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August

6           Hiroshima Day. This annual observance is held to commemorate the dropping of the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.         

             Hiroshima: Why America Dropped the Atomic Bomb by Ronald Takaki. In this book, Takaki considers the ways in which stereotypes of the Japanese influenced public opinion and policymakers. This is useful for educators teaching about Hiroshima or U.S. foreign policy. (H, TR) http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.cgi? path=3009874075652

             WWII: The Pacific by Marilyn Fenichel, Discovery Education. Students study WWII in depth and engage in analysis and debate on whether the use of nuclear bombs was the best way to end the war. (H) http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/worldwarII/

                                 

8           Emiliano Zapata, Mexican revolutionary, born (1879 to 1919). Zapata was a leader in the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which aimed to overthrow an autocratic ruler. He was an advocate for the redistribution of land to the poor.

             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; 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://www.amazon.com/Emiliano-Zapata-Revolutionary-Champion-Heritage/dp/1592961665http://www.amazon.com/Emiliano-Zapata-Revolutionary-Champion-Heritage/dp/1592961665

             Schools for Chiapas. This site provides information about the Zapatistas, the Mayan rebels who rose up on Jan. 1, 1994. They were named in honor of the Mexican hero, Emiliano Zapata, and see their current struggle as a continuation of Zapata's fight for social justice at the beginning of the 20th century. (H, TR) http://www.schoolsforchiapas.org/english. html

             Anatomy of a Movement: The Zapatistas by Project South. This fast-paced curriculum helps students and activists study a movement from the Global South and apply the lessons learned to their own struggles. (H) http://www.projectsouth.org/pages/Resources/Toolkits/toolkits_aoam.htm

                                              

12         International Youth Day. This day was created by the UN to draw attention to the cultural and legal issues surrounding youth. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyouthday.htm        

             Youth Media Info Center by the FreeChild Project. One way for students to participate in International Youth Day is to use media to examine their world and the issues they face and to tell their own stories. This website provides a list of youth media organizations, resources and publishers to support students' projects. (E, M, H) http://www.freechild.org

 

14         40th anniversary of Britain sending troops to Northern Ireland. Following days of rioting in Northern Ireland between Catholic Nationalists on one side and Protestant Loyalists and the police on the other, the British government sent in troops to restore law and order. This event is widely considered the beginning of the long period of conflict over the status of Northern Ireland known as "The Troubles."      

             What's Going On?: Intolerance in Northern Ireland by UN Works. Series of five activities and numerous resources examining the conflict in Northern Ireland including lessons using U2's song "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and the video "What's Going On? Conflict in Northern Ireland." (M, H) http://www0.un.org/works/goingon/ireland/lessonplan_tolerance.htmlhttp://www0.un.org/works/goingon/ireland/lessonplan_tolerance.html

 

15         40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival. Woodstock was a rock festival held at a dairy farm in the rural town of Bethel, New York. The festival became a symbol of the counterculture of the late 1960s/early 1970s.

             The Turbulent 60s: Youth Counterculture and Activism by Utah Education Network. This unit focuses on the student free speech movements and anti-war demonstrations of the 1960s linking them to the civil rights movements for minority and women's rights in the 1950s and 1970s. A component of it focuses on the music of Woodstock and the role of music in understanding the times. (H) http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=13411http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=13411

 

19         20th anniversary of Bishop Tutu walking on a whites-only beach in South Africa. On this day Bishop Tutu defied apartheid by leading a march on a whites-only beach. He and supporters were chased off by police.    

             Tutu and Franklin: A Journey Towards Peace. This is a VHS documentary which is accompanied by a Study Guide. This film is about Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Tutu and the recently passed historian and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Dr. John Hope Franklin. Set on a former slave port off the coast of Senegal in West Africa, the two discover surprising truths about their personal histories and their nations' struggles for racial peace. They are joined in these conversations by an international, interracial group of 21 teenagers. This PBS site includes a teacher’s guide. (M, H)  http://www.pbs.org/journeytopeace/thedoc/index.html

 

20         390th anniversary of Africans being brought to Jamestown. The first documented arrival of Africans to Virginia was in 1619 on a Dutch vessel; the 20 Africans arriving in Virginia were traded to the English as involuntary laborers.         

             Slavery and the Making of America by PBS. The website for this documentary includes timelines, multimedia narratives, children's literature and other resources for teaching about the impact of slavery on the history of America. (M, H) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/slavery/index.html

             The Atlantic Slave Trade and Slave Life in the Americas: A Visual Record by Jerome S. Handler and Michael L. Tuite, Jr. This collection contains over 1,200 images, most of them dating from the period of slavery. It is envisioned as a tool to teach about the experiences of Africans who were transported to the Americas and the lives of their descendants in the slave societies of the New World. (E, M, H, TR)  http://hitchcock.itc.virginia.edu/Slavery/index.php 

 

21         Thomas Garrett, abolitionist, born (1789 to 1871). Garrett was a white Quaker abolitionist who ran the last stop on the Underground Railroad in Delaware (a slave state) before freedom in Pennsylvania. 

             The Underground Railroad by National Geographic. This website has lesson plans, simulations and information about the Underground Railroad and the people involved, including Thomas Garrett. (E , M, H, TR) http://www.nationalgeographic.com/railroad/lp2.html                      

             50th anniversary of Hawai’i becoming the United States’ 50th state. More than 100 years before becoming a state, Hawai'i was the site of a power struggle between wealthy white businessmen and Native Hawaiians. The Hawaiian Natives organized against annexation of the state by the United States, but over the course of this struggle they were stripped of voting rights and the Native Queen Lili'uokalani was overthrown in a bloodless coup. Hawai'i was annexed by the US in 1898.           

             Statehood Hawai'i Website. This website has many links to resources and information on statehood and commemorative events. (TR) http://www.statehoodhawaii.org/

             Teaching with Documents: The 1897 Petition Against the Annexation of Hawaii. This lesson plan uses original documents about the Native Hawaiians who organized against the annexation of Hawai'i by the United States. (H) http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/hawaii-petition/                                   

             Ramadan begins at Sundown (Muslim). 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 hotly debated.           

             BBC Schools: Guide to Ramadan. This site includes basic information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fit as well as links to lesson plans intended to help students understand 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://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/islam/ramadan.shtml

                                                  

23         20th anniversary of the Baltic Way human chain protest. The Baltic Way was a 600 km human chain that stretched across the three Baltic States–Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (at that time occupied by the Soviet Union). It was organized by national movements in each state to demand independence and draw attention to the 50th anniversary of a pact between Germany and the Soviet Union that led to the occupation of these states.                

             The Baltic Way by Absolute Astronomy. This site includes photos, videos and background information about the protest. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Baltic_Way

             20th anniversary of the death of Yusef Hawkins. Hawkins was a 16 year old African American boy who was shot and killed by a group of white males in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn (an Italian neighborhood). The murder prompted protests in New York City against racist violence.

             Partners Against Hate. Partners Against Hate has lesson plans for educators to help students think about issues of bias, prejudice and hate. (E, M, H, TR)http://www.partnersagainsthate.org/publications/http://www.partnersagainsthate.org/publications/   

             

24         William Wilberforce, British abolitionist, born (1759 to 1833). Wilberforce was a white abolitionist in Britain and a member of the House of Parliament who was a leading figure in the fight to abolish the slave trade. He headed the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade until the eventual passage of the Slave Trade Act of 1807.      

             The Better Hour: The Legacy of William Wilberforce. The documentary explores the 20-year effort of William Wilberforce to abolish the British slave trade. The film shows how strength of character is harnessed in the service of high and seemingly unattainable goals. (M, H)  http://www.thebetterhour.com/tbh/Documentary/index.htm

 

26         Women's Equality Day. Established in 1971, the date commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Woman Suffrage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. 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://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/teacher/teacherindex.htm

 

September

7           Labor Day                                   

             Who Built America: Working People and the Nation's History by the American Social History Project. This two-volume textbook examines the history of the United States from the perspective of working people. It is 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. This compilation contains a bibliography of 40 children's books about labor. (E, M) http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/detailListBooks.asp?idBookLists=104

 

8           International Literacy Day

             Why Did This Happen? Content Perspective, Dialogue: A Workshop Model for Developing Young People's Reflective Writing by Susan Wilcox, Ed.D. This new curriculum from The Brotherhood/ Sister Sol helps young people engage in critical inquiry, develop a love of learning and transform their lives. (TR) http://www.brotherhood-sistersol.org/shop.shtml

             Teaching for Joy and Justice by Linda Christensen. This book reveals what happens when a teacher treats all students as intellectuals instead of intellectually challenged. Through story upon story, Christensen demonstrates how she draws on students' lives and the world to teach poetry, essay, narrative and critical literacy skills. (TR) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/tfjj/tfjj.shtml

 

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

             The ABC's of Teaching about Latino Heritage Month by Teaching Tolerance. This compilation of essays, lessons, videos and activities help students gain a deeper understanding of past and present struggles for Latino civil rights. (E, M, H)http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=709

             ¡Viva la Causa! 500 Years of Chicano History by the Southwest Organizing Project. 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-b-videos.asp

 

16         Mexican Independence Day. Otherwise known as El Grito. On this day Mexicans celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain. 

             Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays. The holidays celebrated by Mexico today exemplifies the synthesis of ancient Mexican religion and Catholicism and commemorates the struggles of Mexico's different social classes and ethnic groups. In this lesson students study four popular Mexican holidays to see how these particular celebrations represent Mexico's history. (M, H) http://www.edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=740http://www.edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=740

 

18         120th anniversary of the opening of Hull House in Chicago. Started by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr, Hull House was one of the earliest settlement houses in the US, a place where middle-class settlement workers lived in low-income neighborhoods and provided services. It became the flagship of the settlement house movement.   

             Jane Addams Children's Book Award. This annual award honors children's books of literary and artistic merit that invite children to think deeply about peace, social justice, world community and gender and racial equality. (E) http://www.janeaddamspeace.org

             The Hull House Museum. This site contains resources to teach and learn more about the history of Hull House and Jane Addams and includes websites, videos, readings and lesson plans. (H, TR) http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/newdesign/resources.htm

 

20         First day of TV Turnoff Week (Fall). TV Turnoff Week is a nationwide effort to encourage people to reassess the role TV plays in their daily lives as entertainer, pacifier, babysitter, time filler and background noise. 

