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Award-winning exhibiton
During its run and after its closure, Pacific Worlds has won numerous awards and been recognized by a broad swath of museum and historical societies, including:

Excellence in Exhibitions Award, with Special Achievement in Contextualizing Collections with the Community
American Alliance of Museums

Honorable Mention for Pacific Worlds' Community Engagement
Charles Redd Center for Western Studies Award for Exhibition Excellence
Western Museums Association

2016 Autry Public History Prize
Western History Association

Award of Merit
American Association for State and Local History

Celebrating the vibrant historic and cultural relationships, past and present, between the Pacific Islands and California, Pacific Worlds examines the deep and many-layered histories of this region's interactions with the Pacific, and explores the on-going connections between Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians, along with Filipinos, Native Californians, and American collectors and colonists.

Turning the familiar idea of California as the western frontier on its head and re-positioning the State as "the East Coast of the Pacific," Pacific Worlds weaves together never-before-seen objects and ephemera from the Oakland Museum of California's collections along with contemporary California Pacific Islander artwork and community voices. Through the exhibition, visitors will experience how Pacific Islanders in California today maintain cultural practices including dance and music, food, fiber arts, tattooing, surfing, and other practices.

What does the Pacific mean to you? #OurPacific #MuseumOfUs

Pacific Worlds is presented to coincide with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) in San Francisco. The exhibition is made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Celebrating 50 Years of Excellence, the Oakland Museum Women's Board, Matson Foundation, James Campbell Company LLC and Stephen and Susan Chamberlin. Additional support is provided by the OMCA History Guild.

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Pacific Worlds | Oakland Museum of California

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Award-winning exhibiton During its run and after its closure, Pacific Worlds has won numerous awards and been recognized by a broad swath of museum and historical societies, including: Excellence in Exhibitions Award, with Special Achievement in Contextualizing Collections with the Community American Alliance of Museums Honorable Mention for Pacific Worlds'

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Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum acknowledges the Tongva people as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, South Channel Islands) and pay our respects to the honuukvetam (ancestors), 'ahiihirom (elders), and 'eyoohiinkem (relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.

To stay informed with the most up-to-date information regarding the closure and reopening, follow us on social media.

Instagram

Facebook

​

Wednesday - Sunday,11am - 4:30pm

Closed: Monday , Tuesday,

Easter Sunday, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, December 24, December 25,
New Year's Day​

Visitors are encouraged to pre-purchase entrance fees on-line. $5 General AdmissionAM Members (

$3 Seniors (62+)
$3 Students with ID
Free for P IE Join Now)
Free for Children under 12

​

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PIEAM | Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum

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Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum The Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum acknowledges the Tongva people as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, South Channel Islands) and pay our respects to the honuukvetam (ancestors), 'ahiihirom (elders), and 'eyoohiinkem (relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.

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Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC

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The Chinese American Museum in Washington, DC is a new cultural and historic museum about the Chinese American experience - its history, culture, and impact on the American story. The museum is currently in development, with special visitation hours, special exhibits and events. The museum covers to

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The Virtual Asian American Art Museum (VAAAM) is a multi-year, inter-institutional digital humanities project initiated and led by the following major partners: the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, NYU Libraries, Getty Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, DePaul University, Bowdoin Art Museum, San Francisco State University, Artl@s/BasART, and Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago.

VAAAM also worked in collaboration with the Art Institute of Chicago for the museum's inaugural regional module "Chicago-Midwest." The scholarly content for the inaugural module was generously supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art and through its initiative Art Design Chicago, an exploration of Chicago's art and design history and legacy.

Rather than a "bricks and mortar" museum, VAAAM presents curated materials from US and international repositories to visualize, analyze, and contextualize Asian American art history. VAAAM facilitates the discussion of key topics emerging from the developing discourse of digital art history, American art, national and international standards for museum and institutional collection sharing, and digital access while fostering the transnational narrative of Asian American art.

The site launches in Fall 2018 with Art Design Chicago, and features dynamic interactive peer-reviewed narratives on Asian American art, history, and culture.The curated images, audio, and video components provide researchers, art educators, and the general public with exciting perspectives on Asian American art.

The "Chicago-Midwest" module launches with content focused on the topic of Postwar Japanese Art in Chicago curated by lead module curator Laura Kina (DePaul University) and scholars Jasmine Alinder (University of Wisconsin), John Tain (Asia Art Archive), and Karen Patterson (The Kohler Arts Center). The "Chicago-Midwest" module features:

"Chicago: Someday, Somewhere - the Photography of James Numata and Yasuhiro Ishimoto" curated by Jasmine Alinder, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; John Tain, Asia Art Archive

"Ray Yoshida's Museum of Extraordinary Values" curated by Karen Patterson, John Michael Kohler Arts Center

"Michiko Itatani: Painting the Cosmic Novel" curated by Laura Kina, DePaul University

VAAAM Team

VAAAM Project Director Alexandra Chang, Curator of Special Projects & Director of Global Arts Programs, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at New York University

VAAAM Technology Coordinator Alexei Taylor

VAAAM Digital Technology Director David Millman, Assistant Dean for Digital Library Technology Services, New York University

VAAAM Art + Education Director Dipti Desai, Associate Professor and Director of the Graduate Art + Education Programs, Steinhardt, New York University

VAAAM Advisory Committee

Jasmine Alinder, Associate Professor of History and coordinator of Public History at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Anne Collins Goodyear, Co-Director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art

Ilene Fort, Senior Curator and Gail and John Liebes Curator, American Art at LACMA

Mark Johnson, Professor of Art, San Francisco State University

Laura Kina, Vincent de Paul Professor of Art, Media, & Design at DePaul University

Adriel Luis, Curator for Digital and Emerging Media, Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Margo Machida, Professor Emeritus of Art and Asian and Asian American Studies at the University of Connecticut

Sojin Kim, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage

Tara McPherson is Associate Professor of Critical Studies at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts

Joanne Moser, Former Deputy Chief Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Karen Patterson, curator at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Béatrice Joyeux Prunel, PI, Artl@s/BasART, Associate Professor for Contemporary Art at the École Normale Supérieure, Paris

Noriko Sanefuji, Museum Specialist at the National Museum of American History

John Tain, Head of Research, Art Asia Archive, Hong Kong

Michael Takada, CEO, Japanese American Service Committee

Ryan Yokota, Legacy Center Manager, Japanese American Service Committee

This new scholarship on Chicago-based content has been supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art as part of the foundation's initiative Art Design Chicago, an exploration of Chicago's art and design history and legacy.

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Virtual Asian American Art Museum (VAAAM) - Asian/Pacific/American Institute | NYU

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The Virtual Asian American Art Museum (VAAAM) is a multi-year, inter-institutional digital humanities project initiated and led by the following major partners: the Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, NYU Libraries, Getty Research Institute, Smithsonian Institution, DePaul University, Bowdoin Art Museum, San Francisco State University, Artl@s/BasART, and Japanese American Service Committee in Chicago.

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The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco houses one of the most comprehensive Asian art collections in the world.

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Home | Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

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The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center tells Asian Pacific American stories through innovative museum experiences.

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Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history. Every May during Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and throughout the year, the National Park Service and our partners share those histories and the continuing culture thriving in parks and communities today.

Inspired by something you've learned or found a bit of family history in a national park? Share your experiences on social media using#AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth, and #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque.

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Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month - NPS Commemorations and Celebrations (U.S. National Park Service)

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Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and had their lives dramatically influenced by moments in its history.

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May 1 is the the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Here's why it's more important than ever to teach kids about AAPI culture and history, plus fun activities for celebrating together.

As a second generation Chinese immigrant, I've always tried to incorporate some of my parents' traditions into my own family's celebrations. My kids-ages 4, 7, and 9-happily accept red envelopes from their grandparents on Lunar New Year and are pros with chopsticks at dim sum. But children of all backgrounds can benefit from learning more about the culture, history, and contributions of Asian Pacific Americans (APA).

Given the breadth and depth of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) contributions in the U.S., how can parents introduce their culture to kids? Start with these AAPI Heritage Month facts and fun learning activities for all ages.

What Is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

AAPI Heritage Month began in 1977 as a ten-day celebration of Asian Pacific American contributions to this country. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed a law expanding the celebration to the entire month of May. The observance commemorates two events: The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, largely built by Chinese immigrants, on May 10, 1869.

Why It's Important

With 6.8 percent of the population identifying as Asian American or Pacific Islander, it's the fastest growing demographic in the United States. Yet the experiences of this group have long been overlooked and misinterpreted. And an increase in anti-Asian violence over the past year underscores the need to foster more awareness and understanding.

But what does that mean for kids? Decades of research show that representation matters: When children see themselves reflected in books, movies, and other media, it empowers them to imagine more possibilities for their future. And for all kids, learning about other cultures nurtures empathy and a broader view of the world.

Explaining AAPI History to Kids

The term "Asian American" was coined in 1968 by student activists at the University of California, Berkeley to recognize the shared challenges and experiences of Asians in America. Before then, the disparate groups from that part of the world were identified by their specific countries-Japanese American, for example, or Vietnamese American. Today, the expanded labels AAPI and APA include people with ties to the Far East (China, Korea), Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Thailand), the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan), and the Pacific Islands (Hawaii, Guam, the Samoan Islands).

Despite this diversity, Asian Pacific Americans are often seen as members of a monolith-successful, proficient in math, winners of the "model minority" lottery. But the reality is far more complicated. To help dispel these misperceptions, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center (APAC) released a video series last year entitled We Are Not a Stereotype.

According to Andrea Kim Neighbors, manager of education initiatives at APAC, the series introduces the "long and complex Asian Pacific American histories and narratives that are often missing from classroom textbooks, literature, teaching tools, and more." Stories showcase the life of Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, for instance, or the bravery of Japanese American units that served in World War II. On its website, APAC also works with different organizations to highlight artists, scientists, and other important figures from the Asian Pacific American community.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Activities to Do with Kids

Read Books Together

"Books are a great place to start, but even that can be quite overwhelming," says Neighbors. She suggests that parents consult a book review site like APAC's BookDragon, which helps parents evaluate different titles for their family libraries. Lee & Low Books, an independent publisher with a minority and multicultural focus, is another good resource for Asian Pacific American stories, suitable for all ages and reading levels.

Reading with kids, especially when they're young, is a great opportunity to expose them to different perspectives. My kids never tire of hearing me read Bringing in the New Year to them. In its colorful pages, they see our Lunar New Year traditions and also learn about new customs (such as purchasing new clothes for the day)-which they later beg me to introduce! Another family favorite is the World Snacks board book series. Each volume is a different stop on a culinary tour around the globe. The destination my kids can't get enough of: Chaat and Sweets, a whimsical look at snacks from India.

Have a Watch Party

Television and movies can help bring AAPI culture to life for children. Tweens might enjoy PBS's 5-episode opus Asian Americans, currently streaming for free. Starting with the first major wave of immigration in the 1800s, the documentary covers the arc of Asian Pacific American history in the United States. Neighbors warns, however, that some scenes are intense. "Parents may need to pre-screen it first for very young children, but it's definitely a good primer," she says.

For the younger set, Over the Moon, a gorgeously animated film from Netflix, uses the Chinese legend of Chang'E as the backdrop for its intimate family tale. Through the lens of its characters, a close-knit Chinese American family, the movie highlights customs around traditional Chinese holidays like the Moon Festival.

Visit a Museum, In Person or Virtually

Museums are a great way to get little ones excited about a subject. And even though museums are operating differently due to the pandemic, that doesn't mean they're inaccessible. In fact, museums have found creative ways to reach the public through virtual means, bringing compelling exhibits right to your home.

In Seattle, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience is supporting APA artists through special programs now available to the public. With a contribution to the UPLIFT APA Artist Relief Fund, donors earn a chance to win a cooking class, dance lesson, or original work from artists they support. The museum also hosts virtual offerings-such as ticketed tours of its exhibits and cooking classes with chefs from Seattle restaurant institutions.

Design a Tasting Menu

Perhaps the most direct way to a culture's heart, however, is through its stomach. And since AAPI cuisine is as diverse as its people, there's a dish for every taste.

For those who want to try their hand at cooking at home, food blogs are a great place to start. Often created by home cooks who want to explore and preserve family recipes, these blogs feature mouthwatering photos, step-by-step instructions, and stories. Just One Cookbook, for example, shares Japanese classics like Teriyaki Pork Donburi as well as more modern favorites like Fruit Sandwiches made with milk bread. Or dive into a few new Filipino dishes. Like many blogs, Panlasang Pinoy includes twists on classic dishes to fit different tastes such as their chicken variant of Binagoongan, a savory dish typically made with pork belly. So grab a fork (or pair of chopsticks) and dig in!

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How to Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with Kids

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May 1 is the the first day of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Here's why it's more important than ever to teach kids about AAPI culture and history, plus fun activities for celebrating together. As a second generation Chinese immigrant, I've always tried to incorporate some of my parents' traditions into my own family's celebrations.

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Disclaimer: The U.S. Department of Education does not mandate or prescribe particular curricula or lesson plans. This information is provided for the visitor's convenience and is included here as an example of the many resources that parents and educators may find helpful and use at their option. See the full FREE disclaimer.
May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month-a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island). Help kids celebrate the rich history and culture of the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have contributed to America's diversity and success with resources from the Smithsonian, the National Park Service, and more.

History

1. Explore AAPI history: From helping build the first transcontinental railroad to protecting the nation during times of war, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have played significant roles in shaping modern history. Help your kids learn more about how AAPIs have enriched America's history, by visiting some online resources.

Geography

Make a globe: Help your kids cut and wrap a map of the world around a ball. Show kids how big Asia is compared to our North American continent. As you make it, you can point out the Pacific Ocean area of the world, and how Asia is on the opposite side of the world from us.

Arts Connections

Make lei: Tell your kids that lei, which are garlands, are made and given for occasions like marriages, birthdays, and lu'aus. Colorful flowers and greenery are braided, twisted, wrapped, or strung together to create lei for the neck, head, wrists, and ankles. Take construction paper and/or tissue paper and twine to make your own lei. Have a lu'au (see Healthy Eating below) and wear them, or give them to friends.

Check out an art exhibit: Consider the diverse cultures of the AAPI community by looking at Asian art. Check out the Smithsonian's Museum of Asian Art online. Point out to your kids how some of this art uses mediums like ink on paper; have your kids try their hand at creating similar art with basic supplies, such as paper, pencil, and chalk. Older kids may like to compare the similarities and contrast the differences in media used and subjects chosen.

Social Studies

Find out more other cultures: Ask your kids how many countries make up the Asian-Pacific area of the world. Let them know that it's not a small number, but instead over three dozen. Put the names of some Asian countries (e.g., Japan, China, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam) each on a separate piece of paper, crumple into a ball, and put in a pile for kids to pick one. What do they know about that country's location in the world, what language(s) people might speak, what foods they might eat, and what kind of climate they have.
Help older kids appreciate a multitude of diverse ethnic backgrounds by exploring the Smithsonian photo galleryA Day in the Life of Asian Pacific America. Older kids may also like to read about what steps agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Humanities, have taken to preserve the APPI heritage.

Have a lu'au: Our own state of Hawaii is part of the Asian-Pacific culture. Tell your kids that a lu'au is a traditional Hawaiian feast; today the lu'au is a celebration that brings together an entire family and community. The lu'au is a contemporary expression of a traditional Hawaiian feast set with food cooked in an earthen pit oven, covered with hot rocks and leaves; food can include fish, pork, and coconut dishes. Help kids contribute a dish, like Haupia, which is Hawaiian coconut pudding, to the family meal.

Science

Learn about the lunar calendar: Explain to your kids that the lunar calendar is based on phases of the moon, unlike the calendars we typically see at home and in the classroom that are based on the earth's rotation around the sun. Observed by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Mongolian heritage, the Lunar New Year is a time of modern festivity and ancient tradition.

Discover more about trees: Let you kids know that in 1912, Japan gave several varieties of over 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S. as a symbol of friendship. These trees were planted in Washington, DC, and produce the well-known cherry blossom. According to the National Park Service, in 1965, Japan gave another 3,800 trees. In 2011, about 120 propagates from the surviving 1912 trees were sent back to Japan to retain the genetic lineage. Look at the different trees in your neighborhood or on the way to school, and see how many different kinds of trees you can find. How can you differentiate among the trees you see-do some have noticeable flowers, like cherry blossoms, in the spring? Are leaves different shapes and sizes on different kinds of tress?

Try Asian horticulture: With your kids, read about bonsai and penjing. See if your kids would like to try their hand at creating a bonsai.

Healthy Eating

Make an Asian dish: With your kids, research different countries in the Asian-Pacific region, and think about what kinds of foods the people there might eat. Why do you think fish and rice dishes are frequently consumed-could it have to do with people in a lot of Asian and Pacific countries being close to or on the water (look at your globe) or the climate and soil in those areas? Find recipes that your kids can help prepare. They might enjoy following a traditional fried rice recipe created as part of the Let's Move! initiative. or watching a video on how it's done. Many grocery stores carry ingredients common to Asian cuisine. You could also make a special trip to a local Asian market.

Reading

Read books with AAPI connections: Help your kids discover different aspects of the AAPI community by reading books related to the Asian American experience-the Smithsonian's Asian Pacific American Center has a list of books aimed at developing multicultural appreciation in students. For younger kids, consider this list of children's books, which includes books such as:

Older kids may find the Library of Congress Asian Reading Room of interest.

Get Moving

Hike in a local park: Point out to your kids that Mount Everest, the tallest point in the world, borders more than one Asian country. Pretend you are going to hike Mount Everest-the slide or jungle gym or other structure at the local playground can be the mountain. What should you pack for your climb? Don't forget to pack a healthy snack; it takes a lot of energy to climb a mountain!

These are just a few of numerous activities to emphasize the cultural contributions that Asian-Pacific Americans have made to the U.S. For more ideas, check out asianpacificheritage.gov.
This feature is based on blog posts that originally appeared on free.ed.gov, a site that is now retired. Please visit ed.gov/FREE for more information.
Last Modified: 12/01/2015

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May Is Asian-Pacific Heritage Month: 12 Ways to Enrich Kids' Appreciation of Asian-Pacific American Culture

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Disclaimer: The U.S. Department of Education does not mandate or prescribe particular curricula or lesson plans. This information is provided for the visitor's convenience and is included here as an example of the many resources that parents and educators may find helpful and use at their option. See the full FREE disclaimer.

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The umbrella term Asian-American often hides the great diversity of historical contexts, cultures and current-day issues faced by different peoples within its scope. Educators can help challenge the stereotype that all Asian peoples have the same language, culture or history by reflecting on their own assumptions and knowledge gaps and by including a variety of Asian-American voices throughout their curricula.

Teacher Reflection Questions

Do I have images, texts and/or lessons that focus on the histories and current-day realities of Asian-American people?

Do my curriculum and materials portray the diversity of experiences, cultures, languages and histories included under the term Asian-American?

What do I know about the ethnic background of my Asian-American students?

Do I have assumptions or stereotypes about the ethnicity of my Asian-American students?

How might those assumptions show up in the classroom?

Do I expect all the Asian-American students in my class to be or act a certain way?

What are some steps I can take to learn more about my Asian-American students' backgrounds? What are some steps I can take to challenge my assumptions about them?

Teaching and Learning Resources

Asian Pacific American Heritage Teaching Resources includes links to a variety of curriculum guides, online resources and lesson plans to help educators teach about the histories and cultures of Asian-American peoples. The website includes interdisciplinary lesson plans on the history and experiences of Korean Americans, Japanese Americans, Vietnamese Americans and other Asian peoples. It also links to online exhibits on particular moments in Asian-American history, such as the Japanese internment camps, Chinese immigration to California and the creation of the state of Hawaii. Many of the lessons focus on the experiences of young people and include primary sources written by young people.

