Facing History & Ourselves has released four new and updated resources designed to help teachers guide students in meaningful exploration of history, democracy, and civic responsibility. These exceptional collections—covering some of the most consequential moments in history as well as contemporary issues we all face—provide educators with research-backed materials, one-of-a-kind teaching tools, and a way for students to take in multiple perspectives. By grappling with both current and past events, young learners will see in sharp relief how relevant historical moments are to our modern world.
We are committed to elevating intellectual rigor, ethical reflection, and social-emotional skills in classroom environments. The tools and content within these Facing History collections underscore using both the head and the heart, always centering how a civil society must not divorce learning from community care. Your students will come away from these collections with an understanding of their role as civic participants, knowing how to critically analyze the choices people make—choices that both support or hinder progress and the freedom of people to be happy, healthy, and safe.
1. Inquiry — Sowing Change: The Delano Grape Strike and Boycott
This C3-aligned inquiry explores the compelling question: “What can the history of the Delano grape strike and boycott teach us about what it takes to build solidarity in a movement for change?” Students are led through an examination of the 1965-70 Delano grape strike, investigating how farm workers built unity across cultural and linguistic divides and garnered national support for their cause. Central to this study is the power of collective action to create transformative social change.
Key Features:
- Ten 50-minute class periods of structured inquiry
- Primary sources and formative activities that model how to organize evidence-based arguments
- Exploration of solidarity-building strategies across diverse communities, especially as relates to the collaboration between Filipino and Mexican farm workers
- Connection to broader themes of social change and labor rights
2. Unit — Choices in Little Rock
This comprehensive four-week unit uses the lens of both individual and collective choices to unpack the pivotal 1957 desegregation of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas and the upheaval that surrounded this early civil rights moment. The actions of the trailblazing Black students—known as the Little Rock Nine—who bravely faced a barrage of hate in order to attend school, along with responses from the media, community members, and state and federal government. Students will explore the essential question: “How do the choices people make strengthen or weaken democracy?”
Key Features:
- Four-week structured curriculum with C3-aligned lessons
- Focus on democratic decision-making
- Primary sources and multimedia content
- Optional assessment with an essay component and a Taking Informed Action project for real-world application
3. Unit — Media Literacy for Critical Thinking and Democracy
In our digital age, the ability to critically evaluate information has become essential for democratic participation. This collection equips students with the tools they need to navigate today’s complex media landscape while strengthening their civic engagement skills. The resources within are designed to develop the critical thinking and literacy competencies needed to read and watch news with a discerning eye. We also address and model the importance of social-emotional skills and why they are necessary not just for processing the news, but for thoughtful participation in a digital world and a modern democracy.
Key Features:
- Critical thinking development activities
- News literacy skill-building exercises
- Social-emotional learning integration
- Civic engagement preparation
4. Collection — Teaching Holocaust Literature
This specialized collection, which was developed in part due to requests from educators across the country, provides teachers with extensive support for planning and integrating Holocaust literature in the classroom. Included are six introductory lessons that establish conceptual and historical context before students engage with Holocaust literature, ensuring sensitive and informed study of this horrific time in history.
Key Features:
- Adaptable lessons that work with various Holocaust literature selections
- On-demand workshops for professional development support
- Resources for processing emotionally challenging content
- Book guides for specific texts, such as Elie Wiesel’s memoir Night
Stay up-to-date on the latest scholarship and resources from Facing History by bookmarking facinghistory.org—our homepage is a great place to start for what’s new and popular with educators. Or visit our resource page where you can filter searches to find materials that resonate with your lesson plans.