             Turn Off TV…Turn on the Possibilities by Pat Degracia from Kitsap County Health District. This site describes the significance of TV Turnoff Day. It 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://depts.washington.edu/nwmedia/sections/kitsap/training_docs/tv_turnoff_package.pdf         

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

             Dalip Singh Saund, first Asian American elected to Congress, born (1899 to 1973). Saund, who was born in India, was also the first Indian American and Sikh elected to Congress in 1956. Before becoming a member of Congress, he successfully campaigned for legislation that would allow South Asians to become naturalized citizens.     

             Turbans by PBS. This is a PBS documentary and curriculum on South Asian Americans. (M, H, TR) http://www.kqed.org/w/mosaic/asianamerican2/index.html

             A Dream in Doubt by Independent Lens. This documentary follows Rana Singh Sodhi as he attempts to fight the hate threatening his Sikh family and community after his brother is murdered in a hate crime following 9/11. (H) http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/dreamindoubt/index.html

                                                                  

21        Kwame Nkrumah born (1909 to 1972). Nkrumah was an influential 20th century advocate of Pan-Africanism and a leader of the anti-colonial movement in Ghana. He became the first President of Ghana when it gained independence from Britain.               

             Kwame Nkrumah Information Sites. These websites include photos, biographical information and text and audio excerpts from Nkrumah's speeches. (M, H) http://www.africawithin.com/nkrumah/nkrumah.htm
http://www.nkrumah.net/800-index.html 

             Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of Ramadan (the month of fasting for muslims). 

             BBC Schools: Guide to Ramadan. This site includes basic information about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr and provides links to lesson plans that help students understand the beliefs and practices of Muslim people. A lesson on Islamic art is also included here. Follow links to "BBC Food" for information on Eid al-Fitr around the globe. (E, M, H) http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/religion/islam/ramadan.shtml 

             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. They also have a variety of excellent films that can be watched online for free. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.teachpeace.com/programs.htm 

 

24         40th anniversary of the first day of the Chicago Eight trial. At the 1968 Democratic National Convention, anti-Vietnam War protesters who were denied permits for demonstrations repeatedly clashed with the Chicago police. The U.S. government brought eight of the most vocal activists to trial a year later. Convictions against seven were eventually reversed on appeal. The sole black defendant, Bobby Seale, had his trial severed after denouncing the judge (and the group was renamed the Chicago Seven) and was convicted of contempt and sentenced to four years in prison.

             The Chicago Seven Trial from the Famous American Trials Website. This website has several primary resources about the trial of the Chicago Eight, including biographies, audio testimonies, trial transcripts and more. (H) http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/Chicago7/Chicago7.html 

 

26         First Day of Banned Books Week

             Exploring Banned and Challenged Books by Kathryn Pole & Maggie Dyer. This report explains a community collaborative project that explored banned and challenged books in a variety of contexts and venues in St. Louis, MO. The second link takes you to a blog on the project. (H, TR) http://www.edliberation.org/resources/records/exploring-banned-and-challenged-books-a-collaborative-project/view
             http://www.abcsofliteracy.blogspot.com 

             Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read by American Library Association. The American Library Association page on Banned Books Week includes events, lists of banned books and ideas for action. (E, M, H) http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/bannedbooksweek.cfm

             IndyKids. The Nov/Dec 2008 issue of IndyKids features a piece about an activity a New York library did with its students to celebrate banned books week. (E, M) http://indykids.net/main/archives/ 

 

28         180th anniversary of the publishing of David Walker's Appeal. David Walker was a free black man living in Boston. His anti-slavery pamphlet called for slaves to revolt against their masters.

             The African American Experience: North Carolina Freedom Monument Project. These lessons plans help students become familiar with the life and contributions of David Walker. (M, H) http://www.ncfmp.org/curriculum/pdf/davidwalker.pdf

 

30         90th anniversary of the Elaine Massacre. A white mob rampaged through this Arkansas town killing black people after a white railroad security officer was killed in a confrontation with the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America. About 100 black sharecroppers had attended the meeting to organize for more money for their cotton.   

             Blood in Their Eyes: The Elaine Race Massacres of 1919 by Grif Stockley. This book tells the history of the Elaine, Arkansas massacre. (H) http://books.google.com/books?id=P9BoU7V6dEAC

 

October

1           John Russwurm, abolitionist, born (1799 to 1851). Russwurm was a Jamaican-born abolitionist who co-founded the first black newspaper, Freedom's Journal.

             Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection. This site features one of the richest collections of anti-slavery and Civil War materials in the world. The collection now consists of more than 10,000 pamphlets, leaflets, broadsides, local and regional anti-slavery societies newsletters, sermons, essays, and arguments for and against slavery. (H, TR) http://dlxs.library.cornell.edu/m/mayantislavery/               

             First day of LGBT History Month/Coming Out Month                                      

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

             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 LGBT families and individuals in the broader context of diversity. (E) http://www.hrc.org/welcomingschools                                                  

             First day of Disability 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 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/

              

2           Gandhi born (1869 to 1948)  

             Gandhi by Demi. Demi's book is a straightforward, beautifully illustrated biography of Gandhi's life. (E) http://www.amazon.com/Gandhi-Demi/dp/0689841493

             Kick-off of World March for Peace and Nonviolence. The World March will begin in New Zealand on the anniversary of Gandhi’s birth and conclude in the Andes Mountains on January 2, 2010. Through thousands of locally-developed marches, actions, and events around the world, the World March aims to generate consciousness of the dangerous global situation in which we are living. It was initiated by the international organization World Without Wars. The march will enter the U.S. in November.

             World March Websites. These sites provide information about the World March and how schools can sign up. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.worldmarchusa.net/
http://www.marchamundial.org

                                                  

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

             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. These three films document different aspects of the community-based movement against the 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/

                                                   

6           130th anniversary of the opening of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Carlisle was the first off-reservation boarding school for Native Americans. The school was designed to forcibly assimilate Native American children into European American values. Its founder was reputed to have said, "Kill the Indian and save the man."    

             Education for Extinction: American Indians and the Boarding School Experience, 1875-1928 by David Wallace Adams. This book examines how government boarding schools from 1875 to 1928 were used for acculturating American Indian youth to "American" ways of thinking and living. (TR) http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/adaedu.html

             Carlisle Indian Industrial School History Website. This web collection of the history of Carlisle includes "before and after" photographs of students. (M, H, TR)http://home.epix.net/~landis/index.html

             Home to Medicine Mountain by Chiori Santiago. Although the boarding schools would pay for the students' train fare to school, they would not pay for their trip back home. Unfortunately, many families could not afford to pay for the trip back. This story is about the struggle, determination and longing of two boys trying to get home on their own. (E) 
http://www.childrensbookpress.org/our-books/native-american/home-medicine-mountain

             Rabbit Proof Fence. The film, while based in Australia, sheds light on the experience and determination of indigenous children in the face of forced deculturalization. The site includes lessons that accompany the film. (E, M, H)
http://wwwupdate.un.org/works/goingon/australia/lessonplan_indigchildren.html

                                                  

8           40th anniversary of the Days of Rage. The Days of Rage riots were a series of violent protests against the Vietnam War. The riots took place in Chicago and were organized by the Weathermen, an offshoot of the Students for a Democratic Society. The slogan for this event was, "Bring the war home."            

             Chicago 10 by Brett Morgan. Chicago 10 uses motion-capture animation to portray actual events from the trial, recreating courtroom dramas based on transcripts and interviews. The site includes lesson plans. (M, H)
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/chicago10/index.html

                                                                     

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

             The Safe Schools Coalition. An incredible wealth of resources for educators for supporting LGTB 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

                                                  

12         Indigenous People's Day (Columbus Day Observed)                         

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

 

14         30th anniversary of the first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights and the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference                                               

             The Rainbow History Project. The project contains photos and other resources that document the first National March on Washington for LGBT Rights.  It includes audio of Audre Lorde's and Allen Ginsberg's speeches. (E, M, H)
http://www.rainbowhistory.org/mow79.pdf   
http://www.rainbowhistory.org/mow79.htm 

                                                  

15         40th anniversary of the Vietnam Moratorium. During this decentralized anti-war demonstration more than a million people across the United States participated in various forms of protest–walkouts, rallies, demonstrations, vigils, sit-ins etc.     

             Rethinking the Teaching of the Vietnam War, inside A People's History for the Classroom by Bill Bigelow. This lesson helps students uncover the historical roots of the Vietnam War to better understand why and in whose interest this war was fought. (M, H)http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/aphc/

 

16         150th anniversary of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. The raid was an attempt by John Brown, a white abolitionist, to start an armed slave revolt by seizing weapons from a United States Arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. The plan failed, and Brown and most of his men were captured. Brown was hanged for treason.

             Why Is John Brown Still Controversial? by Jon Moscow. This is an outline for a workshop on John Brown and the issues he raises. It explores critical questions such as: Why do white historians understand him differently than black historians? Was Brown a terrorist? Was he justified in his use of violence? Lists suggested readings. (H)http://www.edliberation.org/resources/records/why-is-john-brown-still-controversial/view

                                                  

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

             Lights for Gita by Rachna Gilmore. 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

      

22         National day of protest to stop police brutality. The October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has been mobilizing annually to expose the epidemic of police brutality. The coalition asks that we wear black on this day to honor those whose lives have been stolen by police brutality. http://www.october22.org/ 

             Prison Industrial Complex: Social Control in the Era of Globalization. This curriculum connects the Prison Industrial Complex to the growing police state and advancing corporate globalization. With a broad definition of the PIC and a comprehensive analysis, this resource is useful in a wide variety of forums. (H) http://www.projectsouth.org/pages/Resources/Toolkits/toolkits_pic.htm

             Every Mother's Son by P.O.V. This film presents three primary examples of police brutality and what is being done about it. The lesson accompanying the video addresses what students can do to take action in the present day. (H) http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2004/everymothersson/for.html

                                              

26         National Intersex Awareness Day. Intersex Awareness Day is the international day of grassroots action to end shame, secrecy and unwanted genital cosmetic surgeries on intersex children.       

