation observes Native American Heritage Month, Teaching Tolerance offers a wealth of activity ideas tied to Thanksgiving, Native mascots and indigenous people's proud heritage of resistance. ...
This Land Is Ours: Activity

Native Americans resist the U.S. government's policy of forced removal in the 19th century. Native Americans' identities have always been closely linked to the land. ...
Holding Onto Heritage: Native Whale Hunts & Diversity: Lesson

In this activity, students will explore diverse points of view about the 1999 Makah whale hunt and draft letters to the editor about community support for diversity. Objectives ...
Thanksgiving Mourning: Lesson

In this activity, students will explore the perspectives of two Native American authors about the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday and then write journal entries. Framework ...
Student Service Reflection: A Different Kind of Vacation: Activity

A student reflects on his travel to New Orleans, where he helped rebuild parts of the Ninth Ward. I wake up lying on a street I don't recognize, my face covered in a mask of ...
Reflection: What’s Your FRAME?: Activity

This activity encourages students to reflect on their individual cultures and histories, their backgrounds, the things they grew up with (some that may have been in their control and others that they had no ...
Social Boundaries Activity: Map It Out: Activity

Teachers and students draw maps showing where they think social divisions exist at school, and compare views of the community as a whole. Materials Art supplies ...
Latino Heritage: A Discussion Activity: Activity

Teaching Tolerance offers the following essays and activities to help students gain a deeper understanding of past and present struggles for Latino civil rights. Discussion ...
A Tale of Two Schools: Activity

In the early 1900s, Mexican Americans, or Chicanos, in California and the Southwest were excluded from "Whites Only" theaters, parks, swimming pools, restaurants, and even schools. Immigrants from ...
White Anti-Racist Biographies: Early Grades: Activity

For young white students, explorations of fair and unfair, just and unjust, can go a long way in advancing anti-racist white identity. Purposeful use of literature and basic study of white anti-racists are ...
Anti-Racism Activity: The Sneetches: Lesson

In this early grades activity, students learn about unfair practices in a simulation exercise and then create plans to stand up against discrimination. Perspective Before ...
What Do Halloween Costumes Say?: Lesson

This activity, adaptable across grades, is designed to help students look critically at the Halloween costumes marketed to them. In schools where Halloween is observed, the activity can be used to develop ...

Teaching Tolerance

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