Educators
This page is geared towards providing you with resources and strategies that you can use to bring up these tough topics with your students.
Instructional Videos
Educational videos by teachers on how they introduce topics of racism and anti-racism to young students in primary school.
How I Teach Kids About Racism (Kindergarten and 1st Grade)
By Naomi O’Brien
“This video is about me sharing the lesson that my friend LaNesha and I teach each year to introduce the topic of racism to our kindergarten and first grade students. It's not as scary or crazy as you think!"
Be Boldy Anti-Racist
By Naomi O’Brien
“How did I become boldly anti-racist? By following my mom's example. How can you be bold and set an example for your kids and students?”
How to Talk to Kids about Racism (Canada focused)
By Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation
“We've had a lot of ask specific to content on how to talk to kids of all ages and all backgrounds on racism, and so we did a Facebook live for you on this topic with three wonderful and incredible community advocates and moms! Featuring Michelle Robinson, Cynthia Okafor and Jeny Mathews-Thusoo. Learn more about us at canadiancmf.com”
Lesson Plans
FREE and downloadable lesson plans for teachers to use in their classrooms.
Designed to meet Alberta Education Standards.
For Kindergarten to Grade 2
Grade Level: 1-2
Subject: Colour
Lesson Title: Colours
Time Frame: Set of 3 lessons
Developed by: Harvey McCue and Associates for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Learning Activity: Comprises of 3 activities related to exploring colour in relation to First Nation culture: Dyes, Beadwork, and Colour on Clothing. Through an examination and discussion of how First Nations use colours, students will gain insight on how colours can be given symbolic meaning. Colours are significant to many First Nations. Many First Nations decorate their clothing, hunting implements and other objects with natural colours through embroidery using dyed moose or caribou hair, beads made from coloured shells or dyed porcupine quills.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will...
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Understand how some First Nations use colours and that colours can have meaning
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Learn how some colours are produced
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
For Grades 3-5
Grade Level: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts, Art
Lesson Title: The Message of Music
Time Frame: 2nd lesson from a set of 2
Developed by: Teaching Tolerance
Learning Activity: This lesson challenges students to analyze and to reflect on messages presented in songs — and to express their own views about important issues addressed in some songs.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will understand how to…
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Analyze and write about how a song’s lyrics can evoke feelings.
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Compare two songs and give examples of metaphors in each song.
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Write about the lyrics of songs, critically examining a song’s messages and expressing a personal viewpoint about a tolerance-related issue that’s important to them.
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
Grade Level: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies, Science
Lesson Title: First Nations and the Environment
Time Frame: 1 of 8 activities in the unit
Developed by: Harvey McCue and Associates for Aboriginal Affairs
and Northern Development Canada.
Learning Activity: Launch a class project to improve wildlife habitat in the community. Discuss with the class how the wildlife in their community can be better taken care of. Students should be able to make a list of the wildlife that they encounter daily. Divide the class into groups that are assigned to examine birds, squirrels, small creatures on the ground such as ants, beetles and crickets; or creatures in the ground such as worms. Ask each group to identify the different ways it can contribute to the health of their chosen wildlife.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will...
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Learn how First Nations view their responsibilities to the land
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Explore how students' behaviour and actions affect the environment
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
For Grades 6-8
Grade Level: 6-8 and 9-12
Subject: Social Studies
Lesson Title: Pre-WWII European Jewish Life Photo Project
Time Frame: Five 45-minute sessions
Developed by: Teaching Tolerance
Learning Activity: This set of lessons — comprised of five 45-minute sessions — will engage students in researching and understanding how individual Jewish communities and lives were affected by the Holocaust. By researching and analyzing family photographs, students will gain insight into the relative normalcy of Jewish life (religious, cultural, and business) before the Nazis assumed power — and then discover how Jewish lives changed drastically after the Nazi invasion. Note: Students should be familiar with a basic timeline of the Holocaust (specifically when Hitler took control of different countries).
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will...
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Examine and discuss pre-WWII Jewish religious, cultural and communal life in Europe through photographs from that time—and compare those lives to their own lives.
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Research, analyze, and write about the photographs collected to discover and assess aspects of Jewish life before and after Nazi occupation.
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Synthesize all parts of the project through class discussion to describe and portray information about Jewish lives lost in the Holocaust.
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
Grade Level: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts
Lesson Title: Treaties
Time Frame: 1 of 5 activities in the unit
Developed by: Harvey McCue and Associates for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Learning Activity:
Invite a person knowledgeable about treaties and land claims to speak to the class. If students live in an area covered by a historical treaty, teachers could ask an Elder to share some of the oral history or a First Nations leader to discuss how the treaty affects his or her work. If students live in an area where claims are being negotiated, teachers could invite a person from a First Nations claims research office to discuss the type of work that is being done, or federal or provincial workers who work in the area of treaties. This may include negotiations, mapping, historical research or recording oral history.
Be sure that students prepare some questions for the speaker. Students should also present the speaker with a gift, preferably one that they have created with their own resources.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will understand how to…
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To provide students with a historical perspective of treaties in Canada
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To raise awareness of current issues surrounding treaties and First Nations land claims
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
For Grades 9 - 12
Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts
Lesson Title: The Color of Law: Winners and Losers in the Job Market
Time Frame: Two 45-minute periods
Developed by: Harvey McCue and Associates for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Learning Activity: Choose a topic and compare at least two sources on the same topic, one from Aboriginal media and one from mainstream media (broadcast and/or print). Some possible sources include: Income tax/GST/HST exemptions, Resource extraction, Residential schools, The Nisga'a Treaty, Self-government, The Oka Crisis, Policing in Aboriginal communities, Contaminated land sites in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, and Hunting and fishing rights.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will understand how to…
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Recognize media bias
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Understand situations from a First Nation perspective in contrast to that of a mainstream perspective
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
Grade Level: 9-12
Subject: Social Studies, Language Arts
Lesson Title: The Color of Law: Winners and Losers in the Job Market
Time Frame: 2nd lesson from a set of 2
Developed by: Teaching Tolerance
Learning Activity: This lesson is the second lesson of the series The Color of Law: The Role of Government in Shaping Racial Inequity. In this lesson, students examine how government policies helped white people access economic benefits while preventing African Americans from accessing these same benefits.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will understand how to…
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Explain how government policies helped white people access economic benefits while preventing African Americans from accessing these same benefits.