             Intersex Initiative Website. A website with information about intersexuality. (H, TR)http://www.intersexinitiative.org/index.html

                                                  

31         Halloween                                   

             What Do Halloween Costumes Say? by Teaching Tolerance. This site provides 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

 

November

1           First day of Native American Heritage Month     

             American Indians in Children's Literature Blog 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 ABC's of Native American Heritage Month by Teaching Tolerance. Teaching Tolerance offers a wealth of activity ideas tied to Thanksgiving, Native mascots and indigenous people's proud heritage of resistance. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=750

             The Cradleboard Teaching Project by Nihewan Foundation for American Indian Education. The Cradleboard Teaching Project offers a variety of information on a range of topics related to indigenous peoples of the Americas. Online quiz material is available for students or teachers and some links to sites with additional lesson plans are imbedded within the articles. (E, M, H)  http://www.cradleboard.org 

             We Shall Remain by PBS. 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 U.S. history from the Native American perspective. Website includes teacher's guides. (H) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/                                                                   

             Día de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

             Día de Los Muertos by Elizabeth Sorace. Students will be learning about Día de Los Muertos through the use of technology, including Webquest, and Powerpoint, as well as reading and writing. (H) http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/soracee324200533253

                                                  

3           80th anniversary of the first black radio show. On this day the first black radio show, known as The All-Negro Hour, went on air.      

             Urban Radio Nation. Urban Radio Nation is a history of Black radio. (TR)http://urbanradionation.com/history_of_black_radio.html

             30th anniversary of the Greensboro Massacre. Five protesters were killed by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis during an anti-Klan rally. The rally was planned by the Communist Workers Party as part of their effort to organize black industrial workers.

             The Greensboro Justice Fund. Born in the tragedy of the 1979 Greensboro Massacre, the Greensboro Justice Fund is dedicated to assisting grassroots organizations in the South working for racial justice, political and economic empowerment, and an end to racist, religious and homophobic violence. Includes articles about the incident and profiles of the victims. (H, TR) http://www.gjf.org/ 

             Southern Poverty Law Center Website. This site includes information and resources about active hate groups in the United States and what we can do to fight them. (H, TR)http://www.splcenter.org/       

             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://www.projectsouth.org/pages/Resources/Toolkits/toolkits_democracy.htm

                                                  

7           20th anniversary of Douglas Wilder being elected first black Governor. Wilder was elected governor of the state of Virginia.

                                                  

9           20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. On this day, the Berlin Wall was opened for East Germans to travel to West Germany, marking the end of the Cold War. In the days that followed people began tearing down the wall with sledgehammers.

             Talking Walls by Margy Burns Knight. The award-winning Talking Walls and its sequel, Talking Walls: The Stories Continue, introduce young readers to different cultures and different issues around the world by telling the stories of walls and how they can hold a community together or separate it. (E)
http://www.tilburyhouse.com/Children's%20Frames/child_twseries_fr.html

                                                  

11         Veterans Day              

             Veterans for Peace Speakers Bureau. This organization provides knowledgeable speakers who share first hand 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                                 

                                                  

19         Lolita Lebrón Sotomayor, Puerto Rican Nationalist, born (1919). In 1954 she traveled to the US Capitol building with a few comrades, unfurled the Puerto Rican flag and fired a round of shots inside the House of Representatives. Lebrón remained imprisoned for 25 years until Jimmy Carter issued pardons to those involved.

             US-PuertoRicans.org by Isis Morales. This multimedia community is dedicated to the Puerto Rican Diaspora. US-PuertoRicans.org encourages dialogue and action across geographic and generational lines. The site includes sections such as Puerto Ricans on the Map, History Matters, Arts & Culture and Community & Politics. (M, H, TR) http://www.us-puertoricans.org/

                                                  

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://www.gsanetwork.org/BeyondtheBinary/btbonline.pdf

             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. You can also find information about Transgender Day of Remembrance through this site. (M, H) http://www.gsanetwork.org/resources/books.html

             Transgender Youth and the Prison Industrial Complex by FIERCE.  This flow chart outlines the life experiences and institutional factors that place transgender youth of color within the prison industrial complex. (M, H)
http://www.edliberation.org/resources/records/transgender-youth-and-the-prison-industrial-complex/view                          

             40th anniversary of the occupation of Alcatraz. A group of Native Americans occupied Alcatraz prison for 19 months demanding the land be returned to Native people. The U.S. government forcibly ended the occupation in 1971.

             Alcatraz is not an Island 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

                                                  

22         100th anniversary of Clara Lemlich giving a speech that helped inspire a major strike. Lemlich, a 19-year-old garment worker who became a union leader, gave a speech in Yiddish calling on workers to strike. Called the Uprising of 20,000, workers went on strike for better working conditions and pay. The strike lasted until February, 1910, producing union contracts with most companies.

             Parade Classroom. Short article about Clara Lemlich. Includes some essential questions and activities. (M, H) http://www.paradeclassroom.com/DL/TG/TG_03202005.pdf

             Labor Matters by Teaching Tolerance. Draws 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 

                                                  

23         70th anniversary of Jews being required to wear yellow stars in German-occupied Poland                                         

             U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. USHMM provides a number of resources for students and educators. It includes samples of primary documents, and suggested lessons and activities for students and teachers. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.ushmm.org/education/ 

                                                  

26         Thanksgiving             

             Oyate. Oyate is a Native American organization that lists recommended children's books on Native American history and culture. The website features a list of Thanksgiving books to use and ones to avoid. (E, M, H) http://www.oyate.org/catalog/index.html 

             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 guide and other resources. (E, M, H) http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/uis-dvd/

                                                  

27         Fanny Kemble, actress and abolitionist, born (1809 to 1893). Kemble, who was British, married an American plantation owner. She wrote a book about her experiences on that Georgia plantation. This is the closest, most detailed look at a plantation ever written by a white abolitionist.

             Journal of a Residence on a Georgia Plantation. This site includes a preview of Kemble’s book in which she chronicled her observations and arguments against slavery and the inhuman treatment of blacks in America. Her journal became a popular work of abolitionist writing, and she donated some of the proceeds from its publication to the cause of ending slavery. (H) http://books.google.com/books?id=21gt0flcpLkC&printsec=frontcover&dq=fanny+kemble

              Buy Nothing Day. Held the day after Thanksgiving. Buy Nothing represents a protest against consumerism.

             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 in the US affect workers around the world. (M, H) http://www.laborrights.org/labor-rights/labor-rights-in-the-classroom#sweatshops

             Merchants of Cool by PBS (55 minutes). This PBS Frontline documentary is available online for free. It makes a compelling case for the distortion of youth culture by its massive commercialization. Site includes teacher’s guide. (H) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/

                      

28         Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is the Islamic festival of sacrifice. It commemorates the occasion when Allah (God) commanded the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son and then substituted his son with a ram. Eid al-Adha occurs as the Muslim pilgrimage in Mecca is coming to an end.               

             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://books.google.com/books?id=yEgP9Zq7QAMC&dq=best+eid+ever&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=oeFVHs7BRk&sig=b5xCWRmLEcbqkw1vgo5JDqkXj3Q&hl=en&ei=xRxzSoPaL9PEmQfJ2vnlCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5#v=onepage&q=&f=false

                                                  

29         Pearl Primus, dancer, born (1919 to 1994). Primus, a Trinidadian American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist, helped establish the importance of African American dance in American culture. She often focused on issues of racism, oppression and violence in her work.              

             Blackpast.org Remembered and Reclaimed. This is a searchable online reference guide to African American history.  It includes links to multiple timelines, speeches, primary references, digital archive collections and more.  This specific link leads to biographical information about Pearl Primus. (TR) http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/primus-pearl-1919-1994 

             Pearl Primus's Strange Fruit. This is a performance of Pearl Primus's Strange Fruit, performed to Lewis Allan's poem about two black men being lynched. (E, M, H) [Video no longer posted online.]                          

             10th anniversary of protests against the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. Popularly known as the Battle in Seattle, the protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO), the world's most influential trade-governing bodies, lasted for five days and was successful in disrupting the meetings.

             WTO History Project Website. This site includes photographs, interviews with protesters, timelines and more to better understand this complex historical event. (H, TR) http://depts.washington.edu/wtohist/index.htm

             Rethinking Globalization by Bill Bigelow. A Rethinking Schools Publication. It includes a wealth of resources for teaching about globalization and the WTO. (E, M, H)http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/rg/RGTable.shtml#legacy

             The Yes Men. The Yes Men film and website documents the way this group of pranksters exposed the oppression created by international trade policies. (H,TR) http://theyesmen.org/

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

                                                  

3           25th anniversary of the Bhopal industrial disaster. On this day an American-owned Union Carbide pesticide plant in Bhopal, India released tons of toxic gas, immediately killing more than 3,000 people and leading to the death and illness of thousands more. It is often called the world's worst industrial accident. Investigations into the incident showed the company did not have adequate safety precautions.          

             One Night in Bhopal by BBC News. Website for programs broadcast 20 years after the Bhopal gas disaster. The program "tells the story of the disaster with a drama reconstruction through the eyes of five survivors." Provides audio clips, photos, and articles and analysis. Also includes material in Hindi. (H, TR) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/bhopal/

                                                  

4           160th anniversary of Roberts v. Boston, the first case to challenge public school segregation. Five-year-old Sarah Roberts was barred from her local primary school because she was black, forcing her to travel a great distance to get to a black school. Her father sued the city of Boston. The case was heard by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court on Dec. 4, 1849. Eventually, the court ruled that school segregation was constitutional.   

             African American Historical Register and the Smithsonian Museum of American History. These two websites give a brief synopsis of the court case and its significance, as well as a timeline that contextualizes this case in the history of segregation and the struggle for desegregation. (M, H) http://www.aaregistry.com/detail.php?id=1462
http://americanhistory.si.edu/Brown/resources/timeline.html                                   

             100th anniversary of New York Amsterdam News. The Amsterdam News became one of the largest black newspapers in the country.          

             The Black Press: Soldiers without Swords by PBS. This film provides an historical account of the pioneering men and women of the Black press who gave voice to Black America. The website includes an education section with a study guide and lesson plans. (M, H, TR) http://www.pbs.org/blackpress/film/index.html
Lesson Plans: http://www.kqed.org/w/mosaic/africanamerican/index.html                                  

             40th anniversary of police murder of Black Panthers Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. Hampton was an activist who organized community service programs and negotiated a treaty between rival gangs in Chicago. Hampton and Clark were shot during a raid on the Panther's headquarters in Chicago. At first police claimed they were defending themselves in a shoot-out with the Panthers, but later evidence showed that the Panthers fired at most one shot; many believe it was a planned assassination of Hampton.               

             The Murder of Fred Hampton (1971). This film documents the Chicago police murder of Fred Hampton. The New York Times reviews the film and provides a link to where it can be purchased. It is also available on YouTube. (H) http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/155135/The-Murder-of-Fred-Hampton/overview 

                                                  

8           Bodhi Day (Buddhism; also known as Bodhi in Sanskrit or Pali). Bodhi Day commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gotama, experienced enlightenment after sitting and meditating under a pipul tree.                     

