Anti-Bias Curriculum Guides

Use our elementary, middle and high school curriculum guides to promote safe, respectful and inclusive classroom environments.

Anti-bias curriculum guides have been prepared for educators to use as supplementary materials for students. The guides are available for elementary through high school students. The lesson plans assist students in creating environments of mutual respect and inclusiveness, and promoting justice for all.

Curriculum Professional Development

The anti-bias curriculum guides were developed to be used in conjunction with an A World of Difference® Institute in-service program that provides a framework for its use. Through the development and delivery of its programs and resources, the Institute seeks to help participants recognize bias and the harm it inflicts on individuals and society; explore the value of diversity; improve intergroup relations and combat racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of prejudice and bigotry.

It’s recommended to use these materials in conjunction with a training from your local ADL office. Alternatively, you can also buy the curricula online.

Anti-Bias Building Blocks: An Elementary Curriculum

​​​GRADE LEVELS: Kindergarten and elementary school grade levels (K-5)

TOPICS: Communication, Respect, Identity, Differences, Bias, Bullying

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language

Anti-Bias Building Blocks is a K–5 curriculum designed for elementary educators who want to promote anti-bias concepts in order to create safe, inclusive and respectful classroom and school environments. The anti-bias curriculum is organized into five instructional units and there are 25 lesson plans for Grades K–2 and 25 lesson plans for Grades 3–5. The lesson plans help children create a safe and comfortable classroom environment, explore their identity, understand and appreciate differences and analyze and challenge bias. Read more >

Empowering Students, Challenging Bias: A Middle School Curriculum

​​GRADE LEVELS: Middle School (grades 6, 7, 8)

TOPICS: Communication, Conflict Resolution, Identity, Media, Bias, Bullying and Cyberbullying, Injustice

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, Language

Empowering Students, Challenging Bias is a curriculum for middle school educators who want to promote anti-bias concepts in order to create safe, respectful and equitable classroom and school environments. The curriculum is organized into five instructional units with 30 lesson plans in total. This anti-bias curriculum includes lesson plans that encourage students to reflect on their identity, understand and appreciate differences, explore societal issues arising from bias and discrimination, understand how people have historically confronted bias and injustice and take leadership roles in promoting justice and equity in their schools, community and society. The anti-bias curriculum includes a bibliography, glossary and professional resources for educators. Read more >

Confronting Bias, Working Toward Equity: A High School Curriculum

GRADE LEVEL: High School (grades 9, 10, 11, 12)

TOPICS: Respectful Dialogue, Culture and Values, Bias, Bullying and Cyberbullying, Media and Stereotypes, Social Injustice

COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS: Arts, Behavioral Studies, Civics, History, Language, Writing

Confronting Bias, Working Toward Equity: A High School Curriculum is for educators to use primarily with students in grades 9–12 as supplementary material to enhance or integrate into existing curricula. The materials have been designed to assist educators and students in exploring ways to ensure that the tenets of freedom and equality on which this country was built become realities. This anti-bias curriculum provides teachers with 36 lesson plans organized into five instructional units. The lesson plans encourage young people to: (1) explore societal issues arising from bias and bigotry; (2) understand how systems of power and control work to oppress marginalized groups in society; (3) improve critical-thinking skills; (4) examine diverse viewpoints; and (5) take leadership roles in promoting justice and equity in their schools, communities and society at large. The anti-bias curriculum includes a bibliography, glossary and professional resources for educators. Read more >