MISD Social Studies Department
January Edition
Siege on the Capitol
Not since the War of 1812 at the hands of British forces, have the halls of Congress been breached by violent intruders. As many of us watched the actions occur, it became a surreal experience likened to the Challenger Explosion or 9/11.
During your discussions on this topic, it is important to allow your students the opportunity to express their feelings and opinions and for teachers to support their voices. Help students to analyze the event and provide historical examples of conflict and resolutions in the United States. Most of all, make sure that students are directed to credible sources of information and follow back up with them if you assign something outside of class.
News articles
Pro-Trump mob storms U.S. Capitol in bid to overturn election
Trump Declares State of Emergency In Washington, D.C. Ahead of Biden's Inauguration
C-SPAN Resources
Violence at the U.S. Capitol:
- Lesson: Reactions to the January 6 Attacks on the U.S. Capitol (10 Clips)
- Clip: Electoral Count Interrupted as Mob Enters Capitol (3:14)
- Clip: U.S. Senate Reconvenes After Day of Protests and Violence (2:15)
- Clip: News Coverage of the Violence at the Capitol (5:02)
- Clip: President-elect Biden Addresses Protests and Violence at the Capitol (2:58)
- Clip: Sen. Majority Leader McConnell (R-KY) on the Events at the Capitol (3:32)
- Clip: Sen. Sasse (R-NE) on American Unity after the Attacks on the Capitol (5:52)
- Clip: Sen. Shaheen (D-NH) on Peaceful Transfers of Power (5:30)
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Resources:
- On This Day: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Life, Death, Legacy (6 Clips)
- Lesson Plan: Civil Rights Movement: Sit-Ins (4 Clips)
- Lesson Plan: Letter from Birmingham Jail (7 Clips)
- Lesson Plan: 1968: The Poor People's Campaign (4 Clips)
- Lesson Plan: Last Days of Martin Luther King, Jr. (3 Clips)
- Bell Ringer: The 1963 March on Washington (11:49)
- On This Day: The Assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (8 Clips)
Inauguration Day - January 20, 2021
The 59th inaugural ceremonies are expected to look noticeably different than in years past due to surging COVID-19 cases. Opening remarks historically take place around 11:30 ET/8:30 a.m. PT. The inauguration is likely to be streamed by every major news station, in addition to being shared on platforms like Facebook Live, Twitter and YouTube.
If you have concerns about how to address the inauguration during these sensitive times, consider teaching about the inauguration itself with a critical literacy lens. A non-partisan approach acknowledges history in the making while also examining how we have reached this point. See some resources below.
Resources
Anti-Defamation League- 7 Ideas for Teaching About The Presidential Inauguration
NEA- Inauguration Day Activities
C-SPAN Classroom- Lesson Plan: 2021 Joe Biden Inauguration Viewing Guides
NEH.GOV- Lesson Plan- Presidential Inaugurations: I Do Solemnly Swear
americanhistory.si.edu- The Campaign Trail- Inaugurations
If you have any unique activities planned or displays on your campus, please let us know or send us photographs.
Holocaust Awareness Week- January 25-29, 2021
According to TEA, teachers are required to provide education about the Holocaust in their social studies classes. The instruction will occur on the week of January 27 (Liberation Day).
In middle school and high school courses, you will find a Holocaust Remembrance Week tab in Eduphoria that provides resources that you may include in your instruction. There is not a requirement on the length of instruction during the week.
SB 1828- Texas Education Code:
To educate students about the Holocaust and inspire in students a sense of responsibility to recognize and uphold human values and to prevent future atrocities
The week should include age-appropriate instruction, as determined by each school district
Instruction shall include information about the history of and lessons learned from the Holocaust; participation...in learning projects about the Holocaust; the use of materials developed or approved by the Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission…
If you have any unique activities planned or displays on your campus, please let us know or send us photographs.
Black History Month
National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history. National African American History Month had its origins in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson chose the second week in February, as it encompassed both Frederick Douglass’ birthday on February 14 and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12.
In the early 20th century, while he earned a Masters degree from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from Harvard, both in history, Woodson witnessed how black people were underrepresented in the books and conversations that shaped the study of American history. According to the way many historians taught the nation’s past, African Americans were barely part of the story—a narrative that Woodson knew was not true. So in 1915, he and Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or the ASALH). The organization would promote studying black history as a discipline and celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans.
In 1976 this commemoration of black history in the United States was expanded to Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, and President Ford issued the first Message on the Observance of Black History Month that year.
In 1986 Congress passed Public Law 99-244 (PDF, 142KB) which designated February 1986 as "National Black (Afro-American) History Month.”
Sources: https://time.com/4197928/history-black-history-month/
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/african-american.php
Resources:
We Are Teachers- 33 Black History Month Activities for February and Beyond
Edutopia- 6 Teaching Tools for Black History Month
Smithsonian- Black History Month
If you have any unique activities planned or displays on your campus, please let us know or send us photographs.
National History Day- Saturday, January 30
We have about 6 middle school and high school campuses submitting entries this year. The deadline for submitting entries is January. 26. We are in need of judges that can score entries on Saturday, January 30 virtually. If you are interested, please contact Daniel Norwood (dnorwood@mesquiteisd.org).
Information on the district and regional contest contest. Click here.
Professional Learning Opportunities in Social Studies
Social Justice in Social Studies- January 27, 2021
Expanding Voices in Social Studies- March 3, 2021
You Gotta Fight...For Your Rights- February 24, 2021
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There is a new platform for course registration- Eduphoria/Strive. Register through the Staff Portal and click on "my profile" if you have never visited the site.
MISD Spring Professional Learning Catalog link The catalog is also linked on the employee portal and is titled “Professional Learning Catalog”.
If you have any questions or problems registering call or email Diana Hill at extension 7737 or dhill@mesquiteisd.org
TELPAS Writing Samples
Possible activities:
- Short answer warm-up or exit ticket responses
- Incorporate sentence stems to encourage written responses
- Use images (pictures, paintings, drawings, graphics) to prompt written responses to a topic using the document analysis form