ADL Logo
ADL Logo

196 Results

Schools Are Using Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws to Ban Children’s Literature

Article
A young brown boy standing in a library reading a book
In the battle over the false idea that Critical Race Theory is “infiltrating” our K-12 schools—and the belief that it must be stopped—the new frontier is children's literature.     Critical race theory bans by state legislatures  Critical race theory (CRT), taught primarily in higher education and law school, is the study of how laws and policies can drive and perpetuate racial disparities and inequities. Even though Critical Race Theory is…
Read more about Schools Are Using Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws to Ban Children’s Literature

Bias and Hate in Online Games

Tools and Strategies
Teenager playing multiplayer online games at home
Table Talk: Family Conversations about Current EventsVideo games are played and enjoyed by adults and young people alike. While there are many positive interactions people have while gaming, many gamers experience online hate and harassment. In 2023, ADL conducted its fifth annual report on the experiences people have with online games to learn more about what’s positive and what’s concerning about online games.   2023 ADL survey  ADL…
Read more about Bias and Hate in Online Games

Mini-Lesson: Identity Iceberg

Tools and Strategies
Image of youth looking at an iceberg
Short Online Experience to Learn about this Core Topic For Educators | Middle School, High School About the Mini-Lesson Only a small portion of an iceberg can be seen above the waterline. Similarly, understanding someone's identity is limited by what we see on the surface. This mini lesson explores the concept of identity and the importance of going "below the waterline" to challenge and avoid stereotypes and identity-based bias. ADL's mini-lessons are short, interactive, online…
Read more about Mini-Lesson: Identity Iceberg

Mini-Lesson: Microaggressions

Tools and Strategies
Microaggressions
Short Online Experience to Learn about this Core Topic For Educators | Middle School, High School About the Mini-Lesson What are microaggressions? This mini-lesson will help you to explore what microaggressions are, how they are experienced, and what can be done to address them. ADL's mini-lessons are short, interactive, online lessons for educators to learn about a core ADL topic, theme or activity. Objectives This self-paced micro-lesson will enable you to: Learn…
Read more about Mini-Lesson: Microaggressions

Mini-Lesson: What is Bias?

Tools and Strategies
What is Bias Mini Lesson Image
Short Online Experience to Learn about this Core Topic For Educators | Middle School, High School About the Mini-Lesson Where does bias come from? In this mini-lesson you will explore the differences between explicit and implicit bias and how to challenge it in our everyday lives. ADL's mini-lessons are short, interactive, online lessons for educators to learn about a core ADL topic, theme or activity. Objectives This self-paced micro-lesson will enable you to: Define…
Read more about Mini-Lesson: What is Bias?

Mini-Lesson: Teaching the Pyramid of Hate

Tools and Strategies
Pyramid of Hate Mini Lesson Image
Short Online Experience to Learn about this Core Topic For Educators | Middle School, High School About the Mini-Lesson This mini-lesson will introduce you to the Pyramid of Hate, an ADL concept and activity that demonstrates how escalating levels of attitudes and behavior grow in complexity from biased ideas to discrimination and acts of violence. ADL's mini-lessons are short, interactive, online lessons for educators to learn about a core ADL topic, theme or activity.&nbsp…
Read more about Mini-Lesson: Teaching the Pyramid of Hate

Eight Facts about Immigrants and Immigration (In English and Español)

Fact Sheet
In an age of disinformation and bigotry, misconceptions about immigrants and anti-immigrant hate have spread throughout American politics and society. As a result, this country has seen a concerning uptick in rhetoric, policies, and social movements that threaten to or directly harm immigrants and refugees. This resource contains information and sources that set the record straight and will hopefully help mitigate the damage caused by disinformation about immigrants.   The following are…
Read more about Eight Facts about Immigrants and Immigration (In English and Español)

Identity, Hair and Seeing Myself

Lesson Plan
7-year old Morgan Bugg displays her drawing of hairstyles that reflect her identity
GRADE LEVEL: Elementary School COMMON CORE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language SEL STANDARDS*: Self-Awareness, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, Responsible Decision-Making 7-Year-Old Morgan Bugg Advocates for More Diversity in Avatars In April 2021, seven-year-old Morgan Bugg of Tennessee was using an educational gaming app called Freckle, which is used by more than 900,000 teachers in the U.S. This app gives students a chance to win coins while…
Read more about Identity, Hair and Seeing Myself

Power and Privilege

Lesson Plan
Black Lives Matter protest in response to pro police rally
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is privilege? How does privilege impact the criminal justice system? On August 9, 2014, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old Black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. The officer was not indicted. The story captured the attention of the nation and the media, and in many ways became the beginning of the Black Lives Matter movement. Many stories like this occurred in the following years and continued…
Read more about Power and Privilege

