Video

American ID: Three Words

Individuals from around the world share three words that describe the United States.

Last Updated: July 12, 2017

Video

Language

English — US

Subject

Civics & Citizenship
Social Studies

Democracy & Civic Engagement

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

In three words, I would say, power, knowledge, and democracy.

Ignorant.

Superior.

Imperial.

A whole lot of bling, bling rapper types and stuff.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Modern Roman Empire.

We see you guys as hip, knowing, intelligent.

The new superpower.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Naivete.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Hollywood, L.A.

Hollywood firstly.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Ignorant but nice.

They are very nice. That's one thing.

Rich, powerful, but dangerously ignorant.

Three words? Well, it's a wonderful country.

Power.

Globalization.

Judeo-Christian tradition.

McDonald's.

Money, money, money.

And military power.

The war on terror.

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Independent, strong, a lot of room for improvement.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Credit:

Courtesy of POV / American Documentary

Lesson

Students create a plan for enacting change on an issue that they are most passionate about using the 10 Questions Framework.

Person holding a sign at a Global climate change strike

Lesson

Students identify strategies and tools that Parkland students have used to influence Americans to take action to reduce gun violence.

Millbrook High School students demonstrate against gun violence outside their school in Frederick County, Va., Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018, following a school shooting in which over a dozen people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., one week ago. (Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star via AP)

Mini-Unit

Address today's global challenges with lesson plans focused on current events including the refugee crisis and contemporary antisemitism.

Large crowd of citizens gathering in solidarity with refugees. Some are holding up UNHCR signs.

Lesson

Students explore the potential negative impact of images through the social media protest #IfTheyGunnedMeDown and develop a decision-making process for choosing imagery to represent controversial events.

National President of Black Lawyers for Justice, carries a picture of Michael Brown as he leads demonstrators on a march.

Lesson

Students explore how identity impacts our responses to other people and events by examining a cartoon and analyzing an opinion poll from a week after Ferguson.

Lesson

Students examine how identity and biases can impact how individuals interpret images and experience the challenge of selecting images to represent news events, particularly connected to sensitive issues.

People hold hands in prayer in the parking lot of convenience store that was looted and burned after Michael Brown was shot by police in Ferguson, Mo.

Lesson

Students establish a safe space for holding sensitive conversations, before introducing the events surrounding Ferguson, by acknowledging people's complicated feelings about race and creating a classroom contract.

Lesson

Students explore the role of social media in Ferguson, apply information verification strategies to social media posts, and develop strategies for becoming critical consumers and sharers of social media.

Peaceful demonstrators gather in Ferguson, Missouri, in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death.

Lesson

Students evaluate the differences among news accounts about Ferguson, develop strategies for verifying news and information, and understand the challenges facing journalists as they cover complex, fast-moving events.

Unit

Help students become informed and effective civic participants in today's digital landscape. This unit is designed to develop students' critical thinking, news literacy, civic engagement, and social-emotional skills and competencies.

Peaceful protestor speaks to police officer in Ferguson.

Mini-Lesson

This mini-lesson provides students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of democracy and a framework for making meaning of news stories about the tensions and conflicts in democracies today.

Mini-Lesson

This mini-lesson is a guide for teachers to begin conversations with their students about George Floyd’s death and the events that surround it.

Image of people marching in a protest for George Floyd.

More Like This Teaching Resources Learning & Events

Using the strategies from Facing History is almost like an awakening.

— Claudia Bautista, Santa Monica, Calif

Search

Search

American ID: Three Words

At a Glance

Language

Subject