Teaching the Truth About National Parks
An environmental justice teacher engages students in an examination of the problematic history of national parks.
High School
Why I Teach Look for Me in the Whirlwind
A review of Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st-Century Revolutions edited by déqui kioni- sadiki and Matt Meyer.
The Story of the Chicago Young Lords for Teachers
A Chicago educator discusses the creation of a new curriculum on the Young Lords, one of the most imaginative and effective organizations of the 1960s.
No, Anti-Zionism Is Not Antisemitism
Bigelow describes a new lesson on the roots of the violence in Palestine — and argues that history shows that anti-Zionism is not automatically antisemitism.
Five Ways Textbooks Lie About Reconstruction
The Zinn Education Project’s Mimi Eisen critiques commonly used U.S. history textbooks’ coverage of Reconstruction.
Baltimore Students Fight for Climate Justice — and Their Own Lives
Bigelow discusses a recent episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch focused on student organized climate victory in Baltimore.
Books Aren’t Enough to Challenge Rape Culture
A high school English teacher describes how she encouraged students to disrupt and speak out against rape culture while reading the novel Speak.
“Yes, Sir!” — Turning Students into Soldiers
A review of Breaking the War Habit by Seth Kershner, Scott Harding, and Charles Howlett
The Climate Crisis Has a History. Teach It.
Eisen and Wolfe-Rocca critique textbook timelines and introduce the new Zinn Education Project Climate Justice Timeline.
Melody Sullivan Goes to Palestine
A review of Finding Melody Sullivan by Alice Rothchild.
Students Address Racial Justice at “Model Gary” Convention
Drawing inspiration from the 1972 National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana, New Jersey students and teachers organize a convention to discuss issues facing Black communities today.
The Heroes We Need Today: Teaching About the Radical Ida B. Wells
A high school social studies teacher describes his mixer lesson in which students learn about the radical Ida B. Wells by taking on roles from various times in her life.
Writing for Justice
Christensen has students reimagine literature and their own stories to talk back to and disrupt injustice — and build solidarity.
“You’re to Blame”: How Financial Literacy Curricula Make Students Financially Illiterate
A high school teacher analyzes the biases in financial literacy curricula and shares how he teaches about alternative economic systems and powerful labor and social movements instead.
Teaching Debt Pollution in Schools
A high school teacher has students problematize the conditions of their school to learn about funding disparities and the disastrous effects of district debt.
Teaching the Reconstruction Revolution
A high school social studies teacher describes a lesson that uses improvisations, historical fiction, and found poems to help students appreciate the first era of Black power: Reconstruction.
It’s a Big Fat Deal
A special education teacher tackles fatphobia in our schools head-on, pointing out how we fall far short in our efforts to rid it from the classroom and how fundamentally detrimental fatphobia is to teaching and learning.
Compassion, Solidarity, Care: Detroit-Area Youth Respond to the Pandemic
Just as workers are going to need unions, young people need to be organizing as students to make collective demands on the system as well as to meet their needs in an emergency.
To the Past, with Love
The letters are sweet and encouraging — had they been delivered, they could have changed their recipients’ lives.
As She Rises
I recently stumbled across a podcast that made a wonderful addition to my students’ study of the climate crisis — As She Rises.
Poetic Pauses During the Pandemic
Christensen describes how poetry can be used in this moment to be something concrete — that can be felt, touched, or smelled — but also something to stir our students’ imaginations, allowing them to dream.
“I Saw Eyes Begin to Widen”
Role plays can offer students engaging ways to learn, but require careful contextualization and follow-up. This article offers some cautions and guidance about using them.
Who Killed Reconstruction?
Sanchez describes a role play about the demise of Reconstruction that helps students get beyond the question “Was Reconstruction a success or failure?”
Helping Young People Imagine a Future of Climate Solidarity
We need more books that celebrate young people who find themselves as they come to consciousness and commitment.
“Take These Nametags Off!”
A doctoral student tells the story of her experience with a dangerous role play — poorly conceptualized and taught — when she was an undergrad.