Grades Pre-K-2
Teaching Activity PDFs
Exploring Women’s Rights: The 1908 Textile Strike in a 1st-grade Class
Teaching Activity PDF. By Dale Weiss. 3 pages.
A teacher’s reflections about a curriculum unit on women’s rights contextualizes the history of the feminist movement within the broader struggle of people working for greater equality in the United States.
Teaching Guides
Black Ants and Buddhists: Thinking Critically and Teaching Differently in the Primary Grades
Teaching Guide. By Mary Cowhey. Foreword by Sonia Nieto. 2006. 256 pages.
Practical examples and classroom stories about bringing a people’s history and peace education to grades one and two.
History in the Present Tense: Engaging Students Through Inquiry and Action
Teaching guide. By Douglas Selwyn and Jan Maher. 2003. 192 pages.
A guide to a different way of teaching history — start from today and keep asking questions.
Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching
Teaching Guide. Edited by Deborah Menkart, Alana D. Murray, and Jenice L. View. 2004. 576 pages.
Provides lessons and articles for K-12 educators on how to go beyond a heroes approach to the Civil Rights Movement, with a focus on education, economics, labor, youth, women, and culture.
Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years
Teaching Guide. Edited by Bill Bigelow and Bob Peterson. 2003. 192 pages.
Readings and lessons for pre-K to 12 about the impact and legacy of the arrival of Columbus in the Americas.
Rethinking Early Childhood Education
Teaching Guide. Edited by Ann Pelo. 2008. 256 pages.
Lessons and articles about social justice early childhood education.
Rethinking Elementary Education
Teaching Guide. Edited by Linda Christensen, Mark Hansen, and Bob Peterson. 2012.
Collection of writing about elementary school life and learning from the Rethinking Schools magazine.
Rethinking Our Classrooms: Teaching for Equity and Justice (Volume 2)
Teaching Guide. Edited by Rethinking Schools. 248 pages.
Social justice lessons for all ages and subjects.
Articles
The Politics of Children’s Literature: What’s Wrong with the Rosa Parks Myth
Aritcle. By Herbert Kohl. 6 pages.
A critical analysis that challenges the myths in children’s books about Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
African American, Civil Rights Movements, Education, Women's History
Audio
Ella Jenkins and a Union of Friends Pulling Together
Audio CD. By Ella Jenkins and friends. 1999. 47 minutes and 18 -page booklet.
Labor songs for children ages 4 – 12.
Books: Fiction
Aani and the Tree Huggers
Book – Fiction. By Jeannine Atkins. Illustrated by Venantius J. Pinto. 2000. 32 pages.
Based on an event that took place in India in the 1970s, children and women in the village hug the trees to save them from being logged.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Book – Fiction. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2000. 32 pages.
A barnyard struggle where the cows go on strike and the farmer is forced to negotiate.
The Great Migration: Journey to the North
Book – Fiction. By Eloise Greenfield. Illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. 2011. 32 pages.
A picture book that introduces the historic story of the Great Migration to young readers.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a celebration of poetry with a beat
Book – Fiction. Edited by Nikki Giovanni. 2008. 80 pages and CD.
A celebration of poetry with a beat. Includes CD with selected recordings of poems and historical background.
Hope For Haiti
Book – Fiction. By Jesse Joshua Watson. 2010. 32 pages.
A boy lives through the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and finds hope amid the hardships of the aftermath.
¡Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A.
Book – Fiction. By Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco Delgado. 2008. 31 pages.
A children’s book based on the true story of the Justice for Janitors strike.
The Streets are Free
Book – Fiction. By Karusa. Illustrated by Monica Doppert. 1985 (reissued 2008). 48 pages.
A group of children organize to convince the mayor that they need a playground and when they do not get it they organize the neighbors to help them build one.
Swimmy
Book – Fiction. By Leo Lionni. 1973. 32 pages.
A classic tale for young children about the power of organizing.
Books: Non-Fiction
I See the Rhythm
Book – Non-fiction. By Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood. 2005. 32 pages. Ages 6+.
A lyrical voyage through 500 years of African American music, from its roots in Africa to contemporary hip-hop.
Murals: Walls That Sing
Book – Non-fiction. By George Ancona. 2003. 48 pages.
Beautiful photo-essay of murals from all over the United States, primarily in Latino communities.
Rosa
Book – Non-fiction. By Nikki Giovanni. 2005. 40 pages.
A beautifully illustrated book for children about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Side by Side/Lado a lado
Book – Non-fiction. By Monica Brown, translation by Carolina Valencia, illus. by Joe Cepeda. 2010. 32 pages.
The life stories and activism of the two founders of the United Farmworkers (UFW), written and illustrated for young children.
This Land is Your Land
Book – Non-fiction. By Woody Guthrie. 2008. 42 pages.
The full version of Woody Guthrie’s famous song, illustrated for young children.
