165 Results

Human Rights

Lesson Plan

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What are Human Rights? What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? In 1946, in the immediate aftermath of World War II, with hopes of preventing future atrocities, an international committee with varied legal and cultural backgrounds began to draft the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR was proclaimed by the new United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This document contains 30 Articles that set a standard…

October 02, 2020

Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and Español)

Tools and Strategies

What Educators and Family Members Can DoToday, local, national or international tragedies happen so frequently that they can feel almost commonplace. When a hate crime, mass shooting, act of terrorism or other terrible and hate-inspired event occurs, one of the first questions many people ask is, what should we tell the children? How can we explain to them what has happened? Despite our best efforts to protect youth from the details of hate-motivated events, we can never assume that they are…

May 03, 2022

Government 101: What is a Government?

Lesson Plan

Close up angled view of the U.S. Supreme Court

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is a Government? What are Different Forms of Government? What is My Relationship to Government? Governments, and the act of governing, have been part of human society for thousands of years. Governments have shifted and changed in the way they represent, operate and control, but one thing remains the same: they are created to organize groups of people and provide structure and accountability. Understanding the concept of…

June 09, 2020

Writing a Bill

Lesson Plan

Close up on a notary public hand signing a document

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How Do I Write a Bill? When a change in the law is desired, whether at the community, state, or national level, people need to understand the processes of making that desired change, a bill, into a law. Submitting a bill for consideration by the legislature involves writing, revising and sharing bills with a focus on passing them in a Senate hearing. About the Lesson Plan In this lesson, students will brainstorm to identify changes they…

May 11, 2020

The Supreme Court and the Right to Marry

Lesson Plan

John Lewis and Stuart Gaffney during a Marriage Equality Rally stand in front of the U.S. Supreme Court

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What Were the Multiple Perspectives of the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court Based on During the Repeal of DOMA? According to the Supreme Court Decision, Who Has the Right to Marry? What Assurances Do We Have that the Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court are Able to Be Non-partisan and Avoid Bias When Deciding a Case? The Judicial branch of the U.S. government is headed by the Supreme Court. This court analyzes and judges cases…

May 04, 2020

What is the Electoral College and Why Is it Controversial?

Tools and Strategies

Electoral College Map Numbers by State in the U.S.

Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsThe Electoral College is an election topic that inspires confusion, controversy and conflict. Many people know that the Electoral College is part of the Presidential election process but may be unsure about its importance and how it works. In the early days of our country’s formation, deciding on the process for electing a U.S. President was a controversial topic. Some suggested that Congress should choose the President. Others…

October 08, 2020

Studying the Holocaust

Lesson Plan

Jews Forcibly Pulled Out of Dugouts, 1943

Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. They partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world. GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening This unit introduces students to the Holocaust by providing a…

September 02, 2020

What's a Bill?

Lesson Plan

Illustration of a legislative bill being carried up the steps to Congress

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is the Difference Between a Bill and a Law? What Bills Have Had Significant Impact on People in the United States? Why Do Some Bills Pass into Law and Others Do Not? In 1976, Schoolhouse Rock! released “I’m Just a Bill,” an animated video with a catchy tune that educated students around the U.S. about bills. Since then, music has changed, graphics in videos have changed but the actual process of becoming…

March 06, 2020

Gaining Momentum: Lobbying for Change

Lesson Plan

Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How Do Lobbyists Impact the Democratic Process? What are Effective Ways of Lobbying? How Might I Lobby for My Bill? “Lobbying” is an effort by individuals and groups to influence government decisions and actions, and specifically the writing of laws. Lobbying can take different forms including writing letters, making phone calls to legislators and meeting with people in the administration. As student activism in…

February 26, 2020

National Hispanic Heritage Month: Ideas for Educators

Tools and Strategies

U.S. Army South Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Flags

National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the achievements, contributions, culture, and history of Hispanic and Latin American people. The month-long celebration begins on September 15 commemorating the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. The 2025 theme for National Hispanic Heritage Month…

May 03, 2022

Historical Antisemitism

Lesson Plan

Nazi Propaganda and Ideology Taught to Students

Echoes & Reflections GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening In this unit, students learn about the origins of antisemitism and how this hatred was exploited by the Nazis during the 1920s and 1930s as part of their racist ideology. Students define the terms antisemitism and stereotype, review text and video sources, and create a timeline reflecting examples of antisemitism throughout history. Students will…

January 27, 2020

Antisemitism After the Holocaust

Lesson Plan

A poster that reads "Well done Israel, Hitler would be proud

Echoes & Reflections: Teaching the HolocaustGRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language The lessons in this unit increase students’ understanding of Jewish people and awareness that antisemitism did not end after the Holocaust, and provide them with opportunities to learn about the persistence of antisemitism in its contemporary forms. Students investigate the ways in which old ideas about Jews and Judaism have…

October 23, 2019

Complicity and Responsibility

Lesson Plan

Painting by Felix Nussbaum - The Refugee

Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. They partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world. GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening This unit provides an opportunity for students to examine the complex issues…

September 05, 2019

Transformational Texts: Using Children's Literature to Open Doors on Historical and Current Events

Webinar

Speakers: Jinnie Spiegler, Director of Curriculum and Training, and Libby Otto, Associate Director of Curriculum and Training, ADL Books for young children about historical topics like enslavement, the Holocaust, Japanese-American internment, voting rights, segregation and genocide present these subjects with both sensitivity and insight. When it comes to current event topics there are many excellent books about immigration and the refugee crisis, racial justice, transgender rights,…

March 27, 2020

Rescuers and Righteous Among the Nations

Lesson Plan

Boat with Jews Sailing from Falster Denmark to Ystad in Sweden, 1943

Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. They partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world. GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening This unit provides students with an opportunity to learn about the…

August 17, 2018

On-Screen Diversity: Why Visibility in Media Matters

Lesson Plan

GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School, Middle School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language Does Entertainment Represent Our Increasingly Diverse Society?In recent years, we have seen some progress made in terms of the diversity and representation of characters and actors we see in movies and on television. For example, over the last sixteen years, the percentage of Asian characters with speaking roles increased from 3.4% to 15.9%. However, there is still much…

October 15, 2019

Jewish Resistance during the Holocaust

Lesson Plan

Echoes & Reflections is dedicated to reshaping the way that teachers and students understand, process, and navigate the world through the events of the Holocaust. We partner with educators to help them introduce students to the complex themes of the Holocaust and to understand its lasting effect on the world. GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening This unit provides an opportunity for students to explore Jewish…

June 15, 2018

Important Books to Explore Bullying and Ally Behavior

Tools and Strategies

While bullying is still a problem in schools, the intersection of bias and bullying can be particularly harmful. Identity-based bullying is when a person is targeted based on an essential part of their identity (e.g., race, immigration status, sexual orientation, religion, or gender identity). It is common in schools and not only impacts the targeted person but everyone else around them that shares their identity. Identity-based bullying can leave all students feeling unsafe and fearful that…

September 24, 2019

Amplify Constitution Day, Amplify Student Voice

Article

by: Libby Otto By mid-September, you’re busy with school, work and fall activities. Constitution Day, on September 17, may slip past you without a thought. So why should this year be any different? Constitution Day is the anniversary of the day that the Founding Fathers signed the United States Constitution. As you reflect this year on how the current political climate and public policies impact millions of people, continue asking yourself: are you making a positive change to…

August 16, 2019

Jewish American Heritage Month: Exploring Jewish Identity

Tools and Strategies

Jewish grandfather holding child and point to the sky

Use this collection of resources for educators and families to help teach about and celebrate Jewish American heritage in schools, communities and at home.

April 30, 2019