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Classroom Resources

The Literature of Bullying [1]

Lesson includes resources for tackling the bully problem.

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Social Studies [5]

Developing a Media Portfolio [6]

Lesson helps students understand how media influence their decisions.

Activity Exchange
Media Literacy [7]
Justice [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Community Through Photography [13]

Reporting on their communities helps students recognize problems and find strategies for change.

Activity Exchange
Media Literacy [7]
Identity [14]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Activism and Legislation [15]

This activity asks students to read and compare the language of two oral histories, asking them to think about prejudice, stigma and fundamental rights and freedoms.

Activity
Ability [16]|Philosophy and Tactics [17]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Social Studies [5]|Science and Health [18]

Totally Us [19]

Totally Us is a classroom activity developed from Totally Joe.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Identity [14]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|ELL / ESL [12]

Cooperative Comics [21]

Comic books are visual literature. This simple cooperative group activity allows students to identify confrontational issues within their own school and then imagine solutions.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Action [22]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Borders and Boundaries [23]

Photocopy or create a large map of the school, including the school grounds and the cafeteria. Then have students identify places that cliques or self-segregating groups gather.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|ELL / ESL [12]

Journaling History: Sacagawea and York [25]

As you read about Sacagawea and York, write a journal entry that imagines Sacagawea or York's first-person account.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]|Gender Equity [27]
Justice [3]
Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]

The Numbers Behind Poverty [28]

This activity, developed from materials found on Poverty USA [29], will help students gain added perspective on poverty when considering the mathematical realities of what it means to live in poverty.

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [30]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]

The Business of Controversial Topics [31]

Activity exchange for grades 9-12 to explore ways of discussing controversial topics.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Action [22]
Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

Word Origins [32]

I designed a game called Origins that exposes the history and prejudice of many words or expressions commonly used in the United States.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]

Coalescing Across the Globe [33]

Activity exchange to explore global differences through pen pals.

Activity Exchange
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|ELL / ESL [12]

Gender Stereotyping [34]

As a school counselor on a K-8 campus, I prepare classroom guidance lessons for all students on topics of tolerance. At the beginning of a new school year, I like to introduce students to the adults on campus. I have created a lesson plan to go along with this that gets at stereotyping as well.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Justice [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Social Studies [5]|Science and Health [18]

Making Cents of Privilege [35]

I work with upper-middle-class students, and it is sometimes difficult for them to understand that not all children have access to the same opportunities they have regarding dining out, participating in extracurricular activities, vacations or receiving allowances. Consequently, I wanted to create a lesson on the value of money.

Activity Exchange
Wealth and Poverty [30]
Justice [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]

Classroom Community Building [36]

Activities for all grades to build community in your class this year.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Action [22]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

What Can We Learn from a Box of Crayons? [38]

Central elementary, a school in transition with an increasingly diverse student body, decided to focus this school year on diversity.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Diversity [39]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]
Social Studies [5]

Getting To Know Each Other (Lunch Day Mixer) [41]

The game centers on a question: "Could you be friends with someone who. . . ?"

Activity
Mix It Up [42]
Diversity [39]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]
Social Studies [5]

Playing the Bully Card [43]

Teaching students how to stand up to bullying behavior, particularly when that means asking the teacher or another adult to intervene, can be a challenge.

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Action [22]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Social Studies [5]

The Philosopher's Stone [44]

In my classroom, we engage in an activity that allows students to voice their ever-growing opinions about fairness and justice in a manner that not only promotes writing and oral skills but also fosters the ability to see other people's perspectives.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Diversity [39]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Confronting the -isms [45]

Social justice lesson 

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Justice [3]
Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|ELL / ESL [12]

Papalotzin y las monarcas: Discussion Questions [46]

Discussion questions for Papalotzin and the Monarchs / Papalotzin y las monarcas [47].

Activity
School Culture [20]
Diversity [39]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Science and Health [18]

Music for Justice [48]

This activity focuses on musical explorations building on justice and inclusion themes.

Activity
Immigration [49]
Justice [3]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Arts [11]

'Si Se Puede!' [50]

In response to legislation that would have criminalized immigrants, thousands of high school students from across the country walked out of their classrooms and into history.

Activity
Immigration [49]
Action [22]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

Latino Heritage: A Discussion Activity [51]

Teaching Tolerance offers the following essays and activities to help students gain a deeper understanding of past and present struggles for Latino civil rights.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]

A Tale of Two Schools [52]

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 Mexico waged many battles against such discriminatory treatment, often risking their jobs in fields and factories and enduring threats of deportation. In 1945, one couple in California won a significant victory in their struggle to secure the best education for thousands of Chicano children.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

White Anti-Racist Biographies: Early Grades [53]

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 among the key ways educators can advance such aims.

Teaching Tolerance presents four short biographies [54] for early grades classrooms, with activity ideas.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Social Studies [5]

Stay in the Mix for Valentine's Day [55]

Celebrate Valentine's legacy of love and resistance!

Activity
Mix It Up [42]
Justice [3]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]

Stay in the Mix with Music! [56]

Explore how music divides - and unites.

Activity
Mix It Up [42]
Justice [3]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Arts [11]

Stay in the Mix During National Poetry Month! [57]

How to use the written word to highlight, and counteract, social boundaries.

Activity
Mix It Up [42]
Action [22]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]

Student Service Reflection: A Different Kind of Vacation [58]

A student reflects on his travel to New Orleans, where he helped rebuild parts of the Ninth Ward.

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [30]
Action [22]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

Reflection: What’s Your FRAME? [59]

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 choice about), and their values. In the end, students will begin to enlarge their perspective and recognize diversity of belief and background.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Identity [14]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Social Boundaries Activity: Map It Out [60]

Teachers and students draw maps showing where they think social divisions exist at school, and compare views of the community as a whole.

