(Key: E = Elementary, M = Middle, H = High, TR = Teacher Resources)

August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June

 

1     Ramadan begins at sundown (Islam). The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Ramadan. Note that these dates are based on astronomical calculations to affirm each date, and not on the actual sighting of the moon with the naked eyes. This approach is accepted by many, but is still being hotly debated.

20     30th anniversary of Estonia declaring its independence from the Soviet Union. 1991 was an important year for Eastern European and Central Asian countries gaining independence with the collapse of the Soviet Union. The following became independent: Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Lithuania and Latvia.

21     180th anniversary of Nat Turner’s rebellion. Turner led more than 60 enslaved and free Blacks in a failed rebellion that killed at least 55 White people in Virginia, the largest number of White people killed in a US slave rebellion. Afterwards close to 200 Black people were killed by White militias and mobs. Turner and other presumed collaborators were hanged, and laws were passed in the South to prohibit the education of slaves and to restrict their ability to assemble.

Nat Turner: A Troublesome Property, by Director/Writer Charles Burnett, California Newsreel. This film chronicles the violent confrontation and shows how the story has been continuously re-told since 1831. (H) http://bit.ly/d6B1Be

Defining US: The American Experience, by Fairfax County Public Schools. Lessons focusing on Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman and John Brown. (E) http://bit.ly/acIWbu

22     40th anniversary of the Camden 28 Draft Board Raid. Twenty-eight predominantly Catholic anti-Vietnam War activists were arrested after raiding a Camden, NJ draft board to remove or destroy draft registrations. The group was part of a larger movement dubbed the “Catholic Left” that executed successful draft board raids. The activists were found not guilty in a high-profile trial.

The Camden 28, by POV of PBS. The Camden 28 tells the story of the planning of the break-in, the break-in itself, the arrests and the ensuing legal battle,which Supreme Court Justice William Brennan called “one of the great trials of the 20th century.” (H) Lesson plans and purchase the DVD: http://www.pbs.org/pov/camden28/lesson_plan.php

http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/0720229912815

 

22     220th anniversary of the Haitian slave revolt. Slaves from the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) staged a revolt that eventually led to its independence from France. Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent Blackled nation in the world and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion.

Teaching About Haiti, by Teaching for Change. Published by Teaching for Change, this free PDF provides lessons, songs, readings and activities that provide students with a critical history of Haiti

that highlights the role of international colonization and the revolutionary spirit of the nation. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.teachingforchange.org/publications/haiti

The Haitian Revolution Today, by the Choices Program. This free online lesson helps students consider how Haitians today think about the Revolution through art, music and literature. This is part of a larger unit also available through the link. (M, H) http://choices.edu/resources/detail.php?id=197

 

25     90th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of Blair Mountain. More than 10,000 West Virginia coal miners, who had suffered years of brutality and exploitation, took up arms against the mine owners, who were supported by the police. The resulting week-long battle was the largest armed labor uprising in US history. As a result, union membership plummeted. But it also raised awareness of the appalling conditions of miners and eventually led to larger union victories under the New Deal.

Learning Guide to Matewan, Teaching With Movies. Directed by John Sayles, this film is based on the true story of a labor leader seeking to organize the workers of a company town. The organizing sets off racial hostility, corruption and betrayal during this bitter clash in West Virginia in the 1920s. (Lesson Guide requires subscription) (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/d6kI4p   http://bit.ly/9Q1Zpy

Whose Fruits and Just Desserts?, by Dawn J. Bixby Saari. Students will examine the causes and consequences of labor strife between 1900 and 1920, taking into consideration the needs and wants of labor and the reactions of “capital.” (H) http://tiny.cc/ikcis

 

26     40th anniversary of the First Women’s Equality Day. Established in 1971, the date commemorates the day the 19th Amendment went into effect. It gave US women full voting rights in 1920.

Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600 to 2000. This website offers documents and lesson plans for teaching American history. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bmuSYJ

 

30     Eid-al-fitr (Islam)

BBC Schools: Guide to Ramadan. This site includes basic information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitf, as well as links to lesson plans intended to help students understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim people. A lesson on Islamic art is included here. Follow links to “BBC Food” for information on Eid al-Fitr around the globe. (E, M, H) http://bbc.in/bFTw84

The Arab World in the Classroom: An Introduction to lslam, by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. An Introduction to Islam is a free, downloadable, 16-page, reader-friendly guide. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/islam411

 

September

5     Labor Day

Who Built America: Working People and the Nation’s History, by the American Social History Project. A two-volume textbook examining the history of the United States from the perspective of working people accompanied by a collection of videos. (M, H) http://www.ashp.cuny.edu/wba.html

40 Books about Labor compiled by The Cooperative Children’s Book Center. A bibliography of 40 children’s books about labor. (E, M) http://bit.ly/aCGFjS

 

9     40th anniversary of the Attica Prison riot. More than 1,000 Attica inmates seized control of the New York prison, a response to racism and poor conditions in the prison system. After negotiations between the inmates and the state over prison conditions broke down, the state police took the prison by force and in the resulting battle more than three dozen guards and inmates were killed.

William Kunstler: Disturbing the Peace, a film by PBS. The Attica case is one of several cases that lawyer William Kunstler defended that are examined in this film. The link is to additional video specific to Attica. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/c1qequ

Attica Revisited, a Talking History project. An extensive collection of audio, video and textual records of the Attica rebellion. The collection is designed to stimulate debate and discussion on the riots and on America’s criminal justice system. (H, TR) http://www.talkinghistory.org/attica/index.html

Youth and the U.S. Justice System, by Community Justice Network for Youth. A 120-page popular education history curriculum that traces developments in the juvenile justice system from the 1500s to the policies and practices of today. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bUcNzr

 

11     10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks

“Not In Our Son’s Name,” from Voices of a People’s History of the United States. Benjamin Bratt reads Orlando and Phyllis Rodriguez’s “Not In Our Son’s Name” in which the two parents of a 9/11 victim decry the use of September 11th as a justification for war. (M, H) http://bit.ly/ax0rJp

Commemorate 9/11 by Confronting Islamophobia, by Teaching Tolerance. A short article about the importance of teaching about Islamophobia followed by a series of relevant resources and lesson plans. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/cp1LLg

 

12     Pedro Albizu Campos, Puerto Rican activist, born (1891 to 1965).

One of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement, Albizu Campos was president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death.There is some uncertainty about his date of birth as some researchers believe he was born in 1893.

Pedro Albizu Campos leads the Puerto Rican Independence movement. This resource, housed at NCTE’s website, provides a few suggested lessons on looking at Albizu Campos as well as other figures in nationalist movements. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9YHK87

 

15     First day of Latino Heritage Month. Hispanic Heritage Month beginson September 15, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

The ABCs of Teaching about Latino Heritage Month, by Teaching Tolerance. A compilation of essays, lessons, videos and activities to help students gain a deeper understanding of past and present struggles for Latino civil rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/d5lMXr

¡Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History, by the Southwest Organizing Project and Collision Course Video Productions. Based on the book 500 Years of Chicano History in Pictures, edited by Elizabeth Martínez, this two-part video in English offers a compelling introduction to the history of Mexican-American people. (M, H) http://www.highlandercenter.org/r-arn-videos.asp

 

18     First day of TV Turnoff Week (fall).

Turn Off TV…Turn on the Possibilities, by Pat Degracia from Kitsap County Health District. Describes the significance of TV Turnoff Day. This site includes a log that students and families can use to report how many hours of television they watched during this week compared to a normal week. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/d5AKWk

Organizer’s Kit. Includes kits that you can purchase as well as fact sheets about children’s television viewing habits. (E, M, H) http://www.tvturnoff.org

 

20     Henry Salt, animal rights activist, born (1851 to 1939). Salt, who was British, is credited with being the first writer to make an argument for animal rights, as opposed to improved animal welfare.

Henry Salt Archive. A comprehensive website on the life of Henry Salt. (H, TR) http://www.henrysalt.co.uk

 

21     International Day of Peace

The Teach Peace Foundation. The Teach Peace website has lesson plans, resources, speakers and activities for teaching peace, non-violence and democratic  citizenship. It also has a variety of excellent films that can be watched online free. (E, M, H) http://www.teachpeace.com

 

22     World Carfree Day. Each year on September 22, people around the world organize events to showcase alternatives to the automobile. The day was created in 2000 by Car Busters.

Fueling the Future, by Facing the Future. Students compare energy use and CO2 emissions by sector in the United States and China (and optionally in another country). They research and discuss energy impacts and sustainable energy solutions, write a resolution addressing energy use, and present their resolutions at a “World Energy Summit.” (M, H) http://bit.ly/apUk2

An Inconvenient Truth. This film explores Al Gore’s commitment to expose the myths and misconceptions that surround global warming and inspire actions to prevent it. The site includes a study guide and interactive activities. (H) http://www.aninconvenienttruth.com.au/truth/guide.htm

 

23     George Jackson, Black Panther Party member, born (1941 to 1971). At the age of 18, Jackson was sentenced to an indeterminate sentence of one year to life for stealing $70 from a gas station. While in prison, he became a communist and a member of the Black Panther Party and wrote Soledad Brother. He was later accused of killing a prison guard. Three days before he was to go on trial, he was shot and killed by prison guards, an act that inspired riots in other prisons.

Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson. A collection of Jackson’s letters from prison, Soledad Brother is an outspoken condemnation of the racism of White America and a powerful appraisal of the prison system that eventually took his life, but failed to break his spirit. (H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781556522307

 

23     Amzie Moore, civil rights activist, born (1911 to 1982). Moore was a local leader in the effort to register voters and end segregation in the Mississippi Delta, supporting those who came from outside the state. He headed a local chapter of the NAACP and co-founded the Regional Council of Negro Leadership.

The Human Tradition in the Civil Rights Movement, edited by Susan M. Glisson. Link to chapter 7 by Jay Driscoll about Moore’s contributions to the movement. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/9pnfG4

 

 October

1     First day of LGBT History Month/Coming Out Month

Welcoming Schools. Welcoming Schools is a guide for administrators, educators, parents and guardians who want to strengthen their schools’ approach to family diversity, gender stereotyping and bullying. It is specifically designed for use in K-5 learning environments and is inclusive of LGBTQI families and individuals in the broader context of diversity. (E) http://www.hrc.org/welcomingschools

Acting Out: Combating Homophobia Through Teacher Activism, by Mollie V. Blackburn, Caroline T. Clark, Lauren M. Kenney, and Jill M. Smith. This book chronicles how teachers from urban, suburban and rural districts joined together in a teacher inquiry group to challenge homophobia and heterosexism in schools and classrooms. (TR) http://www.educationrevolution.org/actingout.html

And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole. This book is based on two male penguins in New York’s Central Park Zoo, who became a couple and were given an egg to raise. The most banned book of 2009, And Tango Makes Three has won many awards and has been at the center of numerous censorship and culture war debates on same-sex marriage, adoption and homosexuality in animals. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780689878459

Safe Schools Coalition Month-by-Month Planning Page. Month-by-month planning provides information and lessons that speak to the intersections between LGTBQI history and other heritage months. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/blackboard-history.html

 

1     First day of Disability Employment Awareness Month

Disability Social History Project. This site contains a wealth of information including a list of “Famous and Not so Famous” people with disabilities, a timeline and a history of the word “handicapped” via the Serendipity link. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.disabilityhistory.org/people.html

Education for Disability and Gender Equity. More resources as well as detailed lessons related to physics, biology, government and culture. (H, TR) http://www.disabilityhistory.org/dwa/edge/curriculum

The ABCs of Disability Rights, by Teaching Tolerance. This site provides lessons and resources that will introduce students and teachers to the history of the disability rights movement and to the powerful ideals and changes it has brought to the country. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=872

Disability History Museum. This site was designed “to promote understanding about the historical experience of people with disabilities by recovering, chronicling, and interpreting their stories.” This searchable collection offers documents and images related to disability history in the United States. (M, H, TR) http://www.disabilitymuseum.org

 

1     World Vegetarian Day/First Day of Vegetarian Awareness Month

Chew on This. This book, accompanied by a teacher’s guide, gives a behind the scenes perspective on the fast-food industry and how fast-food companies feed off of young families and young adults. (M, H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780618593941

The Meatrix Trilogy. The Meatrix is a four-minute online animation that spoofs The Matrix movie trilogy while educatingviewers about the problems with industrial agriculture and today’s meat supply. The website provides a wealth of resources about sustainable food and healthy living. (E, M, H) http://www.themeatrix.com

 

1     160th anniversary of the Jerry Rescue. William Henry, an escaped slave from Missouri who went by the name of Jerry, was arrested in Syracuse under the Fugitive Slave Law. The anti-slavery Liberty Party was holding its state convention in the city. When word of the arrest spread, several hundred abolitionists broke into the courthouse and set Jerry free.