Asian Nation: Asian American History, Demographics, and Issues is curated by a Vietnamese-American professor of sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The purpose of the site is to provide demographic and historical information about Asian-American communities as well as articles and blog posts about current issues that affect Asian-American communities, such as the portrayal of Asian Americans in the media, international adoption, assimilation and interracial dating. The site also links to primary sources.

As the site points out, two dominant stereotypes about Asian Americans are that all Asian Americans are the same and that all Asian Americans are foreigners. To challenge those stereotypes, ask students to research immigration stories and timelines for various ethnic groups using the "Ethnic Groups" link on the website. The page on the history of Chinese Americans provides a useful counterpoint to the stereotype that all Asian Americans are recent immigrants.

This subpage on socioeconomic statistics and demographics could be used to start a research project in which students investigate the differences among Asian-American ethnic groups today. You could ask students to research the causes of differing levels of educational attainment or economic conditions between different groups of Asian Americans.

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The umbrella term Asian-American often hides the great diversity of historical contexts, cultures and current-day issues faced by different peoples within its scope. Educators can help challenge the stereotype that all Asian peoples have the same language, culture or history by reflecting on their own assumptions and knowledge gaps and by including a variety of Asian-American voices throughout their curricula.

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ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY WEB SITES

CURRICULA RESOURCES
GENERAL ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY GENERAL ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCES
Asian American Cybernauts
A comprehensive directory of Asian American organizations, cultural & political web sites, & personal home pages.

ASIAN INDIAN AMERICAN CHINESE AMERICAN JAPANESE AMERICAN
Japanese American History Archives
The Japanese American History Archives in San Francisco houses an extensive collection of books, documents, maps, photographs, art and film relating to the Japanese experience in the US from the mid-1800s.

Japanese American National Museum
Located in Los Angeles, this museum features exhibits and extensive archives. The web site includes highlights of the museum and many history links.

442nd (Go for Broke) Regimental Combat Unit
The unofficial but very extensive site of the 442nd (Go for Broke) Unit of WWII, composed of Japanese American U.S. Army combat soldiers (profiled in Loni Ding's PBS filmsColor of Honor: The Japanese American Soldier in WWII and Nisei Soldier: Standard Bearer for an Exiled People.

FILIPINO AMERICAN

Filipinos in the USA
An extensive list of Filipino American-related Internet sites.

KOREAN AMERICAN
Korean History Project
Will publish online a lengthy manuscript on the history of Korea.

PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICAN

Pacific Islanders' Cultural Association
A not-for-profit organization whose mission is to develop and perpetuate through education the histories, cultures and traditions of all Pacific islanders.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN AMERICAN PERIODICALS

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ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY WEB SITES CURRICULA RESOURCES GENERAL ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORY GENERAL ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCES Asian American Cybernauts A comprehensive directory of Asian American organizations, cultural & political web sites, & personal home pages.

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There is much more to explore in our calendar. Find other important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, each with related lessons and resources.

Looking for age-appropriate book recommendations, author interviews, and fun activity ideas? Check out our podcasts.

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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is in May! - ReadWriteThink

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There is much more to explore in our calendar. Find other important events in literary history, authors' birthdays, and a variety of holidays, each with related lessons and resources. Looking for age-appropriate book recommendations, author interviews, and fun activity ideas? Check out our podcasts.

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated in May. Use our lessons, printables, and activities to explore the art, food, music, and writing of these great cultures. You will find handouts on Asian instruments, references on the history of tea, reading lists for the study of Asian-American history, and plenty of activities for celebrating Chinese New Year. These resources are also great to incorporate across your curriculum for Diversity Awareness Month (October).

Printables

Teach your students about Asian-Pacific-American cultures and traditions with these printables. Includes making musical instruments, Chinese New Year puppets, and mooncakes.

Lesson Plans

Our Lesson Plans will help students understand more about Asian-Pacific-American heritage with activities such as paper making, learning about Chinese money using simple algebraic equations, and more.

Quizzes

Test your students' knowledge about Asian-Pacific-American heritage with this printable multiple-choice quiz.

References

Refer to our resources on Asian-Pacific-American heritage to enhance your lessons and extend students' learning. Some activities included in the reference information.

Chinese New Year Resources

Students will enjoy learning about the Chinese New Year with these resources. Includes hands-on activities such as making musical instruments, creating a story cloth, and more.

Asian-American Food Resources

Use these resources to expand your teaching strategies and lessons about Asian-American foods. Let Asian-American students bring foods they eat at home to share with the class.

Asian-American Art Activities

Incorporate fun art activities with your lessons on Asian-Pacific-American heritage and increase learning with student created paper and musical instruments.

Asian-American Music Activities

Music is an international language. Use our resources to enhance your lessons and teach students about Asian-Pacific-American cultures by making musical instruments such as an erhu and koto, as well as learning about Asian-Pacific music.

Literature Resources for Asian-American History

Choose from these activities to help students expand their knowledge. Includes a reading passage with discussion questions and extension activities, learning about cultural diversity, and different genres of literature.

Language Arts & Asian-American History Connected

Interconnect these Language Arts activities with your lessons on Asian-Pacific-American heritage to enhance studentsâ€™ learning. Includes paper making, reading passages on Chinese immigration and their experiences in new places, and more.

Asian-American Resources for History Class

Explore Asian-Pacific-American connections and expand your students' learning using these history resources. Includes making a koto, reading passages about the Asian experiences in new places, and more.

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Asian-American and Pacific Heritage Month Resources

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated in May. Use our lessons, printables, and activities to explore the art, food, music, and writing of these great cultures. You will find handouts on Asian instruments, references on the history of tea, reading lists for the study of Asian-American history, and plenty of activities for celebrating Chinese New Year.

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Monththis May and every day with a special PBS collection of stories that explores the history, traditions and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

More than 40 Films are available on WORLD Channel through your local PBS Station this May. Take a look and check your local listings for air times.If you miss them on TV (or they're not avilable in your area), come back to watch many programs online.

China's first global art star is pushing the boundaries of freedom. How far can he go?

We meet Cambodian artist Sopheap Pich and receive the assignment to make an imprint.

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Monththis May and every day with a special PBS collection of stories that explores the history, traditions and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. More than 40 Films are available on WORLD Channel through your local PBS Station this May.

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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023

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Paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.

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Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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May

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We know that teachers are overstretched and that finding quality resources that are engaging, and also aligned or easily aligned with established learning standards, is a challenge. At QFI, we've worked with teachers and education experts to create and share classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, and interactive tools for teaching about the Arabic language and the history and culture of the Arab world. We offer resources in English, Brazilian Portuguese, German, and Arabic.

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We know that teachers are overstretched and that finding quality resources that are engaging, and also aligned or easily aligned with established learning standards, is a challenge. At QFI, we've worked with teachers and education experts to create and share classroom-ready lesson plans, activities, and interactive tools for teaching about the Arabic language and the history and culture of the Arab world.

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The Middle East is made up of many communities that encompass different ethnic groups, cultures, religions and languages. Sometimes these identities overlap but there are also important distinctions, which can be difficult to distinguish. Both Muslims and Arabs represent significant portions of the diverse American population. They played vital roles in industries that made the nation what it is today and their cultural contributions are far-reaching and profound. Since the September 11th terror attacks, a constant spotlight has been centered on Muslim and Arab populations, both here in the United States, and across the world.

Depending on where you live, your classroom may highly diverse, or perhaps you or your students have never met a Muslim or Arab. Either way, it's important to teach students of all ages about the realities of the Arab and Muslim experience in America (often very different than how it is portrayed on TV!) so that they can be thoughtful and informed members of your community. Refer to our resource guides on Islam and Islamic Terrorism (upcoming) if questions come up about extremism. If you have Muslim or Arab students in your class, take care to ensure that they feel comfortable and they do not feel compelled to speak for their entire cultural or religious group.

Before beginning this conversation in class, click here for resources on how to address difficult topics in the classroom, including guidelines for educators on countering intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, an audio conversation with educators about teaching controversial issues, and more. Also, read this article from The New York Times on how to encourage civil classroom discussion on difficult issues. Finally, click here for a list of vocabulary terms about the Middle East, which can be helpful to have on hand when teaching these topics.
Recommended Topics to Discuss

Arabs vs. Muslims; who are American Arabs and Muslims?

The history of Arab and Muslims in America

Violence against Arabs and Muslims

Prejudice against Arabs and Muslims following terrorist attacks

The ways in which Arab and Muslim Americans embody American values while maintaining their cultures

Emphasize to students that the incredibly vast majority of Arab and Muslim Americans are not violent

Lesson Plans and Teaching Materials
Tip: check out Kanopy for additional educational films, available through libraries and universities

Amreeka - A Palestinian woman and her teenage son cope with culture clash and more as they try to build a new life in rural Illinois (1h 37m; available on Amazon Prime Video)

30 Days: Muslim in America - a Christian man from the Bible Belt of America lives with a Muslim family in Michigan for a month, drastically changing his perspectives of Muslims and Islam (45m)

American Arab - "Filmmaker Usama Alshaibi sheds light on the multifaceted Arab-American experience in post-9/11 America" (1h 3m; available on Amazon, YouTube, and iTunes)

The Iranian Americans - "chronicles the underreported history of a diverse group of immigrants finding refuge, overcoming adversity, and ultimately creating new lives in the United States" (52m)

The Arab Americans - "paints a portrait of the Arab-American immigrant experience through the stories of people who, like all Americans, immigrated in pursuit of the American Dream"

Arab American Stories - a series with each episode profiling an average Arab American

PBS: Born in the USA - Muslim Americans - "challenges the misrepresentations of Muslims in America. It follows a Muslim American doctor and teacher in a post 9-11 world" (1h)

The Guardian: Dearborn, Michigan- documentary about the Muslim community in the town with the largest mosque in the North America (17m)

I Exist: Voices From the Lesbian and Gay Middle Eastern Community in the U.S. - groundbreaking documentary that gives voice to a group that has long remained silent out of shame and fear of ostracism - (57m)

Ramy - a comedy series that follows "a first-generation American Muslim who is on a spiritual journey in his politically divided New Jersey neighborhood. It explores the challenges of what it is like being caught between an Egyptian community... and a Millennial generation" (available on Hulu)

Dalya's Other Country - "tells the nuanced story of members of a family displaced by the Syrian conflict who are remaking themselves after the parents separate" (PBS)

This Muslim Girl - "An Arab American woman born in Yemen raised in the Central Valley of California sharing stories to empower women"

Salam, Girl! - features content related to building a strong confident character as an American Muslim woman, hosted by two American women who chose to convert to Islam

#GoodMuslimBadMuslim - two women satirically discuss the good and the bad of the American Muslim female experience (read an further explanation of this podcast here)

They Tried to Bury Us - Hosted by Egyptian-born comedian Tamer Kattan and his mother Kity; each week, an immigrant of the United States shares their American origin story" (contains explicit language, more suitable for teachers)

Several of these books specifically address the anti-Muslim statements and policies of Donald Trump. We encourage educators to decide for themselves if they would like to recommend these books to students.

A Very Large Expanse of Sea by Tahereh Mafi - follows a teenage Muslim-American girl living in a post-9/11 world that is highly intolerant of Muslims

This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror - the author "exposes how contemporary politics, movies, novels, media experts and more have together produced a culture of fear and suspicion that...threatens all of our civil liberties in the present"

Muslim Girl: A Coming of Age Story by Amani Al-Khatahtbeh - "a harrowing and candid memoir about coming of age as a Muslim American in the wake of 9/11, during the never-ending war on terror, and through the Trump era of casual racism"

Love, Hate and Other Filters by Samira Ahmed - "an Indian-American Muslim teen copes with Islamophobia, cultural divides among peers and parents, and a reality she can neither explain nor escape"

Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan series by G. Willow Wilson - "Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City - until she suddenly gains extraordinary gifts. But who is she now? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman?"

Mariam Sharma Hits the Road by Sheba Karim - "Three Pakistani-American teenagers, on a trip through the land of pork ribs, mechanical bulls, and Confederate flags"

How Does It Feel To Be A Problem? by Moutsafa Bayoumi - "A study of the Arab- and Muslim-American experience as reflected in the lives of seven young men and women in Brooklyn evaluates their encounters with prejudice and their relationships with friends and family members in the Middle East"

Love Thy Neighbor: A Muslim Doctor's Struggle for Home in Rural America by Ayaz Virji and Alan Eisenstock - A powerful true story about a Muslim doctor's service to small-town America and the hope of overcoming our country's climate of hostility and fear"

Are you looking for someone local to talk to your class about Islam - maybe a local faith leader, organizer, or imam? Search IslamicFinder for a database of mosques and Islamic center in your area, and consider reaching out. Many people are happy to come share their religion and culture with a classroom!

Need more info? Click here for a list of National Resource Centers on the Middle East.

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Arab and Muslim Americans - TeachMideast

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The Middle East is made up of many communities that encompass different ethnic groups, cultures, religions and languages. Sometimes these identities overlap but there are also important distinctions, which can be difficult to distinguish. Both Muslims and Arabs represent significant portions of the diverse American population.

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Framework

Many religions have things in common. At the same time, each is unique. In the shared category, Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, descends from the first five books of the Bible. That's why some people refer to members of all three religions as "followers of the Book." Some people also call the three religions "Abrahamic" because they all descended from Abraham. In the unique category, Jews were the first to believe that there was one God; Muslims believe that Muhammad was God's messenger and Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Messiah.

In the same way that religions are both alike and unique, so, too are the members of those religions. In this activity, students learn more about Muslims in the United States and practice graph-reading skills.

Resources

For information and educational materials about Islam, as well as a speakers' bureau, visit the Islamic Networks Group.

Part 1: Stereotypes

Background

Before you can debunk stereotypes, you need to be clear about what they are. In this section, you will define the term, identify some stereotypes and discuss what makes stereotypes harmful.

Activities

1. Begin your work by discussing stereotypes. As a class, define the term. Then identify some stereotypes that you sometimes experience because you are a student. For example, do people sometimes make assumptions about you based on your age or on the school you attend? What is wrong about those assumptions? Generalize from your discussion by answering the question: What makes stereotypes destructive?

2. Divide the class into small groups to explore Debunking Misconceptions About Muslims and Islam. Have a group member read aloud the first misconception. Have each group member take a turn answering these questions: Have you heard this stereotype before? Did you believe it? Then have the same group member read the explanation on the handout of what makes the misconception inaccurate. Consider the other stereotypes one at a time, following the same procedure. When your group has debunked all four stereotypes, formulate a group statement that completes this prompt: In this activity about stereotypes, we learned ___________. Have each group share its statement.

Part 2: Beliefs

Background

One way to dispel stereotypes is to understand that there are variations within any group. You may, for example, know about differences within some religions. In Christianity, some Catholic practices differ from some Protestant practices, for example. Some Orthodox Jewish practices differ from some Reform Jewish practices. The same is true of Muslims. Within the American Muslim community-about 2.5 million people-there are subgroups defined by their different approaches to their faith. Sunni Muslims, for example, believe that the first four caliphs, or leaders, of the religion are Muhammad's successors. The majority of the world's Muslims are Sunni. Shiites, on the other hand, reject the first three caliphs and believe that Ali was Muhammad's successor.

Activities

1. The two graphs you will study in this activity provide information about differences of belief and religious commitment within the U.S. Muslim population. Both are based on data published in 2007. Look at Graph 1: U.S. Muslims' Beliefs and answer the questions that follow.

2. Look at Graph 2: Religious Commitment Among U.S. Muslims and answer the questions.

3. When you have finished working with both graphs, write one or two sentences about what you have learned from them and how knowing that information affects any stereotypes you had about Islam and U.S. Muslims.

Part 3: The U.S. Muslim Population

Background

Just as there are similarities and differences within the U.S. Muslim population, there are similarities and differences between the U.S. Muslim population and the U.S. population as a whole. Just as learning about the differences within the Muslim population can help dispel stereotypes, learning about the similarities and differences between Muslim Americans and the general U.S. population can help dispel stereotypes.

Activities

1. The table U.S. Muslims and the Larger U.S. Population provides data that compare the two groups. Look at the table and answer the questions that follow.

2. When you have finished working with the table, discuss as a class what you now know about U.S. Muslims that you didn't know before, and how knowing that information affects stereotypes you had about Islam and U.S. Muslims.

Extension Activity

1. Look for more recent data about U.S. Muslims and compare the newer data with the 2007 data you used in these activities.

2. Compare and contrast the data you have used in this lesson with data from a 2009 Gallup Poll study, " Muslim Americans: A National Portrait." Pay particular attention to the different methodologies used by Gallup and by Pew researchers. How do different methods and different ways of organizing data affect your understanding?

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Debunking Stereotypes About Muslims and Islam

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Many religions have things in common. At the same time, each is unique. In the shared category, Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, descends from the first five books of the Bible. That's why some people refer to members of all three religions as "followers of the Book."

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April is National Arab American Heritage Month. This month celebrates the history, culture and people that have been adding to the landscape of the United States for years. It is especially important considering the current climate in our country and hopefully a month of recognizing contributions of Arab Americans will help recognize the importance of them to America. This unit includes famous Arab Americans in entertainment and technology. In addition there is a comprehensive quiz, a word search and crossword puzzle focused on Arab American Heritage.

National Arab American Heritage Month for Kids

Steve Jobs is one of the most well-known men in modern history. He was the co-founder of the Apple Computers. If you have used an iPhone, iPad, an Apple computer or any other Apple product, you have Steve Jobs to thank. He was the son of a young Syrian man and soon after his birth was adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs. He learned about electronics working with his father on projects in his garage as a boy. He met his Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak when he was in high school and after an extremely short college career, he and Wozniak founded Apple in 1976. Steve Jobs was 21. In 1980 After several years as a privately owned company, the pair allowed the public to buy shares in the company and on day 1 it was worth $1.2 Billion! Steve was also the owner of Pixar Animation Studio famous for the movies Toy Story, Finding Nemo and The Incredibles. The company merged with Disney and he became the largest shareholder in Disney.

Donna Shalala is most for being the for being the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton from 1993-2001. She is the longest holder of the position in history and was the first Lebanese-American to hold a Presidential Cabinet position. Donna was an early member of the Peace Corps,serving in Iran from 1962-1964. She was a professor of political science and education for several years before becomingPresident of Hunter College in 1980. She later became the Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, becoming the first woman to lead a Big Ten School. As Secretary of Health and Human Services Shalala ensured over 3 million children received health care and raised the childhood immunization rates to the highest in history. She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor from President George W. Bush, in 2008. She has served as the President of Miami University and is currently the president of the Clinton Foundation.

Paula Abdul is of Syrian descent and has a long career in the entertainment industry. Paula is a dancer, singer, choreographer and television personality. She was born in San Fernando, California and was an exceptional student during high school. She went on to attend California State University and during her freshman year she became a dancer for the Lakers basketball team. She left college to pursue dancing and soon was hired as Assistant Dance Director by the Jackson 5 for their Victory tour and this was soon followed by choreographing for many famous acts including Janet Jackson, Duran Duran, and George Michael. Later, she became a singer releasing 3 albums selling over 30 million records and winning a Grammy Award. She served as a judge on American Idol for eight seasons.

