Engage and Empower: Expanding the Curriculum for Justice and Activism

Description

This edited book provides ready-to-use engaging curriculum units for an integrated approach to teaching English language arts and U.S. history in grades 4-12. The purpose is to promote social justice and activism while building critical literacies students need in the 21st Century. Through implementing the curriculum units in this book, teachers and students can challenge inequities and promote activism. A central goal of this project is to represent and empower marginalized students. The traditional curriculum presents one view, one story as the only story, and one people as the norm. This book intentionally centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and other marginalized communities. In addition to expanding the curriculum to include all people, educating students about issues of injustice in the U.S. will enable them to enact change. Additionally, this book serves to educate all students by exposure to central issues in past and present society. By creating space for a multicultural perspective, this curriculum may reduce the friction that occurs when encountering those whose lived experiences and perspectives do not align with one’s own. By educating students about the privileges they have not examined, teachers can foster empathy and empower allies. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Foreword Introduction: Teachers Unbought and Unbossed The Purpose of the Book How to Use the Book Book Organization Call to Action References I: Effects and Transactions of Expansion, Colonialism, and Migration Chapter 1: Colonialism and Native American Resiliency Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Suggested Modifications for Older Adolescents References Chapter 2: Modern-Day Colonialism: Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Other U.S. Territories Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for Elementary or High School Students References Chapter 3: Immigration: The Fabric of Our Nation Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for Middle School References II: The Influences of Latin America on U.S. Culture and Society Chapter 4: Latinx Influencers: Past and Present Contributions to America’s Greatness Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for High School References Chapter 5: Latinas as Change Agents: Feminist Activism in the United States Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for Elementary or Middle School References III: America’s Original Sin Chapter 6: Antiracism: Understanding Our History to Co-create a Better Future Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Different Grade Level Modifications References Chapter 7: Redlining: A Mechanism of Systemic Racism Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for Upper Elementary References Chapter 8: Cultural (Mis)representations in the Media: Challenging Hegemonic Ideas Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Support for Culturally Responsive Education Suggested Modifications for a Different Grade Level References IV: Exploring the Diverse Lived Experiences of Modern-Day Adolescents Chapter 9: The Death of Childhood: Mass Shootings in the United States Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Different Grade Level Modifications References Chapter 10: Rap Music: Leveraging Hip-Hop Culture to Empower Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Different Grade Level Modifications References Chapter 11: Consent Isn’t Complicated: The Implications of the #MeToo Movement Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals Support for Students with Special Learning Needs Different Grade Level Modifications References Chapter 12: See Us: LGBTQ+ Issues for Representation, Empathy, and Justice Theme and Rationale Unit Goals Multimodal Text Set Sample Lessons Guidelines for a Student Individual Inquiry Project Support for Emergent Bilinguals and Students with Special Learning Needs Teaching a Modified Unit for Elementary References Afterword About the Editors About the Contributors