Would you have helped out?, by National Geographic. This lesson has students investigate the dangers that escaping slaves and their helpers on the Underground Railroad faced and asks them to consider whether they would have helped if they’d been free people during the time of slavery. (M) http://bit.ly/bAR8VY

Fugitive Slave Law simulation, by Learn NC. Students face the critical issue of the Fugitive Slave Bill that gave Southerners the right to regain their runaway slaves and return them to bondage. In order to take on the roles of historical actors, students will examine primary source documents from the Documenting the American South collection and critique arguments in favor and opposed to the Bill. (H) http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/2936

 

5 World Teachers’ Day. World Teachers’ Day was inaugurated in 1994 to commemorate the signing of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers in 1966.

Granito de Arena/Grain of Sand; Un Poquito de Tanta Verdad/A Little Bit of So Much Truth; Desde el Filo de la Navaja/From the Edge of the Blade. Three films that document different aspects of community based movement against state government in Oaxaca. The first film documents the three decades long struggle by the teachers’ union to democratize their union. The other films specifically focus on the 2006 “rebellion,” which lead to the temporary toppling of the state government. (TR) http://www.trickleupfilms.org          http://www.corrugate.org

 

5     710th anniversary of the War in Afghanistan. The US and allied forces attacked Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The war, which was supposed to destroy terrorist training grounds, was still ongoing at the time of this printing.

Whose Terrorism?, by Bill Bigelow. This lesson uses fictional countries to engage students in critical analysis of terms such as ‘terrorism’ and ‘patriotic’ and the ways they are being used for political ends. (H, TR) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/1510

Conscientious Objection: Youth and Militarism, by the American Friends Service Committee. The American Friends website has a host of materials about militarism, alternatives to the military, counter recruitment and conscientious objection. (H) http://www.afsc.org/Youth&Militarism

Teaching with the News: The United States in Afghanistan: Analyzing Political Cartoons, by The Choices Program. This lesson allows students to analyze a series of political cartoons to understand different viewpoints on US involvement in Afghanistan. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9EeGIe

 

10     Indigenous People’s Day (Columbus Day Observed)

Rethinking Columbus, edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. 90+ lessons, interviews, poems, etc. that re-evaluate the myth of Columbus and issues of indigenous people. (E, M, H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/columbus/columbus.html

“1492,” a song by Nancy Schimmel. A great song to use to teach about Columbus’s arrival from the Native American Perspective. (E) http://www.tolerance.org/activity/1492

 

11     National Coming Out Day. National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and discussion about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues.

The Safe Schools Coalition. An incredible wealth of resources for educators for supporting LGBT youth and creating safer school environments. Explore the entire site, or use the link for specific resources on coming out. (E, M, H) http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/RG-coming_out.html

The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project operates a nationwide crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGTBQ youth. Every day, The Trevor Project saves lives through its free and confidential helpline, its website and its educational services. (M, H, TR) http://www.thetrevorproject.org/news/trevor-project-honored-americanassociation-suicidology

 

15     White Cane Day. White Cane Day celebrates the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the importance of the white cane as a symbol of independence.

The Sound of Colors, A Journey of the Imagination, by Jimmy Liao. The story follows the narrator, a woman who has lost her sight, through her journey around the city. She navigates the subway and the city she knows, with language and description that tap into her imagination, as well as her inner most thoughts and feelings. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780316939928

 

16     World Food Day. World Food Day is celebrated every year on October 16 in honor of the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945.

Food First: Institute for Food and Development Institute. A list of books published by the Institute for Food and Development that examine the connections between human rights, social justice and food. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.foodfirst.org/en/catalog/101/books

Food, Inc. Classroom Discussion guide from TakePart.org. This guide, to be used with the Food, Inc. documentary, helps students connect the issues behind mass production of food and abuse of government subsidies of major food corporations to the challenges of keeping food healthy and affordable. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/8fBGuz

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Young Readers Edition: The Secrets Behind What You Eat, by Michael Pollan. Based on Pollan’s best-selling adult book of the same title, this version is written for teens. (M, H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780803735002

 

17     International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

Handouts on poverty, by Paul C. Gorski. Handouts on many topics, but several on class, poverty and equity in education (TR) http://www.edchange.org/handouts.html

Finding Solutions to Hunger, by Kids Can Make a Difference. An educational program for middle and high school students focused on the root causes of hunger and poverty, the people most affected, solutions, and how students can help. (M, H) http://www.kidscanmakeadifference.org/description.htm

Class Matters, a special segment of the New York Times. A NYT exploration of the ways that class – defined as a combination of income, education, wealth and occupation– influences destiny in a society that likes to think of itself as a land of unbounded opportunity. (H, TR) http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/class

 

17     Vernon Bellecourt, Native American activist, born (1931 to 2007). Bellecourt, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and a founding member of the American Indian Movement, was a leader in the fight for Native American land rights and against the use of Native American nicknames in sports.

American Indians are People, Not Mascots, by National Coalition on Racism in Sports and Media. NCRSM’s website provides some position statements and resources for learning more about the campaign to stop the streotyping of American Indians in sports and media. (M, H) http://www.aimovement.org/ncrsm/index.html

No ‘Indian’ Mascots In Media “Call to action: Begin A Campaign.” Includes a sample letter that students can use to begin a campaign against offensive mascots. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9ivM3z

Who Will Tell My Brother? by Marlene Carvell. This story, based on the author’s family experience, chronicles teenage Evan’s efforts to rid his school of its mascot. Though his activism is rebuffed and met with taunts, the novel ends on an optimistic note. (M) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780786816576

Interview with Vernon Bellecourt about the American Indian Movement. Bellecourt speaks about the state of nations and the demands being made in the American Indian Movement. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/9qBLCK

 

17     First day of Ally Week. Ally Week involves a week of activities designed to encourage students to be allies against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools.

GLSEN’s Safe Space Kit. The NEW Safe Space Kit features the Guide to Being an Ally, which provides concrete strategies for supporting LGBT students, educating about anti-LGBT bias and advocating for changes in your school. (M, H) http://www.allyweek.org/about/index.cfm

The Power of Words: Examining the Language of Gender, Ethnic and Sexual Orientation Bias. The lessons in The Power of Words encourage students to explore the words used in the United States to label ethnic groups, women and sexual minorities and to examine the ways in which these words reveal our nation’s social landscape. The curriculum offers standards-based lesson plans for use in language arts and social studies classrooms. (M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/web/power_of_words/index.jsp

18     Mix It Up at Lunch Day. Mix It Up is an annual event sponsored by Teaching Tolerance that seeks to break down barriers between students and improve intergroup relations.

Mix It Up at Lunch Day, by Teaching Tolerance. Teaching Tolerance provides free Mix It Up lessons and activities for teachers to use to organize a successful Mix It Up at Lunch Day and promote social border crossing all year long. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/mix-it-up

 

24     20th anniversary of the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Conference. This important meeting helped catalyze a movement for environmental justice by expanding the concept of environmental protection to encompass issues such as public health, racism and worker rights. Delegates adopted seventeen “Principles of Environmental Justice” to outline core beliefs and guide their activism.

Principles of Environmental Justice. The organizing principles adopted by conference delegates, which propose a framework for understanding environmental justice (M, H, TR) http://www.ejrc.cau.edu/princej.html

Green-Collar Jobs Campaign Teaching Tools, by the Ella Baker Center. This five part series features interactive activities on key themes surrounding Green-Collar Jobs Campaign’s work, including: the green economy, eco-equity and eco-privilege, model cities and restorative justice. (M, H) http://www.ellabakercenter.org/?p=gcjc_teaching_tools

 

26     Diwali (Deepavali), Indian Festival of Lights (Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism)

Lights for Gita, by Rachna Gilmore. Author Rachna Gilmore introduces readers to Divali, one of the most important holidays observed by Hindus all over the world, through the eyes of Gita, a young immigrant girl. The author’s site includes a teacher’s guide and other books about Hinduism. (E) http://www.rachnagilmore.ca/guide-lights.html

 

26     10th anniversary of the Patriot Act. In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed this act to expand the surveillance and investigative powers of domestic law enforcement and foreign intelligence services.

Bush II and the “War on Terror,” by Gayle Olson-Raymer. Since September 11th, 2001, the balance between civil liberties and security has often tipped in favor of the latter. But this imbalance is also part of our history. This lesson raises such questions and has teaching ideas for Chapter 24 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States. (H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/202

 

31     Halloween

What Do Halloween Costumes Say? by Teaching Tolerance. A variety of activities to raise awareness about the potential of stereotyping in Halloween costumes. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=712

Green Halloween. Green Halloween is a non-profit, grassroots community initiative to create healthier and more Earth-friendly holidays, starting with Halloween. (E) http://greenhalloween.org/index.php?page=home

November

1     First day of Native American Heritage Month

American Indians in Children’s Literature Blog: Critical Perspectives and Discussion of American Indians in Children’s Books, The School Curriculum, Popular Culture, and Society-at-Large, by Debbie Reese. Debbie Reese’s blog is one of the finest collections of resources and critical perspectives on teaching about Native Americans. (E, M, H) http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com

The Alcatraz Proclamation: A Primary Document Activity. Teaching Tolerance offers a wealth of activity ideas tied to Thanksgiving, Native mascots and indigenous people’s proud heritage of resistance. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9sPNbx

We Shall Remain. We Shall Remain is a PBS mini-series and multi-media project that establishes Native history as an essential part of American history. Five 90-minute documentaries spanning three hundred years tell the story of pivotal moments in US history from the NativeAmerican perspective. Website includes teacher’s guides. (H) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain

Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes, by Rethinking Schools. Narrated by Native American children, the DVD Unlearning “Indian” Stereotypes teaches about racial stereotypes and provides an introduction to Native American history through the eyes of children. Includes teacher’s guide and other resources. (E, M, H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/uis-dvd/

 

1     80th anniversary of the beginning of the Choctaw removal. On this day, the Choctaw began the long journey from their native lands in the Southeast to Oklahoma. They were the first to be relocated after President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act to obtain more land for White settlers. About 13,000 would be relocated between 1831-1833. Thousands died on the journey.

Indian Removal Act unit at Digital History. In this unit, students act as journalists reporting on the Indian Removal Act. They visit designated websites and write factual articles about the developments. The site includes links to many relevant primary and secondary resources and includes student worksheets and lesson plans. (H) http://bit.ly/apkrhw

 

2     El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Celebrations: Day of the Dead mini-unit. Students will learn about Día de Los Muertos through the use of writing, art, cooking and incorporating the Spanish language. (H) http://bit.ly/cdVtoC

 

6     Eid al-Adha (Islam)

The Best Eid Ever, by Asma Mobin- Uddin. During Eid, Aneesa is sad that her parents are thousands of miles away for the Hajj pilgrimage until her grandmother gives her a beautiful gift that comes in handy when she meets two sisters who are refugees and in need of her help. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781590784310

 

8     Election Day

It Ain’t Just About a Vote: Defining Democracy for Movement Building, by Project South. This toolkit asks students to take a broader look at democracy and citizenship. Each exercise was created specifically to begin conversations on the larger, longer-term view of democracy, struggle and movement building. (M, H) http://bit.ly/ce3465

 

11     Veteran’s Day

Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau. Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau provides knowledgeable speakers who share firsthand information about military service and war. They present facts and views that are necessary for a young person to consider in making an informed choice about military service. (E, M, H) http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Speakers_List.vp.html

Do-It-Yourself Ribbon Stickers, by The Pinky Show. The Pinky Show is an animated online TV show featuring a cat named Pinky. This one-and-a-half-minute episode discusses how to make an alternative to the yellow “support our troops” ribbons. (E, M, H) http://www.pinkyshow.org/videos/do-it-yourself-ribbon-stickers

Voices in Wartime Education, by The YES! Education Program and Voices in Wartime Education Project. This site seeks to enable students to engage deeply with the subject of war by hearing and re-telling the personal stories of witnesses to war, and then engages students in imagining and creating a less violent world. The site includes the film’s trailer, curricular materials and poetry. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/cYDW7i

 

12     Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, writer and advocate for women’s rights, born (1651 to 1695). Cruz, who was from Mexico, wrote poetry and essays. Her works were controversial and revolutionary for their time, addressing the idea of the inherent rights of women.

The Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz project at Dartmouth University. This website includes a biography of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz, as well as links to reproductions of her original texts and excerpts of her writing in Spanish. (TR) http://www.dartmouth.edu/~sorjuana

 

17     International Students’ Day. This international observance celebrates student activism. It was first recognized in 1941 to mark the Nazis’ attack of the University of Prague, in which nine students were executed and 1,200 sent to concentration camps.

ESL English Lesson Plan on International Students’ Day, by Sean Banville. This lesson/short unit, created for ELLs, introduces students to International Students’ Day and the reasons why it was created. While giving students opportunities to practice English, it also allows them to learn about moments in history often not discussed in a traditional social studies class. (E) http://bit.ly/Ozeu2

20     Transgender Day of Remembrance. This day is set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.

Beyond The Binary, A Tool Kit for Gender Identity Activism in Schools, by the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, Transgender Law Center and The National Center for Lesbian Rights. This guide includes information for helping students deconstruct some of the myths behind gender identity. It can be used to develop plans for Transgender Day of Remembrance, or for action planning to change school policies that are not supportive of all students. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9wjXL2

Luna, by Julie Anne Peters. This novel is told from the perspective of a young woman who is dealing with her brother’s decision to live as his true female self, Luna. It is included in the Gay-Straight Alliance Network’s list of recommended books for and about LGBTQ youth. (M, H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780316011273

The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals, by Stephanie A. Brill and Rachel Pepper. Transgendered and gender-variant children have a hard time of it. They are generally discouraged by their families and bullied at school. This handbook is for families and teachers who want to understand and support children’s self-definition. (TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781573443180

The Youth and Gender Media Project. The Youth and Gender Media Project encompasses a growing collection of short films that capture the diversity and complexity of gender non-conforming youth. (M, H) http://imjustanneke.com/Home.html

 

24     Thanksgiving

Oyate. Oyate is a Native American organization that lists recommended children’s books on Native American history and culture. The website features Thanksgiving resources and provides criteria for evaluating the quality of books about Native Americans. (E, M, H) http://www.oyate.org

Thanksgiving Mourning, by Teaching Tolerance. In this activity, students will explore the perspectives of two Native American authors about the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday and then draft letters to them. (M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/activity/thanksgiving-mourning

1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving, by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Marge Bruchac. Produced in collaboration with the Wampanoag Indian Program at Plimoth Plantation, 1621 weighs Wampanoag oral traditions and English colonial written records against the popular myth of “brave settlers inviting wild Indians over for turkey dinner.” The second link is a lesson plan. (E, M) http://bit.ly/dORbuG   http://bit.ly/eY2luI

 

25     100th anniversary of the Plan de Ayala.  The Plan de Ayala, authored by Emiliano Zapata, called for the return of land to Mexicans that had been lost through expropriation by the hacienda system initiated by the Spanish. This document represents the basis for the Mexican Revolution.

Emiliano Zapata: Revolutionary and Champion of Poor Farmers, by R. Conrad Stein. This children’s book takes students back to a time when the cries of revolution swept Mexico as Zapata’s vision of an end to political corruption and land reform for poor Mexicans led to a violent and bloody struggle for power. (E) http://amzn.to/ck6XdQ

Plan de Ayala. Link to primary text of the Plan de Ayala. (H) http://www.hist.umn.edu/~rmccaa/la20c/ayala.htm

 

26     Buy Nothing Day. Buy Nothing Day (BND) is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists.

“The Story of Stuff,” by Annie Leonard. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute free downloadable video that explores consumption and exposes the connections between different environmental and social issues, while providing suggestions for action. (E, M, H) http://www.storyofstuff.com

Labor Rights in the Classroom. Workers all over the world suffer from conditions that many would consider unbearable. These conditions are in part a result of corporations taking advantage of workers and their rights. The lessons on this website help students to understand how consumerism and corporate greed here in the US affect workers around the world. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bVIovt

Rethinking Globalization. A collection of lesson plans that helps to introduce issues of corporate power, wealth distribution and power to youth. One sample lesson has cookies represented as wealth distributed to students who represent the global population- some students receive more cookies than others. (E, M, H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/rg/index.shtml

 

26     Muharram begins (Islam). Muharram is the beginning of the first lunar month of the Islamic calendar. The dates provided here are based on the dates adopted by the Fiqh Council of North America for the celebration of Al-Hijra / Muharram.

My Name is Bilal, by Asma Mobin- Uddin. Bilal, a young Muslim boy, having transferred to a new school, tries to fit in. He pretends his name is Bill and ignores the teasing of his sister for wearing a headscarf. With an understanding teacher, Bilal reconnects with his faith and school. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781590781753

Salaam – A Muslim American Boy’s Story, by Trish Brown. This is a biography about a Muslim American boy named Imran. It tells about how he likes to do the same things that most children his age do. Not everyone understands what it means to be Muslim and through his story, Imran tells about how Muslims strive to be good people, just like those of other faiths do. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780805065381

 

26     20th anniversary of the US leaving its military base in the Philippines. On this day the US Air Force formally transferred Clark Air Base to the Philippines, ending its nearly century-long presence in the region. The base was established in 1903, shortly following the Philippine-American War, when the US colonized the Philippines. The Philippines gained independence in 1946.

Debate: Should the U.S. Annex the Philippines?. Mock debate with multiple perspectives on the role of the United States and its control of the Philippine Islands. (H) http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6613

29     Wendell Phillips, abolitionist and activist, born (1811 to 1884). Wendell Phillips, who was born in Boston, was a White American abolitionist and advocate for Native Americans. After passage of the 15th Amendment, he worked on behalf of women’s rights, universal suffrage, and the labor movement.

Fire in the Heart: How White Activists Embrace Racial Justice, by Mark Warren. A great resource for White teachers and activists, this study demonstrates how White Americans can develop a commitment to racial justice, not simply because it is the right thing to do, but because they see the cause as their own. (TR) http://mark-warren.com/fireintheheart/

 

December

 

1     World AIDS Day

Radical Math. Radical Math offers a variety of lessons, articles, graphs and links that provide students with statistics and tools to better understand the impact of AIDS. (M, H) http://www.radicalmath.org and enter ‘AIDS’’ in the search engine.

AVERT: Averting HIV and AIDS. A variety of resources and information, including quizzes, handouts, videos and lessons for teachers and teens about living with and preventing HIV/AIDS. (M, H) http://www.avert.org/educate.htm

 

7     70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii brought the US fully into World War II.

Pearl Harbor: Two Hours that Changed the World. This film uses archival footage to document the events of Pearl Harbor including interviews with American and Japanese survivors. (M, H, TR) http://education.eastwestcenter.org/asiapacificed/ph2004

 

 8     Bodhi Day (Buddhism)
Under the Bodhi Tree, by Dharma Realm Buddhist Association. This book tells the story of the Buddha’s life, from his birth as a pampered prince, through his cultivation and enlightenment, to his founding of the Buddhist sangha and his final Nirvana. (E, M) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780881393194

 

10     Human Rights Day. This day celebrates the UN’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through a variety of events throughout the world.

Human Rights in Action. The UN’s cyberschoolbus page for students to explore the history of human rights, and ways to advocate for human rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/a5TSHf

Human Rights and Service-Learning: Lesson Plans and Projects by Kristine Belisle and Elizabeth Sullivan, Amnesty International-USA and Human Rights Education Associates (HREA). The manual contains lessons and service-learning projects. The lesson plans are divided into five human rights topic areas: environment, poverty, discrimination, children’s rights to education and health, and law and justice.(E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/byc6E8

The Human Rights Education program (HRE) of Amnesty International. The Human Rights Education program was designed to support teachers to promote the human rights principles and positive value system that are set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Site includes curricular guides, letters for parents, lessons to use with popular films and more. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/d1D1BS

We Are All Born Free, published by Amnesty International. Published to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration ofHuman Rights, We Are All Born Free uses pictures by internationally renowned artists to illustrate the meaning of these rights. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781845076504

 

10     Grace Thorpe, Native American activist, born (1921 to 2008). Thorpe was a Sac and Fox Indian, a tribal judge and anti-nuclear activist. She co-led a group of six hundred Native Americans in occupying Alcatraz Island for more than a year to demand the land be returned to Native people.

Alcatraz is Not an Island, documentary and lesson plans by PBS. The PBS website provides lesson plans and resources for teaching about the American Indian Movement. (M, H) http://www.pbs.org/itvs/alcatrazisnotanisland/educators.html

 

10     380th anniversary of the first legal code to protect domestic animals in the US. The Massachusetts Body of Liberties was the first legal code to be established by European colonists in New England. It included Law 92, which stated that men should not be cruel to domestic animals.

Animal Protection Activities, by the Institute for Humane Education. Activity topics include the connections between animal and human oppression, the inconsistencies in how we make choices about how we treat others, and more. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/bqeJLV

Lesson Plans for Teachers, by the Humane Society. These lesson plans are designed to teach age-appropriate, standards-based academic skills and major character concepts—kindness, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility, and integrity—while reinforcing those ideas as they apply to our treatment of animals. They include science and math activities. (E, M, H) http://www.humanesociety.org/parents_educators/lesson_plans_for_teachers.html

 

11     30th anniversary of the El Mozote Massacre. The El Mozote Massacre took place in El Salvador, when Salvadoran armed forces trained by the US military killed nearly 1,000 civilians in an anti-guerrilla campaign during the Salvadoran Civil War.

A People’s History of American Empire,A People’s History of American Empire, by Howard Zinn. This graphic novel is a more general source for discussing the century-long history of the US’s actions in the world. Zinn specifically looks at the US’s involvement in Latin America at various points in the text. (M, H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780805087444

The Massacre at El Mozote, by Mark Danner. Mark Danner’s book tells the story of the massacre, the official US cover-up and the role of the press. (H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780679755258

 

15     220th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights comprises the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, designed to protect the rights of citizens by limiting the power of the Federal government.

Youth Bill of Rights Websites. Local groups of young people are organizing across the country to draft a National Student Bill of Rights for All Youth (NSBR) that will become a unifying document for youth nation-wide and a driving force for youth movement building. The second link leads to Providence-based Youth4Change’s version of their Rights for young people. (M, H, TR)
http://bit.ly/aBgw26

http://www.y4cri.org/publications

 

18     International Migrants Day. There are close to 200 million migrant workers in the world. The UN marks this date to recognize this diverse group of workers and the economic, social and political contexts that affect their rights and livelihood.

Calling the Doves/El canto de las palomas,by Juan Felipe Herrera. This picture book is Herrera’s memoir of his childhood as a son of migrant farm workers. Written in English and Spanish, it celebrates the work, skills and love of Herrera’s parents. (E) http://bit.ly/h0kAyj

 

20     40th anniversary of the UN adopting the Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded People. This declaration asserts that the mentally retarded person has, to the maximum degree of feasibility, the same rights as other human beings.

Declaration on the Rights of Mentally Retarded Persons. A link to the actual declaration by the UN (H, TR) http://bit.ly/b2WXn7

 

25 Clara Barton, nurse and humanitarian, born (182 1 to 1912). Barton is best known for founding the American Red Cross as part of an international movement to provide neutral and protected medical aid to wounded soldiers.

