News - Zinn Education Project

Impact of Teaching People’s History

Stories from teachers using Zinn Education Project lessons in 2025.

Bring People’s History to Classrooms in 2026

The Zinn Education Project (coordinated by Rethinking Schools and Teaching for Change) supports and defends the right to teach truthfully. We need your help to reach more classrooms in 2026.

Teach Against Fascism, Challenge Misinformation

We offer lessons to teach truthfully, outside the textbook — on immigration, climate, labor solidarity, and more. Our lessons encourage students to ask questions, to think critically, and to ask who loses and who benefits from policies in history and today.

Mapping Deportations Curriculum Workshop

Mapping Deportations co-creators Kelly Lytle Hernández, Ahilan Arulanantham, and Mariah Tso provided an introduction to the purpose and design of the site, including how the history of anti-immigrant legislation and racism are intertwined.

The Indigenous Origins of the American Revolution

Historian Ned Blackhawk discusses the Indigenous origins of the American Revolution, drawing from his book, The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History.

Teaching the American Revolution on America 250

Resources for teaching a people's history of the American Revolution.

Sending Books to Classrooms to Challenge Book Bans

In 2025, there were increased attacks on teaching history, including anti-history education executive orders and book bans. To counter these attacks, we secured donations from authors and publishers to increase classroom access to books on people’s history.

People’s History at NCSS 2025

The Zinn Education Project team offered workshops and an exhibit booth at the National Council for the Social Studies Conference in Washington, D.C. from December 5-7, 2025.

ZEP Anniversary Celebration in D.C.

The Zinn Education Project hosted a dinner reception at the Thurgood Marshall Center in Washington, D.C. on December 6, 2025.

Countering Education Censorship in 2025

In 2025, we helped young people learn to read the news with a critical eye, to assess current events with a historical lens, and to recognize red-baiting and fear-mongering tactics.

They Canceled Her African American Literature Class — So She Organized Educators to Teach for Black Lives

When South Carolina educator Alana J. Ward learned her African American Literature course was being cut, she could have given up. Instead, she organized.

People’s History Banned in Florida

In the face of attempts by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to ban AP African American studies, social justice books, and critical race theory in K–12 schools (and DEI in public colleges), we take a look at stories in Florida history that would be off limits to students.

Original Sins with Eve L. Ewing

Eve L. Ewing joined the Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online class series to discuss her book Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism.

Police Against the Movement: The Sabotage of the Civil Rights Struggle and the Activists Who Fought Back

Scholar Joshua Clark Davis spoke with educator Jessica A. Rucker about his new book Police Against the Movement: The Sabotage of the Civil Rights Struggle and the Activists Who Fought Back. This class was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Fall of Freedom

A call for creative resistance by artists, including K–12 art teachers and students.

Red Scare Attack on Educators Today

The right-wing media is on the attack against the Zinn Education Project. In their Red Scare vitriol, these media outlets discredit activism and critical analysis in people’s history. The real targets of these attacks are the educators who teach outside the textbook.

King of the North: Part II

Historian Jeanne Theoharis returned to discuss her book, King of the North: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life of Struggle Outside the South with renowned civil rights lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill. This class was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Double Your Giving Tuesday Donation

Thanks to the generous support of Dave Colapinto, donations made through Giving Tuesday (Dec. 2) will be DOUBLED up to $10,000.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Resources for Indigenous Peoples’ Day and all year to teach outside the textbook.

Deportations Families Relocating | Zinn Education Project

Latinx Heritage Month: Teach Outside the Textbook

For Latinx (also called Latine) Heritage Month, we offer free lessons and recommendations for books and films.

Teach Truth on Constitution Day: What Did Students Learn?

In hundreds of classrooms on Constitution Day, students examined who was invited to write the Constitution (and who was excluded) and what rights are included — and which are left out. Here are their stories.

Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism

Scholar Eve L. Ewing spoke about her book, Original Sins: The (Mis)Education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, an examination of how the U.S. school system helps maintain racial inequality and social hierarchies. This class was part of the Zinn Education Project’s Teach the Black Freedom Struggle online people’s history series.

Five Ways to Teach Truth About the Constitution

It is essential that students know their rights: not just to pass a test, but to protect themselves. We offer FIVE ways to Teach Truth on Constitution Day.

Hundreds of Teachers Sign Up to Teach Truth on Constitution Day

Stories from educators about Teach Truth on Constitution Day.

Climate Crisis Timeline

We offer a new timeline of the climate crisis that traces its roots from European colonial expansion and racial capitalism to present-day fossil fuel industry and government projects that exploit and destroy the Earth in the name of maximum profit. It also emphasizes moments and movements of resistance and activism that inform climate justice work today.

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