Teaching People's History  
in the Pandemic  
It feels impossible to start any email during this strange and scary time without first acknowledging our shared circumstances: a pandemic; an inept, untrustworthy, racist demagogue in the White House; and the disruption to almost every tiny square of our personal and professional lives.  
 
We hope you are finding ways to connect with your friends and family, find solidarity in your networks, and access the beauty of the natural world, even as you keep yourself and others safe with the unfortunately named "social distancing." 

As we all consider what the next weeks and months hold, and in spite of so many unknowns, we remain committed to building up and supporting our community of people's history teachers across the country, which is why we are writing.  
Teaching People's History with Film

As many of us scramble to put together learning plans at home ---- either for our own children or for those we teach ---- films make an obvious choice, as they are already mostly accessed online.
 
Here are some strategies we use for viewing films with students in the classroom that invite insight and critical reflection. We encourage you to adapt these for online use with students or with your own families.
Podcasts for Students
Peter Reid, Flickr.
  
Podcasts offer accessible and engaging people's history lessons. Here we list some of our favorites that may be of interest to high school students.
 
Let us know if you share these with your students and/or have others to recommend. 
Pandemics, Now and Then
People's History at Newsela
At Newsela, educators can now access ---- for free ---- these select articles at the original high school level plus four reading levels, ranging from 3rd to 9th grade. The following are articles adapted from the Zinn Education Project website.
 
"Columbus Discovered the TaĆ­no People, Then Tried to Erase Them"
"Explaining the Red Summer of 1919"
"What We Don't Learn About the Black Panther Party ---- but Should"
"The Other '68: Black Power During Reconstruction"
'Life in an Internment Camp Drove Yuri Kochiyama's Commitment to Social Justice"
Plus: "Education Project Aims to Set the Record Straight on Historical Myths"

IndyKids: News for Kids, by Kids

IndyKids is a wonderful multi-platform current events and social justice news source produced by kids, for kids. It is geared toward young people in grades 4 to 8 and high school English Language Learners. Visit IndyKids to subscribe to the print edition and/or read the articles online. Find more of our favorite age-appropriate materials and opportunities for younger students.
People's Historians Online
To provide additional support to middle and high school teachers while school buildings are closed, the Zinn Education Project will host a number of online mini-classes with people's historians.
 
Our first session was a success and  we are planning more for the weeks and months ahead. 
 
Tell us if you are interested in upcoming sessions and what you would like to see in an online presentation or conversation with historians and fellow teachers.  
 
 
Rad American History A-Z Giveaway
Share Your Story

We welcome stories about how you are teaching people's history lessons via online platforms (such as Zoom or Google Classroom) while school buildings are closed. Your story can help other teachers faced with the challenges of remote learning. How are you using those platforms to engage students in people's history lessons? 

We are also interested in stories about lessons on the coronavirus with a focus on equity and climate science. In appreciation for your time, we can send you a free copy of Rad American History A-Z.  

Share Your Story
 
We Need Your Help
We need your support. With no corporate sponsors, 100 percent of Zinn Education Project funding comes from individuals like you.


 
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