LibGuides: Black Lives Matter: January 2021

For Teachers: Lessons on Insurrection on the Capitol

Beyond the Stoplight: Resources for Teachers on the Days After the Attack on the U.S. Capitol We welcome this guest post from Dr. Alyssa Hadley-Dunn, Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Michigan State University and founder of Teaching on the Days After: Dialogue & Resources for Educating Toward Justice
Facebook Group: Teaching on Days After: Dialogue & Resources for Educating Toward Justice This group will share resources and offer a space for dialogue about teaching on days after injustice, traumas, and tragedies, on an international, national, or local scale. How do we as educators respond to these major events in our classrooms?
Lesson Ideas: Attack on the Capitol/ Insurrection in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 Objective: Educators will provide students an opportunity to share their reactions, thoughts, feelings about the events of January 6th in Washington, DC and make connections to recent current events and historical events in the United States.
https://newsela.com/read/trump-mob-storms-capitol/id/2001017797/
Responding to the Insurrection at the Capitol This Teaching Idea is designed to help guide an initial classroom reflection on the insurrection at the US Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021. We will continue to publish resources on our Current Events as this story evolves over the coming weeks.
Classroom resource: Three ways to teach the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol Directions: Watch the video, read the summary below and answer the discussion questions.
D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action Access links to suggested lessons, films, books, readings, and general teaching guides for Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and beyond. Themes connecting to the 13 principles of the Movement for Black Lives or the demands for the week of action are listed in parentheses where appropriate.
Social Studies Teachers: What should we teach today about events in Washington DC? I’ve been on the phone and on email with a number of teachers since Wednesday afternoon (and also with a couple of high school students) that asked me how they should address the events that unfolded in Washington DC. This is my hurried response. I recommend that the assault on democracy in the nation’s Capitol be the topic in every social studies class grades 7-12. Please pull material from this lesson plan that is appropriate for your students.
Your Roadmap for Teaching Controversial Issues Today’s polarized climate may seem intimidating for teaching controversial issues, but it also makes it all the more important. With the right approach, classrooms can be welcoming spaces for students to test-drive their ideas and to see disagreement as an opportunity to learn, not as a form of conflict. Classrooms are ideal incubators for facilitating constructive dialogue on today’s most divisive issues—from immigration… to religious and cultural tolerance… to the relative powers and functions of our three branches of government.
Are Conspiracy Theories Harmless Fun, a Serious Problem or Something in Between? Conspiracy theories usually center on a sinister plot by a powerful organization. They are also almost never true. Some conspiracy theories are rooted in racism or economic anxiety, like the theory that foreign-born “Illuminati” secretly control the government. Others just seem outlandish: the Earth is the only flat planet in a galaxy of round ones. Really? Explore all sides of this topic, then share your thoughts using evidence. (No conspiracy theories allowed!)
NYC January 6th 2021 Resource Guide The Social Studies and Civics Department has compiled a resource list to support teachers in holding conversations with their students following the insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Our students are participants in our democracy, and it is important that they have an opportunity to reflect on how this affects them.
When Something Scary Happens Resources to Help Families Cope in Emergencies and Other Challenging Times
Atlantic Crew Resources in Response to White Insurrection in Washington, DC Created by the EL Education Atlantic Crew of School Leaders..
Talking to Kids about the Election The contentious presidential race might be confusing and upsetting. Here's how to help children deal.
How to talk to your kids about the chaos at the Capitol The events at the U.S. Capitol caused fear and confusion. Here's how to help children make sense of it all.
How to talk to your kids about violence at the U.S. Capitol Parents should have open and honest conversations with children about what is happening and why, including acknowledging that a child is scared and anxious. It can also help to list some of the things that are being done to keep a child safe, according to Children’s Hospital Colorado.