             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://www.amazon.com/Under-Bodhi-Dharma-Buddhist-Association/dp/0881393193/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238335074&sr=1-1                                     

             40th anniversary of Black Panther raid by Los Angeles police. On this day Black Panther facilities in Los Angeles were raided by the police, just four days after the police murder of two Black Panthers in Chicago. The raid resulted in an hours-long gun battle between the Panthers and the police.           

             Black Panther Party Research Project. This academic site is designed to provide information for individuals who want to locate primary and secondary sources about the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, the organization co-founded during October 1966 by Bobby Seale and the late Dr. Huey P. Newton in Oakland, California. (M, H, TR) http://www.stanford.edu/group/blackpanthers/index.shtml

                                                  

10         Human Rights Day                                                             

             Human Rights in Action. The UN's cyberschool bus page for students to explore the history of human rights, and ways to advocate for human rights. (E, M, H) http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/humanrights/resources.asp   

             Human Rights and Service-Learning by Amnesty International-USA and Human Rights Education Associates. This 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://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=167

             The Human Rights Education program 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://www.amnestyusa.org/educate/page.do?id=1102117                                                 

             140th anniversary of women in Wyoming being granted the right to vote. Wyoming was the first territory to grant women the right to vote.

             Women’s Suffrage: Why the West First? by Edsitement. This lesson focuses on efforts in support of women's suffrage in Western states. It can be used either as a stand-alone unit or as a more specialized sequel to the Edsitement lesson, Voting Rights for Women: Pro- and Anti-Suffrage, which covers the suffrage movement in general. (H) http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=439

                                                  

14         John M. Langston, racial justice activist, born (1829 to 1897). When Langston was elected to the position of Town Clerk in an Ohio town, he became the first African American to be elected to a public office. Before the Civil War he was an active abolitionist, helping slaves escape and conspiring with John Brown to plan the Harpers Ferry raid. After the war he founded Howard University's law school and was elected to the US House of Representatives from Virginia.                           

             Black Americans in Congress. This website includes a biography of Langston and artifacts about his experience in Congress.  Be sure to look at "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" lesson plans. (H) http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=18

                                                  

18         10th anniversary of Julia Butterfly Hill coming down from a redwood tree she had lived in for two years as an environmental protest. Hill lived in the giant redwood tree to prevent it from being cut down by a lumber company. She came down after concluding a deal with company to save the tree and a three-acre buffer zone. Her protest brought attention to the plight of ancient forests.           

             The Ecology Hall of Fame: Julia "Butterfly" Hill. This website tells Julia's story and provides links to other environmental sustainability sites. (E, M, H)http://www.ecotopia.org/ehof/hill/links.htmlhttp://www.ecotopia.org/ehof/hill/links.html

                                                  

20         20th anniversary of the US invasion of Panama. Named Operation Just Cause, the US invaded Panama in an attempt to overthrow Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. As a result Noreiga surrendered to the US and was exiled, and a new leader, Guillermo Endara, was put into office.                     

             A People's History of American Empire by Howard Zinn. This is a more general source for discussing the century-long history of the U.S.'s actions in the world. Zinn specifically looks at the U.S.'s involvement in Latin America at various points in the text. (M, H) http://us.macmillan.com/apeopleshistoryofamericanempire 

             The Panama Deception by Barbara Trent. The film provides a critical account of the U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989, showing the complexities of U.S. imperialism of the isthmus. The full film is available free online. (H) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-446387292666223710                  

             10th anniversary of Baker v. Vermont, which affirmed that same sex couples should have the same rights as opposite-sex couples. This ruling by the Vermont Supreme Court prompted the Vermont legislature to make same-sex civil unions legal in 2000.                                        

             That's a Family! by Groundspark. This documentary helps children understand the different shapes families take today. The site includes a teacher’s guide. (E, M)http://groundspark.org/our-films-and-campaigns/thatfamily

                             

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

 

January 2010

                       

1           40th anniversary of the signing of the National Environmental Policy Act. The law established national policy promoting the enhancement of the environment. Its most significant effect was to set up procedural requirements for all federal government agencies to prepare Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Statements.

             50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth. This book shows children how elements of their environment are connected to the rest of the world. Clear, practical tips show kids how they can conserve energy, recycle waste, and take on important environmental projects. (E, M) http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Things-Kids-Save-Earth/dp/0836223012 

             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 

             50th anniversary of Cameroon's independence from France. 1960 was a big year for African independence with more than a dozen countries gaining freedom from colonial rule including Senegal, Niger, Madagascar and Ivory Coast (France), Nigeria and Somalia (Britain) and The Congo (Belgium).

             African Studies Website. This website shows that that it is important to teach that Africa is not a country, but a continent with a variety of nation states. The African Studies website has a variety of information for teachers of grades K-12 covering many countries of Africa. This is a good place for people unfamiliar with countries in Africa to start their inquiries. (E, M, H) http://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/menu_EduBBS.html

             Africa is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight, Mark Melnicove, Anne Sibley O'Brien. Rather than treating Africa as a homogenous setting, this book follows children from several diverse countries on the continent. (E) http://books.google.com/books?id=sqxG9dnyeesC&printsec=frontcover

                                                  

6           Muharram begins at sundown (Muslim). Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar.  

             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 head scarf. With an understanding teacher, Bilal reconnects with his faith and school. (E) http://books.google.com/books?id=_UPc7aEmrAQC&printsec=frontcover&dq=my+name+is+bilal#v=onepage&q=&f=false

             Arab Stereotypes and American Educators by Marvin Wingfield and Bushra Karaman. A teacher resource on the impact of Arab stereotyping on students. (TR) http://www.tanenbaum.org/arab_stereotypes.pdf

                                                  

9           125th anniversary of Tape v Hurley, which found that public schools cannot exclude Chinese American students. In 1884, Mamie Tape, then eight years old, was denied admission to a public school because she was Chinese. Her parents, Joseph and Mary Tape, sued the San Francisco Board of Education. The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Tapes.         

             Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. This PBS curriculum and documentary depicts the ways the first arrivals from China in the 1840s, their descendants, and recent immigrants have "become American." Facing History and Ourselves also offers a teaching unit to accompany the film. (E, M, TR) http://www.pbs.org/becomingamerican
http://www2.facinghistory.org/Campus/reslib.nsf/llvideos/1bcc69982717633185257181006d2a90?OpenDocument                  

                                    

12         James Farmer, civil rights activist, born (1920 to 1999). Farmer co-founded the Congress of Racial Equality.          

             Spartacus Educational. This site offers a history of James Farmer as well as some interesting quotes and related links. (M, H, TR) http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/ USAfarmerJ.htm

                                       

15         Julian Bond, civil rights activist, born (1940). Julian Bond co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was a member of the Georgia State Legislature for 20 years. He is also the chairman of the NAACP.              

             SNCC Project Group. This site provides a history of Julian Bond and SNCC including a short audio clip of Bond talking about SNCC as well as links to other resources. (H, TR) http://www.ibiblio.org/sncc/bond.html 

                                                  

16         Religious Freedom Day. Each year, the President declares January 16th to be Religious Freedom Day. The day marks the anniversary of the passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom in 1786.

             Our Traditions, Our World: Antireligious Understanding for Young Children by Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding. This site includes lessons to teach students a broader view of the world and to learn to respect the beliefs and practices of every person within it. The lessons highlight the many similarities and shared values across various religious beliefs and practices and celebrate the differences. (E) http://www.tanenbaum.org/IRUSample.pdf 

                                                  

18         Martin Luther King Day           

             Putting the Movement Back Into Civil Rights Teaching by Teaching for Change and PRRAC. 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://www.civilrightsteaching.org 

             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://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=904

             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/ 

                                                  

19         90th anniversary of the founding of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The ACLU's aim is to protect and defend the Constitutional rights and civil liberties of every individual in the United States, regardless of creed, race, religion or other labeling.             

             The Freedom Files Series. The ACLU's Freedom Files television series draws on true stories to highlight vital civil liberties issues and inspire students to take action. These half-hour documentaries and lesson plans feature firsthand accounts of people who have taken on the powers that be in order to preserve their constitutional rights. Available for $29.95. (M, H, TR) http://aclu.tv/ 

                                                  

20         100th anniversary of the opening of Angel Island Immigration Station. The Station, located on an island off the coast of California, processed approximately 1 million Chinese immigrants until it closed in 1940. Angel Island was primarily a detention center for immigrants. As a result of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 some were forced to stay on the island off the coast of California for years.

             Discovering Angel Island: The Stories Behind the Poems. Curricular resources from Angel Island Immigration Station include poems from Chinese immigrants written on the walls of the detention center, online videos and lesson plans. (M, H, TR) http://www.kqed.org/w/pacificlink/lessonplans/

             Angel Island Immigrant Journeys: A Curriculum Guide by the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation. This site provides free resources, book recommendations and information as to how to order a $15 curriculum guide for teaching about Angel Island. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.aiisf.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=77&Itemid=87

             Saraswati Puja (Hinduism). Saraswati Puja is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh.    

             Information about Hinduism for Children by Woodlands Junior School. This site provides factual information about Hinduism and other major religions. (E, M, H)
http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/religion/hinduism.htm

                                                  

21         Gary Locke, first Asian American and Chinese American to be elected Governor in the continental United States, born (1950). Locke was elected Governor of the state of Washington in 1996. In 2009 President Obama appointed him Secretary of Commerce.            

             Searching for Asian America. This film profiles four Asian Americans who are leaders in their communities. Gary Locke, the first Chinese American governor, two doctors, and an artist/cartoonist. Each wrestles with the roles they have taken on in their local communities and how it reflects upon their evolving identities. The lesson plans include research, writing, and discussion activities related to cultural identity. (M, H)
Educators Guide: http://uw.kqed.org/edresources/plan.php?id=290  
Film info: http://www.pbs.org/searching/ 

                                                  

25         120th anniversary of the formation of the National Afro-American League. The National Afro-American League was an early black protest organization founded in Chicago.               

             After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans in the South by The Library of Congress. This page lesson provides a brief history of the emergence of the National Afro-American Council as a revival of the Afro-American League. You can find text to the Council's constitution here. Follow the link to "The Learning Page" where an index of lessons and resources by the Library of Congress is available. (E, M, H, TR) http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/rec/congress.html                                                  

             First day of No Name Calling Week. No Name Calling Week, organized by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and over 40 other organizations, is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.           

