

At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- Civics & Citizenship
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
9–12Duration
One 50-min class period- Democracy & Civic Engagement
- Racism
Overview
About This Lesson
This lesson provides the foundation for the lessons that follow. Because the events and issues at the center of this exploration are complex and disturbing, an essential first step is to create a safe and reflective classroom where students feel they can speak honestly about difficult issues without being judged or shut down by others, where they develop listening skills and the ability to hear perspectives different from their own, and where they learn to have civil discourse and not debate. Students are then given the opportunity to express and process their initial emotional reactions to Ferguson as they develop a common understanding of the basic events.
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