Current Issues

Classroom activities to engage students in learning about and discussing issues in the news

Students deepen their understanding of an aspect of Indigenous peoples' relationship with the earth through two short films about peoples’ resistance to the loss of access to clean drinking water.

Students reflect on the issues they care about in the 2020 presidential election, research those issues, and discuss what it's like to talk with those who disagree with us. 

Students consider what “white supremacy” means, what groups in society have supremacy, and explore the origins of white supremacy through a short video and discussion.

This activity invites students to hear the words of Jacob Blake’s mother and sister, and to reflect on their own thoughts and feelings about the police shooting in Kenosha Wisconsin, and its impact.

Activities to help elementary students develop the key self-care practice of positive self-talk, from affirmations to gratitude.

Will voter suppression skew the results of the 2020 election? Students examine current efforts to suppress voting in the context of U.S. history and learn about efforts to defend voting rights.

Students deepen their knowledge of the civil rights icon and listen to and share their thoughts and reflections.

Students read and think about what other students have to say about Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter and then share their own perspectives.  (Grades 3-6)

Students examine and reflect on other students’ art and writing about Covid and Black Lives Matter, and share their own perspectives, including through art. (Grades 6-12)

Students explore the Supreme Court's ruling protecting DACA, discuss the youth-led movement fighting to advance immigrants' rights, and consider what comes next.