             No Name Calling Week Website by GLSEN. This site includes free resources and information about the week, as well as a resource kit that can be purchased online. (E, M, H)  http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/home.html

             The Power of Words: Examining the Language of Gender, Ethnic and Sexual Orientation Bias. These lessons encourage students to explore the words used to label ethnic groups, women and sexual minorities and to examine the ways in which these words reveal our nation's social landscape. (M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/web/power_of_words/index.jsp

                                                  

27         David Ruggles, abolitionist, born (1810 to 1849). Ruggles was an African American abolitionist and journalist. His activism included informing enslaved workers in New York about state laws regarding emancipation, fighting for legal representation for escaped slaves captured by bounty hunters, publishing an anti-slavery pamphlet and working with the Underground Railroad.                

             Lest We Forget. This is an online exhibit by the Schomberg Center and The UNESCO Slave Route Project (H, TR) http://digital.nypl.org/lwf/flash.html

             KQED: Bay Area Mosaic. This site provides educators with tools to integrate cultural and historical issues into their curriculum through the use of films, resources and lesson plans that have been correlated with state standards. The Black Studies section includes several films and lessons connected to black media. (M, H)http://www.kqed.org/w/mosaic/africanamerican/index.html

 

 February

1           50th anniversary of Greensboro student sit-in at a Woolworth's in North Carolina. Four African-American students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical College sit-in at a segregated lunch counter at Woolworth's. Their actions sparked a series of similar non-violent protests across the South.  

             Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford. This site includes lesson plans to be used with the picture book Freedom on the Menu, which helps students explore how segregation affected everyday life. The book includes ways to respond to injustice and discrimination. (E) http://www.caroleweatherford.com/freedom_lesson_plan.htm

             Greensboro Sit-ins: Launch of a Civil Rights Movement. This site includes a multimedia timeline, photos, newspaper stories, and audio clips. (E, M, H, TR) http://sitins.com/index.shtml 

             February One: The Story of the Greensboro Four. This is a PBS film and website on the Greensboro sit-in. The link includes lesson plans for high school classrooms. (E, M, H, TR)http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/februaryone/edu.html                                       

             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). This site provides a list of links to a tremendous amount of resources that are useful in teaching about African American schooling experiences. (E, M, H) http://www.ithaca.edu/wise/topics/race_african_american.htmhttp://www.ithaca.edu/wise/topics/race_african_american.htm

             African American Odyssey by Library of Congress. This is a comprehensive online display of materials and primary resources related to the African American experience. (E, M, H)http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aointro.htmlhttp://memory.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aointro.html

             U.S. History—African American: Lesson Plans by EDSITEment. This site provides multiple K-12 lesson plans on African American History. (E, M, H)http://edsitement.neh.gov/tab_lesson.asp?subjectArea=3&subcategory=18

                                             

3           140th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment. The 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's "race, color or previous condition of servitude" (i.e., slavery).         

             Fulfilling the Promise of America: The Struggle for Voting Rights by Ohio Youth Voices. This curriculum provides resources on the historic struggle for voting rights. It contextualizes the importance for people to not only vote, but to continue the various social justice movements that have fought for a more democratic country. (E, M, H) http://ohioyouthvoices.org/VotingRights.pdf 

                                                  

6           190th anniversary of the first emigration of black Americans to Africa. On this day the ship Elizabeth, nicknamed, The Mayflower of Liberia, set sail for Liberia with 86 freed African Americans. 

             Destination Africa Lesson Plan: The Colonization of Liberia. African American Emigration Experience. This WebQuest introduces students to the repatriation of freed slaves and freeborn African Americans to the continent of Africa. (H)
http://www.inmotionaame.org/education/lesson.cfm?migration=4&id=4_003LP

                                                  

7           First day of Freedom to Marry Week. A week to call attention to the burgeoning national movement for marriage equality.

             Freedom To Marry. This campaign website provides historic and current information about nationwide efforts to secure equal marriage rights for all couples. Includes ideas for social action. (TR) http://www.freedomtomarry.org/ 

             Uncle Bobby's Wedding by Sarah S. Brannen. This picture book is about a little girl who is not worried about her gay uncle’s wedding; rather she is worried that she might not be as special to him once it's over. (E) http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2364.html

             BBC: Arguments Against Marriage. The BBC has compiled a list of alternative viewpoints that same-sex couples may hold against marriage. Teachers can help students consider the evolution of marriage as an institution with roots in patriarchy. (TR) [This resource has been removed and is no longer available online]

                                                  

9           60th anniversary of Sen. Joseph McCarthy's infamous "Wheeling Speech," in which he claimed there were communists working for the State Department. On this day first-term Senator Joseph McCarthy gave a speech to a Republican Women's Club in Wheeling, West Virginia during which he produced a piece of a paper that he claimed contained the names of communists working in the State Department. The speech rocketed McCarthy to national stardom.          

             Propaganda: Name-calling—Lesson Plan by Michigan History, Arts and Library. This lesson plan explores Joe McCarthy's tactic of name-calling. (H)http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18670_18793-53647--,00.htmlhttp://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17451_18670_18793-53647--,00.html

                                                  

10         230th anniversary of Paul Cuffee petitioning the state of Massachusetts for the right to vote. The petition, signed by Cuffee and other black residents of Massachusetts, demanded the state legislature either give them the right to vote or cease taxing them. The petition was denied.       

             Africans in America by PBS. "Memoir of Captain Paul Cuffee" is an entry in the Resource Bank of Africans in America, a site that documents African contributions to the making of the United States. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part3/3h485.html 

                                                  

11         20th anniversary of the release of Nelson Mandela. On this day Mandela was released from prison after having spent 27 years as a political prisoner. 

             Mandela: An Audio History by Radio Diaries. This five-part radio series documents the struggle against apartheid through sound recordings. It includes the voice of Nelson Mandela as well as those who fought with him and against him. (M, H) http://www.mandelahistory.org/ 

             Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela by PBS. This site consists of the PBS documentary, Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela. The film is accompanied by lesson plans that use video clips and photo images about apartheid. (M, H)
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/twelvedisciples/for.html#activity 

                                                  

12         110th anniversary of the first performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing. The performance took place at a black school as part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday. The poem was written by James Weldon Johnson and then set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson. It is popularly known as the Black National Anthem.

             Sweet Chariot: The Story of the Spirituals. This multimedia website provides historical overviews, audio clips and historical analysis of the significance of spirituals in African American history. (H) http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/

             Spirituals by Edsitement. This lesson plan introduces students to the role that spirituals have played in African American history and religion. (H) http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=318

             Lift Every Voice and Sing by the Kennedy Center. This lesson explores the origins of The Black National Anthem and compliments the Scholastic Book, Color Me Dark. This lesson can stand individually and may be taught without referencing the book or the Kennedy Center play. (E, M) http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2369/

             Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism). Maha Shivaratri is the Great Festival of Shiva. It is held on the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna. This holiday is especially important to Saivites (devotees of Shiva), but it is celebrated by most Hindus.

             Hinduism by Cobblestone. This inexpensive book examines dharma, karma, moksha and more. (E, M) http://www.cobblestonepub.com/book/CAL9303.html

                                                  

13         90th anniversary of the founding of the Negro National League. It was the first black baseball league to last more than one season.

             We Are The Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball by Kadir Nelson. This picture book shares the story of the Negro Leagues. For too long students have only learned about Jackie Robinson integrating the white leagues, but not about the leagues organized by African Americans where Jackie Robinson was one of many outstanding players. (E)http://www.wearetheship.com/

             Heroes of the Negro Leagues with DVD: Only the Ball Was White. First published as trading cards in 1990, this book includes watercolor images with text about the legendary Negro Leagues and the role it played in black history. The publication of these cards marked the first time most of these players ever appeared on baseball cards. Order from Amazon and receive a free DVD on the topic. (E, M, H)
http://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Negro-Leagues-free-DVD/dp/0810994348

                                                  

14         Chinese New Year. This is the Year of the Tiger. 

             Lunar New Year books reviewed by The Asian American Curriculum Project. This is a review of children's books from several Asian cultures about the Lunar New Year. (E)http://www.asianamericanbooks.com/lny_ bks.htm                   

             Tet, Vietnamese New Year. This is The Year of the Tiger.

             Vietnamese Americans Interdisciplinary Curriculum Guide by Teaching Tolerance. This curriculum guide sheds light on the complexities of the Vietnamese American experience. (M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/web/vietnamese/index.jsp                                                  

             90th anniversary of founding of League of Women Voters. The League was established right before the passage of the 19th Amendment to help newly enfranchised women exercise their rights as voters.        

             VoteQuest. VoteQuest is an interactive game that teaches students about the struggle for women's voting rights. VoteQuest can be used to launch conversations about social causes and ways to champion change. (E) http://www.tolerance.org/pt/votequest/index.html             

             Valentine's Day                                          

             Valentine's Day in the Classroom by International Labor Rights Forum (LRF). This lesson plan initiates discussions about workers rights in the cut flower industry, and encourages students to think about how consumerism on Valentine's Day in the US affects workers abroad. LRF has also developed an educator resource page called Labor Rights in the Classroom. It includes links to many different lesson plans and classroom activities on the topics of child labor, sweatshops, workers' rights, and the Sweatfree Schools movement. (E, M, H, TR) 
http://www.laborrights.org/creating-a-sweatfree-world/fairness-in-flowers/resources/1899            

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

             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://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/fairtradeintheclassroom.htmlhttp://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/fairtrade/cocoa/fairtradeintheclassroom.html

                                                  

15         Susan B. Anthony born (1820 to 1906)  

             Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony by Ken Burns and Paul Barnes. This film shows the struggle and development of women's rights and Anthony and Stanton's contributions to the movement. (E, M, H)http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/           

             Presidents' Day                                          

             Write the Truth by Bob Peterson, Rethinking Schools. Peterson describes an inquiry project in which his 5th graders investigated which U.S. Presidents owned slaves. Students wrote letters to text book publishers asking that this information be included. (E, M)http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/16_04/Writ164.shtmlhttp://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/16_04/Writ164.shtml

                                                  

20         World Day of Social Justice. Recognizing the need to promote efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion and unemployment, the United Nations General Assembly has decided to observe February 20 annually—starting in 2009—as the World Day of Social Justice.

             The United Nations News Centre. This website contains video of the UN meeting which declared February 20th The World Day of Social Justice. It also provides the full text of the UN resolution. (M, H) http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/csd/2009/videos/10feb/Social.Justice.html

                                                  

25         140th anniversary of Hiram R. Revels becoming the first African American to serve in the US Congress. Revels was elected to the US Senate as a Republican from Mississippi.        

