Civil Rights Book Recommendation

Jeanne Theoharis has written about the radicalness of Rosa Parks in the Rebellious Life of Rosa Parks. Now she examines the under and mis-taught aspects of the Civil Rights Era in A More Beautiful and Terrible History.

The book is more than a retelling of some lesser known people and events. Theoharis argues that the embrace and celebration of only certain leaders, the narrative of quick civil rights victories, and the notion that racism and discrimination were only a Southern phenomenon, has limited the lessons of the struggle for equality and justice.  

The entire book is excellent background knowledge for teachers and is divided into nine chapters that could be easily utilized with high school students.  Students will be particularly interested in chapter six's examination of the role of children in the movement in both southern and northern desegregation efforts.  This would be a strong choice for a shared history book in your social science professional learning team.

Black History
Festival NW 2020

A Celebration of Culture and Heritage Showcasing African American artists, businesses, organizations and leaders.

Through arts, education and advocacy 365 days a year, utilizing Black History Month to celebrate Black excellence, bridge gaps, amplify truth, unity and hope in the Pacific NW.

Black History Month

Highlighting Oregon’s Black Leadership Gains During Black History Month 2020
by Dr. Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President for the Division of Equity and Inclusion

2020 is a pivotal year. Not only are we gearing up for the November General Election, but this year marks the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. As a result, there is a particularly bright spotlight on the issue of leadership. During the month of February, that spotlight specifically turns to Black leadership. Read more...

Oregon Encyclopedia-Oregon Historical Society

OHS and the Oregon Encyclopedia have a number of fantastic online resources for you to take a look at and use with your students.

Curriculum units and free videos from the Choices Program

New perspectives on black history to your classroom this month for Black History Month. These materials are also great resources for courses on African American Studies. In addition to the curriculum units listed below, Choices has two units on slavery slated for release later this year: Slavery and the Making of the Modern World will address how the creation of racial slavery affected the history of the Americas, and A Forgotten History: Slavery and Emancipation in the North will examine the role that the U.S. North played in the history of slavery.  

CURRICULUM UNITS

The Haitian Revolution

Students trace the development of the American colonial world and one of the greatest wealth-producing colonies in world history. They consider the groups involved in the conflict and reflect on the legacies of one of the most successful revolts of enslaved people in history.

Explore this unit

The Civil War and the Meaning of Liberty

Students probe the history of the United States from 1830 to 1865 and consider the experiences of people in the United States as well as the issues driving the political confrontation over slavery and the meaning of liberty.

Explore this unit

Freedom Now:  The Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi

Students trace the history of the black freedom struggle from Reconstruction through the 1960s. Readings and activities focus on the grass-roots movement to achieve civil rights for African Americans.

Explore this unit

Colonization and Independence in Africa

Students explore Africa in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, consider the changes colonialism imposed on African governments, economies, and societies, and examine ways Africans responded to European colonialism.

Explore this unit

Freedom in Our Lifetime: South Africa's Struggle

Students examine the history of South Africa and the development of a race-based society, the effects of apartheid, and the use of violence by some members of the anti-apartheid community.

Explore this unit

2020 Workshops

Our workshops are useful, engaging, and fun! Participants receive Choices curriculum along with ideas and tools for using Choices materials in a variety of classrooms. More summer dates and locations to be announced soon!  Find a workshop near you

Teaching America’s Interwoven Histories

The shared history of African Americans and Indigenous Americans is rarely taught. TT talked to Professor Tiya Miles about why we can’t understand American history without it.

Teaching Tolerance magazine and website is filled with timely and foundational resources.

YA Book Recommendation

We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding Our Racial Divide is the young adult adaption of Carol Anderson's White Rage, a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. The book examines five milestones of progress by the black community (Reconstruction, the Great Migration, Brown vs. Board of Education, the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, and the election of Barack Obama) that were met by such racist and violent responses from white citizens, lawmakers, and judges that those hard-earned successes were rolled back. Violence is constantly in the background of the book (lynchings, murders, the burning of black homes and businesses). Several instances, including the lynching and mutilation of a pregnant woman, are graphically described. This is a riveting and timely history of America's racist past and present.

Powell's Books features a number of books and speakers in celebration of Black History Month.

Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

Free Training in support of Holocaust/Genocide and Ethnic Studies

The Persistence of Hate: Exploring Contemporary Antisemitism with Facing History and Ourselves

When: Sunday, March 1 (Registration closes February 21, 2020)

Cost: FREE

Time: 9am - 4pm (7 P.D.Us available)

Where: Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (724 NW Davis Street, Portland)

Register here: http://www.ojmche.org/events/2020-persistence-of-hate

Limited spaces available

How and why does antisemitism persist in communities today? What can we do as educators to confront hatred in our schools and communities? Facing History’s new lessons explore the role that antisemitism played at the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville and provide strategies and resources for discussing controversial issues with students that are especially urgent at this historical moment.

In this workshop, we will examine American antisemitism in an historical context by exploring primary sources from the twentieth century. We will also discuss the community responses to these events and how students can choose to participate in strengthening their communities when faced with violations based on hatred or bigotry.

Student Opportunity

2. OJMCHE Annual Art and Writing Competition - Our annual Art and Writing Competition is for middle and high school and this years prompt is about the consequences of hate speech. Entries are due by March 20, 2020. Additional and more detailed information can be found here: http://www.ojmche.org/educate/education/sala-kryszek-art-writing.

Professional Development In Eastern Oregon

Japanese American Museum of Oregon (Formerly Oregon Nikkei Endowment)

Museum Guided Tours: Museum Tours will be closing on March 6th, 2020. Our Education team will be working towards preparing for a new guided tour in our new museum space in Summer of 2020. Stay tuned to learn more!

Speakers and Japanese American Historical Plaza tours are still available during this season. Email us at info@oregonnikkei.org if interested.

2020 Minoru Yasui Student Contest (6th-12th grade): THE CONTEST IS LIVE! 

https://sites.google.com/view/minyasuicontest2020  

Contest Proposals are due March 1st! Make Your Own Exhibit Projects due March 28th!

The Minoru Yasui Student Contest provides Oregon’s middle and high school students the opportunity to address contemporary civil rights issues through writing about actions they have taken or can take to promote social justice. Students are to consider the work of Minoru Yasui, an Oregon attorney who challenged the legality of travel restrictions and curfews established against West Coast Japanese Americans during World War II. 

This year’s prompt is: “Make your own Exhibit” Reflecting on Yasui’s legacy during the 1980’s Redress movement, create an action plan for a civil rights violation that our country should redress today (to apologize for, to set right).

Teachers, we hope you will encourage your students to participate in this contest relating to the untold history of Oregon hero! More info can be found at http://www.oregonnikkei.org/education.htm

Documentary: “Never Give Up! Minoru Yasui and the Fight for Justice” Teachers get ready to celebrate Minoru Yasui Day on March 28^th.  Min’s daughter, Holly Yasui has directed a 55-minute documentary of her father’s legacy and life. For more information please go to https://www.minoruyasuifilm.org/educational-package

Japanese American Museum of Oregon, 121 NW 2nd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209

Inquiries: info@oregonnikkei.org ATTN: Education Manager or 503-223-1458

Rethinking Schools Resources

Download resources on a variety of topics related to social, political, economic, racial, and environmental justice.

World Oregon Educator Forum

Expanding Culturally Relevant Teaching at Your School!

Date: Saturday, February 29th, 2020

Time: 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Fee: $50 lunch included

$35 lunch not included

$25 full-time student, lunch included

Location: Concordia University Hagan Campus Center

2811 NE Holman Street Portland, OR 97211

Professional Development Units: 6 Program:

We look forward to showcasing administrators, teachers, and students from five different school districts to discuss Culturally Relevant Teaching, share what’s happening on the ground and dig into the complexity of the work

Teaching Ideas and Resources

Black History Month is more than a celebration of selected achievements by a talented few. It is a time for students, educators, and historians to deeply examine pivotal moments of the African American experience. The historical impact of African Americans on the story of America is profound and ongoing, and through the study of this history, we become better equipped to wrestle with the challenges and opportunities around contemporary discussions of racism.

Use the following Teaching Ideas to help your students explore current events that relate to racial justice:

The Persistence of Racial Segregation in American Schools More than 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education, school segregation remains a problem. Give students an overview of school segregation in the United States today and open a discussion about possible solutions.

The Debate Over Reparations for Racial Injustice

With reparations in the news, this Teaching Idea helps students define the term, learn what forms reparations can take, and consider what reparations should be offered for slavery and other racist policies.

