Last month we introduced our new Text to Text series, which matches Times content with excerpts from often-taught literary, cultural, historical or scientific material. Read more about the format, and consider submitting an idea.
This past weekend the film “12 Years a Slave,” based on the 1853 slave narrative of the same name, opened in theaters, and so we chose to pair an excerpt from the original text by Solomon Northup with a recent Times article that discusses Mr. Northup’s narrative in the context of the antislavery literary genre.
Overview | What is the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare, and why do some consider it a solution to the national health care crisis, while others see it as a dangerous expansion of the federal government? In this lesson, students will learn about the largest national health insurance expansion in generations through conducting community interviews, then researching answers to frequently-asked questions. Then they will design a brochure or presentation to address questions about the program and its relevance for their communities.
Overview | After years of debate and false starts, the United States Senate and House of Representatives stand on the verge of a comprehensive overhaul of America’s immigration laws. But are legislators taking the right approach?
In this lesson, students examine the myriad issues surrounding an immigration overhaul, including border security, the economic impact of foreign-born workers, and paths to citizenship for those who have entered illegally. In extension activities, they can explore the history of immigration, consider the personal stories of immigrants and try their hand at crafting a compromise or competing bill that emphasizes their own priorities. Read more…
In this lesson, students will first imagine they are executives at major American clothing retailers who are researching and negotiating what policy changes, if any, their company should take in light of the recent disasters in Bangladeshi garment factories. Then, students will write their own persuasive letters to their favorite clothing brand advocating a course of action to improve safety standards for workers around the world.
Overview | What prompts two brothers to kill and maim innocent people? Were Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev foreign-backed terrorists, embittered immigrants or just plain crazy? And can the United States government do a better job of preventing these events from happening again?
In this lesson, students grapple with the same questions Americans have been asking in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombing. Extension activities allow students to research issues raised in the story, from immigration and foreign policy to civil liberties, and propose their own policy solutions. Read more…
Overview | Can a nation’s military or economic institutions be toppled with a few anonymous keystrokes? That’s the fear being voiced by United States government officials and corporations, who have drastically ramped up their preparations in recent months to defend against attacks on computer networks.
In the activities that follow, students learn about the scope of recent attacks and what is being done to counter such threats. Then they consider the broader practical and ethical consequences of preparing for cyberwar.
The United States holds a larger proportion of its population in prison than any other nation in the world. How has this happened, and is it a problem? In this lesson, students will consider whether the nation’s system for addressing crime is effective and consistent with its Constitutional ideals of equality under the law.
Teachers may wish to begin by brainstorming with students on what they already know or believe about crime, punishment and the prison system in America before investigating one or more of the topics below. Read more…
Overview | Should the United States rely on diplomacy and incentives or military confrontation to deal with a nuclear-armed North Korea? In this lesson, students will play the role of White House advisers, exploring policy options and recommending the best strategy for preventing war in East Asia. Read more…
In this lesson we’ll help students to also understand the far-reaching impact of religion and the church on politics, culture and daily life in every corner of the world.
Teachers may wish to begin by asking students to brainstorm what they already know, or what they would like to know, about the pope and the impact of Catholicism. Then read the stories below to find out more or develop ideas for further inquiry.
How can we teach African-American history through the everyday voices of ordinary people and not just iconic leaders? How does history have a way of cropping up where you least expect it: at the bottom of a forgotten old storage box, under the dirt of Central Park or in the memories of a long-running TV dance show?
In recognition of Black History Month, we offer a different take on the significant events and eras of the African-American experience. We invite students and teachers to explore the interplay between extraordinary events and ordinary people.
In this post, we first offer general activities for considering how the stories of African-American history are told, as well as ideas for contributing to the telling yourself. Next, we have suggested a handful of examples of news articles and other resources about ordinary people witnessing, or reacting to, extraordinary events.
Please tell us what you’ll do this year to celebrate Black History Month.