Clara Barton’s House: Home of the American Red Cross, by the National Park Service. This lesson about Clara Barton is based on the National Register of Historic Places and other source material about Barton and the American Red Cross. Includes primary documents. (M, H) http://www.nps.gov/history/NR/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/27barton/27barton.htm

Clara Barton to the Rescue, by Learning to Give. This lesson will explore the contributions made by Clara Barton as a nurse and founder of the American Red Cross. (M) http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit133/lesson5.html#lesson

25     180th anniversary of Seminoles defeating US troops in Florida. The Second Seminole War (1835 to 1842), a battle for land rights in Florida between Blacks and Native Americans on one side and the US government on the other, was the longest and most expensive war with the Native Americans. On this day, the Seminoles defeated US troops in the Battle of Okeechobee in Florida. Ultimately, the Seminoles were largely defeated.

Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage, by William Loren Katz. This book reveals how African American and Native American people learned to live and work together in the Americas to oppose White oppression. (H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780689311963

 

25     60th anniversary of the murder of civil rights activist Harry T. Moore. Moore, an African American teacher, was the state secretary for the Florida NAACP. He organized voter registration activities, investigated lynchings and fought for equal pay for Black teachers. On Christmas night, 1951 his home was bombed, and he and his wife were killed. He is considered the first martyr of the Civil Rights Movement.

“Ballad of Harry Moore,” by Langston Hughes. This poem was written by Langston Hughes in honor of Moore’s death. (E, M, H) http://www.nbbd.com/godo/moore/ballad.html

 

26     First day of Kwanzaa (Umoja = Unity)

The Official Kwanzaa Website maintained by Dr. Maulana Karenga, the creator of Kwanzaa. This website provides information about the symbols, values and rituals of Kwanzaa. (E, M, H) http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml

 

27     Second day of Kwanzaa (Kujichagulia = self-determination)

Kwanzaa books at Busboys and Poets. A collection of children’s books on Kwanzaa. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/search/apachesolr_search/kwanzaa

 

27     180th anniversary of the Baptist War, a Jamaican slave rebellion. Black Baptist preacher Samuel Sharpe organized a non-violent general strike of slaves on Christmas Day. When their demands for emancipation were not met, the strike turned into a rebellion on Dec. 27. The rebellion, the largest slave uprising in the West Indies, was eventually defeated, but is credited with accelerating the arrival of emancipation in Jamaica.

The Long Song, by Andrea Levy. This historical novel describes the events of the Baptist War from the perspective of a slave. (H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780374192174

 

January

1    120th anniversary of Ellis Island becoming a reception center for new immigrants.
Between 1892 and 1954 over 12 million people entered the United States through Ellis Island.

Teacher Curriculum Materials, by The National Park Service. This website includes the document used to record all passengers and other activities for students. (M, H) http://www.nps.gov/elis/forteachers/curriculummaterials.htm

3     220th anniversary of Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women. This pioneering work declared that both women and men were human beings endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. She called for women to become educated, pursue professional careers and vote.

The Early Women’s Movement, Teaching Activity PDF, by Gayle Olson-Raymer. Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 6 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on the early women’s movement, including their efforts for social, racial and political equality. (H, TR) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/1375

 

3    160th anniversary of the arrival of the first group of Chinese contract laborers in Hawaii. To support the growing sugar industry, the Royal Hawaiian Agricultural Society decided to seek Chinese labor because it would be cheaper.

American Friends Service Society. The curriculum materials presented in this guide explore the legacy of the Spanish American War from a distinct point of view: that of the island nations in the Caribbean and the Pacific, nations whose destiny has been framed for centuries by the tension between foreign domination and the quest for independence. (M, H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/803

What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell Me: Tourism, Colonialism, and Resistance in Hawai’i, by Wayne Kwai Au. Lesson on the history of Hawai’i and the impact of colonization and tourism. (M,H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/1431

 

8     100th anniversary of the founding of the African National Congress. The African National Congress was founded in opposition to the oppression of non-White people in South Africa and became the leading political voice in the campaign against apartheid. It has been South Africa’s governing party since the establishment of nonracial democracy in 1994.

South Africa: Overcoming Apartheid, Building Democracy. This website presents first-hand accounts of the anti-Apartheid movement. It includes interviews with South African activists, raw video footage documenting mass resistance and police repression, historical documents and suggestions for teachers. (H) http://overcomingapartheid.msu.edu/index.php

 

8     10th anniversary of No Child Left Behind. NCLB was signed into law by President Bush. Since its inception it has been criticized for its overemphasis on testing and accountability.

Fair Test. Fair Test hosts articles and links for critical thinking about NCLB. (H, TR) http://www.fairtest.org/national/fairtest+on+national

 

11     National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The goal of this day is to raise awareness and vigilance for the millions of human trafficking victims around the globe as a means to eradicate this injustice.

Do You Want Slavery With That? Modern slavery is still ubiquitous. In this lesson, students hear about it from the slaves themselves (through their stories) and consider what they can do to help. (M, H) http://humaneeducation.org/sections/view/human_rights_activities

 

12     100th anniversary of the Lawrence Textile Strike (Bread and Roses Strike).

The Lawrence Textile Strike was a strike of mainly female, immigrant workers led by the Industrial Workers of the World. The strike grew to more than twenty thousand workers at nearly every mill within a week and lasted more than two months.

Lawrence, 1912: The Singing Strike Teaching Activity PDF, by Bill Bigelow and Norm Diamond. Through this role play, students explore some of the actual dilemmas faced by strikers in Lawrence, Mass., in 1912. (M, H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/703

http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/1452

 

“Bread and Roses,” by James Oppenheim. Oppenheim’s poem is closely associated with the Strike of 1912. This site has the words of the poem “Bread and Roses” as well as a song version recorded by Mimi Fariña which has become an anthem for women and workers’ rights. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/a4iuHP

Bread and Roses, Too, by Katherine Paterson. With two teenagers as the protagonists of this historical fiction novel, Paterson introduces the reader to the Industrial Workers of the World, major figures such as Big Bill Haywood and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, multi-nationality worker solidarity, the role of labor songs, and the various tactics used by the company to undermine the strike. (M, H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/476

 

12     2nd anniversary of the Haitian Earthquake. A 7.0 earthquake rocked Port-au- Prince, Haiti, decimating the capital city and causing massive damage and deaths.

Poverty and Natural Disasters: Exploring the Connections, by Teaching Tolerance. In this lesson students explore connections between poverty and natural disasters. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/bAaAKp

The Haitian Crisis: Thinking Historically, by The Choices Program. This lesson was developed in January 2010 to challenge students to think beyond the earthquake and consider the role of Haiti’s rich history in the current crisis. (H, TR) http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn_haiti.php

 

16     Religious Freedom Day. Religious Freedom Day is the anniversary of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom.

Maintain Neutrality, by Teaching Tolerance. This link provides a collection of lessons designed to help teachers maintain the distinction between “teaching religion” and “teaching about religion.” Explore the site for a wide array of other lessons and resources on the topic. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9B9stE

Taking a Closer Look at Religions Around the World, by Teaching Tolerance. This lesson offers a starting point for exploring religions and faith traditions, creating an ongoing respectful dialogue about religious tolerance. (M, H) http://bit.ly/d0WqIg

Respecting Nonreligious People, by Teaching Tolerance. Students often learn the importance of respecting people of different religions, but what about people who do not hold religious beliefs at all? This lesson introduces students to people who choose not to follow a religion. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/nonrelig

Tanenbaum Education Program. Tanenbaum produces both free lesson plans and curricula that you can purchase that focus on inter-religious understanding. (E, M) https://www.tanenbaum.org/programs/education

16     Martin Luther King Day

Liberation Curriculum, by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. Lesson plans, primary resources and articles based on the Martin Luther King archives at Stanford University. (H) http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/liberation_curriculum/resources

Putting the Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teaching, by Deborah Menkart, Alana Murray, Jenice L. View. The book includes interactive and interdisciplinary lessons, readings, writings, photographs, graphics and interviews, with sections on education, labor, citizenship, culture and reflections on teaching about the Civil Rights Movement. (E, M, H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781878554185

The ABCs of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy, by Teaching Tolerance. This site provides lessons and resources for addressing Dr. King and his dream, including a ‘do’s and don’ts’ guide for MLK day. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/mlkmov

 

17     Muhammad Ali, champion boxer and activist, born (1942). Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.) is a retired three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer. A vigilant activist, he consistently stood up for his beliefs at all costs, refusing to serve in Vietnam and taking a stand against racism and imperialism.

What’s My Name, Fool?: Sports and Resistance in the United States, by Dave Zirin. Zirin’s book examines US history with a focus on racism, sexism and homophobia in sports, along with the profound connection between sports and patriotic nationalism. Chapter 3 focuses on Muhammad Ali, his critical consciousness and activist spirit. (H, TR) http://syracuseculturalworkers.com/book-whats-my-name-fool

 

23     Chinese New Year. Year of the Dragon

Lunar New Year books reviewed by The Asian American Curriculum Project. A review of children’s books from several Asian cultures about the Lunar New Year. (E) http://bit.ly/aabooks

 

23     Tet, Vietnamese New Year. Year of the Dragon

Vietnamese Americans Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide, by Teaching Tolerance. This curriculum guide sheds light on the complexities of the Vietnamese American experience. (M, H)

http://bit.ly/9Q1L0r

 

25     40th anniversary of Shirley Chisholm running for President, the first major-party Black candidate in the US. Chisholm was the first African American women to be elected to Congress (D-NY) and the first woman and first African American to seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for the office of President.

Unbought and Unbossed, by Shirley Chisholm, Shola Lynch, Donna Brazile. This book and documentary by the same name chronicles Chisholm’s rise from young girl in Brooklyn to America’s first African American Congresswoman. (M, H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780980059021

Chisholm ‘72: Unbought and Unbossed, A POV documentary. This site includes lesson plans and resources for using Chisholm ‘72. It also provides access to a lending library where teachers can borrow the video for free. (M, H, TR) http://www.pbs.org/pov/chisholm/lesson_plan.php

28     Saraswati Puja (Hinduism)

Information on Hinduism, by Mandy Barrow. This site provides some basic information about Hinduism for children. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/cXh0zX

 

30     180th anniversary of New England Anti-Slavery Society being founded. Based in Boston, the New England Antislavery Society supported immediate abolition and viewed slavery as immoral.

Resources on remembering the slave trade, by Human Rights Education Association. A rich collection of links to study guides, websites and other links for teaching about abolitionism and the slave trade in the US as well as materials on modern-day slavery. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/cuCQFH

 

30     40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Bloody Sunday was an event in Northern Ireland in which twenty-seven unarmed civil rights protesters and bystanders were shot by members of the British Army during a march. It was an important event in the conflict over Northern Ireland, radicalizing some Irish nationalists against the British.

The Pat Finucane Centre for Human Rights and Social Change. The “links” section hosts photos, first-hand accounts and educational background material. (H, TR) http://www.patfinucanecentre.org

February

1     First day of African American History Month

The African American Experience and Issues of Race and Racism in U.S. Schools, compiled by Working to Improve Schools and Education (WISE). A list of links to a tremendous amount of resources useful in teaching about African American schooling experiences. (E, M, H) http://www.ithaca.edu/wise/topics/race_african_american.htm

African American Odyssey, by Library of Congress. Comprehensive online display of materials and primary resources related to the African American experience. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/aXfZMt

U.S.History-African American: Lesson Plans, by EdSITEment. Multiple K-12 lesson plans on African American History. (E, M, H) http://1.usa.gov/epFQ3X

 

1     Langston Hughes, poet, born (1902 to 1967). James Mercer Langston Hughes was an African American poet, novelist, playwright, and leading analyst on race.

The Poet’s Voice. This series of lessons helps students uncover which qualities have made the voice of Langston Hughes a favorite for so many people. (M) http://bit.ly/lhughes

The Harlem Renaissance Births a Black Culture, by Sandra Friday. A lesson plan from the Yale-New Haven Teachers’ Institute on the stars of the Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Hughes. (H) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/4/00.04.04.x.html#h

 

2     500th anniversary of the death of Chief Hatuey. Hatuey, a Taíno chief, led a resistance against the Spanish by trying to unite Natives from different islands. He was captured by the Spanish and burned at the stake.

