Facing History on Martin Luther King Day: A message to our educators
Martin Luther King Day is a moment for reflection and service; for considering the life and legacy of an extraordinary individual; and for recommitting ourselves to the unfinished work he championed. At a time of extraordinary bigotry and violence, Dr. King challenged all Americans to confront our history of racial discrimination, to open our eyes to injustice, and to be intentional about building a better future.
9 Resources for Teaching about MLK's Legacy
Here are 9 Facing History resources that can help you reflect on your own teaching practices, teach the history of the Civil Rights Movement, and explore contemporary issues around racial justice and democracy in the United States.
bell hooks Taught Us to Transgress
Like many people of my generation who cut their teeth on the critical insights of bell hooks, news of her passing in December unleashed a wave of reflection for me about the ways she’s impacted me as a person and public scholar. Beyond the many moments of resonance I experienced while reading her writings over the years, her impact on me is most powerfully encapsulated in an experience I had in 2008 when I met her.
What Lessons Can We Learn?
Students address the essential question of the unit in a people's assembly, reflecting on the lessons that we can learn from An Inspector Calls.
18 Teacher Resources on Native American History and Culture
Below are 18 resources that middle and high school teachers can turn to when developing lesson plans related to the roles of Native American peoples in American history and contemporary life. These resources include online exhibitions at the Smithsonian; the Smithsonian’s Native Knowledge 360° Educational Initiative; the work of the Mitchell and Hood Museums; and the growing work of Facing History in these thematic areas.
Responding to Violence Against Women and Gender Inequality in the UK
This lesson provides students with an opportunity to reflect on violence against women and gender inequality in the UK.
Ukraine: Discussing the War and Refugee Crisis with Students
Use this lesson to help students process how they are feeling about the devastating war in Ukraine, develop media literacy in what news they consume and how, and explore the mounting refugee crisis.
LGBTQIA+ History and Why It Matters (UK)
Students learn about two millennia of LGBTQIA+ history and reflect on how that history is represented in their textbooks and curricula.
Teaching Reconstruction: A Conversation with Dr. Kidada Williams
On-Demand
Virtual
Join us for this recorded conversation with writer and historian, Dr. Kidada Williams, as we discuss her research on African Americans’ fight for liberty and equality during and after the Civil War and Reconstruction era.
Acclaimed Educator Frank Stebbins on Facing History and Human Rights Education
In this interview with educator Frank Stebbins, we discuss resources and strategies for teaching difficult lessons around the Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
How Can Music Inspire Social Change?
This blog explores the connections between music, history, and social change. Within this blog, educators are provided with a lesson that can be used with students to contemplate the role of music as a social change agent.
Make Good the Promises of Reconstruction: A Conversation and Virtual Exhibition Tour with Candra Flanagan
On-Demand
Virtual
Listen to this recorded conversation with Candra Flanagan, Director of Teaching and Learning at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, as we explore the museum’s exhibition, “Make Good the Promises: Reconstruction and Its Legacies.”