On the Importance of Talking with Students

When Disaster Strikes: Talking to Children About Traumatic Events Large-scale tragedies can be extremely disturbing to children, who thrive on predictability and security. When exposed to these catastrophic events, whether personally or through the media, children often display fears and anxieties that may seem extreme to adults. Usually, these reactions are normal. However, without proper assurance, the impact of events like these can remain with children for a long time, even throughout their lives.
When Bad Things Are Happening When news breaks of disaster or violence, your students may want to discuss a crisis as it unfolds. Here’s how.
To Sustain the Tough Conversations, Active Listening Must Be the Norm We have to prepare students—and ourselves—to communicate, question and work our way through a disconnect when the outside world spills into the classroom.
Let's Talk! Facilitating Critical Conversations With Students Educators play a crucial role in helping students talk openly about the historical roots and contemporary manifestations of social inequality and discrimination. Learning how to communicate about such topics as white privilege, police violence, economic inequality and mass incarceration requires practice, and facilitating critical conversations with students demands courage and skill.
An age-by-age guide on how to talk about difficult topics with your children One of the toughest jobs of parenting is talking to your kids about difficult subjects. It's hard enough to explain when a beloved stuffie gets eaten by the washing machine, or when a bully acts tough at school. But it can feel impossible to put into words some of the really big issues, such as violence, racism and other important topics.
NASP: Talking to Children about Violence High profile acts of violence, particularly in schools, can confuse and frighten children who may feel in danger or worry that their friends or loved-ones are at risk. They will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children feel safe by establishing a sense of normalcy and security and talking with them about their fears.
Hard Conversations And Finding The Right Words No matter our personal views, the events that took place in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 left us with another parenting challenge of trying to find the right words to explain the things our kids saw and heard in the news. Like most of you, we struggled with how we should talk to our kids about the situation in a way that would shelter them from worry but also answer their questions. So, we reached out to Parker Huston, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of the On Our Sleeves Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he advocates for children’s mental health on a local, regional, and national level. Parker was kind enough to sit down with us to give us tips for talking to the children in our lives about the potentially traumatic events they have been exposed to this week, we hope his insights will help you as much as they did us.

About Elections, Peaceful Transitions & Political Polarization

Student and Teacher Frequently Asked Questions: Election to Inauguration This document is intended to help answer questions about the period between the 2020 election and the inauguration of the next President in January 2021. Many of these questions were generated by students, and researchers at Harvard have helped to answer these questions and to provide resources to help you understand the situation better.
A List of Electoral College Count Resources As a resource, here is a list of statutes about Wednesday’s joint meeting of Congress, sections of the Constitution related to the Electoral College, and extensive resources from the National Constitution Center about the Electoral College.
Peaceful Transitions Playlist A list curated by Bill of Rights Institute staff with resources considering principles, processes, and examples of constitutionally guided transitions of power.
Explainer: Political Polarization in the United States Americans appear to be increasingly divided over politics. The gap between the policies endorsed by the Republican and Democratic Parties is growing, as is animosity between people who identify with different parties. How is polarization influencing decision-making and civic life in the United States? Can Americans still find common ground?
Explainer: Free and Fair Elections This Explainer describes the standards that governments need to meet before, during, and after an election to ensure that the election is "free and fair."
Peaceful Transfer of Power (Account Needed) For over two centuries, American political offices have peacefully transferred power after every election. Use this infographic to show students how precedent, tradition, and legitimacy have helped create this democratic norm. Consider the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and why it is important to a democratic form of government.
Watch out for this misinformation when Congress meets to certify the election. Here are six false voter fraud claims that may be repeated during Wednesday’s proceedings.

Russian Hacking in American Elections by Duchess Harris; Marcia Amidon Lusted Russian Hacking in American Elections explains how Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election. It also discusses the response from the United States and the investigation into the events while encouraging readers to form their own opinions.
Call Number: UPPER LEVEL 327.73 HAR
ISBN: 1532116829
Publication Date: 2018-12-15
The Right to Vote by Duchess Harris; Kari A. Cornell The Right to Vote examines how voting rights have evolved throughout the history of the United States. This title looks at the reasons behind limiting the right to vote, the suffrage movements of various groups, and current debates surrounding voting issues in the country.
Call Number: UPPER LEVEL 324.62 HAR
ISBN: 1532113048
Publication Date: 2017-12-15
Governmental Checks and Balances by Duchess Harris Governmental Checks and Balances examines the ways the three branches of the US government were designed to prevent each other from gaining too much power and influence. The title provides numerous examples of executive, legislative, and judicial checks that help keep the federal government running smoothly.
Call Number: UPPER LEVEL 320.473 HAR
ISBN: 1532113013
Publication Date: 2017-12-15

Resistance and Riots

Far-Right Groups Are Behind Most U.S. Terrorist Attacks, Report Finds White supremacist groups have carried out a majority of “terrorist plots and attacks” this year, according to a report by a think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Article: Rioters breached US Capitol security on Wednesday. This was the police response when it was Black protesters on DC streets last year Uses photographs from the BLM protests in June and puts them in stark contrast with the January 6, 2021 Insurrection.

