Lesson Plans for Every Classroom
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Bridging Past and Present: Lessons from Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is celebrated and commemorated every year during November. The purpose of this dedicated month is not only for Indigenous peoples to celebrate their history, culture, heritage and traditions. Native American History Month is also a time to educate others about tribal nations and recognize the history, accomplishments and contributions of Native people. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to learn more about Native American Heritage Month, reflect on past and current day issues facing Native American people, analyze the evolution of language used to describe Indigenous peoples and consider different ideas about how to commemorate the month and beyond.
Latinx and Complex
This lesson explores the origins and meanings of the terms Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, and Afro-Latino/a/x to critically understand the diversity within the Latino community. Research shows that about 68% of Latinos in the U.S. identify as Hispanic, while a significant portion prefers the term Latino/a or LatinX, reflecting personal and cultural preferences (Pew Research Center, 2020). Generational perspectives significantly influence how these identities are perceived. Among immigrant Latinos, 65% identify with their country of origin, but this drops to 36% for second-generation Latinos and just 26% for those in the third generation or higher, who are more likely to identify as "American" (Pew Research Center). This lesson will broaden students’ understanding of the relationship between identity and language and foster a deeper appreciation for the nuances within the Latino community.
Understanding Racism and Embracing Anti-Racism
Racism is all around us and permeates every aspect of our culture and society–from racist symbols and slurs, excluding people based on race, microaggressions, stereotypical or lack of representation in media portrayals and the discrimination faced by people of color in every institution in our society. Anti-racism offers a helpful way forward. The concept of anti-racism has a long history but has emerged in today’s conversations about racism, providing a way to talk about and actively fight against racism. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to understand the concepts of racism and anti-racism, reflect on examples of institutional racism and explore strategies for fostering anti-racism.
Colorism in the Entertainment Industry and Beyond
Colorism is a system of bias that privileges people with lighter skin and marginalizes people with darker skin. Colorism, closely related to racism, affects people in all walks of life including the entertainment industry, media, education, workplaces, the criminal justice system and other industries and institutions. This lesson provides an opportunity for students to understand what colorism is, explore its impact on individuals and society and suggest ways–by writing a persuasive letter or essay–to address and challenge colorism.