420 Results

Resources to Address and Challenge Antisemitism

Tools and Strategies

Teacher Talking to Upset Student in a Classroom

The topic of antisemitism is complex, deeply historical and has a myriad of elements to it. Antisemitism is not only about defaming and attacking the Jewish community; it is a symptom of a larger issue. While antisemitism has sometimes escalated to violence as we saw at the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, it more often appears in subtler ways, such as insensitive remarks or “jokes” that are brushed off, or negative stereotypes that go unchallenged. Today, Jewish young people…

October 29, 2018

Challenging Anti-Asian Bias and Acting as an Ally

Tools and Strategies

Illustration of Asians holding signs that read: "Stop Asian Hate," "Proud to be Asian," "I'm not a Virus"

In recent years, there has been an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric including bullying in schools, racist incidents, scapegoating and hate crimes impacting Asian and Asian American people. This is an important opportunity to have conversations with young people about the history of violence and injustice against the AAPI community. In addition, this time also provides an opening to engage students in learning more about the history and background of AAPI people and how to act as an ally when…

March 18, 2021

What is Voter Suppression?

Tools and Strategies

Protestors hold signs "Stop Voter Suppression"

Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsWhat is the difference between having the right to vote and having the ability to vote? The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was passed more than 50 years ago, securing the right to vote for all. Although there have been struggles with voting over the years, the Voting Rights Act secured the right to vote for Americans. But in reality, there is a difference being having the right to vote and being able to vote in the U.S. Voter suppression…

March 18, 2021

Enhancing Holocaust Instruction: 5 Tips to Prioritize Questions in the Classroom

Article

Closeup of student raising hand in classroom. Other students and teacher at front of classroom.

by: Jesse Tannetta March 04, 2021 Good questions are essential to sound pedagogy and solid teaching. As teachers, we spend countless hours creating questions for exams and structured discussions. We even construct questions spontaneously during dialogue with students, hoping to generate critical thinking and deeper cognition. At Echoes & Reflections, our pedagogy guides us to encourage inquiry-based learning; the best way to do this is to inspire students to create their own questions and…

March 04, 2021

How to Effectively Respond to Bias Incidents in Your Schools

Webinar

Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Presenters: Danika Manso-Brown, Associate Education Director, and Caterina Rodriguez, Director of PreK-12 Education Programs, ADL This webinar will help participants understand how to use ADL's toolkit, "Responding to Bias Incidents in Middle and High Schools: Resources and Best Practices for School Administrators & Educators," to address incidents effectively at their schools. By educating students about the impact of harmful language and behaviors,…

March 03, 2021

Creating a Brave Space

Lesson Plan

Teenage girl talks during group discussion of a diverse group of teens and adults

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is My Role in Creating and Participating in a Brave Space for Myself and Others? Everyone wants a welcoming classroom where every student feels appreciated, supported and able to express their ideas. While creating a safe space has been the focus for a long time, we are now calling on educators and students to create “brave spaces.” These are spaces where everyone feels that they can contribute, that they will be heard and…

January 28, 2021

Teaching Women's History in March and Beyond

Article

Five women of different nationalities illustration, standing together looking to the right

February 25, 2021 The idea of dedicating a month to Women’s History came about in 1981 when Congress requested the President proclaim a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1986, the National Women’s History Project played a significant role in expanding the observance to the entire month of March. Women’s History Month recognizes and honors the historical and present-day achievements, milestones and experiences of women. Over time, other countries…

February 25, 2021

The Insurrection Highlights the Need for Civics Learning

Article

Students meeting in a cafe having a study discussion

February 22, 2021 What if the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol, attacked police officers and threatened legislators’ lives had received robust civics and anti-bias education in high school? Would it have made a difference? Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol On Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Congress met in the U.S. Capitol to count electoral votes and certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election. This is a…

February 22, 2021

Books Matter™: The Power of Children's Literature

Article

Anyone who has ever read to or with a child—parent, family member, teacher or friend—knows books leave lasting impressions. Beyond the educational benefits, books have the power to instill empathy, affirm, teach, transport and inspire action. Books matter. EmpathyIn exposing children to other people’s stories and the motivations and feelings behind those narratives, children begin to connect with others on an emotional level, which is the foundation for bridging differences…

May 03, 2022

A Guide for Responding to School-Based Bias Incidents

Tools and Strategies

Teenage girl talks in group therapy session

Is your school experiencing a bias or hate incident? Whether it be a racist “joke,” slur, stereotype or some other form of implicit or explicit bias, school community members must be committed to addressing bias-related incidents in schools. Educators and school administrators play vital roles in creating an environment where all students can learn and thrive. Cultivating an equitable and inclusive school community requires ensuring that historically marginalized students…

January 25, 2021

What is the Electoral College?