             Black Americans in Congress by the Office of the Clerk of the US House of Representatives. This site includes biographical information on Revels and his role in Congress. There is also a link to an interactive map to identify African American representatives and senators throughout history and in the present day. The main page will link you to Kids in the House, a congressional guide for young learners. (E, M, H, TR) 
http://baic.house.gov/member-profiles/profile.html?intID=14

                                                  

27         Dominican Republic Independence Day

             Caribbean Connections: The Dominican Republic. This book provides an overview of the history, politics and culture of the Dominican community, the fourth largest Latino group in the United States. Spanish language companion available. (M, H, TR) http://teachingforchange.org/store/ccdr 

             My American Girls by P.O.V. This film is about a year in the life of the Ortiz family, Dominican immigrants who live in Brooklyn and dream of retiring one day to their native country. Their American-born daughters have different ideas and aspirations. These contradictions form the core of the film. P.O.V offers a lending library for teachers who register on their site. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/myamericangirls/fullfilm.html  
Lesson Plans: http://www.kqed.org/w/mosaic/latino/laciudad.html

 

March

1           First day of Women's History Month    

             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/catalogue.html

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

             230th anniversary of the enactment of the first slavery abolition law. Pennsylvania's "Gradual Abolition" act did not actually free any slaves. It stated that all slaves born before the law came into effect would remain slaves and children born after that date would remain slaves until they were 28.

             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/

                            

5           40th anniversary of the ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

             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://www.esrnational.org/otc/view_lessons.php?action=theme&themeid=2

                                                  

8           International Women's Day. In 1910 German socialist Clara Zetkin proposed March 8th as a working-class women’s holiday to celebrate past victories and carry the fight forward.   

             MADRE. As a human rights organization, MADRE works internationally with women who are affected by violations to help them win justice and change the conditions that gave rise to human rights abuses. Website includes videos, blogs, papers and other resources that can be used in the classroom. (H, TR) http://www.madre.org/ 

             3 Women's Stories of Another Color. This site provides three lesson plans with audio downloads of women storytellers. 

             1) Nepantla: Caught Between Two Worlds: Growing up Mexican American in Los Angeles.  2) The Spirit Survives: The American Indian Boarding School Experience: Then and Now. 3) Hidden Memory: Internment: Knowing Your Family’s Story and Why it Matters. (M, H) http://www.racebridgesforschools.com/womenshistory

             Not Yet Rain by Lisa Russell of Governess Films. This film is about unsafe abortion and reproductive rights in Ethiopia. It is told through the voices of women who have struggled for safe health care. The website has other resources about how to get involved. (H http://www.NotYetRain.org 

                                                  

12         20th anniversary of Wheels of Justice protest in DC for disability rights. During this protest, then the largest disability demonstration of its kind, hundreds of disability rights activists filled the Capitol rotunda to demand passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. When they refused to disperse, Capitol police arrested them.          

             The DisAbility Project. This theater production company focuses on issues of disability. Their website includes a long list of lesson plans and resources related to different disabilities.(E, M, H) http://www.disabilityproject.com/study_guides.html

                                                  

20         7th anniversary of the Iraq War. On this day organizations and individuals around the country hold vigils for peace, justice and human rights in Iraq.      

             The Cost of War in Iraq: How Does it Affect My Community? This math project examines how much the war in Iraq costs and what alternatives there are to spending that money (for example, on social services). (H, TR) http://www.radicalmath.org/docs/Kokka_CostofWar.doc

             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, TR) http://www.lulu.com/content/1854056 

             Survey of Latino Attitudes on the War in Iraq. This survey examines the attitudes of U.S. born and foreign born Latinos and their perspectives on the War in Iraq. (H, TR)http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/37.pdf

                                                  

21         International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination commemorates the lives of the anti-apartheid demonstrators killed on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa.

             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 also a helpful resource for high schoolers. (H, TR)http://www.civilrightsproject.ucla.edu/resources/KnowYourRightsComplete.pdf

             10 Ways to Fight Hate by Teaching Tolerance. This guide sets out 10 principles for fighting hate, along with a collection of inspiring stories of people who worked to push hate out of their communities. (M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/10_ways/index.html 

             Choices and Decisions: Dealing with Racism, Modern Issues that Affect You by Pete Sanders and Steve Meyers. This comic-book narrative about a young girl who is the target of racism examines the roots of hate in history and in individuals, and how it affects everyone. (E, M) http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=9 880498&matches=5&author=Sanders%2C+Pete&browse=1&title=racism&cm_sp=works*listing*title

                                                  

22         World Water Day. World Water Day is an international day of observance and action designated by the UN in 1992 to draw attention to the plight of the more than 1 billion people world wide that lack access to clean, safe drinking water.

             Measuring Water with Justice. This article discusses several strategies to teach about the costs of producing water. It explores areas such as who should have rights to drinking water and how oil spills affect ecosystems and communities. (E, M, TR http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/19_01/wate191.shtml

             Going Beyond the Bottle. This article talks about the costs of producing drinkable tap water and how companies benefit from selling water bottles at high prices. (E, M, H) http://www.indykids.net/issues/pdf/indykids_iss12.pdf

                                                  

25         25th anniversary of Haing S. Ngor winning an Oscar. Ngor was the first Asian American and Cambodian American to win an Oscar. He received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in the film, The Killing Fields.

             The Cambodian Genocide Program. This website hosts bibliographic records, photographs, documents, translations, maps, and an interactive Cambodian Geographic Database about the Cambodian genocide that occurred between 1975 and 1979. (H, TR) http://www.yale.edu/cgp/

             Refugee: Revisiting the Killing Fields. The film follows three young Cambodian American men on their journey to Cambodia to find family members. Students evaluate the sacrifices and benefits of becoming a refugee in another country. (M, H) http://uw.kqed.org/edresources/plan.php?id=280
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/refugee/

                                                  

27         Earth Hour.  Earth Hour is an international event that asks households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour from 8:30 pm local time until 9:30 pm to promote electricity conservation and lower carbon emissions.  

             Earth Hour Website. This site provides information about Earth Hour and what else people can do to protect the environment. (H, TR) http://www.earthhour.org

                                                  

31         César Chávez Day                                     

             Viva La Causa: The Story of Cesar Chavez and a Great Movement for Social Justice by Teaching Tolerance. This short documentary and accompanying teacher’s guide explores 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/teach/resources/viva_lacausa.jsp 

             Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull. This picture book chronicles Chavez's youth and the struggles he endured on his journey to becoming a leader. (E)http://books.google.com/books?id=ZiEhe9pOt10Chttp://books.google.com/books?id=ZiEhe9pOt10C

             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 to help teachers prepare lessons for this holiday. (E, M, H) http://chavez.cde.ca.gov/ModelCurriculum/Teachers/index1.aspx

 

April 

1           First day of National Poetry Month. Inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in 1996, National Poetry Month is now held every April, when libraries, schools and poets around the country band together to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture.   

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

             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 hip-hop generation. (E, M, H)http://kahlilalmustafa.com/_product_ 28961/Growing_Up_Hip-Hophttp://kahlilalmustafa.com/_product_ 28961/Growing_Up_Hip-Hop

             The Hip-Hop Education Guidebook Volume 1 (H2ED) 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

             Wangari Maathai, Kenyan environmentalist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, born (1940). In 2004 Maathai became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize.  

             Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa. Wangari's Trees of Peace is an account of the work of Kenyan environmental/political activist Wangari Maathai. (E)http://2009bookclubblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/wangaris-trees-of-peace-true-story-from.html

             TAKING ROOT: The Vision of Wangari Maathai. This film tells the story of Maathai and Kenya’s Green Belt Movement, a grassroots organization encouraging rural women and families to plant trees in community groups. The website also hosts multiple lesson plans and resources for taking action. (M, H) http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/takingroot/

                                                  

7           World Health Day

             Health and Healthcare Resources by Radical Math. This is a collection of materials for teaching about health and healthcare through mathematics. (M, H)http://www.radicalmath.org/browse_socialjustice.php?t=health%20carehttp://www.radicalmath.org/browse_socialjustice.php?t=health%20care 

             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/
http://www.bphc.org/programs/healthequitysocialjustice/publicawarenesscampaigns/Forms%20%20Documents/Public%20Awareness%20and%20Media%20Tools/UC_YouthGuide_DRAFTWinterPilot2009.pdf

                                                  

10         10th anniversary of Jhumpa Lahiri winning the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri was the first Asian American and Indian American to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, for her collection of stories Interpreter of Maladies.

             The South Asian Forum. The South Asian Forum aims to tell the story of South Asians through the lens of its organizations and organizing work. (M, H, TR) http://southasianforum.org 

             Dolores Huerta, co-founder of United Farm Workers, born (1930). Huerta is a Latina labor activist and organizer of farm workers. She is also co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America.   

             Dolores Huerta Mini-Unit. This mini-unit teaches about Huerta's contributions and encourages students to take action to change their own communities. (E, M) http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/units/Byrnes-famous/huerta.html 

             Got Food? Thank a Farmworker. A collection of classroom discussion questions and additional resources related to farmworkers. (E, M) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/current/event.jsp?ar=1062&ttnewsletter=ttnewsgen-040609

                                                  

11         Holocaust Remembrance Day

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

             One Survivor Remembers. This documentary 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/teach/resources/survivor.jsp

             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://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/homosexuals_02/

             Paper Clips, The Movie. 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. The film shows how a committed group of children and educators can make a difference. (E, M, H) http://www.paperclipsmovie.com 

                                                  

12         Florence Reece, songwriter, born (1900 to 1986). Reece, a white woman who grew up in a coal mining community, became an activist for miners. She wrote the song Which Side Are You On? during the 1931 strike of the United Mine Workers of America.

             Resources for Labor Union Organizing. This organization is designed to support U.S. workers to organize themselves and their co-workers into labor unions. (H, TR) http://www.union-organizing.com/ 

                                                  

13         Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year). This day is the holiest day of the calendar for over 20 million Sikhs worldwide.             

             My Sikh Year: A Year of Religious Festivals by Cath Senker. This book moves chronologically through the calendar year and looks at the typical events, customs, and celebrations celebrated by Sikh children. (E) http://www.amazon.com/My-Sikh-Year-Religious-Festivals/dp/0750240555 

                                                  

15         50th anniversary of the formation of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). SNCC, one of the lead organizations in the Civil Rights Movement, played a major role in the sit-ins and freedom rides, voter registration drives, Mississippi Freedom Summer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. It later shifted its focus to Black Power.   