Tony Shalhoub is a Lebanese American Actor. He is the winner of a Golden Globe for Best Actor in Television Series (Musical or Comedy), 2 Screen Actor Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He was born in Wisconsin, one of ten children. He studied Drama in college at The University of Wisconsin and earned a Masters degree from the Yale School of Drama. During his career he has been an actor on Broadway and has been nominated for several Tony Awards. He is famously known for his starring role on the television series Monk. In 2005, he established the Arab-American Filmmaker Competition in conjunction with the Network of Arab-American Professionals and Zoom In-Focus Productions. Tony has played featured roles in many movies including Spy Kids, voiced Luigi in Cars and Cars II, and Splinter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles:Out of the Shadows.

Vocabulary Words - There are some challenging vocabulary words related to the famous Arab Americans that are highlighted in this unit. A quiz and word search using these words will help children retain these words:

Using a world map or globe, have the children identify the parts of the world that are considered the Arab Nations. Using the map/globe, have the children locate the 22 countries that are Arab:

Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Bring out the crayons, pencils, and construction paper! The flags of the Arab nations are gorgeous! Have each child recreate one (or more) national flag that they are attracted too. Have them learn one or two facts about the country and share it with the class.

Steve Jobs was one of the innovators who made personal computers available to everyone. Have a discussion about how the students lives would be different without access to computers - smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops.

Computers operate by utilizing code that makes them run and do tasks that we direct them to do. Have each child explore coding by visiting websites/apps that are designed to introduce children to programing. Some examples include , and .

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National Arab American Heritage Month for Kids | Woo! Jr. Kids Activities

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April is National Arab American Heritage Month. This month celebrates the history, culture and people that have been adding to the landscape of the United States for years. It is especially important considering the current climate in our country and hopefully a month of recognizing contributions of Arab Americans will help recognize the importance of them to America.

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Music & Arts

On July 30, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee hosted artists Doris Bitter and Helen Zughaib to share their artwork and discuss Arab American contemporary art. Sarah Rogers, a visiting professor of art history at Middlebury College, moderated their conversation.

Rogers introduced the history of Arab art in America. Scattered exhibitions across the U.S. in the 1950s and 60's set the stage for a "more sustained infrastructure" in the 1980s. This infrastructure consisted of publications, permanent galleries dedicated to Arab American art, and eventually the opening of the National Museum of Arab American Art in Dearborn, MI in 2005.

Artists themselves, Rogers argued, were essential to laying these foundations, as they "work[ed] not just as practitioners, but as activists, as curators, as researchers, and so on." However, she pointed out the "fraught nature of this term, 'Arab American art,' as it encompasses a very complex history and an equally diverse body of artists and artworks."

Using their artworks as a launching point, Bittar and Zughaib discussed the challenges they face in a post-9/11 world as Arab American artists.

Before Sept. 11, Bittar was not compelled to engage with the Arab world or Islamic art history. In its aftermath, though, she recalls saying to herself, "I guess I have to go back to the Arab world now." Yet she continues to draw inspiration from across the globe. "Basically what I'm interested in," she explained, "is finding out if there are shared heritages when you look at patterns across cultures."

In her collaborative and performative works, Bittar strives to spark dialogues about different perceptions and shared histories, but stops short of labeling her work as "activist" art. Her work, she sums up, "is about figuring out how to bring people into a conversation. And as Arab Americans...it's a challenge for us to deal with the stereotypes, tell our own history, our own stories and at the same time move the conversation forward toward peace, toward something constructive."

Creating space for dialogue, reflection and understanding also drives Zughaib's practice. Describing 9/11 as an "awakening," she turned to painting and visual storytelling as a way to challenge stereotypes and respond to divisive events.

In some of her work, she directly "parallels" the artist Jacob Lawrence's "Migration" series from 1940-41 that documented the mass migration of African Americans to the northern states. "In Stories My Father Told Me" and "Syrian Migration," she documents stories of nostalgia and migration from her family, as well as the stories of millions of Syrians forced to flee in recent years. Delving into different episodes and steps marking their journeys, she captures the "confusion and disruption" the Syrian war has caused around the world, but also underscores "how quickly we forget" and "move on."

By citing familiar Western artists, Zughaib strives to "bring East and West together," while emphasizing the necessity and urgency of telling her own story, and encouraging Arab Americans to tell their own stories.

Patterns and beauty, Rogers pointed out, are inherent to the works of both Bittar and Zughaib. Both draw the viewer in, for "if we can look at an image a little bit longer and not turn away, we're more apt to hear what the message is," Zughaib explained. While the aesthetics are essential, it is imperative to also "hear what I'm trying to say that is behind that," she added.

- Eleni Zaras

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Arab American Artists Challenge Stereotypes Through their Work

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For more than 38 years, the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs has been essential reading for the nation's most sophisticated populace. Our readers rely on us for the most comprehensive, analytical coverage of news from the Middle East, Muslim countries, Europe, and the United States.

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10 Modern Arab Artists

posted on: Dec 1, 2020
By: Kameron Dreher/Arab America Contributing Writer
If you're looking for new artists to follow, look no further. The following Arab artists are just a few of many who have made their mark on the Arab world and beyond. Each one is revolutionary in their own right and deserves to be recognized, whether they are calling attention to human rights issues or exploring new mediums or methods.

1. Tammam Azzam

Born in Damascus, Syria, Tammam Azzam is a successful painter and graphic design artist. Following the start of the conflict in Syria, Azzam turned to digital media and graphic art to create visualizations of the conflict for international viewers. In 2013, Azzam made worldwide headlines when his freedom graffiti went viral on social media.

2. El Seed

El Seed is a French/Tunisian artist born in Paris. An artist and calligrapher, El Seed work primarily with subjects that seem contradictory but his art reflects the reality of mankind and our current world. With each of his projects, he supports humanist values and spreads the message for the service of humanity. In 2017, he won the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab culture.

3. Nourine Hammad

With her own independent study and practice, Hammad learned the techniques to create hyper-realistic three-dimensional art. Hammad continuously captures the gaze of people mistaking her paintings for real objects. "By approaching her subject matter honestly and without vanity, she strives to create detailed work that celebrates perfection and imperfection that coexist together."

4. Reem Nazir

A painting member of the women's Saudia at Art Group, Reem Nazir's colorful still lifes, landscapes, and jewelry paintings personify Saudi Arabia and its culture. She illustrates this through oil or acrylic paint; her particular focus on color and weight of mark introduces a fresh and energetic outlook to painting.

5. Noha Bahr

Noha Bahr, an Egyptian visual artist creates beautiful sketches and digital artwork. Inspired by cartoons from her childhood, Bahr has created her own quirky characters and skits with a touch of vintage. She creates characters that often resemble children's comics and storybook illustrations. She incorporates 3D objects with 2D graphics.

6. Shurooq Amin

Born to a Kuwaiti father and Syrian mother, Shurooq Amin is a mixed media artist who is focused on changing society. Following a series of critically acclaimed exhibitions in her native Kuwait, "Amin has emerged as a leading feminist voice in the Arabian Gulf." Combining photography and paintings, she depicts anonymous multi-generational figures with humor and irony to show contradictions of a conservative state.

7. Ahmed Emad El-Din

Ahmed Emad El-Din is an Egyptian digital artist who became widely recognized after his design was showcased on Pink Floyd's 2014 album, The Endless River. Eldin has practiced art since the age of 13 and is a self-taught artist who draws from influential artists: Salvador Dali and the "dark world" of art.

8. Huda Beydoun

While Beydoun originally started in painting, her recent works have included digital art, mixed media, and photography. Her bold style and aesthetic forgoes the traditional calligraphic style associated with Saudi Art. Her graphic style lends itself to developing motifs that act as a signature to her artwork. She uses Disney images and symbols such as Mickey Mouse to juxtapose the images of undocumented images of her homeland. She says, "An asymmetrical reflection or the interaction, or lack thereof between undocumented immigrants and I."

9. Helen Zughaib

A painter and multimedia artist, Helen Zughaib uses her Middle Eastern background and her collective experiences in America to bring a unique twist to her artwork. Originally from Lebanon, she currently lives and works in Washington D.C. She paints primarily in gouache and ink on boards and canvases. More recently, she has worked with wood, shoes, cloth, and mixed-media installations. Today, as a US cultural envoy to the West Bank, Palestine, she hopes that art can be used to foster positive dialogue about the Middle East.

10. Aisha Mershani

Aisha Mershani is a photographer who has documented Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. Her photographs, which cannot be shown/seen in mainstream media, have exposed the reality of life in the West Bank by highlighting the Palestinian movement and determination of the Palestinian people.

Check out Arab America's blog here!

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posted on: Dec 1, 2020 By: Kameron Dreher/Arab America Contributing Writer If you're looking for new artists to follow, look no further. The following Arab artists are just a few of many who have made their mark on the Arab world and beyond.

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Arab American National Museum - Arab American History and Culture

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The Arab American National Museum (AANM) is the first and only museum in the United States devoted to documenting and sharing Arab American contributions that shaped the economic, political and cultural landscapes of American life. The Museum also brings to light the shared experiences of immigrants and ethnic groups, paying tribute to the diversity of our nation.

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Arab American Stories - Arab American Stories

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Major Funding for Arab American Stories: A National Discussion and Outreach provided by

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National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, and culture of the diverse population of Arab Americans. In 2019, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) issued a congressional resolution for NAAHM to be recognized on a national scale.

"It is my hope as a strong and proud Arab American in Congress that our nation can uplift our contributions in the United States by supporting Arab American Heritage Month," Tlaib, a first-generation American, said about the resolution. "Our history here in the U.S. is rooted in our love for freedom and equality, as well as access to opportunities to help our neighbors thrive, and we see this every day in Michigan. From the agriculture sector to medicine and beyond, we have been at the forefront in building our country without losing our rich culture."

Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL), who is of Lebanese descent, told the House that NAAHM is extremely meaningful for "recogniz[ing] the contributions of the 3.7 million members of my community in the United States. In medicine, law, business, technology, civic engagement, government, and culture, Arab Americans have been, and continue to be, an invaluable part of the mosaic of American life."

Who is considered an Arab American?

Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world's 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage.

The world's 22 Arab nations are Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoro Islands, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Terminology

In the U.S., many people conflate "Arab" and "Middle Eastern," but linguistic and geographical factors mean that these terms are not fully interchangeable, according to the Arab American National Museum (AANM). The Middle East includes non-Arabic nations such as Iran, Israel, and Turkey. Similarly, not all Arabic nations are located in what is considered the Middle East - including Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco.

Religion

A common misconception is that all Arab Americans are Muslim. Approximately 25 percent practice Islam, and an estimated 63 to 77 percent are Christian, according to the Arab American Institute.

Language

A 2016 study by the Pew Research Center found that Arabic is the fastest growing language in the U.S. The number of people who speak Arabic at home increased by 29 percent between 2010 and 2014.

Population Size

There are approximately 3.7 million Arab Americans in the U.S.

Immigration

Political instability and war have led to a significant rise in Arab immigration. Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the number of Arab American refugees has skyrocketed, with nearly 70,000 moving to the U.S. in 2017, compared with just 26,000 in 2003. President Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban and immigration policies, however, decreased the number of refugees able to find asylum in the U.S. in recent years.

Education

Arab Americans are among the most educated demographic. More than 40 percent have a four-year degree, and 17 percent have a postgraduate degree, according to the website arabamericanstories.org.

Supporting Arab American Students

Arab Americans have long been "left out of the academic discourse, remaining a woefully understudied population for aspiring undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in counseling, psychology, and social work," writes Souzan Naser, an associate professor and counselor at Moraine Valley Community College, in a recent article in Liberal Education.

Naser's research shows that many campus counselors have not been trained to meet this population's unique needs. "Yet many Arab and Muslim students are in desperate need of counselors who understand students' issues within the context of culture, politics, and religion and who will not use Arab American identities against the students," Naser writes. Colleges and universities must understand how anti-Arab sentiment and the rise in xenophobia affects these students if they are to support them.

"Arab American students' lived experiences today are jeopardizing their academic success and emotional well-being. Some are living in a state of hyperarousal - trying to manage racing and unsettling thoughts in anticipation of danger, their minds and bodies on permanent alert," Naser argues. "Others are despondent or in a state of hypoarousal, feeling numb and empty. Students who have had their experiences dismissed, misheard, or judged will feel discouraged about returning to see a counselor."●

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National Arab American Heritage Month | INSIGHT Into Diversity

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National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, and culture of the diverse population of Arab Americans. In 2019, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) issued a congressional resolution for NAAHM to be recognized on a national scale.

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April

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In 1942, at the age of 17, Maria Tallchief moved to New York City to pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer. With luck, grit, and determination she joined the famed Ballet Russe Monte Carlo as an apprentice and moved quickly through the ranks, dancing first in the corps de ballet and later performing leading roles.  Tallchief is widely considered America's first major prima ballerina.

You can learn more about Maria Tallchief (Osage Nation), featured on a new quarter from the US Mint, and other Indigenous women in our featured biographies this month.
Use the NWHM's compendium of online biographies to spark curiosity and dig deeper into women's impact throughout our shared national history. Explore more here.

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A renowned leader in women's history education, the National Women's History Museum brings to life the countless untold stories of women throughout history and serves as a space for all to inspire, experience, collaborate, and amplify women's impact.

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Lessons, Activities, Background Reading, and More

Lessons & Activities

Lesson Plans

Women's History Month Word Cloudswomen's History Month Word Clouds (PDF , 205 KB, 2 pgs) Students ( K-12) create "word clouds" using excerpts of letters and speeches by famous women.

Women and Congress Students ( K-12) explore the benefits of increasing women's congressional representation.

March is National Women's History Month Students ( grades 3-12) explore the accomplishments of women in U.S. history with your class by creating a scrapbook that highlights the accomplishments of famous American women.

In the Shadows, Agents of Change (PDF , 131 KB, 3 pgs.) Students ( grades 6-8, adaptable for 4-5) explore the role played by gender during an era of expanding political rights and personal liberties.

Nineteenth Century Women: Struggle and Triumph Students ( grades 6-8. 9-12) examine journals, letters, narratives and other primary sources and write about women who helped shape the history of the United States.

Actions That Changed The Law The story behind the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, students (6-8, 9-12) examine the lawmaking process, consider how Supreme Court decisions can prompt better laws, and learn about the rights and responsibilities they will have as workers.

Sets of Additional Lessons

Women's History Month A collection of galleries, lesson plans, documents, and videos for grades 6-12.

Women's History Month Lessons and activities.

Women and Social Movements In The United States (1600-2000) Twelve document-based questions and more than a hundred lesson ideas. ( 6-8, 9-12)

Activities

Tools

Oral History Tools
Features a set of questions for eliciting women's stories for use in your family, classroom, or community program.
American Women's History: A Research Guide: Oral History
Background Resources

Students and Educators Biographies, electronic fieldtrips, resources, downloadable posters from the National Women's History Museum.
American Women Jewish Women's Archive Discovering American Women's History Online
Women's History Month Library of Congress
Resources from The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Women's History Teaching Resources
Portraits, photographs, online exhibit, world music, women inventors, and more

Pages from Her Story - For Teachers (Library of Congress)
Excerpts from women's diaries, journals, memoirs, reminiscences, letters, speeches, and interviews spanning 1675-1957.

For Teachers - Women's History Month
Primary sources, lesson plans, student activities, collection guides, and research aids.

Notable Speeches and Addresses by U.S. Women, 1849-present
Full text speeches and links to brief biographies.

Women in World History
Primary sources and classroom modules.
Biographies of Women Mathematicians
Women in Science
Full and partial text access to written works of several female scientists accompanied by biographies.

Changing the Face of Medicine
Examine women's contributions to medicine.

National Women's History Month
Women's contributions to national defense.
6 Women Scientists Who Were Snubbed Due to Sexism
Museum Websites

Quizzes & Printables

Quizzes

Printables

Audio/Video
last updated: January 24, 2020

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Lesson Plans Women's History Month Word Cloudswomen's History Month Word Clouds (PDF , 205 KB, 2 pgs) Students ( K-12) create "word clouds" using excerpts of letters and speeches by famous women. Women and Congress Students ( K-12) explore the benefits of increasing women's congressional representation.

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To celebrate Women's History, Teaching with Historic Places features the following lesson plans that consider important aspects of women's history. Created by National Park Service interpreters, preservation professionals, and educators, these lessons are free and ready for immediate classroom use by students in history and social studies classes.

* Adeline Hornbek and the Homestead Act: A Colorado Success Story (67)
Discover how Adeline Hornbek, a single mother of four, defied traditional gender roles to become the owner of a successful ranch under the Homestead Act. (National Park)

* Back Stairs at Brucemore: Life as Servants in early 20th-Century America (105)
Understand the "servant" experience in early 20th-century America, as well as the pros and cons for women working in factories versus domestic service.

* The Battle of Prairie Grove: Civilian Recollections of the Civil War (70)
Understand the violence of the Civil War through the eyes of young women whose homes were in the midst of an important battle and continuing conflict.

* Birthplace of John F. Kennedy: Home of the Boy Who Would Be President (33)
Visit JFK's birthplace and consider the influence of family culture and environment, and the role of Rose Kennedy, on the development of the future president's personality, character, and values. (National Park/National Historic Landmark)

* Chatham Plantation: Witness to the Civil War (45)
Learn why this home in Fredericksburg, Virginia, was a center of military activity, and consider the impact the war had on the family whose property became part of the battlefield. Also learn about Clara Barton who cared for the wounded when this home served as a hospital. (National Park)

* Clara Barton's House: Home of the American Red Cross (27)
Follow Barton as a leader of charitable causes, from caring for the wounded on Civil War battlefields to founding the American Red Cross. (National Park/National Historic Landmark)

* Discover the Mary Ann Shadd Cary House (Lightning Lesson 1)
Follow the footsteps a free African American woman who defied an oppressive culture and broke barriers in education, newspaper publishing, and law before and after the Civil War.

* First Lady of the World: Eleanor Roosevelt at Val-Kill (26)
Examine how Roosevelt's activities at home reflected her interest in humanitarianism, as epitomized by her leadership in the creation of the UN's Declaration of Human Rights. (National Park)

* Floyd Bennett Field: Naval Aviation's Home in Brooklyn (120)
Learn about the vital role played by naval aviators delivering aircraft to combat-bound units in the Pacific during WWII, and the women workers on the home front who helped in one of U.S. history's greatest industrial feats. (National Park)

* From Canterbury to Little Rock: The Struggle for Educational Equality for African Americans
Understand the magnitude of the struggle involved in securing equal educational opportunities for African Americans and examine how Prudence Crandall challenged the prevailing attitude toward educating African Americans in New England prior to the Civil War. (Little Rock Central High School is a National Park and National Historic Landmark/Prudence Crandall Museum is a National Historic Landmark)

* Iolani Palace: A Hawaiian Place of History, Power, and Prestige (161)
Explore the palace, a symbol of independence, where the last Hawaiian monarchs lived and fought for Native sovereignty in the face of European and American colonization. (National Historic Landmark)

* Lafayette Park: First Amendment Rights on the President's Doorstep (139)
Learn how a group of determined women selected Lafayette Park, across from the White House, to demonstrate for their right to vote, providing a First Amendment model for many others. (National Park/National Historic Landmark)

* The Mary McLeod Bethune Council House: African American Women Unite for Change (135)
Learn about Mary McLeod Bethune and how she and the organization she founded promoted political and social change for African American women. (National Park)

* The M'Clintock House: A Home to the Women's Rights Movement (76)
Learn why a family home in upstate New York became the site for the creation of one of the most important documents in the history of American women. (National Park)

* Navesink Lighthouse and Robbins Reef Lighthouse: Lighting the Way through New York Bay (131)
Learn about two historic lighthouses that illustrate how technological advancements contributed to maritime safety and about the isolated, often routine, but sometimes heroic life led by Kate Walker, keeper at Robbins Reef from 1894 to 1919. (Navesink Light Station is a National Historic Landmark.)

