Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

The Legacy of Nelson Mandela is a free lesson that explores his life and career. The lesson is divided into four steps: Hook, The Meaning of Leadership, Videos and Other Teachers' Resources (including Standards-Based Exercises and What Students Can Do). In the Standards-Based Exercises, there are multiple activities including: Lesson in Leadership, Mandela: Hero or Villain?, Comparing the Words of Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and more. At the bottom of the website, you will find Additional Resources to learn more about Nelson Mandela.

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Teaching Nelson Mandela: Learning Experiences and Lessons to Support Grades 7-12 Classrooms offers a variety of lessons about Nelson Mandela and South Africa. Some lessons include Apartheid as a Social Policy, Apartheid Laws and Resistance, Documentary and Biography: A Lens for Studying Life Stories, Communicating a Message, and more. Each lesson gives the grade level, time, objectives, procedure, list of materials, and links to resources. Some lessons include follow-up activities and questions to reinforce learning.

tag(s): Nelson Mandela (10), south africa (15)

CNN's Nelson Mandela Fast Facts offers an easy-to-read timeline about the life of Nelson Mandela. The timeline is broken down into Personal, Other Facts, and Timeline.

tag(s): black history (136), Nelson Mandela (10), south africa (15)

The Museum of the American Revolution's Virtual Museum Tour offers an immersive online experience featuring 360-degree panoramic views of its galleries, high-resolution images of artifacts, and optional guided audio narration. The tour is divided into themed sections, such as the Liberty Tree, Washington's Field Headquarters, and various exhibits that highlight diverse voices, including those of women, Native Americans, and both free and enslaved people. Students can explore detailed scenes and stories that trace the journey from the start of the Revolution to the founding of a new nation. However, since the tour includes embedded YouTube videos, any school district that blocks YouTube will prevent access to those video components.

tag(s): american revolution (86), virtual field trips (132)

Step into history--and make pivotal decisions! The American Revolution Institute's Revolutionary Choices game and companion app immerse students in the real-life challenges of the Revolutionary War. Starting with Lexington and Concord, players must make tough choices, such as financing the army, securing French support, and managing Loyalist tensions, while staying true to the ideals of liberty and unity. Available for free on desktop, iOS, and Android, the game includes over 150 scenarios and 24 key battles. A classroom guide helps teachers integrate gameplay with historical analysis, encouraging students to explore the complex political, military, and moral dilemmas faced by revolutionaries.

tag(s): american revolution (86), game based learning (208), simulations (26)

The Camp Fire Simulation from National Geographic Education is an interactive learning tool that helps students explore wildfire behavior, prevention, and management strategies. Through this simulation, students can manipulate weather conditions, terrain, and fire suppression techniques to observe how fires spread and how different factors influence wildfire management. This resource is ideal for teaching environmental science, geography, and disaster preparedness, encouraging students to think critically about real-world challenges. Teachers can use it in class discussions on climate change, land management, and emergency response planning in an engaging, hands-on way.

tag(s): climate (86), climate change (101), fire (23), fire prevention (17), fire safety (17), simulations (26)

The Freedmen's Bureau and Education explores the impact of the Freedmen's Bureau in establishing schools for formerly enslaved individuals after the Civil War. Through historical context and primary source analysis, this resource helps students understand the challenges and successes of early efforts to provide education to African Americans. Teachers can use this material to spark discussions about equity in education, Reconstruction-era policies, and the lasting effects of these initiatives. This resource is ideal for social studies or history lessons on Reconstruction and civil rights.

tag(s): african american (121), civil war (142), primary sources (119), slavery (80)

Read about the significant underrepresentation of Latino achievements in U.S. history education. A joint study by UnidosUS and Johns Hopkins University revealed that only 13% of essential topics related to the Latino experience are adequately covered in current textbooks. The article emphasizes the importance of integrating Latino narratives into the broader American story to provide a more accurate and inclusive historical perspective. It highlights notable figures such as Juan Garrido, the first documented Black person in North America, and Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, the first European to explore the West Coast. Educators are encouraged to incorporate these contributions into their curricula to enrich students' understanding of the nation's diverse heritage.

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The American Experience: Native Peoples collection on PBS LearningMedia provides educators with a curated selection of documentaries and resources that delve into the histories, cultures, and experiences of Indigenous communities in the United States. Topics covered include the forced relocations such as the Trail of Tears, the impact of government-run boarding schools on Indigenous children, Native American involvement in the Civil War, and the American Indian Movement's role in events like the Wounded Knee occupation. These materials offer valuable insights to enhance classroom discussions and promote a deeper understanding of Native American histories and contemporary issues.

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The Biography.com feature "23 Influential Hispanic Americans Who Have Made History" offers an engaging overview of prominent Hispanic figures whose achievements have significantly impacted American society. The article highlights individuals across various fields, including politics, arts, science, and activism. Notable figures include Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic American on the U.S. Supreme Court; labor leader Cesar Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers; and EGOT-winning performer Rita Moreno. This resource serves as an excellent tool for educators aiming to introduce students to the diverse contributions of Hispanic Americans.
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Explore up-to-date demographic insights into the Latino population in the United States. When this resource was created, Latinos accounted for 19% of the U.S. population, totaling 63.6 million people, and were responsible for 53% of the nation's population growth since 2010. The article highlights the diversity within the Latino community, noting that individuals of Mexican origin make up nearly 60% of the U.S. Latino population, followed by Puerto Ricans, Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, and Hondurans. Additionally, it discusses the significant increase in multiracial identification among Latinos, with more than 27 million identifying with more than one race in 2022, up from 3 million in 2010. These findings offer valuable context for educators aiming to incorporate comprehensive and current information about Latino communities into their curricula.

tag(s): cultures (226), hispanic (46), population (51)

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Celebrating the Culture and Contributions of Hispanic Americans is a short article that highlights Hispanic culture in the United States and shares several Did You Know facts.

tag(s): cultures (226), hispanic (46)

Power of the Purse: The Contributions of Hispanic Americans is an article featuring how Hispanics fill crucial roles in the job market and start and own their businesses at higher rates than the rest of the population. The article shares many graphs of employment information.

tag(s): business (54), cultures (226), hispanic (46)

Mustard and Moxie's 10 Reasons Why Hispanics Are Important to the US is part of a blog. The reasons why Hispanics are important include diversity and cultural enrichment, economic contributions, demographic influence, educational achievements, and more.

tag(s): cultures (226), demographics (14), hispanic (46)