Resource Library
Find compelling classroom resources, learn new teaching methods, meet standards, and make a difference in the lives of your students.
We are grateful to The Hammer Family Foundation for supporting the development of our on-demand learning and teaching resources.
Introducing Our US History Curriculum Collection
Draw from this flexible curriculum collection as you plan any middle or high school US history course. Featuring units, C3-style inquiries, and case studies, the collection will help you explore themes of democracy and freedom with your students throughout the year.
Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age
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.
The Reconstruction Era 3-Week Unit
Teach a 3-week study of the Reconstruction era guided by the essential question "What can we learn from the history of Reconstruction as we work to strengthen democracy today?"
Identity & Community: An Introduction to 6th Grade Social Studies
Intentionally designed for middle school classrooms, this unit explores themes of identity and community by using students' knowledge of the Memphis, Tennessee, community.
My Part of the Story: Exploring Identity in the United States
Help students understand that their voices are integral to the story of the United States with six lesson plans that investigate individual and national identity.
Teaching about Hate Crimes and Their Impacts
This unit helps students understand what hate crimes are, the ways they impact individuals and communities, and what people can do to foster belonging and counteract hate.
“I Wanted the Whole World to See”: The Murder of Emmett Till
This six-lesson unit delves into the history and legacy of the murder of Emmett Till, considering what we can learn from it as we work to achieve racial justice.
Untitled Poem by Beth Strano
Read this poem by Beth Strano with your students to consider what a brave classroom community looks like.
Why MLK Encouraged 225,000 Chicago Kids to Cut Class in 1963
Learn about the 1963 Chicago Public School Boycott, when students demanded better schools for black neighborhoods and equal opportunity for all.
My Honest Poem
This spoken-word poem by Rudy Francisco is a powerful mentor text for writing about oneself in an open and honest way.
Authoring Identity
This informational text introduces students to the concept of narrative identity. It includes instructions for annotating, a note-taking table, and connection questions.
We also have an adapted version of this reading designed for English Learners and readers who benefit from scaffolding.
Authoring Identity (Adapted Version)
Adapted for English Learners and readers who benefit from scaffolding, this informational text introduces students to the concept of narrative identity. It includes simplified text, definitions, and reflection questions with sentence stems