Anti-Defamation League
What are Reparations and Should We Enact Them?
Young social scientists investigate recent legislative proposals for reparations for African Americans. They examine the rationale behind the proposals by viewing videos and reading related articles. To close the lesson, scholars craft a...
C3 Teachers
Black Genius: How Did Black Genius Help Build American Democracy?
"How did the slavery system undermine the United States' democratic principles?" This question launches a study of how the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence, Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, and Article IV,...
K20 LEARN
Power to the People
Black berets, black leather jackets, raised black fists, chants of "Power to the People!" These are the images that many associate with the Black Panther Party. Often forgotten are the programs the party created during the Civil Rights...
K20 LEARN
Plessy v. Ferguson: An Individual's Response to Oppression
After generating research questions rated to segregation, groups are given a primary source document (Jim Crow Laws, Black Codes, Plessy v. Ferguson, etc.) and craft a presentation that details the key elements of their assigned...
Western Justice Center
Culture and Identity
To conclude a study of conflict resolution, class members watch and discuss a series of five videos that frame the conversation in terms of culture and identity, understanding bias, oppression, and interpersonal biases.
Museum of Tolerance
Making Lemonade: Responding to Oppression in Empowering Ways
An activity focused on tolerance encourages class members to consider how they might respond when they or someone else is the target of oppression and discrimination. After researching how some key figures responded to the anti-Semitism...
Curated OER
Living News: Classroom Materials
Young scholars explore controversial current events. In this Bill of Rights lesson, students research selected issues and examine the issues from different perspectives. Young scholars script and record news stories that feature their...
Curated OER
Is Everyone Protected by the Bill of Rights?
Who is protected by the Bill of Rights? Learners examine the Bill of Rights and conduct research regarding gay people in the military. They use their research findings to prepare for and participate in a debate regarding the military ban...
Curated OER
Colonial Rules
How did Colonists react to British rule prior to the American Revolution? Give your high schoolers a taste of oppression with this role-play activity, then let them come up with a revolution of their own. This excercise is intended to...
Curated OER
Introduction to Sexism
Students develop an understanding of sexism, its effects, and the ways in which messages in society (in media, texts, schools, families, et cetera) reinforce stereotypical beliefs.
Curated OER
The Holocaust from Beginning to End
Students explore the events that occurred before, during, and after the Holocaust and create a time line showing how those events are connected. They create a time line showing the events that occurred before, during, and after the...
Curated OER
Nonviolence as a Way of Life
Students investigate the example Gandhi set for others to not engage in violence when being oppressed. In this rebellion lesson, students identify violence and discuss how it is used and often ineffective. Students create a visual...
Curated OER
Paradigm Shift: Gandhian Nonviolence and the Concept of Power
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this social justice lesson, students examine sources regarding the teachings of Mohandas Gandhi pertaining to nonviolent...
Curated OER
Judaism
Students brainstorm what they know about Judaism, participate in question and answer session about Judaism and its relation to World War II with guest speaker of Jewish faith, and write journal responses about their feelings on...
Curated OER
Freedom
Students listen to a read aloud of Dr. Suess' Yertle the Turtle while thinking about the power struggle and oppression in the group of turtles. They note their feelings on chart paper before reviewing more books. They chose a creative...
Curated OER
Understanding Human Rights Through Music And Poetry
Tenth graders discuss human rights. They brainstorm and listen to and read examples of music and poetry that deal with human rights and oppression. They choose one poem or song to analyze, looking for theme, oppression, and historical...
Curated OER
Nervous Conditions
Students read Nervous Conditions and explore freedom and oppression. They discuss types of oppression and list examples of discrimination. They create collages or timelines about the novel. They research present day Zimbabwe and make a...
Curated OER
Bands Reunited: The English Beat and Berlin
Pupils listen to and discuss popular music that addresses political and social issues of oppression, but in a joyful way. They role play as artistic teams and plan a music video that may be used for a specific song.
Curated OER
James McCune Smith: A Model of Resistance
Students discuss examples of resistance. In this anti-slavery lesson, students analyze a portrait of James McCune Smith and listen to a lecture about his life and involvement in abolition. Students analyze his actions and write a letter...
Curated OER
Year of the Impossible Goodbyes by Sook Nyul Choi
Learners analyze Korean culture from their literature piece. They investigate the theme of oppression by an occupying army. Students encounter courage, resistance movements and explore the underground railroads.
Curated OER
Religious Freedom and Persecution throughout the World
Students discuss the role of religion throughout the world. Using documents from the United Nations, they read through Article 18 and describe it in detail. In groups, they identify religions based on how much freedom or persecution is...
Curated OER
Who's Been Persecuted, and How Does it Feel?
Young scholars participate in a role-playing activity which depicts groups that have been persecuted. Using these perspectives, they discuss how it would make them feel and develop empathy for other groups. They write an essay about...
Curated OER
The Power of Words Anti-Semitism and Hate Speech
Students investigate words associated with Anti-Semitism and hate. They view and discuss a video about teaching tolerance focusing on language usage.
Curated OER
Anne Frank: Everything Changed for Us
Young scholars write about a time they were made to feel different, and when they were on the other side of the equation. They read other first hand accounts of times in history when people were made to feel like outsiders.