Which Side Are You On? The Story of A Song
Book – Non-fiction. By George Ella Lyon. Artwork by Christopher Cardinale. 2011. 40 pages.
This children’s book tells the story of a classic union song written in 1931 and the harsh conditions under which it was written.
Films
Teaching About the Montgomery Bus Boycott
Film. By Teaching for Change. 2006. 15 min.
First grade teacher Maggie Donovan (SNCC veteran) introduces her students to the fight to desegregate the buses, placing Rosa Parks in the context of the larger community efforts.
Picture Books
Aani and the Tree Huggers
Book – Fiction. By Jeannine Atkins. Illustrated by Venantius J. Pinto. 2000. 32 pages.
Based on an event that took place in India in the 1970s, children and women in the village hug the trees to save them from being logged.
Clic, Clac, Muu Vacas Escritoras
Book – Fiction. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2001. 32 pages.
A barnyard struggle where the cows go on strike and the farmer is forced to negotiate.
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Book – Fiction. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2000. 32 pages.
A barnyard struggle where the cows go on strike and the farmer is forced to negotiate.
Grandpa’s Corner Store
Book – Fiction. By DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan. 2000. 40 pages.
A children’s book about the benefits of a neighborhood store vs. a big box store and how a community can rally to support a local business.
Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a celebration of poetry with a beat
Book – Fiction. Edited by Nikki Giovanni. 2008. 80 pages and CD.
A celebration of poetry with a beat. Includes CD with selected recordings of poems and historical background.
I See the Rhythm
Book – Non-fiction. By Toyomi Igus and Michele Wood. 2005. 32 pages. Ages 6+.
A lyrical voyage through 500 years of African American music, from its roots in Africa to contemporary hip-hop.
Murals: Walls That Sing
Book – Non-fiction. By George Ancona. 2003. 48 pages.
Beautiful photo-essay of murals from all over the United States, primarily in Latino communities.
Nadarín
Book – Fiction. By Leo Lionni. 1973 (Spanish translation 2005). 24 pages.
A classic tale for young children about the power of organizing. (In Spanish.)
Rosa
Book – Non-fiction. By Nikki Giovanni. 2005. 40 pages.
A beautifully illustrated book for children about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
¡Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A.
Book – Fiction. By Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco Delgado. 2008. 31 pages.
A children’s book based on the true story of the Justice for Janitors strike.
Side by Side/Lado a lado
Book – Non-fiction. By Monica Brown, translation by Carolina Valencia, illus. by Joe Cepeda. 2010. 32 pages.
The life stories and activism of the two founders of the United Farmworkers (UFW), written and illustrated for young children.
The Streets are Free
Book – Fiction. By Karusa. Illustrated by Monica Doppert. 1985 (reissued 2008). 48 pages.
A group of children organize to convince the mayor that they need a playground and when they do not get it they organize the neighbors to help them build one.
Swimmy
Book – Fiction. By Leo Lionni. 1973. 32 pages.
A classic tale for young children about the power of organizing.
This Land is Your Land
Book – Non-fiction. By Woody Guthrie. 2008. 42 pages.
The full version of Woody Guthrie’s famous song, illustrated for young children.
Which Side Are You On? The Story of A Song
Book – Non-fiction. By George Ella Lyon. Artwork by Christopher Cardinale. 2011. 40 pages.
This children’s book tells the story of a classic union song written in 1931 and the harsh conditions under which it was written.
Songs and Poems
Which Side Are You On? The Story of A Song
Book – Non-fiction. By George Ella Lyon. Artwork by Christopher Cardinale. 2011. 40 pages.
This children’s book tells the story of a classic union song written in 1931 and the harsh conditions under which it was written.
Spanish/Bilingual
Clic, Clac, Muu Vacas Escritoras
Book – Fiction. By Doreen Cronin. Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. 2001. 32 pages.
A barnyard struggle where the cows go on strike and the farmer is forced to negotiate.
Nadarín
Book – Fiction. By Leo Lionni. 1973 (Spanish translation 2005). 24 pages.
A classic tale for young children about the power of organizing. (In Spanish.)
¡Si, Se Puede! Yes, We Can!: Janitor Strike in L.A.
Book – Fiction. By Diana Cohn and illustrated by Francisco Delgado. 2008. 31 pages.
A children’s book based on the true story of the Justice for Janitors strike.
Side by Side/Lado a lado
Book – Non-fiction. By Monica Brown, translation by Carolina Valencia, illus. by Joe Cepeda. 2010. 32 pages.
The life stories and activism of the two founders of the United Farmworkers (UFW), written and illustrated for young children.
List of Resources
- Articles
- Audio
- Books: Fiction
- Books: Non-Fiction
- Films
- Picture Books
- Posters
- Profiles
- Songs and Poems
- Spanish/Bilingual
- Teaching Activity PDFs
- Teaching Guides
- Websites