Powhatan Museum of Indigenous Arts and Culture. Provides information about the Taíno and other Native American tribes, including a description of Hatuey in the section entitled Taínos: Past and Present. Site provides lots of images to accompany text. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.powhatanmuseum.com/Taino_Carib.html

 

11     Lydia Child, abolitionist and activist, born (1802 to 1880). Lydia Maria Child was a White American abolitionist, women’s rights activist, opponent of American expansionism, Native American rights activist, novelist, journalist and Unitarian.

White Privilege Conference Resources. White Privilege 101: Getting in on the Conversation is a compilation of personal interviews with keynote speakers, workshop presenters and participants from the conference on White privilege (WPC). The video is an outgrowth of the White Privilege Conference. (H, TR) http://www.uccs.edu/~wpc/wp101.htm

 

14 Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day in the Classroom, by International Labor Rights Forum. This lesson plan explores workers’ rights in the cut flower industry and how consumerism on Valentine’s Day in the US affects workers abroad. Also includes an educator resource page called Labor Rights in the Classroom, with links to lesson plans on the topics of child labor, sweatshops, workers’ rights and the Sweatfree Schools movement. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/2lLDUY

Fair Trade in the Classroom, by Global Exchange. Through this Valentine unit, students learn about child labor and how it’s used by big chocolate companies. Students take social action by telling these companies that they should sell Fair Trade products instead. (E, M) http://bit.ly/95yZbZ

 

15     Parinirvana - Nirvana day (Buddhism).

Some Buddhists celebrate this holiday on Feb. 8.

Becoming Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha, by Whitney Stewart. This book follows Buddha from pre-birth prophecies through his pampered youth, his break with royal life, and his quest for enlightenment. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780893469566

 

17     Huey Newton, Black Panther party founder, born (1942 to 1989). Huey Newton was an African American activist, and the founder and leader of the Black Panther Party.

‘What We Want, What We Believe’: Teaching with the Black Panthers’ Ten Point Program Teaching Activity, by Wayne Au. This lesson leads students to study the Black Panthers’ Ten Point Program to help assess issues in their own communities and to develop Ten Point Programs of their own. (H) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/170

 

19     70th anniversary of the Japanese- American internment by the US Government. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, FDR signed Executive Order 9066 ordering Japanese Americans to internment camps. Without warrants, indictments or hearings, approximately 122,000 people were taken to camps where they were kept under prison conditions for more than three years.

Children of the Camps: Internment History, by PBS. The Children of the Camps documentary captures the experiences of six Americans of Japanese ancestry who were confined as innocent children to internment camps by the US government during World War II. A teacher’s guide is available through distribution@asianamericanmedia.org. (E, M, H) http://www.pbs.org/childofcamp

http://www.children-of-the-camps.org/history/index.html

Explore the Japanese American Internment Through Film and the Internet. This site hosts a vast array of resources for teaching about the internment. The educator section has unit plans and discussion questions. (H, TR) http://www.asianamericanmedia.org/jainternment/index.html

A Lesson on the Japanese American Internment, by Mark Sweeting. A high school US history teacher describes a teaching activity he uses to teach the Internment. (TR) http://www.zinnedproject.org/posts/557

Densho Website. Densho’s mission is to preserve the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during WWII. Includes lesson plans based on these testimonies. (E, M, H) http://www.densho.org/densho.asp

 

20     Presidents’ Day

Write the Truth, by Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. Peterson describes an inquiry project in which his 5th graders investigated which US Presidents owned slaves and wrote letters to textbooks to demand that this information be included. (E, M) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/16_04/Writ164.shtml

 

21     International Mother Language Day. International Mother Language Day is observed to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.

UN Site on International Mother Language Day. This site provides historical information on why the United Nations created International Mother Language Day as well as links to organizations that currently observe this day. (TR) http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/language

 

26     40th anniversary of the Buffalo Creek Disaster. Strip mining activities by the Buffalo Mining Company led to a deadly flood in which 125 residents were killed and over 4,000 were left homeless. Federal, state and citizen commissions found Buffalo Mining Company had disregarded standard safety practices leading up to the disaster.

Buffalo Creek, West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Photo-illustrated account of the flood and its aftermath. (M, H, TR) http://www.wvculture.org/history/buffcreek/bctitle.html

Voices of Buffalo Creek. A re-examination of what happened through interviews with people who lived through it. Site has link to original news coverage of the disaster. (M, H, TR) http://wvgazette.com/static/series/buffalocreek/index.html#anchor388711

 

March

1     First day of Women’s History Month

Gender Issues, by Ithaca College WISE. This site includes a list of links, a bibliography and a list of films related to gender issues. (M, H, TR) http://www.ithaca.edu/wise/topics/gender.htm

Beyondmedia Education. Beyondmedia Education’s mission is to collaborate with under served and under-represented women, youth and communities to tell their stories, connect their stories to the world around us, and organize for social justice through the creation and distribution of media arts. Videos available for viewing and purchasing. (M, H, TR) http://www.beyondmedia.org/about_us.html

 

3     70th anniversary of 1st US child labor law regulating working hours being passed. Massachusetts limits children’s workdays to 10 hours; other states soon pass similar laws—but most of these laws were not consistently enforced.

Iqbal, by Francesco D’Adamo. A powerful story based on the real life and death of a Pakistani child sold into slavery. (E, M, H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781416903291

Kids On Strike!, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. This book tells the story of children who stood up for their rights against powerful company owners. Some strikes led by young people were successful; some were not. But all are a testimony to the strength of mind and spirit of the children who helped build American industry. (E, M) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780618369232

Teaching With Documents: Photographs of Lewis Hine: Documentation of Child Labor.

This site contains reproducible copies of photos documenting the role of child labor in the development of the industrial United States. (M, H) http://bit.ly/hinesphoto

Stop Child Labor Lesson Plans, by International Labor Rights Forum. Lesson plans connected to several anti-child-labor campaigns including cocoa farms, and cotton and rubber plantations. (M, H) http://bit.ly/childlabor1

http://bit.ly/childlabor2

3     40th anniversary of the Center for Independent Living. This Berkeley, California center was the world’s first community-based independent living facility. It was established by a group of disabled students from the University of California at Berkeley, a key moment in the broader movement for independent living.

Reap What You Sow: Harvesting Support Systems, by the National Youth Leadership Network. The Reap What You Sow curriculum teaches people how to build a support system that promotes their personal power. The curriculum was created by disabled youth educators and supported by adult allies. It is designed for youth with disabilities, family members and allies. (H) http://www.nyln.org/resources-3/reap-what-yousow-curriculum

 

4     130th anniversary of an Anti-Chinese Demonstration Day. Anti-Chinese sentiment was so widespread that California Governor Perkins declared March 4, 1882 a legal holiday for anti-Chinese demonstrations. Some sources state this declaration happened in 1880.

Chinese Immigration: Origins and Opinions, by Jaime Boyle. This site provides an overview of Chinese immigration in the United States with links to relevant primary documents and a wealth of historical photographs and political cartoons. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/97tUbE

What You See: Photographs of Chinese Expulsion Sites, by Tim Greyhavens. This website documents the history of the Chinese Expulsion Period in the United States (1850-1910). (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/d37m7B

 

4    Miriam Makeba, South African singer and activist, born (1932 to 2008). Makeba, a singer popularly known as “Mama Afrika,” used her music and activism as a way to speak out against apartheid internationally. As a result, her South African citizenship was revoked until the end of apartheid. She was also married for a time to Stokely Carmichael.

Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony. Through a history of the South African liberation struggle, this documentary shows how music was used by those being oppressed as a way to express their plight. The film includes interviews with Miriam Makeba. The entire film is available for viewing on YouTube. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/14RND

 

7     70th anniversary of the death of Lucy Parsons. Parsons was an anarchist, writer and radical organizer from Texas. Although her origins are not fully known, she is likely of African American, Native American and Mexican heritage. After moving to Chicago she began organizing workers, speaking out on labor issues and later helped found the International Workers of the World.

The Lucy Parsons Project. This website is a tribute to Lucy Parsons, her work and the causes she championed. (H, TR) http://www.lucyparsonsproject.org

 

10     90th anniversary of the arrest of Gandhi for sedition. In an effort to end the British colonial rule in India, Mahatma Gandhi encouraged Indians to boycott British goods. Following Gandhi’s boycott, protesters in Chauri Chaura picketed a local liquor shop but the protest turned violent. Gandhi ended the boycott but was arrested and tried for sedition. He was sentenced to 6 years in prison.

Gandhi, by Demi. Demi’s book is a straightforward, beautifully illustrated biography of Gandhi’s life. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780689841491

 

16     Denmark became the first country to abolish the slave trade. A law to abolish the slave trade was passed in 1792 but didn’t take effect until 1803.

Breaking the Silence, by UNESCO. This site is designed to provide teachers with a variety of resources and ideas about how to teach the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It includes lesson plans, maps and insights from other teachers. (M, H) http://old.antislavery.org/breakingthesilence

 

17 Bayard Rustin, civil rights activist, born (1912 to 1987 ). Rustin was one of the chief organizers of the 1963 March on Washington. He became an advocate on behalf of gay and lesbian causes in the latter part of his career.

We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin, by Larry Brimne. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781590784983

Bayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights Movement, by James Haskins. This book details Rustin’s work in the Civil Rights Movement. A key player in every major US civil rights initiative and a passionate believer in nonviolent resistance, Rustin helped steer the movement in that direction. (M, H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780786801688

 

17     20th anniversary of White South Africans voting to negotiate an end to apartheid. In 1990 the South African government began negotiations with the African National Congress to end apartheid and establish multiracial democracy. When the negotiations inspired a right-wing backlash, then President F.W. De Klerk called a Whites-only referendum on continuing negotiations, which got 68 percent of the vote.

The Apartheid Museum. The Apartheid Museum in South Africa hosts an online exhibition with educational resources for teaching about the history and legacy of apartheid. (M, H) http://www.apartheidmuseum.org

 

20     9th anniversary of the Iraq War. This war began with the invasion of Iraq by a multinational force led by troops from the United States and the United Kingdom. By 11/10, about $900 billion of US taxpayers’ funds spent or approved for spending on this war. By the time of printing, the US continues to have 47,000 troops in Iraq, while all other nations have withdrawn their troops.

Camouflaged: Investigating How the U.S. Military Affects You and Your Community, by NYCoRE. This resource collection is a tool for educators to help students explore the role of the military in their lives and in their communities. (M, H) http://www.nycore.org/camo.html

The Recruiter, directed by Edet Belzburg. This curriculum, which accompanies the documentary, The Recruiter, provides teachers with tools to take students beyond their own perspectives on war, and into the lives of teenagers choosing to enlist in the United States Army. It also prompts discussion about the personal circumstances of the teenagers themselves, and the nature of the war in which they are participating. (H) http://www.propellerfilms.com/recruiter/resources

Teaching about War, resources from Radical Math. A link to several lessons and resources that help students understand the cost of war through mathematics. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/radwar

 

20     160th anniversary of the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, was a socially and politically influential novel that fueled the debate over slavery and raised the consciousness of America and Europe.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Unit of Study, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe’s powerful abolitionist novel fueled the fire of the human rights debate in 1852. (H) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780486440286

23     30th anniversary of the Sanctuary Movement (also called the Overground Railroad). On the second anniversary of the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero in El Salvador, John Fife, a Presbyterian Reverend in Tucson, declared his congregation a sanctuary for refugees from civil wars in Guatemala and El Salvador, catalyzing a nationwide movement by religious institutions. In doing so, they acted in violation of federal law. The US government, which supported the Guatemalan and Salvadoran governments, would not recognize most people fleeing violence in Central America as political refugees.

Anunciation House. Website and short documentary about families who migrate to the US and the volunteers at Anunciation House who work to protect migrant adults and children upon arrival. (M, H, TR) http://annunciationhouse.org

 

25     150th anniversary of the death of Ida B. Wells. Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was an African American journalist and newspaper editor who documented the extent of lynching in the United States. She was also active in the women’s rights movement and the women’s suffrage movement.