* The Old Mormon Fort: Birthplace of Las Vegas, Nevada (122)
Learn how an obscure settlement created during Mormon expansion grew into a well-known and prosperous American city, and meet Helen Stewart--known as the first lady of Las Vegas--who was a rancher and influential member of the town that she helped start.

* The Penniman House: A Whaling Story (112)
Meet Captain Edward Penniman, and learn about 19th-century whaling in southeastern Massachusetts and how the whaling industry impacted Penniman's family and life. (National Park)

* Two American Entrepreneurs: Madam C.J. Walker and J.C. Penney
Examine the historic places associated with two of America's most famous 20th century business people.(National Historic Landmarks)

* A Woman's Place Is In the Sewall-Belmont House: Alice Paul and Women's Rights (148)
Meet activist Alice Paul and visit the headquarters of her National Woman's Party in Washington, DC, to learn about how American women organized to increase their political rights in the 20th century. (National Historic Landmark)

For more information about women's history, visit the National Register of Historic Places feature.

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Women's History Feature - Teaching with Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service)

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To celebrate Women's History, Teaching with Historic Places features the following lesson plans that consider important aspects of women's history. Created by National Park Service interpreters, preservation professionals, and educators, these lessons are free and ready for immediate classroom use by students in history and social studies classes.

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Women's History Month for the Classroom | NEA

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Teach about the challenges and accomplishments of women throughout history with these lessons, activities, background reading, and more.

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Image: From left to right, the women featured above are Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Rosa Parks.
Every March, we celebrate Women's History Month. The year 2020 was a particularly special milestone, as we marked a century of women's suffrage. The passage of the 19th Amendment in August 1920 secured American women's right to vote for the first time in history. It was a hard-fought victory spanning decades in which suffragists made speeches, marched, picketed, and went on hunger strikes. For some, the effort landed them in jail.

Yet passage of the 19th Amendment was just one step in making change for American women. At the time, discriminatory laws kept many Black, Latinx, Native American, and Asian women from voting. It wasn't until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the vote was protected for all citizens of the United States.

Women's History Month is a great time to honor the accomplishments of suffragists, activists and all those who work to make the world a better, more equal place for women-from Malala Yousafzai to Harriet Tubman, from Susan B. Anthony to Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to Rosa Parks. Let students who are turning 18 know that by exercising their right to vote, they will be carrying on the work of these women. With the right to vote comes the opportunity to inspire change, for women, for our local communities, and humanity as a whole.

Women's History Month Lesson Plans and Activities: Elementary and Middle School

Use these Women's History Month activities for students to celebrate women's history and give them a peek at the climate for women in the early 1900s as they fought for their right to vote. Additionally, you can share this podcast conversation with your class, where Girl Scouts CEO Sylvia Acevedo discusses how the organization prioritizes teaching civic responsibility and ways young girls can make change happen in their local governments.

1. Power of Persuasion (Rhetorical Analysis)

Have students read a speech advocating for women's suffrage. They might read Sojourner Truth's " Ain't I a Woman?" or Susan B. Anthony's " Women's Rights to the Suffrage." Have them answer the following questions about the speech:

Who is the audience? How do you know?

What assumptions does the writer make about her audience?

What strategies does she use to persuade? Do you think those strategies would be effective for her particular audience? Why or why not?

Then, challenge students to write a one-minute speech tackling an issue facing women today, such as equal pay, paid maternity leave, the lack of women in positions of power, or gender bias in the workplace. Tell students to take a position on the issue and back it up with evidence, including the opinion of experts or data from studies. Remind students to consider their audience and which persuasive strategies might be most effective: hard facts, emotional appeal, or a combination of both. Allow time for students to make their speeches to the class.

2. Get the Message? (Editorial Cartoon Analysis)

Tell students that an editorial cartoon is an illustration depicting a political or social message that typically relates to current events. Invite students to examine the scene depicted in the 1909 editorial cartoon "Election Day!" available on the Library of Congress website. Ask questions including:

What is happening in the scene?

What issue does the cartoon address?

What do you think is the cartoon's message? How can you tell?

Who might disagree with the message and why?

Have students create speech bubbles for the man and woman in the cartoon to represent what each might say in this situation. Allow time for students to share their writing with the class. Then, challenge students to create an editorial cartoon expressing support for women's right to vote. This includes first having them brainstorm a list of reasons why women should be guaranteed the right to vote. Students can read some of the arguments women of the time made here. Challenge students to convey those reasons in the cartoon.

3. Lights, Camera, Action! (Research and Art)

Challenge students to produce a short "film" spotlighting an influential woman. Choose a theme for a film series, such as "Voting Rights Heroes" (Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Alice Paul, Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin, or Adelina Otero-Warren); "Female Firsts" (Shirley Chisholm, first African American congresswoman; Sandra Day O'Connor, first woman to serve on the Supreme Court; Elizabeth Blackwell, first woman physician in U.S.; Ellen Ochoa, first Hispanic woman to travel into space; or Junko Tabei, first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest); or "Women in STEM" (Marie Curie, Katherine Johnson, Edith Clarke, Mareena Robinson Snowden, Mary G. Ross, or Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski).

Once you've settled on a theme and students have chosen a woman to spotlight either individually or in small groups, they can begin researching and writing a short script describing their subject's background and accomplishments. Then have students fill in the frames of this "filmstrip" organizer with drawings depicting the highlights of the woman's life and work. If you wish, you can have students bring the script and drawings to life by creating a short film. The film might involve actors or use photos and voiceover to tell the story. It should be limited to five minutes and include any historical information that would help their audience understand the woman's contribution.

For background information, students might read Women's Suffrage Movement by Jill Keppeler. You can download a lesson plan based on the book here.

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6 Women's History Month Activities for Students

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Image: From left to right, the women featured above are Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Rosa Parks. Every March, we celebrate Women's History Month. The year 2020 was a particularly special milestone, as we marked a century of women's suffrage.

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Women Who Changed History | Scholastic.com

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Explore women in history especially during Women's History Month, including Amelia Earhart, Sally Ride, and Rosa Parks. Extension activities challenge students to write a newspaper article or persuasive essay about these key leaders in the women's movement.

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DocsTeach is a product of the National Archives education division. Our mission is to engage, educate, and inspire all learners to discover and explore the records of the American people preserved by the National Archives. The National Archives and Records Administration is the nation's record keeper.

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Women's History Month Channel

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Women from all walks of life are heroes.

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Social Studies Unit: Women’s History - BrainPOP

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Send your students on an online scavenger hunt to learn about notable women in history to help celebrate Women's History Month this March. The websites included in the search are filled with facts that will get your students reading for information and practicing their online search skills.

Here's how it works:

Send your students to this link to get started.

Explain to your class that they will find the answer to each question at the link provided but they will need to read carefully and in some cases click on a subsequent link. Students can enter their answers in the spaces provide, or print out and hand write the answers.

You can also download the Scavenger Hunt Printable and distribute it to your students. Students can work individually or in pairs.

Women's history answer key:

Cynisca or Kyneska of Sparta was the owner of the chariot that won the four-horse chariot race in 396 BC. Other than as horse and chariot owners, women were not allowed to participate in the ancient Olympics.

Mount Nevado Huascarán in Peru, Mount Shasta in the US, and Mount Popocatepetl in Mexico, to name a few.

She was an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Scat singing

Women's suffrage, or right to vote, was confirmed in 1920-41 years after it was first proposed.

Sally ride worked the robotic arm that put satellites into space.

Radium and Polonium

Maya Lin designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. Her design was chosen over 1441 other entries, and some sources say she even beat one of her college professors' designs.

Working to Form a More Perfect Union: Honoring Women in Public Service and Government"

Victoria Woodhull

Love this activity? Try our online scavenger hunts for students to learn about oceans, U.S. Presidents, and Earth Day.

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Online Activity: Women's History Scavenger Hunt - WeAreTeachers

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Send your students on an online scavenger hunt to learn about notable women in history to help celebrate Women's History Month this March. The websites included in the search are filled with facts that will get your students reading for information and practicing their online search skills.

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March is Women’s History Month – commemorating and encouraging the study, observance and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.

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March

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Teacher Strategies for Effectively Incorporating the Website into Everyday Instruction With over 10,000 pages of information BlackPast.org is the single largest free and unrestricted resource on African American and African history on the Internet today. The articles and outlines below are suggestions and guides provided by teachers to help other instructors effectively utilize this vast resource. Click on to any of the major headings, Lessons, Teachers Thinking About Topics, or Fun Stuff, or their subheadings to be taken to pages that describe in detail the outlines and suggestions. All of this information was compiled by classroom teachers. These volunteers may be contacted directly for additional information or suggestions through the signature links at the end of their pages. The Teacher Advisory Board that organized this resource and the staff of BlackPast.org also welcomes your suggestions. Please send those directly to LESSONS: Lee Micklin, the Board Chair.
1. Booker T. Washington vs. W.E.B. Du Bois: Structured Academic Controversy
Lee Micklin, Bothell High School and Skyview Junior High, Bothell, WashingtonThrough the study of speeches, and other primary documents students will identify and understand the differing positions of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois on the following topics: Black Advancement, Race relations, and Education. Students work in teams engaging in a Structured Academic Controversy, involving both debate and consensus. In a follow-up writing assignment students will express their own position in either a persuasive or synthesis essay.
TEACHERS THINKING ABOUT TOPICS:

Adam Gish, Garfield High School, Seattle, Washington
Students will listen to Paul Robeson's "Old Man River", read "We Wear the Mask" by Paul Laurence Dunbar and study excerpts from W.E.B. Du Bois "Souls of Black Folk, Our Spiritual Strivings, Chapter I". This essential question is considered: What are our human masks? What do they cover? How and why do we wear them? The lesson culminates in creating a symbolic and artistic mask and communicating about it with others in a gallery walk.

3. Civil Rights Speeches: A Rhetorical Analysis
Joel C. Jacobson, Nathan Hale High School, Seattle, Washington.
Four historic speeches explore the tensions found within the American ideals of individual liberty and universal equality. Each speech argues a position in regards to how these ideals should relate to the application of civil rights within a nation that struggles to come to terms with its radical declaration that all people are created equal and endowed with the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Studying the four speeches, including Malcolm X's "Racial Separation," Lyndon B. Johnson's "The Voting Rights Act," George Wallace's "Segregation Now, Segregation Forever," given in the 1960s in the midst of the civil rights movement, and one contemporary speech Barack Obama's "Keynote Address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention" will allow students to explore how the speakers use rhetorical strategies to present their ideas on a topic that continues to be relevant today.
FUN STUFF:
In this section various teachers use BlackPast.org to discuss how they grapple with the major historical and contemporary topics. Using "Toni Morrison's "Playing in the Dark" and other features from BlackPast.org, Doug Edelstein, Nathan Hale High School, Seattle, Washington, discusses in an essay titled, Teaching Race in Schools in the 21st Century, the implications and challenges all teachers face in providing instruction on race in literature, history, and social studies.

David Kilpatrick-White, Bothell High School and Canyon Park Junior High School, Bothell, Washington, in an essay titled, How to Use Controversial Images to Engage Students in History, considers some of the successful and unsuccessful outcomes that may incur when teachers use photographs and other images to engage students in history. He shares some Do's and Don't's in using images to achieve sensitizing vs. sensationalizing results. Also included are creative ideas for using photographs in the social studies curriculum.

Jeopardy: African American Firsts
This section, developed byRobert Mueller, Skyview Junior High, Bothell, Washington,and Dr. Annjennette McFarlin, Professor Emeritus, Grossman Community College, San Diego, California, is dedicated to using games and other fun activities as education tools. Featured this month is a Jeopardy Board and Activity: African American Firsts in Sports. Use this as a model for those you might devise for your classes. And please share the best of your games with BlackPast.org so they can be used by teachers around the world.
General: The Story of Africa, BBC World Service The Teaching Africa Outreach Program, Boston University African Studies Center In Motion: The TransAtlantic Slave Trade
The United States, 1776 to 1860 John Horse and the Black Seminoles Slavery in the United States: Primary Sources and the Historical Record The Christiana Riot Lesson Plan, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
The Civil War and Reconstruction, 1861-1877
The Reconstruction Amendments, PBS Learning Robert Smalls: From Slavery to Politics, PBS Learning
The Era of Racial Segregation, 1878-1920 After Reconstruction: Problems of African Americans in the South, Library of Congress The Supreme Court: The Civil Rights Cases, PBS Learning Media The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Booker T. Washington, An Education, PBS Learning Media Charlotte Hawkins Brown, PBS Learning Media Lucy Laney, PBS Learning Media Pap Singleton to Kansas, PBS Learning Media Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown, Library of The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Blacks and Whites in the New South, PBS Learning Media The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Ned Cobb, Fighting for the Farmer, PBS Learning Media The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow, Isiah Montgomery Founds Mound Bayou, PBS Learning Media The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: Edisto Island, PBS Learning Media Booker T. Washington and W.E.B DuBois: The Conflict, PBS Learning Media Ida B. Wells, A Lifetime of Activism, PBS Learning Media The Atlanta Riot, 1906, PBS Learning Media The Crisis: A Weapon Against Jim Crow, PBS Learning Media Segregated Schooling in South Carolina, PBS Learning Media
The Rise of Black Urban America, 1920-1950
Understanding the Great Migration, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Strange Fruit: A Song Born of Protest, PBS Learning Media What Was the Harlem Renaissance? A Walk Through Harlem, PBS Learning Media
Civil Rights-Black Power, 1951-1980
Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education, Smithsonian National Museum of American Charles Hamilton Houston and his Legal Challenge Against Jim Crow, PBS Learning Media Simple Justice: A Handful of Lawyers, PBS Learning Media By Popular Demand: Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s to 1960s, Library of Places and People of the Civil Rights Movement, National Endowment for the Black Panther Party Lesson Plan, Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project, University of Washington The Hyde County School Boycott, PBS Learning Media
The United States in the 21st Century, 2001-
The Election of Barack Obama 44th President of the United States, National Endowment for the Humanities Humanities Congress History Barbara Johns of Farmville, Virginia, PBS Learning Media In Motion: The Great Migration Congress African American Identity in the Gilded Age, Library of Congress Media Media Ken Burns' The Civil War: Lesson Plan The Declaration of Independence, Created Equal? The Library of Congress
Jeopardy Board: African American Firsts in Sports
Lesson, How to Use the Jeopardy Board: African American Firsts in Sport (PDF)

We Recommend
Listed below are lesson plans, websites, and other resources that the Teacher Advisory Board believes will help educators enhance their teaching of African American, Global African, and in fact all history related to BlackPast.org. While the Board has searched the Internet for these resources, there are always good one that we have missed. If you know of other lesson plans or websites (including your own) that you recommend, please contact the Teacher Advisory Board Chair, Lee Micklin, so that they may be considered for inclusion on this page.

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Teacher Strategies for Effectively Incorporating the Website into Everyday Instruction With over 10,000 pages of information BlackPast.org is the single largest free and unrestricted resource on African American and African history on the Internet today. The articles and outlines below are suggestions and guides provided by teachers to help other instructors effectively utilize this vast resource.

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During the week of January 11th 2021, NEA Aspiring Educators across the country will engage in a different action each day to demand that Black Lives Matter in our schools and communities. The fight for racial justice in America is ongoing work, and as future educators, one of our utmost responsibilities is to advocate for racially equitable education for all our students. With the actions taken during this week, we will build momentum as our program continues to emphasize and organize around Social and Racial Justice work.
Register for our virtual events and to receive reminders for each day's activities here! Learn more about the actions and find resources for each day below.

Today we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and all that they stand for. We recognize all of our educators of color, and work to spread the word about how NEA seeks to help those educators! Please wear black in solidarity and share out your response to "Why is it important for you as a future educator to continue to fight for Black Lives?" Don't forget to #AE4BLM
Resources: Monday's Social Media Graphic
As we have seen over the course of history and again in 2020, the Black Vote is pivotal in shaping the future of America. We acknowledge the Black Americans whose blood, sweet, and tears were sacrificed to create a movement against systemic racism and voter suppression in America.

NEA Aspiring Educators take on the Louisiana Voter Registration Test to see if we can pass.

After taking the test, please share a video of your initial reactions!

Share your clips out with #AE4BLM and/or send them to AE4BLM@gmail.com.
Resources: Tuesday's Social Media Graphic
the 1963 Louisiana Literacy test.
Historical Documents: Literacy Tests and Voter Registration
Use your voice as a member of the largest labor union in the country to call members of congress, and ask for support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act . We must understand our role in applying pressure on those we elect to represent our communities. Join in solidarity as Aspiring Educators across the country urge our elected officials for support when the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act is reintroduced to Congress. We continue our fight by taking action to further prevent the senseless murder of Black lives in America. We will not rest until there is a future where Black lives thrive.

Call (866) 331-7233 to connect with your representative and demand their support of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act! See the resources section below for a script and other helpful tools.
Resources: Script for Calling Your Reps. Dial (866) 331-7233 to connect. Police Reform and Racial Justice Talking Points Wednesday's Social Media Graphics Slide #1 Wednesday's Social Media Graphics Slide #2 Wednesday's Social Media Graphics Slide #3
"Black Girl Magic is a rallying call of recognition. Embedded in the everyday is a magnificence that is so easy to miss because we're so mired in the struggle and what society says we are." -Ava DuVernay

Today we celebrate the magic that it is to be a Black Woman in American History. We ask you to take a few minutes to find a resource, picture and an activity that could be done to celebrate your favorite Black Woman in History! These mini lessons will be compiled and made available for AE Members to use.
Resources: Thursday's Social Media Graphic
Today we will put our money towards supporting Black-Owned businesses and restaurants because of the tremendous impact they have in our local communities.

Shopping Black Owned is not about helping just to help. We recognize it is about reflecting on and learning from the Black entrepreneurial experience, recognizing and amplifying the value of Black entrepreneurs. And it's about doing the work to establish the values that Black business owners should have equal access to resources and networks that help their companies to flourish.
Resource Links: Friday's Social Media Graphic Find an online or black-owned business near you with the Black Nation App! Hungry? Thirsty? Download the EatOkra App to find Black Owned Restaurants near you!
This year has defined what it means to reckon with our past, advocate for better in our present, and expand the possibilities for our future. We are continuing to stand with and for each other by pulling together to get through this pandemic and by demanding liberty and justice for all-and that starts with the urgent need for justice for Black lives. Learn more about the NEA's Demands for Justice for Black lives, that will guide our work together, and take the pledge to join our fight today.
Resource Links: Saturday's Social Media Graphic Watch: NEA Demands for Justice for Black Lives Sign the pledge to join us in this fight

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Aspiring Educators Black Lives Matter Week of Action | NEA

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During the week of January 11th 2021, NEA Aspiring Educators across the country will engage in a different action each day to demand that Black Lives Matter in our schools and communities. The fight for racial justice in America is ongoing work, and as future educators, one of our utmost responsibilities is to advocate for racially equitable education for all our students.

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We lead with the heart and courageously work to address racial injustice in education, embodying Black joy, confronting anti-Blackness, and building authentic partnerships with all who support creating equitable school communities across the nation.

