Facing History & Ourselves

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Join us on July 25 for a half-day School Leader Institute that will provide resources and advice to build a more equitable school culture. During the institute, you’ll gain insight from leaders and experts who have implemented equitable practices at their schools and learn about one of our newest resources, a unique Equity Reflection Tool.

Looking for US History professional development opportunities for you or your team? Join us starting July 23 for a three-day seminar exploring our new collection of US History resources. Attendees will learn how our approach to teaching US History helps students develop historical inquiry skills and emphasizes students’ capacity for civic agency.

In 1898 the United States annexed Hawaii. In this 1998 documentary, local filmmakers explored how Native Hawaiians reacted to the annexation and taught the following generations about their history. Click to watch the documentary and learn more about this important history.

Are you looking for a new approach to exploring identity through literature at your school or district? Coming of Age in a Complex World, a modular collection developed for grades 6-12, invites students to explore the complexity of identity and to develop a sense of agency as they grow up.

Paragraph 175 was a German law that made sexual relations between men illegal and contributed to the persecution of men identified as gay by the Nazi regime during World War II. Gay men were forced to wear pink triangles on their uniforms in the concentration, labor, and death camps. Following the holocaust, LGBTQIA+ activists have reclaimed the pink triangle and have turned it into a symbol of pride and resilience. Learn more about this important history and gay life under Nazi rule.

The Reconstruction Era – the period immediately following the Civil War – is essential to understanding citizenship and democracy. As we celebrate Civic Season, we encourage educators to explore our Reconstruction Era resources, lessons, and primary sources from our partners at Ancestry. These free resources on AncestryClassroom include an on-demand webinar to help educators navigate conversations about slavery and reconstruction in the classroom and lessons educators can incorporate into their curriculum this fall. https://lnkd.in/eSqw6-kS

Today marks 60 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act into law. While the law prohibited discrimination in public places and integrated schools, inequality and racism persisted. In the years following, three key civil rights leaders—Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael—played important roles in bringing about change. This lesson helps young people discuss how social movements work and the most effective way to bring about change.

Independence Day, celebrated on the fourth of July, is one of the oldest federal holidays in the United States. Juneteenth, known as the second independence day, is the newest. While these holidays may seem separate, when taken together, the history and legacy of these historic milestones tell a more complex and accurate story of America. Learn more about how we can co-create a new American tradition.

As Pride month comes to a close, we’re thinking about the ways in which we can carry the spirit of Pride with us throughout the year. LGBTQIA+ history spans across cultures and centuries, and there are ample opportunities to examine how these stories have been left out of history books. We have created a suggested reading list for educators that will introduce you to LGBTQIA+ voices often excluded from the historical narrative and encourage you to explore how LGBTQIA+ experiences intersect with other social justice movements.