Media Smarts
Bias in News Sources
As young consumers of media, it is important for high schoolers to explore concepts of bias and prejudice, and how they may be present in media. After discussing ideological messages that media can contain, individuals complete a warm-up...
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Loose Lips
Have your middle and high schoolers analyze instances of celebrities using racial slurs or making prejudiced comments in public. After reading an article, they consider the roots and effects of prejudice and bias. As a class, they...
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An Experiment in Unfair Treatment/Prejudice
A rigged spelling bee gives class members a chance to experience some of the feelings associated with unfair treatment. Team one is given easy words while team two is given difficult words. As teams realize the unfairness the instructor...
Learning for Justice
Beauty is Skin Deep
If you are in need of a lesson on tolerance or the impact of media, this plan could be useful. The class begins with a brainstorming session in which they reflect on their own experiences with bias based on appearance. Next, they...
Anti-Defamation League
Hair Discrimination and the CROWN Act
The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) is the subject of the lesson that asks groups to research the stories of five different women and share their insights in a jigsaw activity. Participants then craft...
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Bias, Prejudice and Propaganda
Twelfth graders examine bias, prejudeice, and propaganda in reading selections. They view commercials and print ads, discuss how the advertisers are trying to convince them of something, and keep a commercial journal.
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Know Yourself
Eleventh graders explore the events of the Holocaust. In this cross curriculum lesson, 11th graders examine the differences between prejudice and discrimination. Students read various forms of literature and write journal entries.
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Mr. Lincoln's Way
Young scholars read the book, Mr. Lincoln's Way by Patricia Polacco, They discuss racism and discrimination. They draw a bird and write a paragraph discussing what makes their bird special and unique.
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We Are One World
Students examine discrimination, prejudice, and bias in the world. In this tolerance lesson, students research examples of prejudice in different countries. They then identify the Core Democratic Values in song lyrics. Students locate on...
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To Kill a Mockingbird
Students explore the components of racismas they read through Horton Foote's, "To Kill a Mockingbird." The trial of the main character reveals instances of justice in the face of prejudice and forms the focus of the lesson.
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Anne Frank: The Island of the Skog
Students read and discuss The Island of the Skog by Steven Kellogg and examine the illustrations, keep a "discrimination log," and write about one example of discrimination and how they could have intervened to stop it.
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Rationalizing Race in US History
Students consider the classification of people. In this race studies lesson plan, students examine the concept of race as it relates to U.S. history and trends. Students research racial discrimination and prejudice in order to support...
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Defining Respect
Students examine what respect is and isn't. In this character education instructional activity, students create a t-chart of what respect looks like and doesn't look like. The teacher adds the words bias, prejudice, stereotype and...
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A Never-Before-Seen Creature
Students construct a never-before-seen creature in part of an analysis of societal injustices and discrimination. In this societal issues lesson, students create a creature called a Man-Droid as a study about the differences among...
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Focus on the Media
Students critically examine news articles and editorials for attitudes of discrimination and prejudice. Students then complete checklist in which they analyze news reports for context, content, point of view, language, graphics, and...
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Diversity - Grade 9
Ninth graders consider the diversity of the First Nations cultures in Canada. In this cultural diversity activity, 9th graders research the cultural groups of the First Nations and share their findings with their classmates.
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On the Air
Students explore the issue of race in television since the 1950's, focusing specifically on African-American entertainers. After researching important issues, events, and television personalities of specific decades, students create TV...
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Using Picture Books to Teach the Holocaust
Students compare a photo of a child's room during the Holocaust to their room. In this WWII lesson, students read picture books and evaluate the roles of characters in the book. Students create either a poster about the roles, a movie...
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Is Racism Dead?
Pupils investigate events surrounding the integration of Little Rock (Arkansas) Central High School and explore racial harmony in their own school. Included: A survey to determine whether racism is dead at your school.
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Using History to Teach Tolerance: A Ripple of Hope
Students investigate the prejudice and racism that has existed in the U.S. for centuries by attending a field trip. In this equality lesson, students visit the Tolerance Museum and discuss the history of the U.S. Students write a poem...
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Do the Write Thing
Students take stands on issues that matter to them. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students read Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, discuss the act of advocating for others, and write letters of support for issues they belive in...
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World War II: Internment in Hawaii
Students examine world history by writing an essay in class. In this World War II lesson, students identify the attack on Pearl Harbor, the response from the U.S and the effect it had on Japanese-Americans. Students define Japanese...
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Antisemitism in Early America
Eleventh graders explore the rise of antisemitism in the United States in the early 20th century. After reading a passage concerning one man's ordeal, 11th graders discuss how the civil rights of minority groups has been viewed in...