​In September 2016, DeShawn Jackson, along with Black Men Uniting to Change The Narrative, planned a day of encouragement. The previous school year, another local elementary school had more than 200 Black men show up to greet students as they arrived at school. The men wore their uniforms, regalia, and Sunday best in hopes of disrupting the inaccurate imagery students have of Black men. Black men make up only 3% of teachers in k-12 education.​

DeShawn had taught at the school for six years and even attended the elementary school as a child. He wanted students to see Black men in a positive light, not like they often are portrayed in media. A bomb threat was called into the school on the day of the event, so school leadership officially canceled it. Yet, after the threat was investigated, nothing was found, and the school remained open. So, DeShawn personally greeted students and about fifty others joined him.

When students arrived at John Muir Elementary School, they were greeted with cheers and high-fives while drums played in the background. Black men showed up because they wanted to counter the perception students have about education and race. Inside the school, staff wore shirts that said "Black Lives Matter We Stand Together."Julie Trout, the art teacher, designed the shirts. Teachers' lessons for the day were focused on racial justice.

​Social Equality Educators (SEE), a group within the Seattle teachers union, decided October 19th would be "Black Lives Matter At School Day." They'd wear Black Lives Matter shirts to school, created a second design with "#Say Her Name," and educators picked from several options. Parent Teacher Associations made buttons and stickers for teachers and students to wear. This attracted national news, which spread to Philadelphia, where the Racial Justice & Organizing Committee of the Caucus of Working Educators was inspired to plan a similar action.

We envision a nation in which we live in authentic and conscious relationship with ourselves, each other, and the lands we occupy with the least amount of harm and violence, in which we are unapologetically Black and collectively love and care for one another as extended intergenerational families. To achieve safety, equity, and liberation for all Black lives, we attend to systems and networks of care to make the domination, erasure, and dehumanization of Black life obsolete. ​

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.

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NAHS_BCPS Black History Month Writing Contest 2021

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February is Black History Month, a celebration of the accomplishments made by members of the African American community. Based on your Biography.com searches, we compiled a list of the 50 most-searched African Americans and created an interactive map of where they were born in the United States and Canada. While many of the figures are from the eastern half of the country, the map stretches as far west as Honolulu, Hawaii and as north as Toronto, Canada.
For Black History Month features, videos, galleries, and more visit our Black History page.

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Birthplaces of 50 African American History Makers

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February is Black History Month, a celebration of the accomplishments made by members of the African American community. Based on your Biography.com searches, we compiled a list of the 50 most-searched African Americans and created an interactive map of where they were born in the United States and Canada.

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2. Compare the Speeches (Grades 5-12)

Tell students that George Washington began a tradition that future presidents would take up when he delivered the first inaugural address on April 30, 1789. Ask: What do you think is the purpose of an inaugural address? What do you think the president should try to accomplish in the speech?

Challenge students to compare and contrast two inaugural speeches of their choice. Find links to all U.S. Presidents' inaugural addresses at the American Presidency Project. After the inauguration, you can find Biden's address at bideninaugural.org. Have students take notes on the similarities and differences in a Venn diagram, which you can download for free on Shaped. Here is a list of questions students might consider as they analyze the speeches:

What is the tone of the speech? How can you tell? Point out specific words and phrases to support your idea.

What is the purpose of the speech?

What can you tell about the country's challenges from the speech?

What are the president's goals for the country?

What do you think the president hopes to accomplish with the speech?

What did you learn from comparing the two speeches?

3. My Fellow Americans (Grades K-12)

This was a particularly hard-fought election. But a primary purpose of the inaugural address is to bring the country together after all of the divisiveness. Ask: What do you think President Biden should say in his inaugural speech to unify the country? Why do you think that would help?

Challenge students to write a one-minute speech aimed at bringing Americans together. Allow time for students to recite their speeches for the class. Younger students might simply draw a picture of what unity looks like to them or complete the following sentence starter: My hope for America is __________.

Watch Biden's speech with your class on Inauguration Day. Have older students take notes on Biden's calls for unity. Discuss student's findings after the speech. Ask: Were the attempts at unity effective? Why or why not?

4. Plan a Parade (Grades K-12)

Tell students that due to the pandemic, the inaugural parade will be virtual. Ask: Why do you think inaugurations include a parade? Imagine that you are in charge of planning Biden's inaugural parade. What events would you include? Make a list of ideas.

Share this description of the plans for the inaugural parade with your middle or high school students: "The parade will celebrate America's heroes, highlight Americans from all walks of life in different states and regions, and reflect on the diversity, heritage, and resilience of the country as we begin a new American era."

Separate students into groups and provide each with one theme from the description:

America's heroes

Americans from all walks of life in different states and regions

Diversity

Heritage

Resilience of our country

Tell students their challenge is to figure out how to showcase their theme in a virtual parade. For example, the first group will brainstorm ways to celebrate America's heroes. They should consider: Which American heroes should we spotlight? How will we spotlight them virtually? Those in Group 3 might consider what diversity in America looks like and how they can celebrate that diversity in a virtual parade. Each group should write up a plan for their portion of the parade and share their ideas with the class.

5. Share Your Story (Grades K-12)

Biden's inaugural committee has put out a call for people to create short videos in which they answer one of the following questions:

What does it mean to you to have Kamala Harris as Vice President?

Why is giving back important to you?

What is your vision for America?

Have students partner up to share responses to one of the questions. Then have them write their response in a paragraph. Younger students can draw a picture or write a sentence. Students with parental permission can record and upload videos sharing their responses on the inaugural committee website.

More Ideas for Teaching the Inauguration

How do you teach the inauguration? We'd love to hear your ideas. Email us at Shaped@hmhco.com or reach out on Twitter (@TheTeacherRoom) or Facebook.
Learn more about HMH Social Studies, which presents the rich, endlessly inventive story of our world, challenging students to dig deep into the past.

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5 Classroom Inauguration Activities for Students | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

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Tell students that George Washington began a tradition that future presidents would take up when he delivered the first inaugural address on April 30, 1789. Ask: What do you think is the purpose of an inaugural address? What do you think the president should try to accomplish in the speech?

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Activities & Resources

Inaugural Addresses: Comparing and Contrasting Inaugural Addresses ( PDF, 229 KB, 2 pgs.)
Students compare the priorities, goals, and intentions in four inaugural addresses. Grades 9-12

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Teach about the Presidential Inauguration and how it has changed over time with our recommended activities and background resources.

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List of Shows A to Z | Black History & Culture | PBS

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List of Shows A to Z | Black History & Culture | PBS

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Search our list of shows and films about Black History and Culture available to watch today on PBS.

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10 "Must Watch" Black History Documentaries | PBS

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Documentaries can open windows to our past. Through the lens of talented filmmakers, we can re-live iconic moments in history like the 1963 March on Washington or climb aboard a Greyhound bus to join the Freedom Riders on their journey through the Jim Crow South. Documentaries offer rich insight into our society and culture, connect us to some of our proudest and most shameful moments in American history, and remind us of how far we've come. What follows is a list of powerful documentaries exploring Black history and culture in America.

This Emmy Award-winning series premiered in 2013 and looks at more than just Black history, it explores Black identity and what it means to be an African American in the U.S. today. Unveiling different religious and social perspectives, a multiplicity of cultural perspectives, and the evolution of the African American people, this series spans five hundred years and two continents as Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. takes viewers on a journey of the Black experience throughout the United States. On the way, he visits historic sites, engages in passionate debates with America's top historians on African American history, and interviews eyewitnesses who have been on the frontlines of change.

Throughout the series, Dr. Gates highlights tragedies, triumphs and contradictions throughout Black history, revealing that the African American community has never been a uniform entity and sheds new light on what it means to be African American.

Learn more about The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross.

Based on Raymond Arsenault's book Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice, this two-hour documentary tells the story of the summer of 1961 when more than 400 Black and white Americans risked their lives traveling together in the segregated South to protest segregation. Committed to the cause of justice and determined to attract attention to the pursuit of civil rights, they boarded buses and trains, calling themselves "Freedom Riders." Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders were met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way. Still, they continued to ride and find new ways to sustain and expand the movement.

Featuring testimony from the Freedom Riders themselves, government officials, and journalists who witnessed the Rides firsthand, this documentary gives viewers a front row seat to the Rides that changed history. "The lesson of the Freedom Rides is that great change can come from a few small steps taken by courageous people," says filmmaker Stanley Nelson, "And that sometimes to do any great thing, it's important that we step out alone."

Learn more about Freedom Riders.

Did Slavery really end with the Civil War? The documentary Slavery by Another Name explores how in the years following the Emancipation Proclamation, systematic approaches were taken to re-enslave newly freed Blacks in the United States. This system included new brutal methods of forced labor in which men were arrested and forced to work without pay, bought and sold, and coerced to do the bidding of masters.

Spanning the 60 years following the Civil War, this 90-minute documentary includes interviews with key Black history scholars like Khalil Muhammad, Mary Ellen Curtin, Risa Goluboff and Adam Green, in addition to moving reactions from descendants of both victims and perpetrators of the forced labor system. Giving voice to the thousands of victims from this period, Slavery by Another Name will challenge assumptions that slavery ended 150 years ago.

Learn more about Slavery by Another Name.

For the preeminent documentary series on the Civil Rights Movement, look no further than Eyes on the Prize. When it premiered on television in 1987, The Los Angeles Times called it "an exhaustive documentary that shouldn't be missed." This award-winning series covers all of the major events of the Civil Rights Movement from 1954-1985, including the Montgomery bus boycott in 1954, the Voting Rights Act in 1965, the birth of the Black Power Movement, and the courageous acts of the crusaders that contributed along the way.

Narrated by political and civil rights leader Julian Bond, the 14-hour series combines historical footage and contemporary interviews with key figures of the period; Reverend Ralph Abernathy, Coretta Scott King, Kwame Ture (also known as Stokely Carmichael), and George Wallace have died since its release. Not only does this series serve as a comprehensive resource in this extensive history, it acts to preserve their testimonials for future generations.

The Black Power Mixtape tells the story of the Black Power Movement through the eyes of Swedish journalists. Drawn to America in the late 1960s by stories of revolution and urban unrest, the journalists recorded interviews with activists like Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Steale, Angela Davis and Eldridge Cleaver. Thirty years later, this interview footage was found in the basement of Swedish Television and was brought to life by Director Göran Olsson and co-producer Danny Glover.

Set to music by Questlove and Om'Mas Keith, the filmmakers use the original interviews mixed with images and commentary from African-American artists and activists who were influenced by the struggle such as Erykah Badu, Harry Belafonte, Talib Kweli and Melvin Van Peebles. Together they tell the story of The Black Power Movement and how it not only changed the Civil Rights Movement, but how it changed America - forever.

Taking a fresh approach to the story of the American Civil Rights Movement, Soundtrack for a Revolution features the powerful music from the movement. Focusing on the freedom songs sung by protesters on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons and in jail cells, this film celebrates the vitality of the music and the infectious energy that it provided.

Freedom songs evolved from slave chants, the labor movement, and from the Black church, and were a vital tool as protestors stood up against adversity. They energized and empowered them, enabled them to sing the things they couldn't say, and allowed them to meet aggression with dignity and non-violence. Written and directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman, this 2009 documentary brings songs of the movement back to life again through new performances by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots.

Learn more about Soundtrack for a Revolution | Watch on Amazon

Dark Girls is an emotional exposé on what it means to be dark skinned in America. Filmmakers D. Channsin Berry and Bill Duke capture moving interviews with women who open up about their experiences being dark, Black women in America. They share painful stories about things their mothers, sisters and friends have said, in addition to what they've taken away from mass media. Overwhelmingly these interviews reveal the same thing: To them, Black is not beautiful.

In an effort to learn more about the concept of Black beauty, the filmmakers reach both in and outside the Black community to seed conversations that reveal deep-rooted biases about race. Combining these emotional interviews with historical context and well-known psychological studies, the film sheds light on the perceived biases of "dark versus light," and its ultimate aim to help people see that Black is beautiful.

The Black List: Volume One features interviews from a variety of voices in contemporary Black America using a technique where the interviewer is never seen or heard on camera. The result is a living portrait of stories from leading voices across a variety of disciplines including arts, sports, politics, business and government. The vision of portrait photographer/filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders with acclaimed journalist and public radio host Elvis Mitchell, was to create a film in response to the negative connotations associated with the word "Black" in western culture.

The interviews created an HBO documentary, a museum exhibition of photographic portraits, a book of those portraits, and an interactive educational program.

The HBO documentary Breaking the Huddle explores civil rights through the lens of football. Looking at the impact of the Civil Rights Movement and football programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the story culminates with the historic September 1970 game when the all-white University of Alabama Crimson Tide faced off against the fully integrated University of Southern California Trojans. Alabama's crushing defeat under legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant by USC's star African American running back, Sam "Bam" Cunningham, is considered the game that changed college football in the South.

In this 2012 documentary, African American filmmaker Shukree Hassan Tilghman sets off on a journey across America asking the question "Should Black History Month be ended?" Tilghman searches to learn more about race and power in contemporary America by interviewing experts at revered organizations around the country in addition to everyday people he meets along the way during his journey.

Using cinema verité, man-on-the-street interviews, and dramatizations to understand the implications of Black History Month, More Than a Month is both an amusing and thought-provoking look at what the treatment of history tells us about race and power in the United States. Through all this, Tilghman explores what it means to be an American and the universal endeavor to find one's self.

Learn more about More than a Month | Watch on Amazon

Inspired by the book Reflections in Black by Deborah Willis, Through a Lens Darkly explores the Black experience through photographs. Cameras have been used for over a hundred years as tools for social change, but in this documentary filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris explores how they have affected Blackness in America.

Using his only family album, historical images and photographs from Black luminaries like Carrie Mae Weems, Lorna Simpson, and Anthony Barboza, Harris investigates the way Black photographers and their subjects have used the tool to both demean and empower African Americans. A powerful look at the history of race relations, representation, and popular culture, this documentary illustrates the powers of creativity through the lens of talented photographers.
Learn More about Through a Lens Darkly
Join us in February and all year long as we celebrate Black history and all its facets. From musical performances to Oscar-nominated documentaries to profiles of individuals who forged new paths in science, civil rights, sports, and so much more.

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10 "Must Watch" Black History Documentaries | PBS

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Documentaries can open windows to our past. Through the lens of talented filmmakers, we can re-live iconic moments in history like the 1963 March on Washington or climb aboard a Greyhound bus to join the Freedom Riders on their journey through the Jim Crow South.

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Carver Theatre, Columbia, South Carolina, ref# 03000658
Photograph courtesy of South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office

Behavior Cemetery, McIntosh County, Georgia
A post-Civil War African American burial ground

Sweet Home Vocational and Agricultural High School: Guadalupe County, Texas
A Rosenwald school built specifically for the education of African Americans

Gerrit Smith Estate, Madison County, New York
Underground Railroad Site.

Properties associated with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Site.
Daisy Bates House, Pulaski County, Arkansas:

Bizzell Library at the University of Oklahoma, Cleveland County, Oklahoma:

Camp Nelson, Jessamine County, Kentucky:
Kentucky's largest recruitment and training center for black troops during the Civil War was also a refugee camp for their wives and children.

Fox Lake, Steuben County, Indiana:
A resort community for African Americans developed during the 1930s in Indiana.

American Beach Historic District, Nassau County, Florida:
American Beach was developed as an ocean front resort for African Americans on the south end of Amelia Island, Florida, in 1935.

Hurricane of 1928 African American Mass Grave, Palm Beach County, Florida
The Hurricane of 1928 African American Mass Burial site is important as the burial site of approximately 674 victims, primarily African American agricultural workers, who were killed in the hurricane of 1928 that devastated South Florida.

Eagle Saloon, Karnofsky Tailor Shop and House, and Iroquois Theater, New Orleans, Louisiana
one of New Orleans' most important neighborhoods in the early development of Jazz.

WROX Building, Coahoma County, Mississippi
For 52 years Wright hosted a weekly R&B show from the WROX building, interviewing musical personalities such as B. B. King, Charlie Pride, Muddy Waters, Tina Turner, Bobby Rush, Sonny Boy Williamson, Robert Nighthawk, Rufus Thomas, Elvis Presley, Little Milton and Pinetop Perkins.

Barton Heights Cemeteries, Richmond, Virginia
These cemeteries were established between c.1815 and c.1865 by black churches, fraternal orders and benevolent organizations and represent early efforts by African Americans to establish their own cemeteries through burial societies that offered death benefits.

Lorraine Apartments, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As the largest property owner among African Americans in Philadelphia, the Peace Mission employed many black Philadelphians in restaurants, hotels and small business, while also providing meals, clothing, barbers' services, transportation and lodging at reduced prices.

Pearl High School, Davidson County, Tennessee
The new school was designed by McKissack and McKissack, the nation's first architecture firm owned by an African American.

Lincoln Theater: in the Historic Resources Associated with African Americans in Los Angeles MPS.
Constructed in 1926 the Lincoln Theater is significant as the last remaining theater in Los Angeles that catered to the African American community. The Lincoln Theater opened in 1927 and immediately became a major gathering spot for the large and growing African American population along the Central Avenue Corridor.

Carver Theatre, Richmond County, South Carolina
The Carver Theatre, at 1519 Harden Street in Columbia, South Carolina, is important in the the early-to-mid twentieth century history of Columbia's black community during the later period of racial segregation in the South.

Union Bethel AME Church, Cascade County, Montana
The Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in Great Falls, Montana, is one of the first-built and longest-used churches for African Americans in Montana and is important because it represents trends in black community growth in the western United States.

Hinchliffe Stadium, Passaic County, New Jersey
Hinchliffe is possibly the sole surviving regular home field for a Negro League baseball team in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Xavier University Main Building, Convent and Library, New Orleans, Louisiana
Xavier University provided a quality education to thousands of African Americans, principally from New Orleans and elsewhere in Louisiana, who upon graduation entered the New Orleans professional community.

Ivey Delph Apartments, New York, New York
was the first large-scale project by and for African Americans in New York backed by a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage commitment.

African American Historic Resources of Alexandria, Virginia, Multiple Property Submission: The historic places associated with Alexandria's community of African Americans nominated as components of this multiple property submission (MPS) reflect educational, residential and communal historical development in the city from pre-Civil War antebellum days to post-Civil War freedom.

Bethel Baptist Church, Parsonage, and Guard House, Jefferson County, Alabama
On Christmas Day, 1956, a large bundle of dynamite exploded next to Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, destroying the parsonage in which Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and his family lived.

Foster Auditorium, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
The University of Alabama's Foster Auditorium in Tuscaloosa was the site of Governor George Wallace's infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" in 1963.

Howard High School, New Castle County, Delaware
Howard High School, in Wilmington, Delaware, is one of the schools directly associated with the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education that found racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.

African American Historic Resources of Prince George's County, Maryland MPS: A wealth of historic places in Prince George's County, Maryland, convey how integral African Americas are to the history of this area.

Dorsey--Jones House, Hampshire County, Massachusetts
Located in Northampton, Massachusetts, the Dorsey--Jones House was the home of two escaped slaves, Basil Dorsey (1810-1872) and Thomas H. Jones (1806-1890).

Hotel Theresa, New York, New York: The Hotel Theresa, built from 1912 to 1913, has been one of the major social centers of Harlem.

The Campground, Mobile County, Alabama
The Campground historic district has played an important role in the historical development of the predominately black community of Mobile, Alabama, since the third quarter of the 19th century.

Dorchester Academy Boys' Dormitory, Liberty County, Georgia
Dorchester Academy was founded by the American Missionary Association (AMA) following the Civil War as a primary school for black children.

Abyssinian Meeting House, Cumberland County, Maine
The Abyssinian Meeting House is a vernacular wood-frame building constructed between 1828 and 1831 to serve Portland, Maine's African American community.