Political Resistance in the Current Age by Myra Faye Turner; Duchess Harris Modern presidents face resistance from a split nation. Political Resistance in the Current Age covers movements that resisted recent presidential administrations from George W. Bush to Donald Trump, what inspired the movements, and the change they brought about.
Call Number: 909.83 HAR
ISBN: 1532113986
Publication Date: 2017-12-15
The Right to Protest by Duchess Harris The Right to Protest delves into the ideas behind the fundamental American right of speaking out against the government. The title takes a closer look at the evolution of this right and how US citizens have exercised it through the years. Features include a glossary, references, websites, source notes, and an index.
ISBN: 9781532113031
Publication Date: 2018-01-01

Fake News and Bias

A best-of-the-best collection of resources for teaching and learning about news literacy. In this collection, you'll find hand-picked, regularly updated resources to help you better understand and practice news literacy. At the top, there are featured resources as well as more comprehensive curricula. Then you'll find lessons, videos, downloadables, and games organized by a few key topic areas, like fact-checking, breaking news, and the ethics of journalism.

Uncovering Bias in the News by Laura K. Murray; Duchess Harris Media consumers rely on objectivity from their news sources, but that's not always a realistic expectation. Uncovering Bias in the News looks at the ways in which multiple media outlets can cover the same story in vastly different ways, the reasons for these differences, and how to recognize bias in a news report.
Call Number: 071.3
ISBN: 1532113900
Publication Date: 2017-12-15
The Fake News Phenomenon by Duchess Harris The 2016 US presidential election introduced a new term to the media lexicon. The Fake News Phenomenon examines the spread of bogus news sources, the reasons they exist, and the difference between media bias and "fake news". Readers are also provided with tips for how to discern the credibility of a news source.
Call Number: 071.309
ISBN: 1532113889
Publication Date: 2017-12-15
Freedom of the Press by Duchess Harris; Kari A. Cornell Freedom of the Press examines the history of the media in the United States. From colonial pamphleteers to investigative journalism in the mass media age, this title provides context for current discussions about the role of the press in a free society.
Call Number: UPPER LEVEL 323.445 HAR
ISBN: 1532113005
Publication Date: 2017-12-15

Impeachment

Trump’s Second Impeachment: A Guide for Teachers The unprecedented second impeachment of President Donald Trump raises a host of challenging questions for the nation’s K-12 civics and social studies teachers. To help them, we present here highlights from two stories written in fall 2019 in the lead-up to President Trump’s first impeachment.
AP EXPLAINER: How Trump’s 2nd impeachment will unfold A look at what will happen in the next two days as the House moves closer to impeaching Trump in his last week in office:
Article II, Section 4 The final section of Article II, which generally describes the executive branch, specifies that the “President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States” shall be removed from office if convicted in an impeachment trial of “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.”
The Twenty-Fifth Amendment The Twenty-Fifth Amendment seeks to answer a series of questions raised by the original Constitution’s treatment of presidential and vice-presidential vacancies and presidential disability.
Teaching Impeachment Amid Polarization As public presidential impeachment hearings begin in the US House of Representatives, American middle and high school educators face a number of unique challenges. One might ask: How can I address such a polarizing issue in my classroom when my students’ political ideologies are all over the map? How can I ensure that thoughtful discourse prevails over name-calling and hostility, even when emotions are running high? And how can I make this a meaningful opportunity for civic learning?
Impeachment and Conviction (Infographic) Follow the processes and powers of impeachment, and find out how it really is only half the story. This printable infographic explains how impeachment works, who's involved, where those entities get their authority, and what it really takes to remove a federal official from office.
iCivics: Impeachment Companion google Slides Deck To be used in conjunction with the ICivics infographic

Educators 4 Social Change: Teaching About Impeachment Impeachment isn’t a process that everyone sees throughout their life and as recent events will certainly be ones that will go down in history, it is the perfect time for students to learn about the topic.

Black Lives Matter by Sue Bradford Edwards
Call Number: UPPER LEVEL 305 EDW
ISBN: 1624038980
Publication Date: 2015-12-15
Covers the shootings that touched off passionate protests, the work of activists to bring about a more just legal system, and the tensions in US society that these events have brought to light.
Black Lives Matter by Duchess Harris
Call Number: 305.896 HAR
Publication Date: 2017-12-15
Recommended for Middle Grades.
What started as a hashtag in 2013 quickly grew into the Black Lives Matter movement. Black Lives Matter examines the police shootings that fueled the movement, the events that led up to racial tensions in the United States, and the goals the movement has set for the future.