Responding to Jokes and Slurs

Tools and Strategies
Many people are unsure what to say or do when confronted with offensive humor or slurs. When bystanders choose to stand silently by, however, they may be inadvertently communicating their acceptance of the behavior to others. The following process outlines a way to respond that has proved helpful for many people, from elementary school children to adults. 1. Clarify for yourself what you want to get out of the interaction. If your primary goal is to express your anger and indignation…
Read more about Responding to Jokes and Slurs

Dialogue vs. Debate: Philosophical Chairs

Lesson Plan
Colorful illustration of people chatting with speak bubbles above their heads
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How is Dialogue Different than Debate? Technology is enabling students to be increasingly aware of news and current events. Along with this increased awareness, we see more and more students becoming actively engaged in conversations around hot-button topics. While students often talk in digital spaces about current events that concern them, they also continue the conversation in person. When disagreements happen in those conversations, what…
Read more about Dialogue vs. Debate: Philosophical Chairs

Voter Turnout in the 21st Century

Lesson Plan
Low Angle View of People Lined Up to Vote
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What Needs to Change to Increase Voter Turnout? After every election, regardless of the outcome, people wonder how many people showed up at the polls to vote. The number is never as high as people would like, especially during midterm elections. In the 2016 Presidential election, 60.1% of the population eligible to vote showed up to the polls. During the midterm elections in 2018, only 50.3% of those eligible voted. While thousands of dollars…
Read more about Voter Turnout in the 21st Century

The Power of Poetry to Teach about Identity, Bias and Social Justice

Tools and Strategies
A junior high girl presents to her classmates
April is National Poetry Month National Poetry Month provides an opportunity for many schools and classrooms to dedicate time to the study of reading and writing poetry.    Poetry uses vivid and descriptive language, beautiful imagery, unique sounds and rhythms, and diverse voices. It often evokes an emotional and empathetic response and can open doors to people and worlds for which we are unfamiliar. It can touch hearts and minds and motivate action and societal…
Read more about The Power of Poetry to Teach about Identity, Bias and Social Justice

Felony Disenfranchisement

Lesson Plan
Illustration of a prisoner looking at a voting ballot box outside of his access
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School On What Grounds, If Any, Should an Adult U.S. Citizen Be Prevented from Voting? Should There Be Felony Disenfranchisement Laws?   During the 2018 midterm elections, Florida voted on whether to allow those who have been incarcerated to gain back their right to vote. Florida was one of a handful of states that did not allow previous felons to have their voting rights restored following completion of their prison sentences…
Read more about Felony Disenfranchisement

Challenging Anti-Asian Bias and Acting as an Ally

Tools and Strategies
Illustration of Asians holding signs that read: "Stop Asian Hate," "Proud to be Asian," "I'm not a Virus"
In recent years, there has been an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric including bullying in schools, racist incidents, scapegoating and hate crimes impacting Asian and Asian American people. This is an important opportunity to have conversations with young people about the history of violence and injustice against the AAPI community. In addition, this time also provides an opening to engage students in learning more about the history and background of AAPI people and how to act as an ally when…
Read more about Challenging Anti-Asian Bias and Acting as an Ally

Resources to Address and Challenge Antisemitism

Tools and Strategies
Teacher Talking to Upset Student in a Classroom
The topic of antisemitism is complex, deeply historical and has a myriad of elements to it. Antisemitism is not only about defaming and attacking the Jewish community; it is a symptom of a larger issue. While antisemitism has sometimes escalated to violence as we saw at the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, it more often appears in subtler ways, such as insensitive remarks or “jokes” that are brushed off, or negative stereotypes that go unchallenged. Today, Jewish young people…
Read more about Resources to Address and Challenge Antisemitism

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

Tools and Strategies
Father Comforts Sad Child
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…
Read more about Empowering Young People in the Aftermath of Hate (In English and Español)

Young People in the Civil Rights Movement

Lesson Plan
Little Rock Nine Escorted by 101st Airborne Division
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School How Were Youth Involved in the Civil Rights Movement? Throughout history, young people have stepped up and into leadership roles during different civil rights and social movements. This was never more evident than in the Civil Rights Movement, where young people were on the frontlines of the Montgomery bus boycotts, Freedom Rides and sit-ins. Given that student activism is on the rise again across the U.S., understanding how those young voices…
Read more about Young People in the Civil Rights Movement

Creating a Brave Space

Lesson Plan
Teenage girl talks during group discussion of a diverse group of teens and adults
Civics Lesson GRADE LEVEL: High School What is My Role in Creating and Participating in a Brave Space for Myself and Others?Educators want a welcoming classroom where every student feels appreciated, supported and able to express their ideas. While creating a safe space has been the focus for a long time, we are now calling on educators and students to create “brave spaces.” These are spaces where everyone feels that they can contribute, that they will be heard and they…
Read more about Creating a Brave Space