Fort Lyon, Bent County, Colorado
Several companies of African American soldiers were quartered here in anticipation of General Philip Sheridan's winter campaign against the southern Cheyenne in 1868.

Nash, Rev. J. Edward, Sr., House, Erie County, New York
The Reverend J. Edward Nash, Sr. House is historically significant for its association with the life and career of Buffalo's most prominent African American leader during the first half of the 20th century.

Paul Laurence Dunbar House, Montgomery County, Ohio
Paul Laurence Dunbar (July 27, 1872-Feburary 9, 1906) holds the distinction of being the first African American poet to receive national acclaim since Phyllis Wheatly.

Langston Hughes House, New York, New York
The Langston Hughes House is historically significant as the home of James Langston Hughes (1902-1967), author and poet and one of the foremost figures in the Harlem Renaissance.

Arna Wendell Bontemps House, Rapides County, Louisiana
the birthplace of writer Arna Bontemps, a major figure in the African American literary movement known as the Harlem Renaissance.

Sherwood Equal Rights Historic District, Cayuga County, New York: Several of the properties within the district were owned by freed slaves; others by prominent abolitionists and women's rights advocates who sprang from the Quaker faith.

Liberty Hill School, Richmond County, North Carolina: this former one-story school, built in 1930, stands at a lonely hilltop location established as a school site in the 19th century for local African American children.

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African American History Month - National Register of Historic Places (U.S. National Park Service)

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Behavior Cemetery, McIntosh County, Georgia A post-Civil War African American burial ground Sweet Home Vocational and Agricultural High School: Guadalupe County, Texas A Rosenwald school built specifically for the education of African Americans Gerrit Smith Estate, Madison County, New York Underground Railroad Site. Properties associated with Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Site.

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Stories from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

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February is Black History Month. Explore the many contributions of African-Americans with our cross-curricular lesson plans, printables, quizzes, and activities below.
You'll find great activities and ideas which include biographies on athletes, scientists, civil rights leaders, and more! Utilize these ideas and resources for grades K-12 to examine the historical and social context of slavery. From art to technology, there are activities to connect Black history with every subject including holiday resources for Kwanzaa and Martin Luther King Jr Day.

Incorporate Black History Month into many of your classes, such as Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies, with our member exclusive activities packet. Looking for more? Explore and browse all Black History Month resources.

Educational Videos & Activities

Choose from various activities to extend student learning after viewing these short videos for Black History Month.

Technology Resources

Help students understand more about African-American culture through research on websites.

Printables for Grades K-5

Use these printable pages to expand students' knowledge about African culture and history. Activities include a collaborative project, reading passages, a writing prompt, and creating an African tribal mask.

Printables for Grades 6-8

Increase students' knowledge of African-American culture and history with these cross-curricular writing, reading, and vocabulary term activities.

Printables & Lessons for Grades 9-12

These creative resources are designed to enhance students' understanding of African history and culture through the influence of music. Activities include lessons with song lyrics, reading passages, and math in jazz.

Lesson Plans for Grades K-5

Expand students' learning about African-American history through these resources which include reading passages about African folk tales, heroes, and important people.

Lesson Plans for Grades 6-8

Help students understand the struggle of African-Americans through these activities which include the Underground Railroad, Martin Luther King Jr. and other influential people.

African-American History Resources

Use our resources to enhance students' African-American history knowledge through reading African folk tales or other literature, videos with activities, and coloring pages.

Slideshows

Our slideshows provide lists of interesting and creative activities to do to help students learn more about African-American culture and history.

Quizzes

Test your students' knowledge and ideas of African holidays, civil rights, and Martin Luther King, Jr. with these quizzes during Black History Month.

References

Use our references to deepen students' understanding of important people and events in African-American history.

Music & Drama Activities

Extend students' knowledge through these fun and creative music-related activities. Included you will find how your students can create a talk show and learn about the relationship of math and jazz.

Language Arts Activities

Black History Month is a perfect time to expand your students' African-American knowledge using warm-ups, reading passages with writing activities, and a wordsearch.

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Black History Month Activities for Classrooms (Grades K-12) - TeacherVision

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February is Black History Month. Explore the many contributions of African-Americans with our cross-curricular lesson plans, printables, quizzes, and activities below. You'll find great activities and ideas which include biographies on athletes, scientists, civil rights leaders, and more! Utilize these ideas and resources for grades K-12 to examine the historical and social context of slavery.

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Learn more and understand better with BrainPOP's animated movies, games, playful assessments, and activities covering Science, Math, History, English, and more!

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Black History Month coloring pages and printables.

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The Culture and Change: Black History in America student activity offers an in-depth look into the African American experience, featuring interviews, historical sketches, and interactive activities. Students learn about African Americans who've made a difference, study the civil rights movement and the concept of racism, and explore the history of jazz music. The various parts of this activity can be used together or independently.

Rosa Parks: How I Fought for Civil Rights (grades 5-12) describes Parks' pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and helps students understand the importance of every individual citizen in a democracy.

Integrating Central High: The Melba Pattillo Story (grades 5-12) shares the terrifying stories of Patillo and eight other teens becoming the first African American students to attend Central High more than fifty years ago, putting a face on victims of racism and promoting empathy with students.

Read about Famous African American Inventors (grades 3-4), including the inventors of "the real McCoy," the Super Soaker, the personal computer, and a surgical tool that revolutionized eye surgery.

Read and explore slide shows and an interactive magazine issue in Ruby Bridges: A Simple Act of Courage (grades PreK-8), which tells the inspirational story of a six-year-old who integrated her New Orleans elementary school by herself in 1960.

Travel back in time to 1860 and experience the harrowing journey of millions of enslaved African Americans in The Underground Railroad: Escape From Slavery, an activity that includes slideshows, primary sources, and many personal stories of these brave African Americans.

Study an important cultural contribution with The History of Jazz (grades 3-12), which follows the musical genre from its birth in New Orleans to the jazz of today.

Learning Objectives

By participating in the grade-appropriate activities that are part of "Culture and Change: Black History in America," students will:

Gain insight into African American history from slavery to the civil rights movement

Learn about individual people who shaped history by reading their biographies and researching the age in which they lived

Understand the causes and effects of the civil rights movement in America

Study the history of jazz music to gain awareness of the cultural contributions made by different groups in America

Build nonfiction literacy skills as they read web articles for details and use a timeline to obtain information

Apply critical thinking skills to answer questions regarding controversial events related to the civil rights movement

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Culture and Change: Black History in America | Scholastic

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The Culture and Change: Black History in America student activity offers an in-depth look into the African American experience, featuring interviews, historical sketches, and interactive activities. Students learn about African Americans who've made a difference, study the civil rights movement and the concept of racism, and explore the history of jazz music.

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Bring African-American culture & history into your curriculum

All people, regardless of race or place, deserve the same rights and freedoms. For too long, Black and brown people in America have been denied equality because of the color of their skin. To help students understand the reality of Black people's experiences in American history, their impact on American culture, and to celebrate their achievements, we've compiled a selection of lesson plans that cover a variety of subjects that can be adapted to fit multiple grade levels.

If you're commemorating Black History Month in your classroom consider preparing by reading Learning For Justice's Do's and Don'ts of Teaching Black History and Black History Month is Over. Now What?, and listening to our podcast on teaching Black history meaningfully (below) to ensure students get the most out of Black history lessons.

Lesson Plans

Grades K-5

Lesson Plans & Activities

LESSON PLANS

National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
The Smithsonian's free, interactive platform provides ways to explore well-known and lesser-known moments of history by utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge, hone historical thinking skills and inspire users to see themselves as agents of change. (Free account registration required)

ACTIVITIES

Who is Claudette Colvin?
Nine months before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus, Claudette Colvin refused to move for white passengers and was forcibly removed from a Montgomery, Alabama, bus and jailed. Learn more about her story.

Background Resources

SOCIAL STUDIES

African American History Month Exhibits & Collections
Resources covering art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides.

W. E. B. Du Bois: Online Resources
Includes digital materials related to W. E .B. Du Bois and links to external Web sites.

Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education
History, images, and other resources covering the historic Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and ensuring opportunity in education.

Africans in America
Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher's and youth guides. The four-part series may be in local libraries.

Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People
Biographies, timelines, photos, and videos on notable African Americans.

The Awakening of Norman Rockwell This article examines Norman Rockwell's career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.

ARTS

Poems to Celebrate Black History Month
Poems and articles by African-Americans.

The History of Hip-Hop
A collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement.

African American Visual Art and the Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) began in the mid-1960s to provide a new vision of African Americans. This site provides images galleries a theoretical essay, timeline, and links to other online art sources. Note: the top banner links are dead but the bottom links are functional.

The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
African American and Global African history resources.

SCIENCE

10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About
A list from PBS Education of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians that includes links to media resources to help you bring their work-and stories-into your classroom.

8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier
This blog post outlines some of the lesser-known but vital contributions of Black inventors.

SPORT

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: Resources for Teachers
Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball there was Negro League Baseball. This site features history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources.

African American Athletes
Brief biographies and film clips of outstanding African American athletes. Don't miss the links to legal and political figures, scientists and educators, activists, artists and writers, entertainers, and musicians and singers.

Quizzes

Printables

Video

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (68 minutes)
Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz.

Books

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children's Books
A teacher's resource kit from the High Museum

A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story by Sharon Langley and Amy NathanYoung Sharon hears the story of how she, after a series of protests to integrate the park, is the first African American to ride on the carousel at Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in 1963.

Because Claudette by Tracey Baptiste
This picture book biography celebrates both Claudette Colvin, whose teen-aged activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and the power of collective action.
Author Tracey Baptiste shares how to make Black history accessible to young readers:
Carter Reads the Newspaper by Deborah Hopkinson
Meet the "father of Black History," Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and discover the experiences that shaped his passion.

Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School by Janet Halfmann
Born into slavery, Lilly Ann secretly learned to read and write from her master's children-and then read everything she could get her hands on. Wishing to share her knowledge with others, she secretly taught hundreds of other enslaved people despite the great risks.

Find African American booklists from Read Across America.

Grades 6-8

Lesson Plans & Activities

LESSON PLANS

Teaching Hard History
These resources for middle- and high-school educators include Learning for Justice's grades 6-12 framework, as well as student-facing videos and primary source texts to help all students grasp the historical significance of slavery. Educators will also find teaching tools and professional development resources.

PBS Black History Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and resources cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms.

National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
The Smithsonian's free, interactive platform provides ways to explore well-known and lesser-known moments of history by utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge, hone historical thinking skills and inspire users to see themselves as agents of change. (Free account registration required)

ACTIVITIES

The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom
The Underground Railroad was the network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860-1865).

Background Resources

SOCIAL STUDIES

African American History Month Exhibits & Collections
Resources covering art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides.

W. E. B. Du Bois: Online Resources
Includes digital materials related to W. E .B. Du Bois and links to external Web sites.

Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education
History, images, and other resources covering the historic Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and ensuring opportunity in education.

Africans in America
Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher's and youth guides. The four part series may be in local libraries.

Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People
Biographies, photos, and videos of notable African Americans.

The Awakening of Norman Rockwell
This article examines Norman Rockwell's career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.

ARTS

Poems to Celebrate Black History Month
Poems and articles by African-Americans.

The History of Hip-Hop
A collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement.

African American Visual Art and the Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) began in the mid-1960s to provide a new vision of African Americans. This site provides images galleries a theoretical essay, timeline, and links to other online art sources. Note: the top banner links are dead but the bottom links are functional.

The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
African American and Global African history resources.

SCIENCE

10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About
A list from PBS Education of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians that includes links to media resources to help you bring their work-and stories-into your classroom.

8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier
This blog post outlines some of the lesser-known but vital contributions of Black inventors.

SPORTS

African American Athletes
Brief biographies and film clips of outstanding African American athletes. Don't miss the links to legal and political figures, scientists and educators, activists, artists and writers, entertainers, and musicians and singers.

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: Resources for Teachers
Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball there was Negro League Baseball. This site features history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources.

Quizzes

Printables

Audio & Video

AUDIO

Blues Journey (23:17 minutes)
This four part audio series explores the history of the blues.

VIDEO

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (68 minutes)
Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz. Check local listings to see when it airs on a local PBS station.

Forgotten Genius (120 minutes)
Chemist Percy Lavon Julian struggled against racism as he pursued research with steroids and alkaloids and helped to create affordable and effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and glaucoma.

Through the Window and into the Mirror: Narratives of African American STEM Professionals
This video conversation series shares the experiences of African American STEM professionals today.

Books

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement Through Children's Books
A teacher's resource kit from the High Museum

Loretta Little Looks Back: Three Voices Go Tell It by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Loretta, Roly, and Aggie B. Little relate their Black family's challenges and triumphs from 1927 to 1968 while struggling as sharecroppers, living under Jim Crow, and fighting for Civil Rights in Mississippi.

When Winter Robeson Came by Brenda Woods
To figure out what happened to his missing father, thirteen-year-old Winter travels to Los Angeles from Mississippi to visit his cousin Eden and her family during the summer of the Watts Riots in 1965.

Find African American booklists from Read Across America.

Grades 9-12

Lesson Plans & Activities

LESSON PLANS

Teaching Hard History
These resources for middle- and high-school educators include Learning for Justice's grades 6-12 framework, as well as student-facing videos and primary source texts to help all students grasp the historical significance of slavery. Educators will also find teaching tools and professional development resources.

Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten
Through a series of video clips and activities, students can learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and how the community of Tulsa is coming to terms with its past, present, and future.

PBS Black History Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and resources cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms.

National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
The Smithsonian's free, interactive platform provides ways to explore well-known and lesser-known moments of history by utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge, hone historical thinking skills and inspire users to see themselves as agents of change. (Free account registration required)

ACTIVITIES

The Underground Railroad: Journey to Freedom
The Underground Railroad was the network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860-1865).

Background Resources

SOCIAL STUDIES

African American History Month Exhibits & Collections
Resources covering art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides.

W. E. B. Du Bois: Online Resources
Includes digital materials related to W. E .B. Du Bois and links to external Web sites.

Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education
History, images, and other resources covering the historic Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and ensuring opportunity in education.

Africans in America
Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher's and youth guides. The four part series may be in local libraries.

Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People
Biographies, photos and videos of notable African Americans.

The Awakening of Norman Rockwell
This article examines Norman Rockwell's career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.

ARTS

Poems to Celebrate Black History Month
Poems and articles by African-Americans.

Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
Online activities and biographies, transcripts of many interviews with musicians, K-12 lesson plans, and a music study guide for grades 5-8.

The History of Hip-Hop
A collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement.

African American Visual Art and the Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) began in the mid-1960s to provide a new vision of African Americans. This site provides images galleries a theoretical essay, timeline, and links to other online art sources. Note: the top banner links are dead but the bottom links are functional.

The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
African American History by region.

SCIENCE

10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About
A list from PBS Education of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians that includes links to media resources to help you bring their work-and stories-into your classroom.

8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier
This blog post outlines some of the lesser-known but vital contributions of Black inventors.

SPORT

Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: Resources for Teachers
Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball there was Negro League Baseball. This site features history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources.

African American Athletes
Brief biographies and film clips of outstanding African American athletes. Don't miss the links to legal and political figures, scientists and educators, activists, artists and writers, entertainers, and musicians and singers.

Quizzes

Printables

Audio & Video

AUDIO

Blues Journey (23:17 minutes)
This four part audio series explores the history of the blues.

VIDEO

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (68 minutes)
Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz. Check local listings to see when it airs on a local PBS station.

Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson (220 minutes)
Jack Johnson was the first African American boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The website includes the story of Johnson's life and career, a timeline, and media gallery. The DVD may be available in local libraries.

Through the Window and into the Mirror: Narratives of African American STEM Professionals
This video conversation series shares the experiences of African American STEM professionals today.

Books

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon
An essential account of the Black Panthers as militant revolutionaries, social activists, and human rights advocates working to defend and protect their community.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds; adapted from Stamped from the Beginning by and with an introduction from Ibram X. Kendi
Using humor and a conversational style, author Jason Reynolds deftly reworks Kendi's Stamped from the Beginning, exposing young adult readers to the history of America's racist past that textbooks leave out.

Find African American booklists from Read Across America.

Teaching Black History, Meaningfully

How you can make your Black history lessons more meaningful, unique, and powerful for your students? We asked Colorado social studies teacher Kevin Adams to join us for a discussion about breaking stale patterns when teaching Black history and shaping your lessons to fit your classroom and community. Listen to Kevin's advice and experiences in this 36 minute School Me Podcast.

Black History Month: Books and More for K-12 Students

The following resources from NEA's partners at WETA highlight books and classroom resources highlighting Black history and culture.

Reading Rockets: Booklists for Elementary
Celebration and Remembrance: Children's Books About Black Lives
This collection includes picture book biographies of a young boy who shipped himself to freedom during the Civil War, a trailblazing pilot, a brilliant writer - and a sensitive but honest retelling of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. You'll also meet Milo, who realizes on a subway ride to visit his mom that you can't know someone just by looking at them.
People Make the Difference: A Celebration of Black History Month
These are stories of turbulent times in the United States. Each book is told with a young audience in mind and presents a slice of history and highlights the impact of real individuals.

For additional books and resources, see:

AdLit: Booklists for Middle and High School
Black Characters and Social/Cultural Themes
These books for middle grade and young adults feature stories across a range of genres from dynamic authors including Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, Ibi Zoboi, Renée Watson, Nic Stone, Nicola Yoon, Rita Garcia-Williams, Kekla Magoon, Kacen Callender, Jerry Craft, and Justina Ireland.

For additional ideas, see the following resources:

AdLit: Author Interviews

Stay Informed We'll come to you

We're here to help you succeed in your career, advocate for public school students, and stay up to date on the latest education news. Sign up to stay informed

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Bring African-American culture & history into your curriculum

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Sports matter far beyond the playing fields. Though historically denied opportunities to compete at the highest levels, African American athletes have recorded impressive achievements and also utilized sports to fight for greater rights and freedoms.

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As part of Black History Month, Dr Nira Chamberlain has produced a presentation which celebrates black mathematicians from history.

"As Black people we have had more than our share of the academically hereditary disaffection all people seem to experience relative to mathematics...Nowadays our promising youth are even more menacingly threatened by exposure to teachers...who have been convinced that Blacks...are abysmally and irrevocably hopeless as far as mathematics is concerned."

Dr Wade Ellis Sr: 1980 (1909-1989)
10 th African-American to gain a PhD in Mathematics

Francis William: 1702 - 1770, Jamaican Mathematician

Mathematics Degree -Cambridge University

Background

Francis Williams was selected to take part in a social experiment devised by the Duke of Montagu who wished to show that black individuals - with the right education - could match the intellectual achievements of whites.

Challenge

A rival once suggested-"The abstruse problems of mathematical institution turned his brain; and he still remains, I believe, an unfortunate example, to show that every African head is not adapted by nature to such profound contemplations."

Achievements

Degree in Mathematics, Latin and Literature from Cambridge University. He returned to Jamaica to set up a school, teaching Mathematics, Latin, Reading and Writing.

Thomas Fuller 1710 - 1790, Slave and Mathematician

Extraordinary powers of calculation

Background

Thomas Fuller , known as the Virginia Calculator, was kidnapped from his native Africa at the age of fourteen and sold to a planter.

Challenge

He was regularly tested. On being asked, " How many seconds a man has lived who is 70 years, 17 days and 12 hours old?" He answered in a minute and a half 2 210 500 800. One of his examiners who was using pen and paper, advise him his answer
was incorrect! The sum was not so great as he had suggested. Upon which Thomas hastily replied: "Stop, you forget all the
leap years! " On adding the amount of the seconds for the leap years, the total in both their sums agreed exactly.