Making Room at the Table

Teach students about Representative Shirley Chisholm's groundbreaking career and connect her story to today's 116th Congress--the most diverse federal legislative body in US history.

Responding to #LivingWhileBlack

Help students develop a framework for analyzing and discussing the incidents of racial bias they're seeing in the news. (Updated January 30, 2020)

Black Women's Activism and the Long History Behind #MeToo 

Help students draw connections between the long history of black women's activism against sexual and gender-based violence and the current #MeToo movement. (Updated January 30, 2020)

The Center for Geography Education in Oregon Annual Conference

C-GEO will hold its Annual GeoFest on March 7, 2020 at Portland State University. Conference highlights include sessions by Google Earth, sessions on ethnic and indigenous studies, story mapping and much more! Additionally, the Choices Program will be doing a workshop on climate change. Registration is $10 for teachers (preservice teachers are free!). Preregister by February 20 and receive lunch and goodie bag.

TO REGISTER for Geofest visit:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QDYRBD6

C-GEO 2019 Summer Institutes

The Center for Geography Education in Oregon (C-GEO) will offer two Oregon based summer institutes in 2020, both in August. All Oregon preK-12 teachers and pre-service teachers are encouraged to apply, regardless of teaching assignment.

Telling the Story of Your Place

C-GEO 2020 Summer Institute

Roseburg, Oregon August 10-14

In partnership with Umpqua Valley STEAM and Alder Creek Community Forest

Story of Your Place (SoYP) is a new statewide K-12 geography education curriculum which follows the broad approach of inquiry-based learning, as applied via the National Geographic Society’s Geo-Inquiry model and focusing on the concept of place. 

GeoCivics: How Geography Impacts Democracy

C-GEO 2020 Summer InstituteWestern Oregon UniversityAugust 11-14, 2020

With special participating guests:

The Classroom Law Project and the Confederated Tribes of Grand RondeThis institute will provide materials and instruction on how to teach civics, including elements of tribal sovereignty, through a critical geographic lens. The institute will include a one-day pre-workshop by The Choices Program, Topics: climate change and human rights.

Topics will include:

• Strategies on teaching elections and gerrymandering through maps
• Mapping women’s suffrage
• Civics and social movement around climate change
• Tribal sovereignty
• How to talk about controversial issues in the classroom

Application and more information for Telling the Story of your Placehttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZGCNJYC

Application and more information for GeoCivics: How Geography Impacts Democracy:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GeoCivics

The Oregon Journal of the Social Studies (FREE ACCESS)

Highlighted Article (from Volume 7 Number 1)

The Time is Now: Taking Initiative for Indigenous Studies in Elementary Curriculum by Leilani Sabzalian, Rina Miyamoto-Sundahl, & Robin Fong.

Article Abstract: Initiatives like Senate Bill 13: Tribal History/Shared History, which mandates and supports the development of Indigenous studies curriculum for all K-12 public schools in Oregon, are critical. 

The Oregon Journal of the Social Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal sponsored by the Oregon Council for the Social Studies. New and past issues of social studies articles and lesson plans are free to access at the following link: https://sites.google.com/site/oregoncouncilforsocialstudies/O-J-S-S/o-j-s-s-issues.

Scholarships for the 2020 Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has scholarships for 10 Oregon middle and high school teachers to attend the Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg. 

The intensive week-long sessions immerse participants in American history onsite in Williamsburg, Virginia the restored capitol of eighteenth-century Virginia, as well as nearby historic sites. Secondary school week-long sessions focus on The Emerging American Identity from 1606 to 1865.

Teachers are engaged in an authentic interactive learning environment and use an inclusive approach to analyze people and events of the past from multiple perspectives. Participants have opportunities to exchange ideas with historians, meet character interpreters portraying people of the past, analyze primary sources, participate in historical simulations, and learn museum techniques that actively engage students in history.

Each scholarship includes admission to all programs, room (double occupancy), most meals, air transportation, and educational resource materials, including primary sources, lesson plans, and digital media. Information on available scholarships is posted on our website at http://www.history.org/cwti.

To apply, please go to https://colonialwilliamsburgfoundation.submittable.com/submit . Applications are due by March 23, 2020 and applicants will be notified by April 1, 2020.

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