Teaching a civil rights unit in the upper elementary grades can be difficult. Educators must sort through multiple resources, determine the quality and developmental appropriateness of the materials, synthesize and organize the resources into meaningful lessons, and teach the unit in the midst of pressures to minimize or eliminate social studies in deference to tested subjects. Many elementary teachers find this a daunting task, which they avoid. The authors suggest a ‚Äúdepth over breadth‚Äù model focused around children‚Äôs literature texts and primary sources. This article reviews selected…

Guiding students to examine the historical perspectives of ordinary citizens like the schoolteacher who spurred New York City transit to desegregate, is a powerful way to demonstrate the impact that one individual can have.

An inquiry approach to studying the 1940s Mendez racial segregation case can counter a narrative that centers the triumph of heroes and instead prompt students to explore larger issues related to colorism, racism, and language segregation.

Studying the artists and art of Japanese American incarceration can deepen student understanding about the experiences of 120,000 people forcibly removed from their homes during World War II.

Aiming to correct myths about the Viet Nam War, this author regularly leads groups of students to learn about the country firsthand.

We must move beyond the “conqueror narratives” of our teaching because the struggles and resistance of colonized peoples are part of our national story.

A lesson exploring the Pledge of Allegiance, its history and the addition of the phrase under God, can serve as a jumping off point into major themes of U.S. history and First Amendment freedoms.