Achievements

Later in his life was he was discovered by antislavery campaigners, who used him as a role model to demonstrate that blacks were not mentally inferior to whites.

Benjamin Banneker: 1731 - 1806, Astronomer and Civil Rights Leader

The sky was not his limit

Background

Benjamin Banneker was a largely self-educated mathematician, astronomer and first civil rights leader.

Challenge

He would exchanged letters with the soon to be Third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, whom had stated that negroes are inferior to whites when it comes to high level of mathematical thinking.

Achievements

Banneker was the first scientist to study the relativity of time and space, and his revelations on the topic preceded Einstein's
Theory of Relativity by two centuries. He successfully predicted the solar eclipse that occurred on April 14, 1789, contradicting the forecasts of prominent mathematicians and astronomers of the day. Banneker was the first to disclose in his writings that the Star of Sirius is two stars rather than one. His hypothesis was not confirmed until the event of the Hubble Telescope two and a half centuries later at NASA.

Elbert Cox : 1895 - 1969, 1st Black Mathematics PhD

The Pioneer

Background

After fighting for his country in World War I , Elbert Cox, applied for a PhD program. One of his referees wrote " He would have certain difficulties, because of the fact, he is of the coloured race."

Challenge

Universities in England and Germany would not recognise his PhD at the time. However, Japan's Imperial University of San Dei accepted the dissertation.

Achievements

In 1929, became the first Black Mathematician in the world to gain a PhD in Mathematics. From 1929-1961, he taught at
Howard, an Historically Black College and University. Inspiring generations of Black Mathematicians to obtain a PhD

Euphemia Lofton Haynes : 1890 - 1980, 1st Black Female Mathematics PhD

Background

Euphemia Lofton Haynes faced three obstacles in becoming a PhD mathematician. She was female, she was Black and she was in her 50's.

In 1940 the Cambridge Mathematician G.H. Hardy, wrote A Mathematician's Apology , one of the most widely read books about the nature and practice of mathematics. It stated: "No mathematician should ever allow himself to forget that mathematics, more than any other art or science, is a young man's game."

Achievements

Three years after Hardy's book, Euphemia Lofton Haynes completed her PhD in Mathematics. She was living proof that you are never too old and that mathematics is not just for the few, it is for everybody

Further Reading:

Article by Dr Nira Chamberlain

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The Black Heroes of Mathematics - Maths Careers

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As part of Black History Month, Dr Nira Chamberlain has produced a presentation which celebrates black mathematicians from history. "As Black people we have had more than our share of the academically hereditary disaffection all people seem to experience relative to mathematics...Nowadays our promising youth are even more menacingly threatened by exposure to teachers...who have been convinced that Blacks...are abysmally and irrevocably hopeless as far as mathematics is concerned."

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Scientists, engineers, and inventors find the solutions to the world's problems. Learn about the work that these Black scientists and inventors have accomplished that make our lives better.

George Washington Carver was an agricultural chemist who gained acclaim for his discovery of alternative farming methods. Carver is best known for his discovery of uses for the peanut. Among the products Carver developed from peanuts were soap, face powder, mayonnaise, shampoo, metal polish, and adhesives-but he did not invent peanut butter.

Known as a "human computer," Dorothy Johnson Vaughan was part of a team that did mathematical calculations to help launch satellites-and later humans-into space. The group used math to help engineers figure out how wind and gravity affects aircrafts.

When she was first hired to work on the space program, Vaughan's department was segregated, or separated, by race. She and the other African-American women in her unit used separate dining areas and bathrooms. Six years after she was hired, Vaughan became the manager of her division and its first Black supervisor.

A decade later, the agency desegregated and she joined the Analysis and Computation division, where she learned computer programming and worked on the program that launched John Glenn and other astronauts into space for the first time. The accomplishments of Vaughan and other female African-American mathematicians was the focus of the book and movie Hidden Figures.

Mark E. Dean is one of the top engineering minds at the International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation. He made his first mark in the industry in the early 1980s, when he and a colleague developed a system that allowed computers to communicate with printers and other devices. Every time you print something, you can thank Dean.

In all, Dean holds 20 patents, and was honored as one of the "50 Most Important African Americans in Technology" by the California African-American Museum in 2000. Dean wants to help increase awareness of the contributions of Black engineers to both the engineering industry and the African-American community.

Before her 30th birthday, Mae C. Jemison had received two undergraduate degrees and a medical degree, served two years as a Peace Corps medical officer in West Africa, and was selected to join the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's astronaut training program. Her eight-day space flight aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in 1992 established Jemison as the United States' first female African-American space traveler.

Percy L. Julian is known as the "soybean chemist," for his extraordinary success in developing innovative drugs and industrial chemicals from natural soya products. The firefighting solution he devised, known as "bean soup," helped save the lives of thousands of sailors and naval airmen during World War II. His discoveries earned him more than 130 chemical patents and many professional awards.

His spirit lives on in dozens of lifesaving discoveries, as well as in the halls of Percy L. Julian Junior High School in Oak Park, Illinois. Julian was quoted as saying, "I have had one goal in my life, that of playing some role in making life a little easier for the persons who come after me."

Sarah Breedlove Walker was an inventor and businesswoman, and became one of the largest employers of African-American women of her time.

Often know as Madame C.J. Walker, she manufactured beauty products for other African-American women using formulas she developed after working for a pharmacist who taught her chemistry. Her popular hair-softening cream and shampoo helped heal dry skin and other itchy annoyances that were common in the early 1900s because indoor plumbing wasn't widely available.

Walker's company hired and trained thousands of Black women to sell her hair-care products in shops, by mail, and door-to-door. This helped many become more independent during a time when job opportunities for women were limited.

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Black Scientists and Inventors | Black History Month

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Scientists, engineers, and inventors find the solutions to the world's problems. Learn about the work that these Black scientists and inventors have accomplished that make our lives better. George Washington Carver was an agricultural chemist who gained acclaim for his discovery of alternative farming methods.

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A People’s Journey, A Nation’s Story | National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Special Display

February 1-28

Black Resistance

This small, curated display explores how African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression-in many forms-from America's earliest days into the 21st century. Items featured are from the Rare Book and Special Collections, Manuscript, and Prints and Photographs Divisions.

(Library of Congress)

Documentary Film and Discussion

February 8

Through the African American Lens: Afrofuturism: The Origin Story - A Smithsonian Channel Documentary

In support of NMAAHC's newest exhibition, Afrofuturism - A History of Black Futures, the public programs department will present the Afrofuturism: The Origin Story documentary produced by the Smithsonian Channel. This film features insights from renowned scholar and artist Ytasha Womack with Kevin Strait, NMAAHC curator of the Afrofuturism exhibition, and contributor to its companion collection of essays.

(National Museum of African American History and Culture)

Online Research Seminar

February 8

African Americans in Business: Doing Historical Company Research

Explore historical company research through the 2023 Black History Month theme of "Resistance," featuring historic Black barbers who resisted the status quo by supporting black education and civil rights movements. Led by Business Reference and Research Specialists, we plan on covering print and electronic sources - both free and subscription - as well as giving a few tips and tricks picked up over the years. This event will take place over Zoom. Online registration is free at the link above.

(Library of Congress)

Online Book Discussion

February 9

Art AfterWords: A Book Discussion

The National Portrait Gallery and the DC Public Library would like to invite you to a robust conversation about gender, social movements, and protest music. Join us as we analyze a portrait of human rights activist and musical artist Odetta and discuss the related Smithsonian Folkways Recording, "Voices of the Civil Rights Movement: Black American Freedom Songs 1960-1966" by various artists.

(National Portrait Gallery)

Online Event

February 23

Live! At the Library: African American Folk Music with Jake Blount

A powerfully gifted musician and a scholar of Black American music, Jake Blount speaks ardently about the African roots of the banjo and the subtle, yet profound ways African Americans have shaped and defined the categories of roots music and Americana. This event is free, but tickets are required. They are available via the link above.

(Library of Congress)

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February 1-28 Black Resistance This small, curated display explores how African Americans have resisted historic and ongoing oppression-in many forms-from America's earliest days into the 21st century. Items featured are from the Rare Book and Special Collections, Manuscript, and Prints and Photographs Divisions.

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The struggles and successes of many African American personalities, from civil rights leaders to children's authors, are rich fodder for classroom discussions and student research. Try these activities to inspire your students in the arts, sports, literacy, and more.

Arts

On the Block
Romare Bearden was a prominent collage artist based in Harlem. Share images of his work with kids by visiting the Romare Bearden Foundation website, then click on Education Resources to explore ways to incorporate Bearden's work in your classroom. Begin by inviting small groups to make a collage of their neighborhood in the style of Bearden's The Block.

Story Quilts
The women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, created quilts that told stories. Read about them in Patricia McKissack's book Stitchin' and Pullin' and view photos from Auburn University. Then have students create quilted squares that, when put together, tell a classroom narrative. Read Meghan Everette's blog post Celebrate Black History With Gee's Bend Quilts for inspiration!

Jazz Clouds
Pay homage to great African American jazz musicians, such as Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington, by reading This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt. Then listen to their music and have kids free-write phrases to describe how the music makes them feel. Type the words into wordle.net to make a colorful "word cloud" that represents jazz music.

Twelve-Bar Blues
Teach your class about the historical and cultural significance of the blues, which is steeped in slavery and work songs. Help your students brainstorm things that might give them "the blues." Teach your students about the 12-bar structure of the blues with the lesson plan from The Blues Classroom from PBS.

Literacy

Character Interviews
Have students work in pairs to research African American children's book authors, such as Christopher Paul Curtis, Julius Lester, Patricia McKissack, Walter Dean Myers, Faith Ringgold, and Mildred D. Taylor. Then ask each pair to simulate a Q&A between the author and one of his or her characters - with the character asking how and why the book was written.

History

Schools of Many Colors
Learn about school desegregation by reading The School Is Not White! by Doreen Rappaport. Then share President John F. Kennedy's quote, "When Americans are sent to Vietnam or West Berlin, we do not ask for whites only. It ought to be possible, therefore, for American students of any color to attend any public institution..." Discuss how this statement reflects what happened in the book.

Wax Museum
Have students study an African American historical figure, then dress up as their subject, adding an identifying name tag. Invite visitors to your "wax museum" to press imaginary buttons and bring the statues to life!

Trip for Freedom
Take an interactive trip on the Underground Railroad. Read Fannie Moore's personal story and answer the questions about what it might have been like to be in her shoes. Kids can also write letters using the secret code of the escaped slaves.

Stand Up for Rosa
Rosa Parks was tired of injustice the day she refused to give up her seat on the bus. Introduce her to students by reading by Nikki Giovanni. Have students each write a poem celebrating the bravery in her action.

Slavery in New York
The South was not the only place that had a slave population. Slavery existed in the northern states, too. Visit the New York Historical Society's"Slavery in New York" exhibit online, which explores the vital role the slave trade played in making New York one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Have students discuss what New York might be like today without this history.

Government

Hope Boxes
Nikki Grimes authored Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope prior to President Obama's November 2008 election. Discuss the concept of hope, which is a central theme of Grimes's book, with your class. Then have each child create a small hope box out of cardstock. Fill the boxes with hopeful messages and affirmations.

Sports

Gold-Medal Math
Wow your class with stats about Jesse Owens, the first American in Olympic track and field history to win four gold medals in a single Olympics. Have kids use math to determine how many meters per second he ran during his gold-medal races.

A Baseball Great
Read Myron Uhlberg's bookDad, Jackie, and Me, the story of a white man and his deaf father who vigorously supported Jackie Robinson in 1947 when he became the first African American baseball player in the major leagues. After reading the book and the author's note, discuss the ways in which Robinson and Uhlberg's father overcame prejudice to prove their abilities to others. Consider projecting the images from the end pages, which contain original newspaper clippings about Robinson.

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13 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month | Scholastic

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The struggles and successes of many African American personalities, from civil rights leaders to children's authors, are rich fodder for classroom discussions and student research. Try these activities to inspire your students in the arts, sports, literacy, and more. On the Block Romare Bearden was a prominent collage artist based in Harlem.

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In 2019, LFJ (then Teaching Tolerance) rolled out a series of articles challenging teachers to go beyond overused and whitewashed historical narratives when observing Black History Month. In 2020, we expanded that call by recommending that teachers widen their exploration of Black lives while also providing historical context so students will make meaningful connections to current issues.

It's not uncommon for educators to focus on slavery, segregation and other forms of oppression during Black History Month.

But only teaching a Black history steeped in trauma and struggle provides a very narrow view of Blackness and perpetuates the false notion of Black people's inferiority. This limited teaching of history can actually be violent.

Stephanie P. Jones, founder of Mapping Racial Trauma in Schools and an assistant professor of education at Grinnell College, examines the severity of such approaches in " Ending Curriculum Violence."

Jones' research shows that, too often, "the transatlantic slave trade and its resulting horror within the American slavery system are essentialized as all Black history itself."

She found that the hard histories of slavery, the civil rights movement and other traumatic events in Black history are frequently mistaught or introduced with little context. Curriculum violence occurs when, as too often happens, educators ask students to act out this history or empathize with enslavers' and other oppressors' perspectives.

As a result, students come away with a warped understanding of how racial inequity manifests today. And repeated instances of curriculum violence contribute to a larger traumatic experience at school-experiences that can affect Black students' mental health.

This doesn't mean you should skip teaching hard histories for fear of inflicting curriculum violence. Instead, you can take care to teach the truth and avoid harm in the process. Jones' article offers guidance on how to accomplish that. One way to start right away is to tell the whole story-not just a small part-of Black history. A first step is to commit to decentering racial trauma during Black History Month.

We will share some of our favorite resources focusing on aspects of Black history and culture that aren't centered on violence, trauma and struggle. We hope you'll use them to help your students recognize the many ways in which Black people have contributed to, inspired and created American culture while also leading the way in advocating for civic participation, inclusion and equitable spaces.

Teach the History of Liberation Movements

The fight for Black liberation has always been an integral part of U.S. history, but too often we don't explore that narrative. Black liberation in the United States is much more than a fight to defeat slavery or Jim Crow. It's also exemplified in efforts to reject anti-Blackness: the refusal of Black people's humanity, dignity, agency and voice. People perpetuate anti-Blackness in the degradation of Black aesthetics, denial of Black people's grievances and pain, and the erasure or discrediting of Black culture.

There are numerous ways to tell the story of Black liberation movements. In addition to revolts by enslaved people in the U.S. and beyond, educators can learn and teach more about the everyday and revolutionary ways in which enslaved people fought for liberation. You can start with the episode " Resistance Means More Than Rebellion" on the Teaching Hard History: American Slavery podcast. And students can watch historian Tera Hunter describe the life and escape of Henry "Box" Brown here.

You can also work with students to examine other efforts and movements in which Black people resisted subjugation. These efforts include the work of the Black Panther Party and the Black Power and "Black Is Beautiful" movements. Students can learn more about Black queer liberation and womanism movements, which provided a template for activism today, such as Black Lives Matter.

Honor Black Civic Engagement

The civil rights movement is perhaps the example of Black activism that is most commonly taught in schools. Students should see that advocacy for Black civic engagement-although often attributed to individual figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-was a collective effort that required the sacrifices of everyday people. For example, the Montgomery Bus Boycott was successful because Black communities united and pooled resources for a common cause and attacked segregated busing from multiple angles. This campaign required information sharing, volunteering and political engagement.

From the fierce activism and organizing of Ida B. Wells to the creation of the NAACP, Black people and organizations have a long history of uplifting their communities through civic engagement.

This Black History Month, educators can introduce students to those who aren't always highlighted, such as Francis Watkins Harper, Fannie Lou Hamer and Ella Baker. Show students how their intersectional identities both helped and hindered their causes.

Recognize Intersectional Black Identity

Students must understand that, like other marginalized groups, Black people have identities that intersect, creating complex lived experiences and compounding the effects of oppressive systems.

Scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term intersectionality in 1989 to study the social, economic and political ways in which identity-based systems of oppression and privilege connect, overlap and influence one another.

But recognizing intersectionality doesn't mean educators have to focus only on oppression when acknowledging intersecting identities. Show students that the overlapping of identities helps inspire and influence culture, activism and the consciousness of our society. Intersecting identities lend empathy and an appreciation for all human experiences, as shown in the activism of James Baldwin and Maya Angelou.

To start, some resources you can share with your students might be those that amplify the perspectives of the Black LGBTQ community, Afro-Latinx people and Black Muslims.

Celebrating Black Literature

Because literature is so central to the ways in which children learn about the world, Black History Month is a great time to recommit yourself to studying and teaching works by Black authors who can offer authentic depictions of what it means to be Black in the U.S. and beyond-as opposed to canonical texts that either ignore these perspectives altogether or tell them from the outside looking in. Works by authors like Ralph Ellison, Octavia Butler, Toni Morrison and Gloria Naylor can provide more accurate pictures of Black life and perspectives, even in the science fiction worlds of Butler's work.

Students can also delve into the biographies of authors like Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes and Nikki Giovanni to explore how their activism influenced their work and vice versa.

This exploration doesn't have to be limited to older literature. Examine the works of contemporary writers such as Elizabeth Acevedo's " Hair," which delves into the politics of Black hair. Eve Ewing's " Electric Arches" provides a magical look into Black girlhood while Ta-Nehisi Coates' body of work -from essays to graphic novels-offers a Black male perspective on topics such as history, politics and fatherhood.

This exploration also shouldn't be limited to U.S.-born writers. Help students connect the common threads among Black people across the globe. The works of writers such as Chinua Achebe, Jamaica Kincaid and Wayétu Moore center Black lives throughout the African diaspora in historical narratives.

There is plenty of history to uncover. Studying these four areas of Black life-liberation, civic engagement, intersectional identities and Black literature-can help move classroom discussions past trauma toward enlightenment and empowerment. This doesn't suggest that the realities of racism and racialized violence aren't worthy of discussion. However, students deserve to learn more accurate, balanced and humanizing accounts of Black experiences.

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Black History Month: Teaching the Complete History

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In 2019, LFJ (then Teaching Tolerance) rolled out a series of articles challenging teachers to go beyond overused and whitewashed historical narratives when observing Black History Month. In 2020, we expanded that call by recommending that teachers widen their exploration of Black lives while also providing historical context so students will make meaningful connections to current issues.

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Classroom resources for Black History Month - PBS NewsHour Classroom

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Commemorate Black History Month in your classroom with lesson plans and resources that cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms, and include resources for students in middle or high school.

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February

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Explore seven millennia of art from cultures around the world anywhere online. The Walters Art Museum was a leader among museums in digitizing our collection and manuscripts. As an open access institution, we believe that making our artwork available digitally extends the reach of our museum.

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The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum possesses the oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collections in the world. Dating from the beginning of American railroading, the collection contains locomotives and rolling stock , historic buildings, and small objects that document the impact of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) on the growth and development of early railroading and cover almost every aspect of an industry that left a permanent mark on the folklore and culture of America.
The Museum's locomotive and rolling stock collection contains many unique examples of historically significant pieces from the B&O and other Maryland railroads and includes the finest collection of 19th century steam locomotives. The Museum's roster of locomotives and rolling stock represent the first, last, best or only of their kind in existence today.

The small objects collection covers almost every facet of railroading and includes clocks, pocket watches, textiles, lanterns, dining car china, silver, fine art, communication devices, signals, shop equipment, and an assortment tools and artifacts used on historic occasions such as the laying of the B&O's ceremonial First Stone on July 4, 1828, which marked the beginning of construction of America's first railroad.

