What is a hate symbol, and what role did racism and anti-Semitism play in the Holocaust? Your young historians will answer these questions through a series of engaging and interactive activities, as well as discover how Jews were...

Young readers delve into The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan with a discussion and writing activity about characterization. After reading the first four chapters of the book, they discuss the various obstacles that the characters face, such as...

Young scholars read "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard and participate in a class discussion that examines Howard's letter for both content and writing form. They write a letter using some of the techniques they identified in...

Explore this story involving prejudice and racism to enhance learners' comprehension skills. The story The Jacket by Andrew Clements involves an African American boy who is falsely accused of stealing someone's jacket. This teacher's...

Using a variety of online resources, learners study life and society in California during the gold rush. They use a map to identify area where gold was located, explore pre-selected websites, describe mining practices, and create an...

What a terrific way to discuss racism in the 1920's. Learners read a story called The Star Fisher by Laurence Yep. It is about a Chinese American girl who experiences racism and prejudice after moving from Ohio to West Virginia. Learners...

Have your middle and high schoolers analyze instances of celebrities using racial slurs or making prejudiced comments in public. After reading an article, they consider the roots and effects of prejudice and bias. As a class, they...

“The only thing white people have that black people need, or should want, is power—and no one holds power forever.” Powerful, poignant, pointed excerpts from The Fire Next Time are used to “incite debate and discussion” of James...

Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" and other images set the stage for a PowerPoint about the Great Depression. Whether used as background for Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, or as part of a historical study, the presentation would...

Use this handy presentation to prepare your class before reading the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Segregation, the stock market, and the sociopolitical climate of the times is covered. This will really help build a...

Discuss the difference between legitimate debate on a political issue and arguments that are based on hate through a science-fiction scenario that shows how a controversial issue can be discussed in both ways. Then learn how purveyors of...

Study the controversial topic of organized systems of repression, such as white supremacists and the KKK. This lesson provides discussion questions, primary source documents, and definitions all aimed at building an understanding of...

Young scholars complete a diagram of the Montgomery bus that carried Rosa Parks into the history books. They read about Rosa Park's contributions to the Civil Rights movement. They role play Rosa Park's refusal to move to the back of the...

Class members have an opportunity to develop empathy as they assume the identity of one of the characters in Ernest Hemingway's short story, "Indian Camp." They write about one event in the story from the point of view and in the voice...

First banned in 1885 because it was seen as “immoral in its tone,” as “trash of the veriest sort,” the controversy over The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continues today. While some consider Twain’s story “a masterpiece” others contend...

How can we keep racism out of our society? Analyze the factors that lead to racism today and research previous scientific findings that impacted social policy. Your high school students identify ways to prevent past mistakes from...

Introducing the topic of cultural diversity and the social issues surrounding it, this presentation will get your students thinking about stereotypes involving race, gender, and sexual orientation. Affirmative action and positive and...

Students analyze racism and justice. In this legal system discrimination instructional activity, students listen to their instructor lecture on disparities in the legal system. Students respond to discussion questions following the...

Invite your class to investigate racism and civil rights by analyzing the great Dr. Martin Luther King's speech. Your learners will read the words from the "I Have a Dream" speech and analyze the political and racial overtones. They will...

In this Civil Rights learning exercise, students take a pre-test, review vocabulary, see a timeline, discuss how to overcome racism and much more in this 22 page lesson with blackline masters.

Students comprehend the meaning of the word steretype, work in groups to come up with stereotype statements, discuss whether the statements are fair, and write what they learned from the activity. Balloons are used as a conduit in this...

Learners research the impact of the Jim Crow laws on safe travel for African-Americans. In this civil rights lesson, students explore the dangers posed upon African-American traveling in the south. Learners discover the extent of...

Students examine discrimination laws. In this racism lesson, students compare and contrast de facto and de jure discrimination. Students also explore the Bill of Rights and determine what makes some acts and speech illegal.

Students debate whether Abraham Lincoln was racist. In this historical debate, students use primary documents to gather information to argue their point of view as to whether or not Abraham Lincoln was racist.