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Exploring National Arab American Heritage Month
April is National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM). NAAHM is a month-long commemoration of the history, culture, contributions and achievements of Arab American people. Although celebrated by some states for years, the commemorative month was officially initiated in 2017 by two organizations, Arab America and the Arab America Foundation. In 2022, Congress, the U.S. The Department of State, and 45 state Governors issued proclamations commemorating the initiative. In 2023, President Joe Biden issued, for the first time, a proclamation that designated the annual commemoration of National Arab American Heritage Month. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn about the origins of NAAHM, gain knowledge about the Arab American community and consider ways that NAAHM should be commemorated in schools and communities.
Fry Bread and Family Heritage
In this lesson, students will explore the richness and diversity of Indigenous peoples through the award-winning picture book Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard. Through a read-aloud, guided discussion, and hands-on cultural exploration activity, students will learn how food can tell stories, preserve traditions, and connect generations.
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.
Voices of Heritage: Exploring Identity Through Poetry and Prose
This lesson uses the book Yes! We Are Latinos, a powerful collection of poems and prose, to explore the richness and diversity of the Latino experience in the United States. Students will examine stories of identity, heritage, struggle, and pride as shared by fictionalized Latino characters representing various cultural backgrounds. As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, this lesson helps students develop a deeper understanding of how culture shapes identity and encourages them to reflect on their own voices and experiences. Students will create personal identity poems or artistic responses inspired by the voices in the text.
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.