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow, by PBS. This documentary series explores segregation from the end of the Civil War to the dawn of the modern civil rights movement. The first episode includes the work of Ida B. Wells. The website features teaching resources. (H) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow

 

28     70th anniversary of the arrest of Minoru Yasui for breaking a curfew targeted at Japanese Americans. Yasui deliberately broke a curfew imposed by the military on Japanese Americans during World War II to test its legality. His case went to the Supreme Court, which upheld his conviction. That conviction was overturned 40 years later.

Political Cartoons and Dr. Seuss, by PBS. This lesson goes with the film The Political Dr. Seuss. Students will analyze Dr. Seuss’s WWII anti- Japanese propaganda. The second link goes to a more complete gallery of examples of his work (but it’s not a student-friendly site). (M, H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/cAL5JW

http://bit.ly/akycST

31     César Chávez Day

Viva La Causa: The Story of César Chávez and a Great Movement for Social Justice, by Teaching Tolerance. This short documentary film and accompanying teacher’s guide explore the Grape Strike and Boycott led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. The free teaching kit includes a 39-minute film on DVD and a teacher’s guide. (M, H, TR) http://www.tolerance.org/kit/viva-la-causa

Harvesting Hope: The Story of César Chávez, by Kathleen Krull. This picture book chronicles Chávez’s youth and the struggles he endured on his journey to becoming a leader. (E) http://bit.ly/cechbook

Model Curriculum and Resources for Teachers. This curriculum on the life and work of César E. Chávez from the California Department of Education includes biographies, pictures and other resources provided to help teachers prepare lessons for this holiday. (E, M, H) http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/index1.aspx

 

31     50th anniversary of the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA). César Chávez started the NFWA to organize farm workers. He went from town to town to meet with farm workers to build what became the United Farm Workers Union.

Farmworkers and the Union: A Lesson from Viva La Causa, by Teaching Tolerance. Part of the Viva La Causa curriculum packet, this lesson teaches about the organizational and agenda issues common among labor unions. (M, H) http://bit.ly/eEWiei

April

1     First day of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The goal of SAAM is to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

Advocates for Youth. This website has an education resource center that offers K-12 educators lesson plans, curricula, national standards and state legislation to use in their classroom and community. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/saam1

NO! Confronting Sexual Assault in Our Communities. This documentary explores the impact of sexual violence on Black women and girls. As the incidents of violence and sexual assault continue, this film can be used to support both women and men, regardless of race, as they learn to navigate the challenging terrain of sexuality–without violence. 2nd link is to a facilitator’s guide
to the film. (H)    http://bit.ly/filmNO             http://bit.ly/guideno

Tough Guise. Tough Guise is aimed at a general student audience to analyze masculinity as a social construction, a performance, or a role; in short, a tough guise. The film links violence to the construction of masculinity around domination and violence.  (H) http://bit.ly/tguise

 

1     First day of National Poetry Month. National Poetry Month celebrates the art of poetry and looks to ensure it maintains an important place in American culture.

Hip Hop and the Classics for the Classroom by Alan Sitmor and Michael Cirelli. This collection of lesson plans analyzes the poetry of Hip Hop and compares its motifs, themes and general poetic devices to the poems traditionally studied in order to teach the core elements of the poetic craft in an appealing, relevant and accessible manner. (M, H) http://www.hiphopintheclass.com

Growing up Hip-Hop, by kahlil almustafa. In this collection written throughout his youth and young adulthood, award-winning poet kahlil almustafa captures the experiences, contradictions and healing that have defined the hiphop generation. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/aIrgyP

The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook, Volume 1, by Marcella Runnell Hall and Martha Diaz. The H2ED Guidebook addresses the tenets of critical Hip Hop pedagogy, framing the issues of concern and strength within Hip Hop culture. The book offers an array of innovative and interdisciplinary lesson plans for teachers by teachers. (M, H) http://www.lulu.com/content/656880

Brave New Voices. Brave New Voices is a national poetry slam competition that truly engages everyone involved, from the participants to the adult mentors and audience members. The first episode of the HBO series, which chronicles the 2008 festival, is available online. (M, H) http://www.bravenewvoices.org

 

1     80th anniversary of the Chicago School Children Strike. During the Depression, 500 school children living in poverty marched through downtown Chicago to the Board of Education demanding that the school system provide them with food.

A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn. While chapter 15 mentions the Chicago School Children strike only briefly, Zinn puts the event into context within labor movements and uprisings that took place following World War I and during the Great Depression. (M, H, TR) The text is also available at: http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnselhel15.html

We Were There, Too!: Young People in U.S. History, by Phillip Hoose. This book brings to life the contributions of young people throughout American history. Based on primary sources and including 160 authentic images, it highlights the fascinating stories of more than 70 young people from diverse cultures. (E, M) http://bit.ly/ghEdbb

 

4     Dorothea Dix, activist, born (1802 to 1877). Dix inspired legislatures in 15 states to establish hospitals for the mentally ill, resulting in the building of 32 institutions.

Center on Human Policy. A variety of units on disability history, including the role of eugenics, conscientious objectors and other often overlooked components of disability history. Includes several lessons on Dix’s exposés of poorhouses. (M, H, TR) http://www.disabilitystudiesforteachers.org/lessons.php

6     300th anniversary of the first large-scale slave revolt in the North American colonies.

In New York, more than 25 enslaved Africans and possibly 2 Native Americans set fire to a building and killed nine Whites who came on the scene. They were captured and those that didn’t commit suicide were brutally executed. This set the stage for severe punishments for rebellions that followed.

The Abolition of the Slave Trade, by the New York Public Library. This extensive multimedia website explores the history and events leading up to the abolition of the slave trade. (M, H) http://abolition.nypl.org

 

6     Rose Schneiderman, labor activist, born (1882 to 1972 ). Schniederman, a Polish immigrant, organized women in the factory where she worked and rose to become a leading labor activist in NYC. She coined the phrase “Bread and Roses” which became associated with the 1912 strike in Lawrence, MA.

Labor Matters, by Teaching Tolerance. Draw on your students’ prior knowledge to help them understand the importance of the labor movement. (M, H)

http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=1054

 

7     World Health Day

Critical Condition and other films about health care. Films from POV and Media That Matters about health care. (H) http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/election/issues

Health and health care resources, by Radical Math. A collection of materials for teaching about health and health care through mathematics. (M, H) http://bit.ly/radhealth

Unnatural Causes: Is inequality making us sick?, by PBS. This 7-part series exploring race and socioeconomic disparities in health investigates how the social circumstances in which we are born, live and work can actually get under our skin and disrupt our physiology as much as germs and viruses. The website includes a classroom section, discussion guide and video clips. (M, H, TR) http://www.unnaturalcauses.org

 

7     Harry Hay, LGTB activist, born (1912 to 2002). Hay, a teacher and labor leader, was one of the earliest leaders of the LGBT movement in the US.

Hope Along the Wind: The Life of Harry Hay. This documentary follows the life of one of the founders of the Mattachine Society, Harry Hay. The website provides information regarding Hay’s life and a transcript of the film. (H) http://www.harryhay.com/AH_matt.html

 

19     Holocaust Remembrance Day

Paper Clips, directed by Elliot and Joe Fab. This documentary shows how students in Tennessee responded to lessons about the Holocaust–with a promise to collect a paper clip for each individual killed by the Nazis. The result, a memorial railcar filled with 11 million paper clips stands permanently in their schoolyard, shows how a committed group of children and educators can make a difference. (E, M, H) http://amzn.to/9mdnwR

Days of Remembrance. The Museum has extensive resources for honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day. (H, TR) http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor

One Survivor Remembers. One Survivor Remembers tells the unforgettable story of Gerda Weissmann Klein’s six-year ordeal as a victim of Nazi cruelty. The free teaching kit includes the documentary and lesson plans. (M, H, TR) http://www.tolerance.org/kit/one-survivor-remembers

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry. This book tells the story of a young girl and her life in Denmark during World War II. Annemarie and her family are determined to help Ellen survive the “relocation” program for all Jews. These sites include lesson plans for the book. (E) http://bit.ly/cesQaT

http://bit.ly/dt7xp8

http://bit.ly/XjSNZ

Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals: Online Exhibition of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This online exhibit provides resources, photographs and more to learn about the Nazis’ persecution of homosexuals. (M, H) http://bit.ly/91L1sK

 

20     2nd anniversary of BP oil spill. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was the largest marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry.

If God Is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise. Spike Lee revisits New Orleans five years after Katrina, examining the aftermath of that disaster and the impact of the next one, the BP oil spill. (H, TR) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587373

Teaching with the News, Lesson: The Gulf Oil Disaster, from the Choices Program. In this free one-day activity students use political cartoons to consider issues raised by the 2010 oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico including impact, accountability, US oil dependency and energy policy. (H) http://bit.ly/9jnabR

The Gulf Oil Spill: An Environmental Justice Disaster, by Teaching Tolerance. This Teaching Tolerance lesson takes a look at the environmental impact of the spill on low-income Gulf residents. (M, H) http://bit.ly/cTr9K3

“Oily Disaster,” by IndyKids. Article from the children’s newspaper IndyKids about the spill. The second link is the accompanying teacher’s guide. (E, M) http://bit.ly/9HixXu
Teacher’s guide: http://bit.ly/9yD5hL

The Gulf Oil Spill: An Environmental Justice Disaster, by Teaching Tolerance. This lesson has students examine data that show that disproportionately high percentages of people of Color are being adversely affected by the oil spill cleanup. (M, H) http://bit.ly/cTr9K3

 

22     Earth Day

Environmental Protection Activities and Online Games, by the Institute for Humane Education. Among other great resources and lesson plans, this website hosts several online games that help students explore issues of environmental sustainability. (M, H) http://bit.ly/8to5et

http://bit.ly/9dwxYj

Race, Poverty and the Environment. This journal links issues of racism and poverty with environmental justice. Some recent resources are available for free to download; older resources require a purchase. (H, TR) http://www.urbanhabitat.org/rpe

Nature, Race and Justice, by Teaching Tolerance. Poor and minority neighborhoods are the ones most likely to face environmental hazards. These lessons help your students grasp the impact of environmental racism and the environmental justice movement. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/natrace

 

24     Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. This observance is held annually to commemorate the victims of the massacre and deportation of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923.

Teacher’s Guide for COBBLESTONE Armenian Americans, by Lucine Kasbarian. This teacher and classroom guide provides lessons to teach about the Armenian genocide, genocide denial, social justice, ethnic preservation and ethnic identity. This guide accompanies the May 2000 edition of Cobblestone children’s magazine. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/cjJr7s

Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians. This resource provides students with the latest scholarship on the genocide. (H) http://bit.ly/936fqB

 

26     150th anniversary of the Chinese Police Tax Law. This law, which levied a tax on all Chinese living in California, was implemented to “protect free white labor against competition with Chinese Coolie labor” and to discourage Chinese immigration to the state. The California Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional later that year.

Asian Americans: Gold Rush Era to 1890s. Brief history of experience of Chinese immigrants to California with useful images. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/9OLX3x

Becoming American: The Chinese Experience, PBS curriculum and documentary. This resource describes the ways the first arrivals from China in the 1840s, their descendants, and recent immigrants have “become American.” Facing History offers a teaching unit to accompany the film. (E, M, TR) http://www.pbs.org/becomingamerican/

http://bit.ly/cxiaet

 

27     140th anniversary of Arbor Day. Arbor Day is a day that celebrates the planting of trees.

The Rainforest Alliance lesson on Deforestation. For Arbor Day, teach about deforestation and its effects on communities and wildlife in countries including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. Each grade level has a set of detailed lessons that include how corporations who sell bananas, chocolate, coffee and other common foods should be regulated in how they reuse and treat farmland. (E, M, TR) http://bit.ly/rainfor

The Vanishing Rainforests. The lesson uses math to discuss the importance of Rainforests and how we can analyze their health. (M) http://bit.ly/rainfor2

 

29     20th anniversary of the start of the 1992 Los Angeles uprising. This uprising was in response to an all-White jury acquitting four White police officers accused in the videotaped beating of African American motorist Rodney King. Thousands of people in L.A. attacked businesses, cars and individuals the days following the verdict.

