Activism through Art

Save a copy to my account

Subject

Arts

Topic

Religion Ability Class Immigration Gender & Sexual Identity Bullying & Bias Rights & Activism

Essential Question

How can we create activism through art?
How are our identities today shaped by society?
What does it feel like to be belittled or criticized because of your identity?
Why might people not feel safe to express all their identities?
What effect does injustice have on people and groups?
How does privilege shape the lives of individuals and groups?
How have people advocated and fought for justice throughout history?
Can progress take place without action?

Texts

Visual

Iesha Evans

Protesting the death of Alton Sterling and the Baton Rough Police Department’s request for Black Lives Matter demonstrators to clear roadways, Iesha Evans stands in the middle of a street as two Louisiana state troopers, dressed in riot gear, approach to arrest her.

Jonathan Bachman

Grade Level

Subject

Civics

History

Topic

Rights & Activism

January 30, 2017

Visual

We Can Do It!

The iconic poster was designed by J. Howard Miller during World War II for Westinghouse Electric. In recent decades, the image has gained wide popularity as an emblem for feminism and various other political and social movements.

J. Howard Miller

Grade Level

3-5 6-8

Subject

History

Economics

Topic

Class Gender & Sexual Identity Rights & Activism

July 3, 2014

Informational

Loving for All

Richard and Mildred Loving were plaintiffs in the historic Supreme Court ruling Loving v. Virginia, which struck down race restrictions on the freedom to marry. What follows is Mildred Loving’s public statement delivered on June 12, 2007, the 40th Anniversary of the decision.

Mildred Loving

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Subject

Civics

History

Geography

Topic

Civil Rights Movement Gender & Sexual Identity Bullying & Bias Rights & Activism

July 7, 2014

Informational

Nobody Dared Her to Do It

Reverend Noel Koestline and Reverend Spencer Turnipseed remember Turnipseed's sister, Marti, the first white student to join Birmingham's sit-in movement.

Rev. Noel Koestline and Rev. Spencer Turnipseed (Brother)

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Subject

Civics

History

Geography

Topic

Rights & Activism

November 18, 2014

Informational

Always Running

In this excerpt from his memoir, Rodriguez provides a stirring recollection from his adolescence: the first time he experienced racism as a result of being an immigrant in America. As he says, the experience "stays with [him] like a foul odor."

Luis J. Rodriguez

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Class Immigration

July 2, 2014

Literature

The Misfits

In this excerpt, the reader meets two characters from The Misfits: Addie, a girl who is exceptionally tall and smart for a middle schooler and Joe, who is creative and feminine in a way that makes his peers nervous.

James Howe

Grade Level

3-5 6-8 9-12

Topic

Gender & Sexual Identity

July 3, 2014

Visual

What's Under the Turban

This cartoon challenges assumptions that all men who wear turbans are affiliated with terrorist organizations.

Vishavjit Singh

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Subject

Civics

Topic

Religion

November 18, 2014

Literature

i will be chosen

i will be chosen is an anthem for all middle schoolers who knows what it feels like to be left out. Now, they’ll know what it feels like to be included and to win, in more ways than one.

ramesh kathanadhi

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Bullying & Bias

July 9, 2014

Literature

La Linea

In their trek from Mexico to the U.S. border, this young group is reminded that dangers lurk beneath them and hang over their heads every day and every night.

Ann Jaramillo

Grade Level

3-5 6-8

Topic

Immigration

July 7, 2014

Informational

Disability Etiquette

In this article, Disability Rights and Resources outlines appropriate behavior, conversational cues, and common courtesies to internalize and enact when spending time with a person with a disability.

Disability Rights and Resources

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Ability

July 2, 2014

Teaching Strategies

Word Work

Word Wall

A word wall is an organized display of vocabulary words drawn from the texts students are reading.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

L.6-12.4, L.6-12.5, L.6-12.6

July 19, 2014

Close and Critical Reading

Shared Reading

Shared reading combines aspects of guided reading and read-aloud strategies. During shared reading, a teacher or proficient student reads the text aloud, pausing at pre-selected moments to discuss content and analyze the text. This strategy facilitates close reading of a complex text in small or whole group settings.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RI.6-12.1

July 19, 2014

Close and Critical Reading

Thinking Notes

Thinking notes are text annotations (highlights, underlines or symbols made on the text or in the margins) that document student thinking during reading. Depending on how you structure the task, these notes can indicate agreement, objection, confusion or other relevant reactions to the text.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 19, 2014

Community Inquiry

Socratic Seminar

A structured discussion in which students examine issues and respond to open-ended questions about a text. Students use dialogue rather than debate to communicate with each other.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

CCSS

RL.6-12.1, RI.6-12.1, SL.6-12.1, SL.6-12.3, SL.6-12.4, SL.6-12.6

July 13, 2014

Student Tasks

Do Something

Community Arts Showcase

Students produce original art that conveys an anti-bias or social justice message then work with school staff to plan a public showcase of their work.

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

July 13, 2014

Plan Built By

jmhenderson

Activism through Art

Print this Learning Plan

Sign in to save these resources.

Get the Learning for Justice Newsletter