Lesson Plan

USA Map with American flag colors and stars

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is the Electoral College? How is the Electoral College Democratic or Not? In the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, President Donald Trump won even though he did not win the popular vote. Why? He won the Electoral College vote. In other moments in U.S. History, the presidential candidate who won the popular vote was not elected, as the other candidate won via the Electoral College (including George W. Bush in 2000). These election results…

October 26, 2020

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ideas for Educators

Tools and Strategies

U.S. Army South Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Flags

National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the achievements, contributions, culture, and history of Hispanic and Latin American people. The month-long celebration begins on September 15 commemorating the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. The 2024 theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month…

May 03, 2022

Powers of Governments

Lesson Plan

Metal wheels interlocking with words written on them such as rules, policies

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School Which Form of Government Has the Most Power? What are the Differences in Power Between Each Form of Government? Which Form of Government Has the Most Power to Address Equity and Social Justice Issues? Aside from the separation of powers at the federal level, the U.S. Constitution also describes the power relationships between state and federal governments, how that power will be distributed, and the relationships between the…

October 29, 2020

The Dangers of Disinformation

Tools and Strategies

Protestor standing in front of U.S. Capitol holding sign that reads "Check Facts Before Posting"

Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsOn Wednesday, January 6, 2021, Congress met in the U.S. Capitol to count electoral votes and certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election. This is a formality that takes place every four years under our country’s system for choosing its President and Vice President. While this took place, a violent mob of right-wing extremists and others, who came to Washington, D.C. (and several state capitals) to disrupt and overturn the…

January 11, 2021

Human Rights

Lesson Plan

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What are Human Rights? What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? In 1946, in the immediate aftermath of World War II, with hopes of preventing future atrocities, an international committee with varied legal and cultural backgrounds began to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR was proclaimed by the new United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This document contains 30 Articles that set a standard…

October 02, 2020

Entering the United States

Lesson Plan

Human silhouettes on a barb wired fence covered with the American flag

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What are Ways to Enter the United States with Documentation? What are the Experiences of those with Green Cards? Against the backdrop of the recent refugee crisis and the overall increase in immigration, people have asked how one enters the United States with documentation. One way is to apply for a Green Card which leads to formal naturalization and citizenship in the United States if the application is approved. Gaining Green…

July 09, 2020

What is an Algorithm?

Lesson Plan

Digital illustration of computer downloading

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is an Algorithm? How are Algorithms Being Used in Our Daily Lives? How Could Biased Algorithms Impact Political Institutions? Algorithms are quickly replacing human judgment in many aspects of our lives. Algorithms started out as a way of making predictions, decisions and recommendations about products and entertainment by online service providers such as Amazon, Spotify, Google, Netflix and Facebook. Today,…

June 30, 2020

Let’s Avoid Holocaust Analogies in the Public Square

Article

November 18, 2020 By: Shaya Lerner The Holocaust will be forever remembered as one of the most horrific events of the 20th century. The murder of six million Jews and millions of others carried out by the Nazis and their collaborators was the largest recorded genocide in modern history. There is simply no equivalent event, historical or current, that compares with it. Despite this, over the past few months, both prior to and after the Presidential election, there have been an…

November 18, 2020

Diverse and Complex Narratives Cultivate Empathy and Action

Article

Image of a protest from NBC's Superstore TV show.

November 10, 2020 How people are portrayed on television – matters. Increasingly diverse storylines, characters and content creators are widely seen as positive, but how is this trend affecting the prevalence of stereotypes in our culture? Is it increasing our ability to empathize and act? In a recent study, Define American and USC’s Norman Lear Center examined depictions of immigrants on television and the impact of those portrayals. The study examined depictions of 129 unique…

November 10, 2020

Government 101: What is a Government?

Lesson Plan

Close up angled view of the U.S. Supreme Court

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is a Government? What are Different Forms of Government? What is My Relationship to Government? Governments, and the act of governing, have been part of human society for thousands of years. Governments have shifted and changed in the way they represent, operate and control, but one thing remains the same: they are created to organize groups of people and provide structure and accountability. Understanding the concept of…

June 09, 2020