Know Your Rights on Campus: A Guide on Racial Profiling, and Hate Crime for International Students in the United States, by Harvard’s Civil Rights Project. This guide provides students with the facts they need to protect themselves in school. Written with college students in mind, this is still a helpful resource for high schoolers. (H, TR) http://bit.ly/bWo55R

Where Do We Go From Here?: Chaos or Community, by Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK’s last book before his murder explores the frustration of Blacks in the North borne out of unrealized hope for change of the Civil Rights Movement. While the book explains his critique of the Black Power Movement, chapter one provides a good lens for understanding the roots of urban ‘riots’ or ‘uprisings.’ (H, TR) http://bit.ly/i1W6rv

 

30     60th anniversary of Anne Frank’s diary being published in English. The Diary of Anne Frank, a young Jewish victim of the Holocaust, became available in British book shops. The book was first published in Dutch in 1947 by her father who survived the concentration camps.

Giving Beyond Measure—Diary of Anne Frank, by Learning to Give. Lessons that compare and contrast the life of Anne Frank in the annex with our lives today. Much of the focus is on philanthropy, moral reasoning, human rights and social justice. (M) http://www.learningtogive.org/lessons/unit16/lesson2.html

 

 May

1     International Worker’s Day/May Day. International Workers’ Day, or May Day, recognizes the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. It also commemorates the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886 in which Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight-hour day, killing several demonstrators.

3PLUS-U. This UN Cyberschoolbus site provides an interactive experience for students to inquire about labor rights. (E, M, H) http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/3PLUSU/treeHouse.html

The Power in our Hands: A Curriculum on the History of Work and Workers in the United States, by William Bigelow and Norman Diamond. This celebrated book provides entertaining, easy-to-use lesson plans for teaching labor history. (M, H, TR) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780853457534

 

1     First day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian American Curriculum Projects. An extensive catalog of resources and services that underscore the importance and diversity of the Asian American experience. (E, M, H) http://www.asianamericanbooks.com

Ancestors in the Americas, PBS series by Loni Ding. This series and companion websitevprovide stories, timelines and historical resources helpful in teaching about the experiences of Asian Americans. (M, H) http://www.pbs.org/ancestorsintheamericas

A Century of Challenge and Change: The Filipino American Story. The aim of this curriculum is to highlight the historical and cultural experiences of Filipino Americans within a multicultural and global context by emphasizing ethnic pride, cultural connections, critical thinking and community activism. (E, TR) http://bit.ly/8YgL2J

 

1     First day of National Bike Month

Tools for Life: A Start-Up Guide for Youth Recycling & Bicycling Programs, by Transportation Alternatives. This website has a guide for helping youth to start bicycle recycling programs based on the successful NYC Recycle-A-Bicycle program. Includes curricula and resources. (H) http://www.recycleabicycle.org/node/45

Have Wheels, Will Travel, by YES Magazine. A visual learning exercise that introduces students to bamboo bicycles. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/ca96cb

 

1     First day of Caribbean American Heritage Month

Caribbean Connections Series, by Teaching for Change. Teaching for Change has developed this 6-book series that brings the Caribbean experience to the classroom. (H) http://www.teachingforchange.org/publications/tfctitles/ccseries

 

3     World Press Freedom Day. World Press Freedom Day highlights the importance of a free press to society.

Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism. This film provides an in-depth look at Fox News and the dangers of ever-enlarging corporations taking control of the public’s right to know. (H) http://bit.ly/baxrSF

IndyKids. IndyKids is a free newspaper and teaching tool that aims to inform children on current news and world events from a progressive perspective and to inspire a passion for social justice and learning. It is geared toward kids in grades 4 to 8 and high school English Language Learners. IndyKids is produced five times during the school year. (E, M) http://www.indykids.net

Media Literacy lessons, by Educators for Social Responsibility. Six lessons that help students deconstruct the media’s messages and the construction of the news. While the lessons are free, you will have to create a free account to access them. (H) http://bit.ly/9gnRUt

 

5     Cinco de Mayo (150th anniversary of the battle it commemorates). Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Despite this victory, France eventually defeated Mexican forces and occupied the country for three years.

Celebrate, don’t desecrate Cinco de Mayo. Article tracing the origins of the celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the United States to the Chicano anti-imperialist movement in the 1960’s. (TR)

http://bit.ly/ccDwhK

Cinco de Mayo Inc. This blog is dedicated to documenting and critically examining the commercialization of Cinco de Mayo. This Mexican holiday has become more popular in the US than in Mexico in part because of corporate America’s desire to make millions off the Latino consumer market while perpetuating damaging stereotypes about Latinos and Latinas and not educating the American public about the historical significance of this day. (M, H, TR) http://cincodemayoinc.blogspot.com

 

5     Vesak (Buddhism)

Wesak, by Open-Sez-Me Books. Information and Activities to recognize Wesak or Vesakha and learn more about Buddhism. (E) http://www.open-sez-mefestivals.co.uk/wesak.htm

 

6     130th anniversary of the signing of the Chinese Exclusion Act. This Act was signed to suspend Chinese immigration when Chinese immigrants began taking work other than gold mining. After the Act’s passage, Chinese men in the US had little chance of reuniting with their wives or starting families in the US and as a result the Chinese population declined until the act was repealed in 1943.

The Chinese Experience in the 19th Century, hosted at University of Illinois, Chicago. This unit focuses on the Chinese immigrant experience in late 19th-Century America. Their coming raised issues of social and cultural diversity, discrimination and national identity – issues that are still debated today. A section focuses on the process of exclusion including immigration acts. (M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/d7JeHf 

http://bit.ly/dycvqT

Teaching With Documents: Affidavit and Flyers from the Chinese Boycott Case, from the National Archives. This lesson covers the Chinese Boycott Case in which a group of Chinese merchants in Butte, Montana sought an injunction to stop the boycott of Chinese-owned businesses that had been sanctioned by anti-Chinese labor unions. (H) http://bit.ly/btjRLk

 

8     National Teacher Day. Celebrate National Teacher day by re-asserting what you believe is in the best interest of teachers and students. Link up with like-minded educators to take action inside and outside of your classroom.

Teacher Activist Groups. The Network of Teacher Activist Groups (TAG) is a national coalition of grassroots teacher organizing groups. Together, they engage in shared political education and relationship building in order to work for educational justice both nationally and in their local communities. Look for a group near you or find a local cause and get involved! (TR) http://www.teacheractivistgroups.org

http://hdtdt.edliberation.org

 

10     140th anniversary of Victoria Woodhull being the first woman nominated for president. Victoria Woodhull, a leader for women’s rights, was nominated for President by the Equal Rights Party.

A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull, by Kathleen Krull. Victoria Woodhull was the first woman to do many things: the first woman to own a newspaper, to speak before Congress, and to have a seat on the stock exchange. But her boldest act was announcing herself as the first female candidate for the presidency of the United States in 1872—before women even had the right to vote. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780802796158

America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria Woodhull- Director’s Cut. America’s Victoria is a wonderful chronicle of the life of one of the most important and unrecognized women in US history. Although she was a radical suffragist, she refused to restrict her presidential campaign to the issue of women’s suffrage. Instead, she advocated a single sexual standard for men and women, legalization of prostitution and reform of marriage. (H, TR) http://amzn.to/9va7My

 

11     40th anniversary of César Chávez’ hunger strike against unjust Arizona law. Chavez fasted for 25 days over a just-passed Arizona law essentially banning the right of farm workers to strike, boycott or organize. The fast and the resulting UFW sponsored grassroots campaign transformed politics in the heavily Latino state, leading to the election of Latino governors. It was through this campaign that the phrase “¡Si Se Puede!” was first used as a rallying cry.

History of ¡Si Se Puede! This webpage tells the story of this fast and how the phrase ¡Si Se Puede! began. (M, H) http://bit.ly/cSSPDC

 

12     World Fair Trade Day. The World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) draws on support from a membership of 350 fair trade organizations from 80 countries. Goals include creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers, payment of a fair price, gender equity and improved working conditions.

Win Win Solutions: An Introduction to Fair Trade and Cooperative Economics, by Equal Exchange. Composed of four units, this curriculum raises students’ awareness of core issues surrounding food production and trade. (E, M) http://www.equalexchange.coop/educationaltools

Getting Involved in Fair Trade, by Angene Wilson. Students will learn about Turkish and Ugandan women working in fair trade organizations, study the ten standards of fair trade and in a small group write a proposal for involving a school club in selling fair trade items. (M, H) http://bit.ly/csTZgo

 

17     International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO). IDAHO aims to coordinate international events to demand respect for lesbians, gays and transgendered people worldwide.

Speaking about Silence: Addressing Homophobia in Sports. Resources for teaching about and addressing homophobia in sports. (M, H, TR) http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/history/LGBT_historyMay.pdf

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) Website. Resources about LGBT injustices all around the world and ways to contribute to campaigns fighting for LGBT justice. (M, H, TR) http://idahomophobia.org

 

23     Bobby Cherry convicted for murder of four Black girls while at church. Bobby Cherry, a former Alabama Klansman, was convicted for the September 15, 1963 murder of four Black girls at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The jury sent him to prison for life.

4 Little Girls, directed by Spike Lee (online stream). This film recounts the bombing of a church in Alabama in which four African American girls lost their lives. This pushed the nation to continue the fight for equality and justice. The 2nd link is to a website with lesson plans and resources. (M, H) http://bit.ly/byqnhP

Lessons: http://www.useekufind.com/peace

A Time to Speak: A Speech by Charles Morgan, a lesson by Teaching Tolerance. In this lesson, students will study a young White lawyer’s speech given the day after the bombing to better understand the Civil Rights Movement and the value of speaking out against injustice. Can be used in conjunction with the film Mighty Times: The Childrens’ March. Links are to lesson, speech and film in that order. (M, H) http://bit.ly/9U5FHj

http://bit.ly/cMgC2M

http://bit.ly/c1sVvh

 

25     African Liberation Day. Africa Liberation Day was first established in 1958 after African leaders and political activists gathered at the first Pan-African conference held on African soil.

African Voices, an online exhibition of the Smithsonian. African Voices examines the diversity and global influence of Africa’s peoples and cultures. Featuring contemporary interviews, literature, prayers, folk tales and oral epics, it also includes a section on independence from colonialism. (M, H) http://www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices

Wonders of the African World, by Henry Louis Gates. This website explores the great African civilizations including Nubia, Timbuktu, Ethiopia, and the Kingdoms of Dahomey and the Ashanti. It includes African American perspectives on Africa. The website parallels the PBS/BBC video series of the same name. (E, M, H) http://www.pbs.org/wonders

 

 June

1     First day of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Curriculum. The website features tools and resources for teaching about gay issues, for addressing homophobia and for supporting students to start Gay/Straight Alliances. (E, M, H) http://bit.ly/9vID87

Beyond Tolerance: A Resource Guide for Addressing LGTBQI Issues in Schools, by NYQueer and NYCoRE. A comprehensive resource guide with activities, websites, organizations and an annotated bibliography to support educators in addressing queer issues. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.nycore.org/2010/11/beyond-tolerance-resource-guide

3     20th anniversary of the Earth Summit. The Earth Summit was a major United Nations conference called to address problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. When it was suggested that the Earth Summit consider the effects of the military on environmental degradation, the US delegation objected and the suggestion was defeated.

Editorial Cartoons: Poverty/Environmental Justice, by Teaching Tolerance. Through analysis of a political cartoon, students will understand the impact of inequality on environmental justice. (M, H) http://bit.ly/ttcartoon

Staying Safe In A Toxic World. This issue of The Change Agent, an adult education newspaper for social justice, explores the local environment and features stories of community efforts to identify sources of pollution and deal with them. With an emphasis on math and science, the activities help students think about large and small numbers, percents, ratios and scale. (H) http://www.nelrc.org/changeagent/toc.htm

 

4     UN Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. Appalled by the great number of innocent Palestinian and Lebanese children victims of Israel’s acts of aggression, in the 1980s the United Nations General Assembly decided to commemorate June 4 of each year as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression. It reminds people that throughout the world there are many children suffering from different forms of abuse, and there is an urgent need to protect the rights of children.