             SNCC Project Group. This site covers the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from its formation in 1960 to 1966. (M, H, TR) http://www.ibiblio.org/sncc/index.html

                                                  

16         National Day of Silence. During Day of Silence, a project of the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), students lead protests against LGBTQ harassment in school.       

             Day of Silence Website. This site includes information about the day and its historyas well as FAQs, reproducible materials, an organizing manual for students and more. (M, H) http://www.dayofsilence.org 

             The Day of Silence 2008. This site shows YouTube videos about Day of Silence. (M, H)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7-rsuinweshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7-rsuinwes

             The Trevor Project. The Trevor Project operates a nationwide crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGTBQ youth. This site includes educational resources. (M, H, TR) http://www.thetrevorproject.org/education.aspx

                                                  

19         Arnita Young Boswell, social worker and activist, born (1920 to 2002). Boswell was a professor of social work in Chicago who helped organize Dr. King's civil rights march in Chicago and founded Chicago's League of Black Women. She was also the first national director of project Head Start.               

             The Face of Our Past: Images of Black Women from Colonial America to the Present edited by Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson, with an introduction by Darlene Clark-Hine. This comprehensive pictorial history tells the story of Black women (including Boswell) in nine parts: Family Life, Work, Hair, Resistance, Class, Education, Religion, Community, and Inner Life. (E, M) http://www.iuinfo.indiana.edu/homepages/2-25-2000/text/face_past.htm

             First day of TV Turnoff Week (Spring). National TV Turnoff Week is a nationwide effort to encourage people to reassess the role TV plays in their daily lives as entertainer, pacifier, babysitter, time filler and background noise.   

             Turn Off TV…Turn on the Possibilities by Pat Degracia from Kitsap County Health District. This site describes the significance of TV Turnoff Day. It 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://depts.washington.edu/nwmedia/sections/kitsap/training_docs/tv_turnoff_package.pdf       

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

                                                  

22         120th anniversary of the founding of the Black town of Langston, Oklahoma. Langston was founded as a black town as part of an effort to create a majority-black state in what was then the Territory of Oklahoma. The town was named for John Mercer Langston, a black member of the United States Congress from Virginia.

             Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. A brief history of Oklahoma's All-Black Towns. (H, TR) http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/A/AL009.html                                         

             10th anniversary of the first victory in the nationally coordinated Justice for Janitors campaign. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) campaign successfully sought to raise standards for janitors in Los Angeles. This was the first in a series of janitor strikes across the country in 2000. The strike won important gains, including increased wages, expanded health care benefits and more full-time jobs. 

             Si Se Puede by Diana Cohn. This is a bilingual picture book about Carlos, a young boy whose mother is a janitor in the strike. He organizes his class to support his mother's union in their struggle. (E) http://www.cincopuntos.com/products_detail.sstg?id=75
Lesson Plans: http://www.cincopuntos.com/pdf/Si-Se-Puede-lesson-plan.pdf

             Bread and Roses. This film chronicles the Justice for Janitors strike in the 1990's which saw an army of exploited cleaners, predominately Latino immigrants, take to the streets to protest for basic workers' rights. (M, H) http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Roses-Pilar-Padilla/dp/B00005OSLC            

             Earth Day (40th anniversary). Earth Day was started by Senator Gaylord Nelson (D-WI) in 1970 as a national teach-in about environmental issues.

             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://humaneeducation.org/sections/view/online_games
http://humaneeducation.org/sections/view/ environmental_preservation_activities 

             Race, Poverty and the Environment. This journal links issues of racism and poverty with environmental justice. (H, TR) http://www.urbanhabitat.org/rpe

             Nature, Race and Justice by Teaching Tolerance. Low income communities of color are the ones most likely to face environmental hazards. These lessons help students grasp the impact of environmental racism. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/activity.jsp?ar=1066                                  

             10th anniversary of the Elian Gonzalez Raid. US federal agents seized Elian Gonzalez from his relatives in Miami, Florida and flew him to his father in Washington, DC. He eventually returned to Cuba with his father, ending the long custody battle that ensued after Elian escaped Cuba with his mother, who died before reaching the US.               

             The U.S. Trade Embargo on Cuba from NOW with Bill Moyers, PBS. This lesson allows students to explore the historical context of the plight of Elian Gonzalez by examining the U.S. blockade of Cuba. Students examine perspectives for and against the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, investigate its historical background, develop a position, and articulate viewpoints in a public forum. (H) http://www.pbs.org/now/classroom/cuba.html

                                                  

24         Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. This observance is held annually to commemorate the victims of the massacre and deportation of Armenians by the government of 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://www.edliberation.org/resources/records/teachers-guide-for-cobblestone-armenian-americans

             Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of the Armenians. This resource provides students with the latest scholarship on the genocide. (H)http://www.gifttool.com/shop/ShopProductDetails?ID=1332&VER=1&LNG=EN&PID=36373&DID=857

                                                  

25         10th anniversary of Vermont becoming the first state to pass a law allowing same-sex unions. In 2009 Vermont made history again by becoming the first state to legalize gay marriage through the legislature (as opposed to through the courts).

             The Gay Marriage Debate. This is a listing of links to articles and GLSEN lessons on the marriage debate. (H, TR) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/current/event.jsp?cid=463

             Kicking the Apartheid Habit by The Pinky Show. The Pinky Show is an animated online TV show featuring a cat named Pinky. This episode discusses how many individuals choose not to participate in racial segregation yet continue to benefit from heterosexual privileges such as marriage. (E, M, H) http://www.pinkyshow.org/archives/episodes/071222/

 

May

1           International Workers’ Day/May Day. International Workers' Day (a name used interchangeably with May Day) is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of the international labor movement. This day is the commemoration of the 1886 Chicago Haymarket Massacre. On this date the Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour day and killed a dozen demonstrators.       

             3 PLUS-U. This UN Cyberschoolbus site provides an interactive experience for students to inquire about labor rights. (E, M) 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://www.amazon.com/Power-Our-Hands-Curriculum-History/dp/0853457530                                                  

             First day of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month                                          

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

             Ancestors in the Americas. This PBS series by Loni Ding and its companion website provide stories, timelines and historical resources that are 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. This curriculum highlights 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://www.filam.si.edu/curriculum/index-teacher.html                                

             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. It includes curricula and resources. (H) http://www.transalt.org/files/resources/toolsforlife/                   

             40th anniversary of beginning of National Student Strike against Vietnam War. During the week-long strike, millions of American students protest, temporarily closing more than 900 campuses nationwide. It was the largest movement of students in U.S. history.

             Kent May 4 Center. This website discusses some of the impacts of the national student strike. (M, H) http://www.may4.org/?q=node/8

                                                  

2           60th anniversary of Gwendoyln Brooks winning the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. Brooks was the first African American to win a Pulitzer, which she received for her poetry book, Annie Allen.

             Bronzeville Boys and Girls by Gwendolyn Brooks and illustrated by Faith Ringgold. This collection of poems about a Chicago neighborhood celebrates the joy, beauty, imagination, and freedom of childhood. (E, M) http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780060295059-0

                                                  

3           World Press Freedom Day. The United Nations General Assembly created World Press Freedom Day in 1993 to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

             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://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6737097743434902428&hl=en-GB

             Media Literacy Lessons by Educators for Social Responsibility. The six lessons provided help students deconstruct the media messages and how the news is created. While the lessons are free, you need to create a free account to access them. (H)http://www.esrnational.org/otc/view_lessons.php?action=theme&themeid=15

             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/

                                        

4           40th anniversary of Kent State shootings. The Ohio National Guard shot at anti-Vietnam War demonstrators at Kent State University, killing four students and wounding nine others.         

             May 4 Collection, Kent State University. This site serves as a memorial to the four students killed at Kent State University. Visitors will find transcripts of interviews and other primary resources about the event. (H, TR) http://www.library.kent.edu/page/11247 

                                                  

5           90th anniversary of the arrest of Ferdinando Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti. Arrested for robbery and murder, Sacco and Vanzetti's trial was largely condemned as unfair and prejudiced against the defendants because they were immigrants and anarchists. Both men were convicted and executed despite multiple appeals, international protests and support from such public figures as Upton Sinclair.     

             Voices of a People's History. Short video of actor Steve Earl reading Bartolomeo Vanzetti's speech to the court. (H) http://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1274700&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1

                                                  

9           John Brown, abolitionist, born (1800 to 1859)       

             John Brown's Holy War. This companion site to the 1999 PBS documentary on John Brown uses a timeline, an interactive map, short biographies and histories and a teacher’s guide to explain the story of Brown’s life and times. (M, H, TR) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/brown/ 

                                                  

12         25th anniversary of the ordainment of the first woman Conservative Jewish Rabbi. Amy Eilberg was ordained on this day.            

             Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution. This exhibit explores the contributions of Jewish women in feminism’s “Second Wave." It offers a collection of images, a timeline and essays. The interactive timeline allows the visitor to follow the role of Jewish women in the resurgence of the feminist movement from the 1960s through the end of the 20th century. (H, TR) http://jwa.org/feminism/

                           

14         40th anniversary of killings at Jackson State College. During a protest against the Vietnam War, the Kent State killings and racial harassment, two black students at Jackson State College in Mississippi (a historically black college) were killed and 12 others were injured by the Jackson police.    

             Forgotten tragedy: Jackson State shootings often forgotten by Taylour Nelson, Rocky Mountain Collegian Online. This college newspaper article provides a brief overview of the killings at Jackson State University, raising the issue that this "forgotten tragedy" is often overshadowed by the Kent State shooting just ten days earlier. (M, H)  http://media.www.collegian.com/media/storage/paper864/news/2004/05/04/News/Forgotten.Tragedy.Jackson.State.Shootings.Often.Forgotten-1704303.shtml
http://www.may41970.com/Jackson%20State/jackson_state_may_1970.htm

             Jackson State Shootings, 35 Years Later by Ed Gordon, NPR. NPR news radio account of the tragic events at Jackson State. It includes an interview with the current President, Dr. Ronald Mason, Jr., who discusses how students today can understand what happened 40 years ago. (M, H) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4653325

                                                  

15         70th anniversary of first McDonald's restaurant opening in San Bernadino, CA. It was opened as McDonald's Barbecue. 

