Lesson Plans

THE RESTAURANT STORY: A FRENCH AMERICAN BECOMES MORE VISIBLE By Michael Parent Introduction: Do you know how it feels to be looked at like you don’t quite measure up, like you’re not as valuable as someone else? Sure. We all…

Download “The Power of Storytelling” here Stories do so much more than merely entertain; they can boost brainpower, build bridges, and even impart a little wisdom. If you need a reminder about the power and promise of storytelling, here are…

This lesson plan also seeks to help students understand how history influences the present and to be open to the complexity of societal structures, historical causes, and environmental context both in their own lives and in the lives of other…

by Storyteller LaRon Williams This lesson plan explores the true story FROM FLINT MICHIGAN TO YOUR FRONT DOOR by African American professional storyteller La’Ron Williams. With humor and honesty Williams will inspire conversation among students about the issues of institutional…

Knowing your family’s story . . . and why it matters by Storyteller Anne Shimojima This unit raises the challenge for you and your students of knowing your family’s story – and why it matters. Other themes : How…

by Storyteller Susan Stone Feathers in the Wind: A Jewish American’s Story invites students and teachers of all religious and cultural backgrounds to reflect on their own lives and to explore the impact of gossip and hurtful words. This lesson…

by Storyteller Antonio Sacre Antonio Sacre tells of his lifelong desire to learn about Cuba from his father and his father’s reluctance to discuss the country from which he and his family were exiled after the revolution in 1959. Sacre…

Exploring the Wider Worlds of Difference and Connection A Classroom or School Event click here to download this lesson plan By the end of this lesson students will be able to….. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats…

by Storyteller Linda Gorham I Am Somebody : Story Poems for Pride and Power African American storyteller Linda Gorham tells this upbeat and moving celebration of Linda’s family tree and heritage. The lesson plan guides teachers to invite “pride poems”…

. Thanksgiving is a time to remember our country’s beginnings and to celebrate our rich history of welcoming the stranger. But in many ways, our idea of the original Thanksgiving table—a table we want to believe was about peace and…

I am Indopino brings together Tlingit, Cherokee, and Filipino storyteller Gene Tagaban’s personal story and the history of discrimination against American Indians in Alaska. He also weaves into this rich narrative the story of Elizabeth Peratrovich, who helped pass the 1945 Anti-Discrimination…

by Storyteller Dovie Thomason This lesson plan presents a rarely heard part of American history — a true story about the crimes of forced assimilation of Indian children in the American Indian Boarding Schools. Kiowa Apache and Lakota Indian storyteller…

This flexible resource provides a series of exercises for teachers and students to more effectively address bullying by taking a stand, telling the truth, and building a stronger community at school. PURPOSE This resource is designed to: Provide a method…

The goal of this lesson is to bring together students around their stories of differences and similarities. The most authentic community is one in which people can find common ground while still retaining what is distinct about themselves. Engaging. Fun.…

Bullying isn’t a new problem. But in recent years, it has outgrown its reputation as an annoyance of childhood and turned into something much more dangerous. And sometimes harder to spot. While physical aggression is on the rise among teens,…

“Claim It!” provides a simple lesson plan for exploring diversity in the classroom. This activity helps reveal the many differences a classroom of students has, despite a homogeneous surface. It will also provide learning – and fun, too. This lesson…

Thanksgiving is one of the main holidays of the United States, a time to remember our beginnings and to celebrate our rich history of welcoming the stranger. Yet many teachers struggle in the classroom at this time of year because…

A Definition : “…formal politeness and courtesy in behavior or speech..” Its Use : “I hope we can treat each other with civility and respect” ___________________ “Civility is not something that automatically happens. Civil societies come about because people want…

The stories offered here—Immigrant History and Mom’s Story—come from Chinese American storyteller, Nancy Wangs longer story Bittersweet: A Chinese American Daughter’s Legacy. In this story, Wang explores the history of her own family, beginning with the immigration of her great-great-grandparents…