Voices of a People’s History. Short video of Alice Walker reading a letter from Rachel Corrie, a young, White American who traveled to the Gaza Strip as part of the International Solidarity Movement and was killed by a bulldozer operated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during a protest against the destruction of Palestinian homes by the IDF. (H) http://bit.ly/aKr5Q4

A Little Piece of Ground, by Elizabeth Laird w/ Sonia Nimr. This novel is about a young boy named Karim who is living through the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9781931859387

 

5     Christy Brown, painter and poet, born (1932 to 1981). Christy Brown was an Irish author, painter and poet who had severe cerebral palsy. He is most famous for his autobiography My Left Foot. (His left foot was the only part of his body that he could control, and he used it to write.) My Left Foot was later made into a film.

Disability History Week, by Maryam Dilakian. The aim of the lesson unit is to use the story of Christy Brown to raise awareness of the effects of disabilities on people’s lives, and to encourage them to consider how they may be in a position to help or support someone with a disability. (E, M, H) http://tiny.cc/vqlkf

 

7     120th anniversary of the arrest of Homer Plessey. Plessey was arrested in New Orleans for violating the Separate Car Act. His case went to the Supreme Court, which upheld the law, legalizing segregation through “separate but equal” policies.

History Now: Plessy vs. Ferguson. People who commit crimes are often thought to be “bad” people or people who are engaged in deleterious behavior. This lesson looks at two crimes, one of them Plessy’s act of defiance, in order to insert a complexity into the decision to break a law. (E) http://bit.ly/btuAZz

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), by Oakham School. Handout on the Plessy v. Ferguson decision and its relation to the Constitution. Discussion questions are included. Also includes visual aid and diagram of the case’s movement through the court system. (H) http://www.edliberation.org/resources/records/plessy-v-ferguson

 

10     140th anniversary of the 8-hour work day victory celebration in New York. A movement for the eight-hour day began among working people after the war, helped by the formation of the first national federation of unions, the National Labor Union. A three-month strike of 100,000 workers in New York won the eight-hour day, and at a victory celebration in June 1872, 150,000 workers paraded through the city.

Sweatshop Accounting, by Rethinking Schools. Intolerable working conditions are not a thing of the past. Look at contemporary issues on economic justice in relation to sweatshop labor. (H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/19_01/swea191.shtml

Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type, by Doreen Cronin. This children’s book addresses labor conflict and resolution through the story of a fictional farmer whose cows start making demands. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780689832130

 

12 30th anniversary of the Anti-Nuclear Proliferation Demonstration in Central Park. Almost one million people demonstrated in New York City’s Central Park against nuclear weapons and for an end to the Cold War arms race. It was the largest anti-nuclear protest and the largest political demonstration in American history.

Understanding the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, by Educators for Social Responsibility. This lesson will help students understand the purpose, structure and nature of the treaty. You will have to create a free account to access the lesson. (H) http://bit.ly/d3GqUW

Nuclear Weapons: What Should Our Policy Be?, by The Choices Program. This unit engages students in consideration of a balanced range of views on the questions that surround the future of nuclear weapons. The material in this 2-day lesson is drawn from a larger curriculum called The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons. (H) http://www.choices.edu/resources/twtn_nukes.php

 

12     110th anniversary of the founding of the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf. On this day the National Fraternal Society of the Deaf was founded by alumni from the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint. It became the world’s only fraternal life insurance company managed by deaf people, advocating for the right of deaf people to purchase insurance and to obtain driver’s licenses.

The Listen Up Website’s list of Children’s books. A compilation of children’s books about hearing loss and deafness. (E, M) http://www.listen-up.org/h_books/kids.htm

 

15     30th anniversary of a landmark Supreme Court decision about public education and undocumented immigrants. In Plyler v. Doe, which grew out of a dispute in Texas, the court determined states could no longer withhold public education from children simply because they are undocumented.

History Lesson 10: Plyler v. Doe: Can States Deny Public Benefits to Illegal Immigrants?, by the Constitutional Rights Foundation. In this lesson students take part in mock hearing about the 1982 Supreme Court decision in Plyler v. Doe. It gives the background on the case and the arguments for both sides. (M, H) http://bit.ly/bNiKyl

 

15     Anthony Coelho, Congressman and disability rights advocate, born (1942 ). Coelho, who has epilepsy, is a former US Congressman from California and the primary author and sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

ADAPT. ADAPT is a national grassroots community that organizes disability rights activists. Teach and learn about their struggle to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.adapt.org/index.php

 

17     40th anniversary of Watergate. On this date five burglars, carrying wiretapping and photo equipment, were caught breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee in the Watergate apartment complex. An investigation revealed that the burglars were linked to President Nixon’s re-election campaign. Although he initially denied involvement, when it became clear that the House of Representatives was likely to impeach him, Nixon resigned.

Losing Control in the 1970s, by Jennifer Rosebrook. Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 20 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on the legacy of scandal since the end of the Vietnam War and the Watergate break-in. (H) http://zinnedproject.org/posts/1733

 

18     Autistic Pride Day. The Autistic Pride movement is based on the idea that the neurological differences present in people diagnosed with autism can and should be celebrated. Autistic Pride Day celebrates this diversity and potential for all people to achieve great things.

Temple Grandin (HBO Movie). This movie wasshown on HBO as a mini-series. It chronicles the life of Temple Grandin, a woman with autism, who revolutionized livestock handling in the US and has written several books about her life with autism. (M, H) http://www.hbo.com/movies/temple-grandin/index.html

 

18     200th anniversary of the War of 1812. On this day the US declared war on Britain in part to expand its territory both into Canada, which was still part of the British Empire, and into territories held by Native Americans, who were supported by the British. When Britain and the US signed a peace treaty in 1814, the principal losers in the war were Native Americans who lost both land and power and the possibility of a semi-independent sanctuary proposed by the British.

Tecumseh’s Speech to the Osages (Winter 1811-12). Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader, sought to convince all Indian tribes to unify against the growing White intrusion into Indian lands. Links lead to primary text and Brian Jones’ video re-enactment of speech. (E, M, H, TR) http://bit.ly/bNqRay http://bit.ly/aQEQLn

 

18     190th anniversary of slave rebellion leader Denmark Vesey being arrested. Vesey, a former slave in South Carolina who bought his freedom, planned a major slave rebellion. He was arrested before he was able to execute the plan, and was eventually executed along with his collaborators. He became a hero for many abolitionists.

Denmark Vesey’s Rebellion Lesson Plan, by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. As part of a unit on African American Migration, this lesson has students conduct research about Denmark Vesey’s extraordinary life. Students will use their research findings to create a ten-minute performance of some aspect of Denmark Vesey’s story. (H) http://tiny.cc/yt4hi

 

19     Juneteenth. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.

Slavery and Indentured Servitude, by Michael Ray. This 6-minute digital history of slavery includes the voices of slave survivors as well as pictures that depict the struggles and inequities that these individuals had to face. (E, M, H) http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/digital_stories.cfm (click on “Slavery and Indentured Servitude”)

“Been Here So Long”: Selections from the WPA American Slave Narratives, by the New Deal Network. Here are seventeen of the approximately 2,300 American Slave Narratives collected by the Federal Writers Project with lesson plans. (H) http://newdeal.feri.org/asn/index.htm

Perspective on the Slave Narrative, by Ed-SITEment. Lesson about The Narrative of William W. Brown, A Fugitive Slave (1847). The book is analyzed both as a work of literature and for its contribution to the abolitionist movement. (H) http://1.usa.gov/hjAWP5

 

22     240th anniversary of slavery being outlawed in Britain. Although slavery was made illegal at this point, Britain continued to be active in the slave trade for another 60 years.

William Wilberforce, by BBC. A biography of William Wilberforce, a social reformer who used the infamous diagram of a transatlantic slave ship to bring an end to British slave trade. (M, H, TR) http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/people/williamwilberforce_1.shtml

 

23     40th anniversary of Title IX antigender discrimination law. The original law forbade sex discrimination in federally funded education programs. It is best known for increasing funding for high school and college women’s sports, but the original law did not mention sports explicitly.

TITLE IX: Striving for Gender Equity in Athletics, by Roberta McCutcheon. Through examining primary documents and engaging in a role play, students will understand the struggle for gender equity. (H) http://bit.ly/9JnWAx

 

23     30th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin. Chin was a Chinese American who was murdered in Detroit by two White autoworkers. Chin’s killers, however, got off with a fine, but no jail time. Asian Americans organized for civil suits to be filed against his killers, and Chin’s murder is often considered the beginning of a pan-ethnic Asian American movement.

Vincent Who? The murder and the movement that forged Asian America. This film explores the impact of Chin’s murder on Asian American organizing through interviews with key players as well as younger activists. It looks at the case in relation to the larger narrative of Asian American history, such as Chinese Exclusion, Japanese American Internment in WWII and more. (H, TR) http://www.vincentwhofilm.com

A Day for Vincent Chin and Me, by Jacqueline Turner Banks. Chapter book about a Japanese American child’s efforts to slow down the traffic on a residential street in Kentucky, while his mother organizes the Asian-American community to draw attention to the death of Chin, whom his murderers blamed for Detroit’s declining car sales and soaring unemployment. (E) http://bbpbooks.teachingforchange.org/book/9780618548798

 

25     50th anniversary of Engel v. Vitale, a landmark Supreme Court case about prayer in school. The State Board of Regents in New York, concerned about what they saw as a moral decline in public schools, composed a prayer for students to recite. In Engel v. Vitale the Supreme Court determined that this practice violated the separation of church and state, the first case to make such a determination.

CIVIO, by Reach and Teach. CIVIO is a strategy card game that explores the relationship of issues, freedoms, laws and Supreme Court cases that have both strengthened and reduced civil rights and civil liberties. It includes information on Engel v. Vitale and Island Trees Board of Education v Pico. (H) http://bit.ly/bo1bEG

 

25     40th anniversary of William Johnson becoming the first openly gay ordained Christian minister in modern times. Johnson, who was from Houston, was ordained in the Community United Church of Christ in California.

A Position of Faith. A Position of Faith is a documentary that tells the story of the first openly-gay person in modern history to be ordained to the Christian ministry, and the process that made it possible. The second link is to a teacher’s guide for the film. (H) http://bit.ly/cTbUFj

http://bit.ly/g16QBQ

 

27     60th anniversary of the McCarran- Walter Act on immigration. Before World War II American immigration policy was designed specifically to exclude all Asians and people of Color, restrict Southern and Eastern European immigration, and encourage the arrival of Western Europeans. This new law got rid of exclusion laws against Asian countries, but maintained preference for Western Europeans. It also shifted the focus of immigration law to denying people based on their ideological views, a response to the growing fear of communism.

The New Americans, by PBS. This film follows a diverse group of immigrants and refugees as they leave their home and families behind and learn what it means to be new Americans in the 21st century. Accompanying lessons trace the history of immigration and questions the fairness of immigration policies. Film available on iTunes. (H, TR) http://to.pbs.org/d8tEdW

 

30     120th anniversary of the beginning of the Homestead Strike. When the

Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers went on strike against the Carnegie Steel Company in Pennsylvania following a wage cut, the company hired private security agents as strikebreakers. A gun battle ensued between the strikers and the agents in which several people were killed and injured. The National Guard was called in to break up the strike and eventually the union capitulated, a major setback to the union movement that was felt for decades.

The 10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America - The Homestead Strike - July 6, 1892. Narrated by Martin Sheen, this documentary chronicles the strike at a Carnegie steel mill and its effect on the labor movement. (M, H) Lesson plans: http://bit.ly/a79rQ3

Purchase DVD: http://bit.ly/95nIGg

Sweatshop Accounting, by Rethinking Schools. Intolerable working conditions are not a thing of the past. Look at contemporary issues on economic justice in relation to sweatshop labor. (H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/19_01/swea191.shtml