Lesson Plans for Every Classroom
Mascots, Meaning, and Misrepresentation
In this lesson, students will explore identity, cultural respect, and representation by reading excerpts from Mascot, a novel-in-verse by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. This story follows a group of middle school students as they confront the controversy over their school’s Native-themed mascot. Students will engage in a discussion about symbols, allyship, and how to advocate for respectful representation of Native/Indigenous communities.
Buried Stories
This lesson introduces students to the history of Native American boarding schools in the United States to build essential background knowledge before reading Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac. Students will examine the government's motives for assimilation policies, how Indigenous children were taken or sent to these schools, and the long-term effects on Indigenous communities and identity.
Freedom, Facts, and the Fight for Fairness: Understanding Juneteenth through Literature
This lesson introduces elementary students to the meaning and importance of Juneteenth using the picture book Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper. Through read-aloud, discussion, and creative activities, students will explore the themes of freedom, justice, remembrance, and celebration.
Beyond the Buzzwords: The Realities of DEI Implementation and Backlash
The origins of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs date back to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, which increased efforts to create more diverse and inclusive workplaces. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made employment discrimination based on race, religion, sex, color and national origin illegal. Over the next six decades, these programs and practices continue to grow and evolve to other developments and efforts. In the wake of Black Lives Matter and other social justice movements in the 2020s, the two Trump administrations have sought to eliminate DEI efforts and programs. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to explore the origins and history of DEI, understand the backlash against DEI principles and practices and express their perspective about DEI through an art or writing activity.
Understanding the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG)
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis, sometimes also called Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), is an effort and movement to raise awareness and seek justice for the violence against Indigenous women and girls in North America. It also aims to draw attention to the high rates of disappearances and murders of Indigenous women and girls. This lesson provides an opportunity to learn more about this crisis and the reasons for the disproportionality, explore what stakeholders can do to address it and reflect on works of art aimed at raising awareness.
Trailblazers, Changemakers, and Visionaries: Exploring Black History Month
Black History Month is celebrated and commemorated every year in February. In 1926, Dr. Carter G. Woodson organized the first history week and fifty years later in 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized "Black History Month" for the first time. The purpose of this dedicated month is to commemorate Black history and culture and celebrate Black individual and group accomplishments and achievements. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about Black History Month and its history, reflect on the importance of commemorative themed months and consider different ideas about how to commemorate the month and beyond.
Exploring Antisemitism and Interrupting Hate
Antisemitism is often referred to as the “longest form of hatred.” A lot of people think that antisemitism first appeared with the Holocaust and then went away after WWII, but it’s actually a system of bias that has persisted and evolved throughout time. This lesson invites students to explore how antisemitism has manifested across different eras, and provides an opportunity to think through ways that they can interrupt antisemitism and other forms of hate in their everyday lives.
Bridging Past and Present: Lessons from Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is celebrated and commemorated every year during November. The purpose of this dedicated month is not only for Indigenous peoples to celebrate their history, culture, heritage and traditions. Native American History Month is also a time to educate others about tribal nations and recognize the history, accomplishments and contributions of Native people. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about Native American Heritage Month, reflect on past and current day issues facing Native American people, analyze the evolution of language used to describe Indigenous peoples and consider different ideas about how to commemorate the month and beyond.
Latinx and Complex
This lesson explores the origins and meanings of the terms Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, and Afro-Latino/a/x to critically understand the diversity within the Latino community. Research shows that about 68% of Latinos in the U.S. identify as Hispanic, while a significant portion prefers the term Latino/a or LatinX, reflecting personal and cultural preferences (Pew Research Center, 2020). Generational perspectives significantly influence how these identities are perceived. Among immigrant Latinos, 65% identify with their country of origin, but this drops to 36% for second-generation Latinos and just 26% for those in the third generation or higher, who are more likely to identify as "American" (Pew Research Center). This lesson will broaden students’ understanding of the relationship between identity and language and foster a deeper appreciation for the nuances within the Latino community.