Talking About Racism and Violence: Resources for Educators and Families

The following resources can help promote deeper understanding around the issues of racism and violence. They also can contribute to discussion of these topics with colleagues and students during this difficult time, even at a distance.

What's on This Page

This resource page includes the following topics:

Talking About Violence in the News
Lesson Plans and Classroom Resources
Addressing Racism and Bias in Schools
Social Justice Resources for the Classroom
Resources for Families: Talking About Race and Racism
Recommended Reading

Note: If you are connecting with your students remotely, this resource guide for virtual circles of concern offers tips for managing conversations about difficult topics in distance learning settings.

Talking About Violence in the News

Being sensitive to trauma

Discussion of the following topics may be traumatic for students. Educators are encouraged to seek guidance in trauma-informed practices in preparation for discussions related to these topics. Learn more from these resources and those below.

Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resources for Educators (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
Black kids are watching this moment. What will it teach them? (Vox)
Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma (Learning for Justice)
Preparing to Discuss Race and Police Violence in the Classroom (DC Public Schools)
Making Space: Teaching After Trauma (Edutopia)

Lesson Plans and Classroom Resources

Discussion guides and lessons for educators

PBS NewsHour Classroom / Share My Lesson

See additional lessons related to Social Issues from NewsHour Classroom.

Other recommended resources

Lesson of the Day: "How Teachers Are Exploring the Derek Chauvin Trial with Students"
From Headlines to Homework: Teaching Current Events Through an Anti-Bias Framework (National Council for the Social Studies)
15 Classroom Resources for Discussing Racism, Policing, and Protest (Education Week)
Bearing Witness: The Death of George Floyd (Facing History)
"We’re sick of it": Anger over police killings shatters U.S. (Newsela, registration required)
Lesson of the Day: "'I Can't Breathe': 4 Minneapolis Officers Fired After Black Man Dies in Custody" (The New York Times)
Resources To Support Conversations With Students: Justice For Breonna Taylor (Roots Connected)

High school students are demanding that schools teach more Black history, include more Black authors (The Washington Post)
Amid a racial reckoning, teachers are reconsidering how history should be taught (NBC News)
What Teachers Should Learn and Do in Response to George Floyd's Death (8 part series from Education Week)
6 Considerations for School Leaders Making a Statement About George Floyd (Education Week)
Keedron Byrant: 12-year-old singer's emotional song in wake of George Floyd's death becomes rallying cry (CBS News)

Classroom resources: Racism and violence

Advice For Teachers Talking With Students About Racism & Police Violence (Education Week)
Teaching About Race, Racism, and Police Violence (Learning for Justice)
Resources for Discussing Police Violence, Race, and Racism With Students (Education Week)
Facing Ferguson: News Literacy in a Digital Age (Facing History)
Police Shootings, Race and Respect (Share My Lesson)
Black Lives Matter at School: Toolkit from Rochester City Schools (NY)
Black Lives Matter at School: Resources from the NEA
Talking About Freddie Gray: My Baltimore eighth-graders’ response to the question, ‘What now?’ left me speechless (PBS NewsHour)

Teaching about racial justice

Teaching about Race and Racism: Lesson Plans and Resources (Share My Lesson)
Anti-Racism Resources for All Ages from Dr. Nicole Cook (A project of the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair at the University of South Carolina)
Racial Justice Resources: Justice for Black Lives (NEA EdJustice)
Creating an Anti-Racist Classroom (Edutopia)
Teachable Moments and Academic Rigor: A Mini-Unit (Edutopia)
5 practices of highly-effective urban educators (Education Dive)

Classroom resources: Historical events and perspectives

1619 Project

1619 Project and related podcast (The New York Times)
1619 Project: Educational Resources (Pulitzer Center)

Tulsa Race Massacre: 1921

Lesson plans

Articles and blogs

Tulsa's Ugly Racial History: From the Trail of Tears to the Deadly Race Massacre (The Washington Post)
Oklahoma to Incorporate 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre into Statewide Curriculum (WBUR)
Graphic: The Massacre of Black Wall Street (The Atlantic)
Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre, Explained (Teen Vogue)
One paper has never forgotten the Tulsa race massacre, and its fight continues (Los Angeles Times)
Red Summer of 1919 (Facing History Blog)

Teaching about Juneteenth

Juneteenth: Classroom Resources (Larry Ferlazzo)
Race in America: The Legacy of Juneteenth with Lonnie G. Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian (The Washington Post)
Thousands queue to see the Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 (The Washington Post)
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth (National Museum of African American History and Culture)
Abolitionist Movement, Emancipation, and Juneteenth (Share My Lesson)
Children's Booklists: Juneteenth (Children's Book Council)

Multimedia / social media

Kojo For Kids: Jason Reynolds Talks About Racism And The Protests (WAMU)
Authors Organize Kit Lit Rally for Black Lives on Facebook (School Library Journal)
5-Minute Film Festival: Talking About Race and Stereotypes (Edutopia)
Race Matters: America in Crisis (PBS NewsHour)
Where Do We Go from Here?: A Conversation Led by Oprah (OWN)
Ideas About Race (TED Talk Collection)
TED Talks to help you understand racism in America (TED Talk Collection)

Talking About Race (National Museum of African American History and Culture)

The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture has just launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture. The online portal provides digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles and more than 100 multi-media resources tailored for educators, parents and caregivers—and individuals committed to racial equality. The museum moved up the launch date due to the number of racially charged incidents in recent weeks.

Culturally responsive practice

This collection of culturally responsive resources include a wide range of topics related to honoring students' identities and experiences, addressing bias in schools and classrooms, and digging into the hard work of personal reflection and action.