Click HERE to access the lesson plan!
Grade Level: 10
Subject: Fine Arts (Drama)
Lesson Title: Political Movement
Time Frame: 1 Lesson to be completed over 4-5 periods (50-minutes each)
Developed by: Isabella, Mathew, Tyler, and Ginelle
Learning Activity: In groups of 2-4, students will be required to create a 3-5 minute movement piece to represent and non-verbally communicate a social justice issue
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will...
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Be able to perform a physical warmup and understand the importance of doing so
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Understand and be able to effectively use elements of movement and space
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Be able to effectively communicate non-verbally
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Understand and be able to effectively use costume to support communication and storytelling
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Have a greater understanding of various social justice issues and their impacts on society
Click HERE to download lesson PDF!
Grade Level: 12
Subject: Biology-30
Unit: Cell Division, Genetics, and Molecular Biology
Lesson Title: Biological Determinism & Scientific Racism
Time Frame: One 90-minute period
Developed by: Erika
Learning Activity: Students will be comparing and contrasting DNA sequences of people of different races and discussing their findings along the way. If technology, time and funding allow, students will be able to analyze their own DNA (http://www.geneticorigins.org/mito/mitoframeset.htm) and compare it to classmates and participants around the world. Through this activity, students should ultimately understand that more variation exists among races than between them, and therefore race is a social construct that cannot be used to back scientific claims about social predispositions.
Enduring Objectives (Big Ideas):
Students will understand that…
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Genetics has both intended and unintended impacts on society.
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Knowledge about genetics has ethical implications that must be considered in decision making.
Click HERE to download lesson PDF!
Additional Teaching Resources
Take a look at these links for more helpful lesson plans, guides, visuals, and more!
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"Robust, ready-to-use classroom lessons offer breadth and depth, spanning essential social justice topics and reinforcing critical social emotional learning skills. Search by keyword or browse our lesson bank—you can filter lessons by grade level, subject, topic or social justice domain. And remember, you can always create, save and share your own lessons with [their] Learning Plan Builder."
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Authentic First Peoples Resources
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"Black Lives Matter At School is a national coalition organizing for racial justice in education. We encourage all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join our annual week of action during the first week of February each year."
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Elementary Teacher uses Instagram to Inspire Students with Diverse Literature
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"Now as a second-grade teacher...[the educator] is committed to sharing diverse literature with her young readers to ensure they feel represented. Ever since school buildings unexpectedly closed in March, Brevard has used her Instagram account to share diverse book recommendations with her young readers and their families. She now has more than 4,000 followers."
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The Learning Circle Classroom activities on First Nations in Canada for Ages 4-7
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"The Learning Circle has been produced to help meet Canadian educators’ growing need for elementary-level learning exercises on First Nations. The Learning Circle is organized in thematic units, each with its own teaching activities. Units are designed to give teachers and students simple but effective exercises, projects and activities that will encourage students to learn more about First Nations. Educators can follow some of the exercises as stand-alone units on First Nations topics, or integrate them with existing curricula on Aboriginal peoples."
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https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1316530132377/1535460393645#un4
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The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada for Ages 8 to 11
- "The Learning Circle has been produced to help meet Canadian educators' growing need for elementary-level learning exercises on First Nations. It is the second in a series of four classroom guides on First Nations in Canada. The Learning Circle is organized in thematic units, each with its own teaching activities. Units are designed to give teachers and students simple but effective exercises, projects and activities that will encourage students to learn more about First Nations. Educators can follow some of the exercises as stand-alone units on First Nations topics, or integrate them with existing curricula on Aboriginal peoples. Most exercises in The Learning Circle can be completed in one period. Certain others will take several periods, days or weeks."
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The Learning Circle: Classroom Activities on First Nations in Canada for Ages 12 to 14
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"The Learning Circle is organized in thematic units, each with its own teaching activities. Units are designed to give teachers and students simple but effective exercises, projects and activities that will encourage students to learn more about First Nations. Educators can follow some of the exercises as stand-alone units on First Nations topics, or integrate them with existing curricula on Aboriginal peoples. Most exercises in The Learning Circle can be completed in one period. Certain others will take several periods, days or weeks."
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https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1331134511189/1534959405819
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"As an interdisciplinary, student-centred educational unit, this document is designed to enhance the understanding non-Aboriginal students have regarding issues and realities facing First Nations and Inuit youth today. The educational activities in this booklet meet many of the aims and goals of provincial curriculums for Aboriginal studies. The material has been designed for Grade 9 and 10 students, but can also be applied at other grade levels where Aboriginal studies and themes are taught."
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https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1329333584407/1534959534898
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Literature
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman.
"Celebrating diversity and inclusivity. No matter how you start your day,What you wear when you play,Or if you come from far away,All are welcome here. Follow a group of children through a day in their school, where everyone is welcome!"
Resources For Your Classroom Library
Check out this section for awesome resources to expand your classroom library!
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Diverse Book Finder - Identify and Explore Multicultural Picture Books
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Tinkergarten - 24 Books with Black Protagonists
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From Sea To Sea To Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books
