Ideas This Week
Ideas This Week is your hub for updates on all things Facing History—from announcements and featured press to expert interviews, impact stories, and essays on the ideas driving our work.
Fostering Civic Imagination and Empowering Students to Shape the Future
Help students consider and pursue a better world, become empowered civic actors, and build connections using their imaginations.
![Students sitting around round table working on projects](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-04/Students%20sitting%20around%20round%20table%20working%20on%20projects%20%28FH2196858%29.jpg?h=1ed8eb50&itok=ijO4D_s5)
Poetry and Civic Agency
Poetry has the power to connect us with the stories of others. Help your students amplify their voices, challenge inequalities, and consider social change in verse.
![High School Girl Writing](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-04/FH287141.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=0DEvuQJn)
We Learn by Doing and Reflecting: Civic Voice and Action
Discover best practices on cultivating your students’ voices and facilitating civic action projects.
![Image of youth from KQED Youth Media Challenge event](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-02/CallForChange-Lockup.jpg?h=4c6c0eb8&itok=0Bah1OEZ)
Educators Have the Power to Strengthen Democracy
See how Facing History's civics education resources strengthen students' civic skills and attitudes about democratic participation.
![Teacher And Students having a discussion](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2024-01/SL_190522_0014.jpg?h=4362216e&itok=gP64QyiG)
How Historical Empathy Helps Students Understand the World Today
Developing historical empathy can help students engage with the past while understanding their own role in the world today.
![A group of students seated in a circle engaging in a discussion](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-09/SL_190522_0610_0.jpg?h=56d0ca2e&itok=EW-j120a)
Teachers Share How They Are Ending the School Year with Intention
Members of our ELA educator Advisory Board highlight their favorite activities to help end the school year with care and celebration.
![Facing History students standing and talking](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-06/DSC_0652%20%281%29.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=HsEg8Cmx)
Bringing Proximity and Perspective to the Emmett Till Story
Prof. Chris Benson helped develop Facing History’s unit about Emmett Till's murder. He discusses the project and the profound lessons still left to learn.
![Emmett Till and his Mother](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-06/EmmettTill_and_His_Mother.jpg?h=9f031508&itok=9iXxMhu5)
Monuments and Memorials Are Conversation Starters
Dimitry Anselme discusses how monuments and memorials can be an entry point for students to discover underrepresented stories.
![The Robert Gould Shaw And Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-05/The_Robert_Gould_Shaw_and_Massachusetts_54th_Regiment_Memorial_%28c65efc6a-6b80-4def-aad7-88012b9b9e14%29.jpg?h=c9f93661&itok=LnNQzsv4)
Sometimes Empathy is Hard for Teachers
The stresses of teaching can spread educators thin emotionally.
![Graphic image: woman sits at the computer and crying covering her face with her hands](/sites/default/files/styles/dynamic_stack_296_1x/public/2023-08/WomanCryingAtDesk_Empathy_GraphicFH2187402.jpg?h=9e16a70f&itok=Z4bIGhGP)