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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.
ICE’s Actions and Our Constitutional Rights
In late 2025 and early 2026, ICE’s (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) “Operation Metro Surge” took place in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The purpose of this “surge” was to apprehend and deport undocumented immigrants as part of ICE's larger efforts nationwide. There was a great deal of media attention on what happened in Minnesota, not only because several people–including Renee Good and Alex Preti– were shot and killed by ICE agents, but there were ongoing allegations that what the federal government was doing violates people’s constitutional rights. In this lesson, students will explore and understand the First and Fourth amendments, connect those constitutional rights to the actions of ICE and reflect on the roles different people can play in challenging these actions.
Stories of Courage, Care, and Change
Women’s History Month, an annual celebration of the history, achievements and contributions of women, takes place every year in March. Women’s History Month began in 1978 as a local celebration in Santa Ana, California as “Women’s History Week; its organizers selected the week of March 8 to align with International Women’s Day. The idea spread across the country and then, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8 “Women’s History Week.” Seven years later in 1987, Congress passed a law designating March as “Women’s History Month” and some other countries also began to hold celebrations for Women’s History Month. In this lesson, students will learn about Women’s History Month and its historical context, read and discuss books about women’s history and consider ideas for honoring Women’s History in March and beyond.
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.
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.
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.
Borders, Belonging, and Brave Voices
In this lesson, students will either read some excerpts from Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez or the entire book, to examine the complexities of immigration, family separation, cultural identity, and friendship. Students will participate in thoughtful discussion, reflect on personal values and cultural backgrounds, and write a creative letter from the perspective of one of the characters.
Parading with Pepe: A Peek into Hispanic Pride
This lesson uses the picture book Pepe and the Parade to help young learners explore Hispanic Heritage Month. Through read-aloud, discussion, and creative expression, students will discover traditions, reflect on identity, and celebrate culture.