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Voices of America: Struggles, Resistance, and Change in U.S. History

By mayala20
Grade Level
9-12
private
LEARNING PLAN
Essential Question
  • How have marginalized groups—including Latinos, African Americans, and Chinese Americans—challenged injustice and shaped the fight for equality, freedom, and belonging in U.S. history?
Texts
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."
by
Luis J. Rodriguez
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
Topic
Class Immigration
Social Justice Domain
Identity Justice
July 2, 2014
Informational

Una Vida de Esperanza

In this interview, Luis Rodriguez describes how the systemic demoralization he faced in school and society at a young age drove him to join a street gang and how writing his book, Always Running, was an attempt to call his son and other young people in similar situations to change their lives.
by
Luis Rodriguez and Sara Bullard
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
Civics
Topic
Class Immigration Bullying & Bias
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
June 20, 2016
Informational

Freedom's Main Line

One of the earliest assaults on segregated transit in the South occurred in Louisville, Ky., in 1870-71. There, the city’s black community organized a successful protest that relied on nonviolent direct action, a tactic that would give shape to the modern civil rights movement nearly a century later.
by
Maria Fleming
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
Civics
History
Topic
Class Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
December 6, 2017
Literature

(A)wake

In this poem, the speaker traces the senseless killings taking place abroad and at home, with a particular focus on the African-American community. The speaker also calls communities to action to "grow our hope and heal our hearts" in order to live together in peace.
by
Jessica Kobe
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Topic
Religion Class Immigration Gender & Sexual Identity Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Diversity Justice Action
September 26, 2016
Informational

1960: Sitting Down to Take a Stand

In this article, Suzanne Bilyeu details how the sit-in by the "Greensboro Four" at Woolworth's store in North Carolina created a domino effect which led to sit-ins across the country and galvinized support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
by
Suzanne Bilyeu
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
Civics
History
Economics
Geography
Topic
Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Justice Action
July 5, 2014
Informational

A Rumbling in the Mines

This chapter details the Chinese involvement in building the transcontinental railroad and the friction it caused between them and white workers, whom Chinese workers displaced from their jobs due to their willingness to work for less and not join labor unions.
by
Learning for Justice Staff
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
History
Economics
Geography
Topic
Immigration Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
August 22, 2016
Literature

An Angry Black Woman on the Subject of the Angry White Man

Jordan's poem takes on an sarcastic tone as she describes the duties, punishments, emotions and false promises endured by African Americans since slavery in response to Bill Clinton's description of affirmative action as "a psychologically difficult time for the so-called angry White man."
by
June Jordan
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
History
Economics
Topic
Class Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Justice Action
July 7, 2014
Informational

Home Was a Horse Stall

On December 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and prompted the United States to enter World War II. While many Americans were concerned about the war abroad, they were also paranoid about the “threat” of Japanese Americans at home. As a result, many Japanese Americans were forced into internment camps on American soil.
by
Learning for Justice Staff
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
Civics
History
Geography
Topic
Immigration Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Identity Diversity Justice Action
August 22, 2016
Informational

Can I See Some ID?

Are voter ID laws meant to prevent voter fraud or suppress voter turnout among eligible minority groups? Prior to the 2012 presidential election, a majority of states considered such laws. In this article, Patricia Smith explores the two viewpoints.
by
Patricia Smith
Grade Level
9-12
Subject
Civics
History
Topic
Class Rights & Activism
Social Justice Domain
Justice
July 7, 2014
Teaching Strategies
Close and Critical Reading

Challenge the Text

Challenge the Text helps students ask and answer their own text-dependent questions by taking multiple perspectives and uncovering assumptions and biases within the text.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
CCSS
RL.6-12.1, RL.6-12.2, RL.6-12.3, RL.6-12.6, RI.6-12.1, RI.6-12.2, RI.6-12.3, RI.6-12.6
July 19, 2014
Close and Critical Reading

Text Graffiti

This strategy exposes students to multiple short pieces of a text before they read it in its entirety. Students read selected quotes out of context and comment on both the selection and the comments of other students. The activity ends with students reflecting on their reactions to and predictions about the text.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
CCSS
RL.6-12.1, RI.6-12.1
July 19, 2014
Close and Critical Reading

Text-Dependent Questions

Readers must refer back to the central text to answer text-dependent questions and provide evidence from the reading to support their answers. Students provide accurate, relevant and complete evidence. To do this well, students will often need to re-read the text several times. This approach privileges the text over prior knowledge, personal experience and pre-reading activities.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
CCSS
RL.6-12.1, RL.6-12.2, RL.6-12.4, RL.6-12.5, RL.6-12.6, RI.6-12.1, RI.6-12.2, RI.6-12.3, RI.6-12.4, RI.6-12.6
July 19, 2014
Student Tasks
Do Something

Be the Change...

Students identify and investigate a community problem and propose a solution. They then plan and implement action directed at solving the problem.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
July 13, 2014
Write to the Source

Problem Solver

Problem Solver asks students to demonstrate their argumentative skills when identifying problems and solutions in writing.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
CCSS
W.6-12.1, W.6-12.4, W.6-12.9
July 19, 2014
Write to the Source

So What?

So What? asks students to demonstrate their explanatory and informative skills when writing to gain the understanding of others.
Grade Level
6-8 9-12
CCSS
W.6-12.2, W.6-12.4, W.6-12.9
July 19, 2014
Plan Built By
mayala20

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