Read the Word, Read the World
Students explore the text's central message and consider how it may or may not help them make sense of their own experiences in the world today.
Reflecting on Our Obligation to Others
Students explore the concept of “universe of obligation” within the contexts of a work of literature and their own lives.
Blending In and Standing Out
Students use an excerpt from Sarfraz Manzoor memoir to reflect on identity, belonging, and wanting to feel invisible.
Analyzing Assumptions
Using visual imagery, students identify assumptions in a text and in the real world, consider the consequences of those assumptions, and build awareness of their impact on individuals and the community.
Anatomy of an Upstander
Students critically analyze the choices, risks, and rewards that are involved when they are called upon to be upstanders.
Research Three Ways
Students learn about the different ways of researching by choosing a historical or contemporary issue in the text that interests them.
Responding to Unfairness and Injustice
Students develop the vocabulary to talk about the range of human responses to injustice and then apply these labels to their analysis of a work of literature.
Understanding Social Systems as an Element of Setting
Students explore setting by analyzing the impact social systems can have on how individuals think, feel, and care about issues, choices, and actions.
Voice and Choice in Literature
Students analyze the voices and choices in a text in order to identify the perspectives that are represented.
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.
Preparing to Discuss Race in the Classroom
Use this lesson to help create a classroom environment in which students can discuss the potentially challenging topic of race in brave and constructive ways.