Curriculum developers and teachers might not be reading Howard Zinn’s book, A People’s History of the United States, but the materials they are using are clearly connected to him and his vision of America. One of the ways that Zinn’s ideas make it into the
The Cold War put rival economies to the test on the world stage with the thriving capitalism of the United States overpowering the failing communism of the Soviet Union. The United States, ready for the challenge, proved to be the superior force in what became
Deborah Menkart, the Executive Director of Teaching for Change and Co Director of the Zinn Education Project, called for President Trump to be charged with mass murder. The basis of her argument is that he is personally responsible for all the deaths that occur in
Many stories of those who made a difference in the course of American history go untold, or receive little acknowledgement. When learning about espionage of the American Revolution, and other time periods, it is not a topic just to gloss over a few facts and
Cecily Myart-Cruz, a prominent “Black Lives Matter” and Democratic Socialists of America activist, was elected by her peers to lead one of the largest teachers unions in the United States. Winning nearly 70% of the members’ votes of United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), she now
Civil discourse is a crucial element of effective learning and civics. Students can use this handout for guidelines in remembering how to create a safe and supportive community for engaging in discussions with their peers. Download : Accountability in Civil Discourse Handout
The “Civics Connection Through Questioning” resource provides teachers with discussion questions to allow for civic discourse and engagement in the classroom. Each question is broad enough to be applied to most lessons, and can be made more specific for a particular topic. Download : Civics-Guiding-Questions
The “What is civics?” handout provides students with a reference for defining civics and its application in different contexts. Download : What is Civics Student Handout
On December 15, 1791, three-fourths of the state legislatures of the United States ratified the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. These amendments are known as the Bill of Rights. Many of the fundamental ideas of civics are embodied in this
As students begin to learn about the growth of America as a superpower, it is important for them to know what made it possible. Among the many reasons America became so powerful is its roots in capitalism. Students should understand the origins of capitalism according