             Chew on This by Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson. This book, accompanied by a teachers' 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://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/readers_guides/schlosser_chew.shtml

             The Meatrix Trilogy is produced by Sustainable Table and Free Range Studio. The Meatrix is a four-minute online animation that spoofs The Matrix movie trilogy while educating viewers 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/                          

             International Conscientious Objectors' Day         

             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/ 

             DMZ: A Guide to Taking Your School Back From the Military by The War Resisters League. DMZ is a comprehensive counter military recruitment organizing manual for youth activists and their allies. (H) http://www.warresisters.org/dmz 

                                                  

17         30th anniversary of Miami racial uprising (Arthur McDuffie Riots). An all-white jury in Miami acquitted four white police officers of killing Arthur McDuffie, a Black insurance executive. The officers were accused of fabricating evidence to make McDuffie's death look like the result of a motorcycle accident. Testimony at the trial and the coroner’s report supported the idea that McDuffie was beaten brutally. The acquittal provoked three days of uprising and heightened racial tensions in Miami.          

             Eyes on the Prize, America's Civil Rights Movement, 1954-1985. The last episode, Back to the Movement (1979-mid 80s), includes information about the Miami riots. This page also has a description of the event, images and video. (M, H) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/story/23_florida.html

                                                  

19         Lorraine Hansberry, playwright, born (1930 to 1965). Hansberry was the first African American woman to have a play (A Raisin in the Sun) produced on Broadway.       

             Quest for the American Dream in A Raisin in the Sun. This lesson explores how the play A Raisin in the Sun mirrors the social, educational, political and economic climate of the 1950’s. It asks how the play illustrates the impact this climate had on the African Americans' quest for "The American Dream." (H) http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=449http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=449

             A Raisin in the Sun: A Unit Plan by Mary B. Collins. This unit was designed to develop students' reading, writing, thinking, and language skills through exercises and activities related to A Raisin in the Sun. It includes eighteen lessons which are supported by extra resource materials. (H) http://www.bmiedserv.com/pdf/RaisinintheSun.pdf

                                                  

21         Vesak (Buddhism). Vesak (also known as Sinhalese or Visakah Puja) is the most important holiday in the Buddhist calendar. Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha.           

             Wesak by Open-Sez-Me Books. The book provides information and activities to recognize Wesak or Vesakha and to learn more about Buddhism. (E) http://www.open-sez-mefestivals.co.uk/wesak.htm

            

22         Harvey Milk born (1930 to 1978). Milk was the first openly gay official elected to a public office in a major US city.             

             The Harvey Milk Story by Kari Krakow and David Gardner. A children's book about Harvey Milk that can be used to spark discussions with younger children around topics of identity, pride, courage, activism and the broader concepts of freedom and representation in the United States. The website includes an educators' guide and lesson plans for the book. (E)http://www.harveymilkstory.com/http://www.harveymilkstory.com/

             The Times of Harvey Milk. The Times of Harvey Milk recreates the tumultuous story of Milk’s grass-roots political organizing activities and his election through the shocking murders and their repercussions—from the candle-light memorial on the evening of the assassinations, to the angry mobs who stormed City Hall in the aftermath of his killer's sentencing. (M, H, TR
http://www.hulu.com/watch/49577/the-times-of-harvey-milk
http://www.thetimesofharveymilk.com/ 

                                                  

24         30th anniversary of founding of Food Not Bombs. Grassroots movement that is active throughout the world to provide free vegetarian food for the hungry. The movement is also active in protesting war, poverty and violence. It is organized as local collectives and is dedicated to nonviolent social change.              

             Cook for Peace. This webpage lists various resources provided by the Food Not Bombs movement including human rights, civil rights, books and other literature. (H, TR) http://www.foodnotbombs.net/issues.html 

                                                                                                    

26         180th anniversary of the Indian Removal Act. President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act of 1830 which forced Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi.               

             Indian Removal Act unit at Digital History. In this unit, students act as journalists reporting on the Indian Removal Act. They visit designated web sites 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://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/lesson_plans_display.cfm?lessonID=26 

             Indian Removal Act by Lessonplanet.com. This site provides links to hundreds of lesson plans on the Trail of Tears. (E, M, H, TR) http://www.lessonplanet.com/search?keywords=indian+removal+act&rating=3             

 

June

1           First day of Gay, 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://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/curriculum.html

                                                  

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

             Voices of a People's History. This short video shows 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. She 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://www.vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1274721&server=www.vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=1

             Palestine/Israel Education Project (PEP). The Palestine/Israel Education Project, an initiative of educators and activists based in New York City, was created to engage students in critical thinking about the culture, history and current living conditions of Palestinians and Israelis.(M, H) http://www.thinkpep.net/

             A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird w/ Sonia Nimr. This book is about a young boy, Karim, who is living through the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (E)http://leftbooks.com/store/product16.htmlhttp://leftbooks.com/store/product16.html

                                                  

5           70th anniversary of the American Negro Theatre. The theater was founded in Harlem to train black actors and produce works about contemporary black life.

             American Negro Theater by Cobblestone and Cricket. This publication, which can be purchased for $7, introduces the history and main actors of The American Negro Theater. The website includes a free teacher’s guide. (M, H) http://www.cobblestonepub.com/issue/FTP0105.html
http://www.footstepsmagazine.com/TGTheatre.html

                                                   

11         20th anniversary of United States v. Eichman, which established flag burning as free speech. In this case the US Supreme Court invalidated a federal law against flag desecration as a violation of the First Amendment.             

             Does Having Freedom of Speech Mean We Can Burn Our Flag? This lesson guides students through a debate about flag burning.  It is missing an analysis on the political commitments that might motivate some to burn a flag, so teachers might consider supplementing the lesson. (H) http://www.freedomforum.org/packages/first/curricula/educationforfreedom/L02main.htm

                                       

12         World Day Against Child Labor

             Stop Child Labor Lesson Plans by International Labor Rights Forum. It provides lesson plans connected to several anti-child labor campaigns including cocoa farms, and cotton and rubber plantations. (M, H) http://www.laborrights.org/stop-child-labor
http://www.laborrights.org/labor-rights/labor-rights-in-the-classroom#child

             Iqbal by Francesco D’Adamo. This is a powerful story based on the real life and death of a Pakistani child sold into slavery. (E, M, H) http://www.powells.com/biblio/62-9781416903291-0

                                           

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. This was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.              

             Slavery and Indentured Servitude by Michael Ray. This six 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 and includes lesson plans. (H) http://newdeal.feri.org/asn/index.htm 

             Perspective on the Slave Narrative by EDSITEment. This lesson is about the Narrative of William W. Brown, An American Slave (1847). The book is analyzed both as a work of literature and for its contribution to the abolitionist movement. (H) http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan. asp?ID=321                                                 

             40th anniversary of a wheelchair user being granted a teacher's license in New York City after a court battle. Judith Heumann was denied a teacher's license in New York City because she used a wheelchair. She successfully sued the Board of Education and began teaching elementary school. Her suit led the Board of Education to open teaching positions to people with disabilities.     

             The Disability Rights and Independent Living Movement by University of California at Berkeley. This site features a collection of oral histories from disability activists. The second link brings you directly to Judith Heumann's page. (H) http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/ drilm/index.html
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/collections/drilm/collection/items/heumann.html

                                                

20         World Refugee Day. For many years several African countries celebrated June 20 as Refugee Day. As an expression of solidarity with Africa, which hosts the most refugees, in 2000 the UN declared June 20 World Refugee Day.     

             The Lost Boys of Sudan directed by Megan Mylan and Jon Shenk. Lost Boys of Sudan is an Emmy-nominated documentary that follows two Sudanese refugees on an extraordinary journey from Africa to America. The site includes information, action, study guides and links to other information about refugees. (M, H) http://www.lostboysfilm.com/take.html

                                                  

21         5th anniversary of the conviction of Edgar Ray Killen for killing civil rights activists. Edgar Ray Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan organizer, was found guilty of manslaughter for the 1964 killing of three civil rights activists (James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman) in Mississippi. He had escaped conviction for those crimes during a trial in the 1960s. 

             Ku Klux Klan arrest for 1964 murders by Breaking News English. These lesson plans for ESL students reinforce literacy skills while focusing on the trial of Killen. (M, H)
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/0501/08.kkkArrestin1964Murders.html

                                                  

26         International Day in Support of Victims of Torture                                             

             The Road to Guantánamo directed by Mat Whitecross and Michael Winterbottom. Part drama, part documentary, The Road to Guantánamo focuses on the Tipton Three, a trio of British Muslims who were held in Guantánamo Bay for two years. They were eventually released without being charged. Free online version available at Teach Peace's website. (H)            http://www.teachpeace.com/roadtoguantanamo.htm

                                                  

27         National HIV Testing Day. The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) started National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in 1995. http://www.napwa.org/public/programs/nhtd.php 

             AVERT: Averting HIV and AIDS. AVERT consists of 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

                                                  

28         40th anniversary of first gay pride parade. On this day the first gay pride parades took place in New York and Los Angeles. The parades commemorated the first anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a series of violent demonstrations that occurred after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar.    

             Stonewall and Beyond: Gay and Lesbian Issues by Bay Breeze Educational Resources. This lesson provides students firsthand experiences of struggles facing gays and lesbians. It includes role playing. (H) http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/lessons/stonewall/index.html

 

July                                        

3           60th anniversary of President Truman signing a law that allows Puerto Ricans to create a constitution for the island.                      

             I Have a Border in my Mind: the Puerto Ricans' Arts and Culture as Factors for Self-Esteem by Abie L. Quiñones-Benítez. This unit provides information on the history of Puerto Rico and individual lesson plans to help students learn more about Puerto Rican culture and identity. (M, H) http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2001/4/01.04.08.x.html                                              

             Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author and feminist, born (1860 to 1935). Gilman was a leading white feminist intellectual, sociologist and writer who advocated for communal childcare and kitchens to replace private housekeeping. She is best known as the author of The Yellow Wallpaper a short story about a woman confined to her home who suffers a mental breakdown. With Jane Addams, she founded the Women's Peace Party.            

             Charlotte Perkins Gilman Website. This blog gathers public domain resources and writings of Charlotte Perkins GIlman and includes links to several literature lesson plan sites. (H, TR)        http://www.charlotteperkinsgilman.com/

                                                  

4           Independence Day                                    

             The ABCs of 'We the People' by Teaching Tolerance. This site contains a variety of activities that allow students to explore how the rights guaranteed under the Declaration of Independence have been applied unevenly. (E, M, H) http://www.tolerance.org/teach/activities/ activity.jsp?ar=864