Activity
School Culture [20]
Justice [3]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

The Alcatraz Proclamation: A Primary Document Activity [61]

On November 20, 1969, Alcatraz island became the unlikely stage for a landmark event in the Native American rights movement.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]

Against the Current [62]

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.

Native American activists use civil disobedience and consensus-building to resolve an old dispute over environmental resources.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

This Land Is Ours [63]

Native Americans resist the U.S. government's policy of forced removal in the 19th century.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Social Studies [5]

Holiday Charity: A Math Activity About Poverty [64]

The holiday season often marks the launch of toy and canned food drives in schools. Use this activity to deepen students understanding of those being served and the dynamics of poverty in the United States.

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [30]
Action [22]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Math and Technology [24]

Celebrating Connections [65]

This activity can help students understand the similarities and differences in various religious traditions.

Activity
Religion [66]
Diversity [39]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Social Studies [5]

Allies: A Discussion Activity [67]

Educator and author Mara Sapon-Shevin offers strategies and ideas to help students become allies -- people who stand with or for others.

Activity
Bullying [2]
Action [22]
Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Bullying: Tips for Students [68]

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.

Activity
Bullying [2]
Action [22]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

'I Am Special' [69]

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 subject we're going to discuss is "I am unique and special."

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Identity [14]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Science and Health [18]|ELL / ESL [12]

The Geography of Diversity [70]

Ancestry study opens the door for geography lesson

Activity Exchange
Family [71]
Diversity [39]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Social Studies [5]

Anonymous Writing Partners [72]

Anonymous journaling helps portray the reality of bullying

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Social Studies [5]

Readers' Theater [73]

Readers theater group helps spread message about bullying

Activity Exchange
Bullying [2]
Action [22]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Arts [11]

A Timeline for Change [74]

Timeline activity helps foster a spirit of activism

Activity Exchange
Rights [75]
Action [22]
Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Arts [11]

Defining Multicultural Terminology [76]

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.

Activity Exchange
School Culture [20]
Diversity [39]
Grades 3 to 5 [8]|Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Math and Technology [24]|Science and Health [18]|Arts [11]|ELL / ESL [12]

Students Speak Out: A Discussion Activity [77]

This collection of student essays showcase models of student interrogation of racial disparities and racism. Discussion questions for classroom exploration are included.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Justice [3]
Grades 6 to 8 [4]|Grades 9 to 12 [9]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]

Dos and Don'ts of Teaching Black History [78]

How do you ensure students get the most out of black history and Black History Month? Here are some suggestions.

Activity
Race and Ethnicity [26]
Social Studies [5]

That's Not Fair! [79]

Students will experience the effects of unequal resources on student achievement, share their thoughts about educational disparities and take action to bring about change.

Activity
Wealth and Poverty [30]
Justice [3]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|ELL / ESL [12]

Girls Can Be Plumbers? [80]

This activity helps early-grade students begin to think about gender roles, stereotypes and career choices.

Activity
Gender Equity [27]
Justice [3]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Social Studies [5]|Science and Health [18]

Gender Shouldn't Limit You! [81]

What are the political gender biases among young students? Would they elect a girl president?

Activity
Gender Equity [27]
Justice [3]
Pre K to K [40]|Grades 1 to 2 [37]|Grades 3 to 5 [8]
Reading and Language Arts [10]|Social Studies [5]|Science and Health [18]|ELL / ESL [12]
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Links:
[1] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/literature-bullying
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[21] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/cooperative-comics
[22] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/action
[23] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/borders-and-boundaries
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[30] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/wealth-and-poverty
[31] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/business-controversial-topics
[32] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/word-origins
[33] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/coalescing-across-globe
[34] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/gender-stereotyping
[35] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/making-cents-privilege
[36] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/classroom-community-building
[37] http://www.tolerance.org/category/level/grades-1-2
[38] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/what-can-we-learn-box-crayons
[39] http://www.tolerance.org/category/anti-bias-domain/diversity
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[41] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/getting-know-each-other-lunch-day-mixer
[42] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/mix-it
[43] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/playing-bully-card
[44] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/philosophers-stone
[45] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/confronting-isms
[46] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/papalotzin-y-las-monarcas-discussion-questions
[47] http://www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-30-fall-2006/papalotzin-and-monarchs-bilingual-border-tale
[48] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/music-justice
[49] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/immigration
[50] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/si-se-puede
[51] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/latino-heritage-discussion-activity
[52] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/tale-two-schools
[53] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/white-anti-racist-biographies-early-grades
[54] http://www.tolerance.org/supplement/white-anti-racist-biographies
[55] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/stay-mix-valentines-day
[56] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/stay-mix-music
[57] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/stay-mix-during-national-poetry-month
[58] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/student-service-reflection-different-kind-vacation
[59] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/reflection-what-s-your-frame
[60] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/social-boundaries-activity-map-it-out
[61] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/alcatraz-proclamation-primary-document-activity
[62] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/against-current
[63] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/land-ours
[64] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/holiday-charity-math-activity-about-poverty
[65] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/celebrating-connections
[66] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/religion
[67] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/allies-discussion-activity
[68] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/bullying-tips-students
[69] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/i-am-special
[70] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/geography-diversity
[71] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/family
[72] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/anonymous-writing-partners
[73] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/readers-theater
[74] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/timeline-change
[75] http://www.tolerance.org/category/classroom-resources/rights
[76] http://www.tolerance.org/exchange/defining-multicultural-terminology
[77] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/students-speak-out-discussion-activity
[78] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/dos-and-donts-teaching-black-history
[79] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/thats-not-fair
[80] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/girls-can-be-plumbers
[81] http://www.tolerance.org/activity/gender-shouldnt-limit-you
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