Get Started

Explore our resources and support to get started with using Facing History’s curriculum and approach.

If you are just beginning your journey with Facing History, these resources will provide you with an introduction to key concepts, strategies, and tools to incorporate our pedagogy into your practice.

Sandra Derstine-Desai, Teacher, Tech Boston Academy High School, on a Facing History professional development session.

Start with Yourself

Facing History classrooms are built on a foundation of supportive relationships between educators and their students and within the classroom community as a whole.

Building the trust needed to establish a successful learning community begins with an educator’s own curiosity and self-reflection. Becoming aware of one’s beliefs, values, biases, politics, and emotional responses, empowers educators to be thoughtful about how these forces and factors influence their interactions with and expectations of their students.

Most teachers are willing and wanting to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.

— Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Teacher, Bay Shore High School, Bay Shore, NY

Video

Psychologist John Amaechi talks about the impact of educators' interactions with students and the importance of acknowledging their power.

Section

Reflect on your identity as an educator and your ideas about teaching and learning, as well as your school context and the students in your classroom.

An English Language Arts teacher prepares to teach a literature unit for middle and high school students.

Video

Dr. Kimberly Parker discusses the internal work that teachers need to do during the curriculum development process in order to engage and support students in their learning.

Professional Learning

On-Demand

Virtual

Explore approaches to centering student voice, building authentic relationships and cultivating community with Molly Josephs, the creator of This Teenage Life, a youth-driven, story-sharing podcast that started as a school club.

Toolkit

This toolkit of teacher resources and classroom activities will help you lay a foundation for a reflective and caring community in the opening days of the school year.

Students move around the classroom in conversation with each other. One student looks directly into the camera with a smile on their face.

Mini-Lesson

This mini-lesson asks students to start the school year by designing their ideal learning space.

Professional Learning

On-Demand

Virtual

Watch this webinar to hear three classroom teachers discuss their best practices, reflect on classroom successes and challenges. Throughout, they share their tried-and-true Facing History teaching strategy favorites, strategies you can implement in your classroom right away.

Guide

In this classroom video, a middle school teacher leads his class through the contracting process during the first week of school and students discuss expectations and norms of how class members will treat each other.

Guide

In this classroom video, social studies teacher Tareeq Rasheed teaches the lesson “The Choices the Leaders Made (Part II)” from the Choices in Little Rock unit.

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Perspective

by Facing History and Ourselves

Apr 27, 2022

In honor of Yom HaShoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day, Facing History takes the opportunity to remember the pain, suffering, and loss sustained by the victims of the Holocaust, their families, and the generations that have followed them.

Interior of Holocaust Memorial in Boston.

Impact Story

by Jen Langley

Apr 22, 2022

Facing History Sr. Director of Marketing & Analytics Jen Langley reflects on her personal connection to the Armenian Genocide.

Crimes Against Humanity and Civilization: The Genocide of The Armenians cover.

Insight

by Kaitlin Smith

Sep 9, 2021

Facing History shares on the importance of having Black teachers in the classroom.

Teacher helping a male pupil studying at a desk in classroom stock

Insight

by Kaitlin Smith

Apr 20, 2022

Earth Day grants educators the opportunity to consider the ecological issues facing the planet and the unique ways that they are impacting the young people in their classrooms, which both elevates youth activism surrounding the issue and provides a healthy environment to process "ecological grief."

Earth is our home cardboard sign on grass.

Insight

by Julie Halterman

Apr 19, 2022

In response to the rise of legislation targeting transgender people, Facing History provides resources for educators to build an affirming, welcoming class community for your students, especially trans and non-binary students.

Pink and blue chalk with transgender symbol stock photo.

Insight

by Kaitlin Smith

Sep 8, 2021

Facing History commemorates the life of activist and Freedom Rider Ernest "Rip" Patton, Jr.

Ernest "Rip" Patton, Jr. holding a picture of himself during a visit to the Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

Insight

by Mary-Liz Murray

Sep 7, 2021

Facing History shares resources on 9/11 and its legacy to help educators answer some of the questions students might have about it.

Tourists surround a USA flag at the World Trade Center.

Featured Resource

by Kaitlin Smith

Apr 16, 2022

In response to the outpouring of discussion and debate following President Biden’s statement that Russia’s ongoing assault on Ukraine constitutes genocide, Facing History provides five reads to address crucial questions educators and their students may be asking.

Bouquet of flowers wrapped in purple fabric placed on monument.

Featured Resource

by Kaitlin Smith

Apr 13, 2022

Facing History grants educators the opportunity to take advantage of five virtual tours, exhibitions, and professional development resources to navigate the challenges that arise when teaching about genocide.

Featured Resource

by Kaitlin Smith

Apr 11, 2022

Facing History identifies six books that elevate understudied aspects of multiple historical genocides and the connections between them to aid efforts of genocide prevention within a global climate of rising hate.

Cropped Messengers of Disaster: Raphael Lemkin, Jan Karski, and Twentieth Century Genocides book cover.

Featured Resource

by Kaitlin Smith

Apr 6, 2022

In accordance with Genocide Awareness Month, Facing History offers nine classroom resources educators can utilize to help their students think critically about the specific historical and contemporary conditions under which genocides occurred to effectively unite head, heart, and conscience.

Stock photo of zoomed in on hands using laptop.

Perspective

by Facing History and Ourselves

Mar 31, 2022

Facing History staff takes a moment to reflect on personal experiences of being a minority amidst a climate of hate and the ability to use reading as a tool for discovering oneself.

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“It completely changed the lens through which I teach.”

Start with Yourself

Donate now and together we'll build a better world

You might also be interested in…

We Remember: Honoring Yom HaShoah

Why Genocide Recognition Matters

Today is the #WeNeedBlackTeachers Day of Action

Youth Activism and Grief on Earth Day

How to Build an Affirming Classroom in the Face of Anti-Trans Legislation

Remembering Rip Patton

6 Resources for Teaching About 9/11

5 Timely Reads on Genocide

5 Tools for Teaching About Genocide

6 New Books on Genocide

9 Classroom Resources on Genocide

On Existing - A personal reflection

Get Started

“It completely changed the lens through which I teach.”

“It completely changed the lens through which I teach.”

Start with Yourself

Lay the Foundation

John Amaechi Discusses the Importance of Being Present

Start With Yourself

Curriculum Planning Begins with Self-Reflection

Create an Equitable Learning Environment

Centering Student Voices to Build Community and Agency

Back to School: Building Community for Connection and Learning

Co-design Your Classroom with Your Students

Build your Teaching Practice

Effective Teaching Strategies

Contracting

Supporting a Culture of Inquiry in Your Classroom

Educators who bring Facing History into their classrooms see outcomes far beyond when the lesson ends.

Don't miss out!

Donate now and together we'll build a better world

You might also be interested in…

We Remember: Honoring Yom HaShoah

Why Genocide Recognition Matters

Today is the #WeNeedBlackTeachers Day of Action

Youth Activism and Grief on Earth Day

How to Build an Affirming Classroom in the Face of Anti-Trans Legislation

Remembering Rip Patton

6 Resources for Teaching About 9/11

5 Timely Reads on Genocide

5 Tools for Teaching About Genocide

6 New Books on Genocide

9 Classroom Resources on Genocide

On Existing - A personal reflection

Inspiration, insights, & ways to get involved