Congo, Coltan, and Cell Phones: A People’s History
Teaching Activity. By Alison Kysia. 28 pages.
In this lesson, students learn about the colonial history of Congo, debate responsibility for crimes against humanity, and investigate the connection, past and present, between the exploitation of natural resources and violence.
Time Periods: 19th Century, 20th Century
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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Dirty Oil and Shovel-Ready Jobs: A Role Play on Tar Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline
Teaching Activity. By Abby Mac Phail. 17 pages. Rethinking Schools.
A role play on the Keystone XL Pipeline battle.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Climate Justice, Environment, Native American, Organizing, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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Film Tackles the U.S. Occupation of Japan: ‘ANPO: Art X War’
Teaching Activity. By Moé Yonamine. 11 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Lesson based on ANPO: Art X War, a documentary about visual resistance to U.S. military bases in Japan by Japan’s foremost contemporary artists.
Themes: Art & Music, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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Greed as a Weapon: Teaching the Other Iraq War
Teaching Activity. By Adam Sanchez. 14 pages. Rethinking Schools.
A role play investigating the economic consequences of the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Economics, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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Haiku and Hiroshima: Teaching About the Atomic Bomb
Teaching Activity. By Wayne Au. 3 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Lesson for high school students on the bombing of Hiroshima using the film Barefoot Gen and haiku.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Prosperity, Depression, & World War II: 1920 - 1944, Cold War: 1945 - 1960
Themes: Language Arts, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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History Textbooks: “Theirs” and “Ours”: A Rebellion or a War of Independence?
Teaching Activity. By John DeRose. 4 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Analysis of textbook passages from different countries, videos and books are used to explore different perspectives about the same event in history, i.e. "Philippine-American War" vs. "War of Philippine Independence."
Time Periods: 20th Century, Turn of the Century: 1900 - 1909
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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Inside the Volcano: A Curriculum on Nicaragua
Teaching Guide. Edited by Bill Bigelow and Jeff Edmundson. 1990. 130 pages.
Fourteen interactive lessons on the history of Nicaragua.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Post-Civil Rights Era: 1975 - 2000
Themes: US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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The Other Internment: Teaching the Hidden Story of Japanese Latin Americans During WWII
Teaching Activity. By Moé Yonamine. 18 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Poetry, photography, and text are used in this role play to teach about the seldom told history of Japanese Latin American internment during WWII.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Prosperity, Depression, & World War II: 1920 - 1944
Themes: Asian American, Civil Rights Movements, Democracy & Citizenship, Immigration, Laws & Citizen Rights, Racism & Racial Identity, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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Rethinking What We Know About the Vietnam War
Teaching Activity. Zinn Education Project. 21 pages.
Two lessons to introduce key facts about the Vietnam War and the Pentagon Papers, documents that provide essential history that is often ignored by textbooks.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974, Post-Civil Rights Era: 1975 - 2000
Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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Rethinking the Teaching of the Vietnam War
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. Rethinking Schools.
A role play on the history of the Vietnam War that is left out of traditional textbooks.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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A Revolution of Values
Teaching Activity. By Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 3 pages.
Text of speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Vietnam War, followed by three teaching ideas.
Time Periods: 20th Century, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: African American, Civil Rights Movements, Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Teaching the Vietnam War: Beyond the Headlines
Teaching Activity. By the Zinn Education Project. 100 pages.
Eight lessons about the Vietnam War, Daniel Ellsberg, the Pentagon Papers, and whistleblowing.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Cold War: 1945 - 1960, People’s Movement: 1961 - 1974
Themes: Media, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies
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Tè Tremblé: An Unnatural Disaster: A Trial Role Play Probes the Roots of Devastation in Haiti
Teaching Activity. By Adam Sanchez. Rethinking Schools.
A trial role play asks students to question the role played by the U.S. government and other international actors in the 2010 earthquake.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, World History/Global Studies
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U.S. Mexico War: “We Take Nothing by Conquest, Thank God”
Teaching Activity. Lesson by Bill Bigelow and student reading by Howard Zinn. 21 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Interactive activity introduces students to the history and often untold story of the U.S.-Mexico War. Roles available in Spanish.
Time Periods: 19th Century, Early 19th Century: 1800 - 1849
Themes: Imperialism, Latinx, Slavery and Resistance, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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What War Looks Like
Teaching Activity. By Howard Zinn. 2002.
Background reading for teachers and high school students on the impact of war.
Time Periods: All US History
Themes: Imperialism, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell Me: Tourism, Colonialism, and Resistance in Hawai’i
Teaching Activity. By Wayne Wah Kwai Au. 5 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Lesson on the history of Hawai'i and the impact of colonization and tourism.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Turn of the Century: 1900 - 1909
Themes: Asian American, Imperialism, Pacific Islander, Racism & Racial Identity, US Foreign Policy
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Whose “Terrorism”?
Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. 11 pages. Rethinking Schools.
Using scenarios based on real situations, this lesson helps middle and high school students examine the definition of terrorism and the use of the term terrorism in the media and U.S. foreign policy.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Bush II and the “War on Terror”
Teaching Activity. By Gayle Olson-Raymer. 18 pages.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 24 of Voices of a People’s History of the United States on George W. Bush, the "War on Terror," Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Patriot Act.
Time Periods: 21st Century, 2001 - Present
Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, US Foreign Policy, Wars & Related Anti-War Movements
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Caribbean Connections: Moving North
Teaching Guide. Edited by Catherine Sunshine and Keith Warner. 2005. 240 pages.
Literature and essays about Caribbean life in the United States.
Themes: Immigration, Latinx, US Foreign Policy
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The Carter–Reagan–Bush Consensus
Teaching Activity. By Ron Perry.
Questions and teaching ideas for Chapter 21 of Voices of a People's History of the United States on the recently rising disparities in power, wealth and quality of life in America.
Time Periods: 20th Century, Post-Civil Rights Era: 1975 - 2000
Themes: Democracy & Citizenship, Social Class, US Foreign Policy
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