The sections listed above provide lessons and links to web sites with teaching ideas and interactive lessons that:

• Help students deal with the personal and collective emotions generated by the tragedy of September 11
• Prevent the racial profiling of Arabs, Arab-Americans and anyone from the Middle East or of the Muslim faith
• Place the current events in historic and contemporary context
• Get a deep understanding of critical concepts such as war, freedom, patriotism, justice and terrorism
• Encourage students to think critically about the next steps

A deeper understanding of our current situation requires a careful study of U.S. history and global relations, including all the places on the sign in the photo. Often minimized in US textbooks, this list provides a powerful table of contents for a more truthful history, one which "should not be forgotten." The photo itself could be used to peak students' interest. Ask if they know why each place is listed on the sign. Then have them research the ones they don't know. Insist that sources other than the mainstream textbooks and encyclopedias be cited, such as A People's History of the United States, The World Guide: An Alternative Reference to the Countries of Our Planet, 2001/2002, Rethinking Globalization and Open Veins of Latin America. (These titles and more are available from the non-profit on-line shopping cart at www.teachingforchange.org/catalog.html.)

Also included in Teaching are a few readings for Spanish or bilingual classes, and poetry.

As you use these lessons or the readings from other sections of the web site, please submit your own teaching ideas for posting.

Photo by Rick Reinhard.