To learn more about the donation process and who to contact, click here.

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The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum possesses the oldest, most historic and most comprehensive American railroad collections in the world. Dating from the beginning of American railroading, the collection contains locomotives and rolling stock , historic buildings, and small objects that document the impact of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) on the growth and development of early railroading and cover almost every aspect of an industry that left a permanent mark on the folklore and culture of America.

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The Maryland Center for History and Culture is more than a museum and library. We provide space for the community to discover and develop a deeper understanding of the nation's history and culture through the lens of Maryland.

Library

Dedicated to preserving the irreplaceable history of Maryland

The H. Furlong Baldwin Library invites visitors to explore the records of Maryland's past and preserves irreplaceable historical materials for future generations.

Library Catalog

Search for books, periodicals, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps and more.

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Digital Collections

View digitized paintings, photographs, prints, and other materials.

View More

Paul Robeson, photograph by Paul Henderson, 1948, HEN.00.A2-156

Membership

A Word From Our Members

Our members believe what we believe: history can illuminate the past, lend perspective to the present, and inform the future. Don't take our word for it. Hear what they have to say.

Join or renew

" "

I am thrilled to see how [the MCHC] has become more open to the Baltimore community, especially in making materials more accessible through interactive exhibits and in research and scholarship. A membership is very cost-effective if you are actively researching in the collections.

Jean Lee Cole, Member Since 2013

Generous leading support for this website was provided by the Sheridan Foundation with additional support from the Helen Clay Frick Foundation.

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The Maryland Center for History and Culture is more than a museum and library. We provide space for the community to discover and develop a deeper understanding of the nation's history and culture through the lens of Maryland. The H. Furlong Baldwin Library invites visitors to explore the records of Maryland's past and preserves irreplaceable historical materials for future generations.

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Virtual Exhibits National Air and Space Museum

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Virtual Exhibits National Air and Space Museum

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Join the Smithsonian Institution as we relive the greatest adventure of all time. Destination Moon will commemorate the achievements of the early space program in a new, state-of-the-art traveling exhibition and a permanent gallery at the Museum in Washington, DC.

Read More about Destination Moon

Pages

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Join the Smithsonian Institution as we relive the greatest adventure of all time. Destination Moon will commemorate the achievements of the early space program in a new, state-of-the-art traveling exhibition and a permanent gallery at the Museum in Washington, DC. Read More about Destination Moon

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Virtual Exhibits Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture

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Virtual Exhibits Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture

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Located in the heart of Downtown Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is the premier experience and best resource for information and inspiration about the lives of African American Marylanders. Our Exhibits explore local African-American heritage through themes of family, community, history & art.

Tips for Searching

Keyword Search

The Keyword Search button allows you to perform a general search across multiple fields for any catalog records online. Keyword searches use OR as the default connector between words (e.g. a search for Hanley Ranch will return records associated with Hanley OR Ranch). If you want to find records where both keywords are found, type in AND between the two words. To search for a specific phrase, be sure to put the phrase within quotes (e.g. "Rocky Pine Ranch"). You can also use the asterisk (*) as a wildcard (e.g. a search for histor* would come up with records containing history, histories, historical, etc.). Searches are not case sensitive.

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The Advanced Search button can help you be more specific with your search. You can search for a word or phrase within a particular search category or use multiple categories to further narrow down your search results. For example, searching White in the People field will bring up any records associated with a member of the White family, without having to sift through black & white photographs. You can also search People and Creator records through Advanced Search. Phrase searching with quotes and use of wildcards (*) are available in Advanced Search.

Random Images

The Random Images button is a great way to just browse the collection. Each Random Images page displays a random assortment of images from the records online. If something piques your interest, click the thumbnail to view a larger version of the image.

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The catalog buttons can also help narrow down your search, by only searching with a selected catalog. If you only want to search for Photos, click the Photos button and type in your keyword(s) or phrase. You can also browse records within that catalog without performing a search. Phrase searching, wildcards (*) as well as AND/OR statements are available when performing catalog searches.

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Reginald F. Lewis Museum : Online Collections

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Located in the heart of Downtown Baltimore, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture is the premier experience and best resource for information and inspiration about the lives of African American Marylanders. Our Exhibits explore local African-American heritage through themes of family, community, history & art.

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Outdoor Exhibitions

Help Build a Community Collection

The Bethlehem Steel Legacy Project is a multi-year community engagement and preservation initiative to document the 125-year history of the steelmaking giant through the creation of a long-term exhibit slated to open at the museum in 2021. The project includes a significant investment made by Tradepoint Atlantic, a 3,250-acre multimodal global logistics center located at Sparrows Point, the former site of Bethlehem Steel's Baltimore operations. Click here to learn more about the project.

The BMI and Tradepoint Atlantic are working with members of the Sparrows Point community to identify previously untapped cultural resources for the exhibit through the collection of images, documents, artifacts, and interviews. Do you have any Beth Steel or Sparrows Point items at home? Anything special, strange, interesting, or sentimental to share that could help tell a story about Bethlehem Steel? Click here to learn more about making YOUR item part of the museums' online collection.
Want to learn more? Explore stories and read the latest updates on the BMI's blog, From Point to Point.
Permanent Exhibitions

Step Back in Time to the Early Days of a Port City... From Baltimore's early days as a trading port and hub of manufacturing to its modern identity as a center for research, retail, technology, and tourism, visitors can discover the businesses and inventions that forged the Industrial Revolution and propelled Maryland into the 21st century.

Temporary Exhibitions

SHUTTERED: Images from the Fall of Bethlehem Steel

From 1887 to 2012, the Bethlehem Steel mill at Sparrows Point provided steady if dangerous work for tens of thousands of men and women. Steelmaking was more than just a job to these workers-it was a way of life that built stable communities, strong human bonds, and a unique industrial landscape.

With the shuttering of the Point's blast furnaces, the world inhabited by local steel workers took a number of hits, and the effects continue to reverberate today. The grandson of a steel worker, award-winning photojournalist J.M. Giordano has spent more than 15 years capturing the impact of the mill's decline and closure on his hometown of Baltimore. What do you do, Giordano asks, when the only lifestyle you've ever known-an industrial lifestyle passed down by family, friends, and coworkers for generations-becomes obsolete?

This question follows visitors as they explore the new exhibition Shuttered: Images from the Fall of Bethlehem Steel. Visitors will witness a powerfully original exhibit of photographs by J.M. Giordano exploring the impact of the closing of the Bethlehem Steel mill at Sparrows Point on the people who worked there and the community it supported.

Shuttered is made possible with generous support from Howard Bank and the Delaplaine Foundation.

The 20th-Century Woman at Work

The way we dress for work can offer clues about what we do for a living, where we are employed, and even our professional rank. In some cases, work clothes help tell a story about the nature of working life. Through the twentieth century, women's role in the workforce expanded dramatically thanks to a rising economy, two world wars, new technologies, and vast social change.

Clothing worn and made by Baltimore women mirrored the changing status of women in the workforce. Early on, women were expected to wear dresses regardless of the rigors of the job. During WWII, female factory workers began dressing like their male co-workers. Pants eventually gained acceptance socially and at work as fashion trends responded to women's needs. "Power suits" materialized in the 1980s as more women entered management. One thing didn't change: as women made strides at work, they needed clothes that helped them get the job done.

The garment loft window's display of women work uniforms is curated by museum volunteer Debbie Farthing.

Past Exhibitions

The Baltimore Museum of Industry offers an ever-changing variety of exhibitions about our industrial heritage in our Temporary Exhibition Hall. Whether guest-curated, crowd-sourced, or managed by our own staff, these exhibitions have covered numerous industries of Baltimore's past as well as their modern legacies.
Please visit our Temporary Exhibitions page to learn about our current offerings.
Video Game Wizards-Transforming Science and Art into Games

Video Game Wizards-Transforming Science and Art into Games was developed by the Baltimore Video Game Wizards, Luci Creative, Ravenswood Studio, Silver Oaks Communications, Cerebral Lounge/Clean Cuts Music, and the BMI. A start-up grant was provided by the Maryland Film Office/Maryland Department of Economic Development. Photos provided by Luci Creative.

REINVENTION: The Work of Chris Bathgate

Helen Delich Bentley Tribute
Bentley in Pauline Trigè re dress at WMAR-TV Christmas TV program.
A display of select dresses and hats. Bentley purchased most of her millinery from Jaysan's of Charles Street & Jeanette Beck, Baltimore.

As Federal Maritime Commissioner, Bentley wore this Jeanette Beck dress and double-breasted jacket for an event with Leon Hess (Hess Oil), Joseph Kahn (American Export Lines), and Admiral John M. Will (Sea Train Lines).

The Helen Delich Bentley Tribute featured a display of select dresses and hats bequeathed to the BMI by Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley. Known as much for being stylish as she was for her groundbreaking career as a maritime reporter and elected official, Bentley wore garments that reflected her civic pride in supporting American designers. Four garments and twelve hats were displayed, including an ivory brocade cocktail dress with matching coat (circa 1960), Jeanette Beck label; a moss green and lavender mottled dress (circa 1960), Pauline Trigère label; and a deep brimmed hat covered with multi-colored feathers (1970s), Adolfo Saks Fifth Avenue label. The display also included photos of Bentley wearing the items featured. The tribute was curated by museum volunteer Debbie Farthing.

Then & Now: February 2016-March 2017

Light Street Wharf THEN BGE.35A, ca. 1916 & NOW Jorge Ruiz, 2015.

Mt. Royal at Cathedral THEN BGE.26962, 1925 & NOW Bonnie Schupp, 2015.

Then & Now: Baltimore in the Public Eye highlighted scenes of some of Baltimore's most iconic streets, buildings, and businesses.
This exhibition was made possible with support from BGE.
Then & Now featured historic photographs from the museum's BGE archival collection paired with 'now' photos taken by the general public-professional and amateur photographers alike-that showed what those historic locations look like today. Starting with historic images selected from the BMI's own Baltimore Gas & Electric Company Photograph Collection, this exhibition used nearly 300 contemporary crowd-sourced photos to reveal a complex city whose past and present have been defined by shifts in the way things are made, how they are moved, and where people live, work, and play. This exhibition not only shed light on the momentous changes that Baltimore went through in the past, but also served as a guide to the changes it is likely to undergo in the future.

The Baltimore Gas and Electric archival collection consists of approximately 80,000 photographs and negatives. These images were taken as part of BGE's daily operations, and capture Baltimore's workplaces, cityscapes, and life in Baltimore from the late 1920s through 2001.

Changing Baltimore: June 2015-March 2016

The Changing Baltimore: Share Your Voice exhibition explored the link between Baltimore's loss of manufacturing jobs and the spring 2015 protests around the city.

Changing Baltimore was inspired by a Tweet from the Orioles' Executive Vice President John Angelos, sent during the protests in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray, which read (in part) "My greater source of personal concern, outrage and sympathy beyond this particular case is focused neither upon one night's property damage nor upon the acts, but is focused rather upon the past four-decade period during which an American political elite have shipped middle class and working class jobs away from Baltimore and cities and towns around the U.S. to third-world dictatorships like China and others, plunged tens of millions of good, hard-working Americans into economic devastation."

Featuring eight stirring photos from local photojournalist J.M. Giordano, and quotes from a variety of voices-including Dan Rodricks of The Baltimore Sun, Gerry Sandusky of WBAL-TV, Louis Hyman of Cornell University, and others-the exhibition invited visitors to think about how the loss of manufacturing jobs impacted the people of Baltimore, and what the city's future holds without such jobs. Visitors were invited to leave comments on notes adhered to the exhibition itself.

J.M. Giordano, an award-winning photographer, graciously donated the use of his photos for Changing Baltimore: Share Your Voice.

Not Yet Lost: April 2015-January 2015

Not Yet Lost! The Art of Maryland Sign Painter s featured the rich history of Maryland's sign painters and was guest-curated by Samantha Redles as her thesis for her Master of Fine Art degree at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Not Yet Lost! highlighted local sign painters who transformed Maryland's visual landscape and examined the art of hand-lettered signs through the work of individual artists. The exhibition was an opportunity to experience rare photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, and original artwork and examine the processes behind different types of hand-lettering.

Redles' thesis reflected on a time before computers when sign painting dominated advertising. Trained craftsmen carefully painted all of the traffic signs, storefront signs, billboards, large advertisements, and more.

Not Yet Lost! The Art of Maryland Sign Painters is made possible through the generous support of: Sponsors-GableSigns & Graphics, Maryland Institute College of Art, MICA Graduate Studies, MICA Office of Community Engagement, Maryland State Arts Council, SMI Sign Systems. Lenders-Brendon Brandon, Gary Eddington, Linda Gillis, Ruth Jones, Bob Merrell, Colleen Olson-Bauman, Ole Olson. Contributors -Patrick & Veronique Caubel, Alice & Skip Guentensperger, Maryland Sign Association, Eleanor Miller, Steve & Lynn Miller, Jim & Peggy Nallo, Rick Parker, Lynn Redles-Goldberg, Ken & Linda Redles, George & Rebecca Zuck, Peter Zuck, Ray & Janice Zuck.

Baltimore Shops: November 2014-March 2015

The Baltimore Shops exhibition offered a look at many of the places and businesses that made shopping in Baltimore unique and highlighted the history of local public markets, department stores, and independent merchants and the impact they had on Baltimore life.

Baltimore Shops used photographs and objects from the BMI Collections to show how bustling 19th century markets, once-mighty department stores in the downtown shopping district, and local independent merchants have left a distinctive imprint on Baltimore. More than just places to shop, they became a way of life and an integral part of the character and identity of Baltimore.

"Tied up with Baltimore's rich retail history are memories of days gone by, of children shopping for shoes and seeing the giraffe statue in the Hess store, or of an identification card saved from a first job," says Jane Woltereck, Director of Collections. "We hope visitors will be transported back in time when they see this special collection."

Baltimore Shops was made possible by the hard work of a number of Collections Department volunteers, including: Debbie Farthing, Guest Curator; Gary Boats, Fabrication; and Caitlin Farthing, Graphics; as well as Molly Henderson; Megan Hipsley; Jessica Seaman; Cole Simon; and Anastasia Suryaputri.

Making Music: March 2014-October 2014

Making Music: The Banjo in Baltimore & Beyond featured banjos, sheet music, and profiles of local banjo makers, and explored how our city was instrumental in the history of American banjo music.

Throughout Making Music, we presented some of the ways in which banjo history is linked to a complex American past whose legacy is all around us. For nearly 300 years, the banjo has been a part of the American narrative, with the city of Baltimore playing an integral role in its legacy, from the manufacture of instruments to being the birthplace of some of the most highly regarded banjo players in history. Baltimore residents helped to transform the banjo into an icon of one of America's first popular music crazes, leading to its enduring presence in the hands of everyday Americans.

Today, the banjo's deeper cultural significance is increasingly found online, maintained within music communities, described in new scholarship, and expressed within local outreach efforts. Baltimore continues to be a hub of banjo talent and scholarship.

Making Music: The Banjo in Baltimore & Beyond was made possible by the efforts of guest curators and banjo scholars Robert B. Winans, Peter R. Ross, and Greg C. Adams, and with support from the Maryland Humanities Council and Maryland Arts Council.

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Exhibitions - The Baltimore Museum of Industry

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The Bethlehem Steel Legacy Project is a multi-year community engagement and preservation initiative to document the 125-year history of the steelmaking giant through the creation of a long-term exhibit slated to open at the museum in 2021.

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Online Exhibitions | National Museum of the American Indian

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The NMAI fosters a richer shared human experience through a more informed understanding of Native peoples.

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Virtual Exhibits National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Virtual Exhibits National Museum of African American History and Culture

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Explore permanent exhibitions on view at the Museum along with past special exhibitions, and digital only experiences.

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Virtual Tours National Museum of Natural History

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Virtual Tours National Museum of Natural History

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The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of several exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. Visitors can also access select collections and research areas at our satellite support and research stations as well as past exhibits no longer on display.

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Virtual Exhibits National Museum of American History

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Virtual Exhibits National Museum of American History

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Featured Online Exhibitions

America on the Move - How transportation has shaped our American identity.

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith - What happens when a people decide to govern themselves?

American Enterprise - Chronicles the tumultuous interaction of capitalism and democracy.

FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000 - How new technologies and cultural changes transformed how and what we eat.

Many Voices, One Nation - E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.

On the Water: Stories from Maritime America - Discover the significant role maritime activity has played in American lives.

Separate Is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education - A turning point in the history of race relations in the United States.

The Star-Spangled Banner - The flag that inspired the national anthem.

Also enjoy a variety of exhibition tours in audio format and multiple languages.

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America on the Move - How transportation has shaped our American identity.

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On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, TIME proclaimed that his death was "the moment that changed America." "There is little doubt that his death and its circumstances set loose the darker instincts of the American psyche," TIME's editor Nancy Gibbs wrote then.

And, looking back on the 20th century-the epoch that TIME founder Henry Luce dubbed "the American century"-it's clear that there were many such moments of change, instances big and small that cleared the way for something greater to come after. Many of those moments are easy to name: the assassinations, the invasions, the elections. Many are more subtle, their impact visible only in hindsight.

With that in mind, TIME invited experts to nominate 20th-century moments that changed the United States. Taken together, those moments create a chronology of an evolving country-and a century in which any moment might be the next big one.

More Must-Read Stories From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com.

By Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen
In the aftermath of World War I, the Lebanese-born, Boston-based poet-philosopher Kahlil Gibran wrote what would become one of the world's most translated works of philosophy: The Prophet. This collection of inspirational sermons delivered by a fictional prophet-on love, marriage, work, reason, self-knowledge and ethics-challenged tired orthodoxies and oppressive ideologies. Though Gibran's exaltation of human individuality, creativity and difference was not entirely original, the book's success lay in his ability to make his insights feel like revelations. Ever since its publication in 1923, The Prophet has been a salve for readers who tried-in good American fashion-to break from conformity. Gibran readers include Woodrow Wilson and American soldiers during World War II (thanks to its selection for the American Services Editions in 1943); Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash; members of the 1960s counterculture and now Salma Hayek. The Prophet taught self-trust amid the buzzing, blooming confusion of modern America. Sometimes it takes a foreigner to speak the voice of Americans' inner conscience.

Jennifer Ratner-Rosenhagen is the Merle Curti Associate Professor of History and the founder of the Intellectual History Group at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her book, American Nietzsche: A History of an Icon and His Ideas, won the John H. Dunning Prize, an award for an outstanding monograph in a subject in U.S. history, from the American Historical Association.

Read more about the ongoing influence of The Prophet, here in the TIME Vault

By H.W. Brands
Barry Goldwater's campaign was floundering a week before the 1964 election. The candidate inspired none but the truest of believers; the Republican regulars were dejectedly heading for the exits. In a desperate effort to energize donors, the campaign put a political unknown on television-and Ronald Reagan proceeded to electrify the country. His 30-minute address, labeled "A Time for Choosing," transformed the washed-up actor into the darling of conservatives and launched a political career that would carry Reagan to White House, revive American conservatism and push Soviet communism to the brink of dissolution.
H.W. Brands holds the Jack S. Blanton Sr. Chair in History at the University of Texas at Austin, and is the author of two Pulitzer-finalist works of history. He is also currently writing, on Twitter, the history of the United States in haiku. Read coverage of Reagan's roll in the 1964 elections, here in the TIME Vault

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On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, TIME proclaimed that his death was "the moment that changed America." "There is little doubt that his death and its circumstances set loose the darker instincts of the American psyche," TIME's editor Nancy Gibbs wrote then.