Standing Up to Hatred and Intolerance | Facing History & Ourselves
Large crowd of citizens gathering in solidarity with refugees. Some are holding up UNHCR signs.
Mini-Unit

Standing Up to Hatred and Intolerance

Address today's global challenges with lesson plans focused on current events including the refugee crisis and contemporary antisemitism.

Published:

At a Glance

Mini-Unit

Language

English — US

Subject

  • Civics & Citizenship
  • Social Studies

Grade

6–12

Duration

Three or more 50-min class periods
  • Democracy & Civic Engagement
  • Human & Civil Rights

Overview

About this Mini-Unit

This collection provides structured activities for making connections to current events and discussing sensitive topics in a safe and reflective classroom. The lessons examine examples of division and intolerance, as well as powerful cases of individuals and communities working together and standing up to hate. Use this collection to help your students:

  • Recognize and discuss both explicit and implicit manifestations of antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia
  • Improve their critical thinking and news literacy skills
  • Develop empathy and a sense of civic responsibility
  • Identify concrete ways that young people can participate in nurturing a civil society and a stronger democracy

These resources can be used together or separately, depending on your students’ need and class time. Whether you choose to teach one lesson or all three, it is important to use these resources within a classroom context that fosters civil discourse and student reflection.

  • Recognize and discuss both explicit and implicit manifestations of antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia
  • Improve their critical thinking and news literacy skills
  • Develop empathy and a sense of civic responsibility
  • Identify concrete ways that young people can participate in nurturing a civil society and a stronger democracy

This wrapper supports a three or more 50-min class periods exploration about Standing Up to Hatred and Intolerance. It includes:

  • 3 lessons 
  • 8 readings 
  • 2 videos
  • 1 image
  • 1 handout 
  • 17 activities

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Lesson Plans

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Facing History & Ourselves is designed for educators who want to help students explore identity, think critically, grow emotionally, act ethically, and participate in civic life. It’s hard work, so we’ve developed some go-to professional learning opportunities to help you along the way.

Most teachers are willing to tackle the difficult topics, but we need the tools.
— Gabriela Calderon-Espinal, Bay Shore, NY