Anti-Racism Lessons & Videos

Educators who want to engage with students about the death of George Floyd and racism in America, may find helpful these resources compiled by The New York City Department of Education. Below are lessons and videos to teach episodes from our history and our present, episodes where these same shudders of injustice and outrage, peaceful protest, and also violence and destruction have ripped through our city and society.

A memorial to Mr. Floyd in Minneapolis on Thursday.
This photograph originally appeared in the article,
“George Floyd Protests in Minneapolis: Live Updates.”Credit...
Jenn Ackerman for The New York Times

Educator Resources

Video Resources

• A Conversation With My Black Son (5 min.)
• A Conversation About Growing Up Black (5 min.)
• A Conversation With White People on Race (5 min.)
• A Conversation With Police on Race (7 min.)
• A Conversation With Black Women on Race (6 min.)

When watching a video, it is important to use the Frame, Focus, Follow up technique. 

• Frame the video by letting students know what they are about to see.
• Focus by letting students know guiding questions to focus on.
• Follow up by letting students respond to those questions either via discussion board or in a video conference.

The New York Times suggests these guiding questions:

• What moments in this film stood out for you? Why?
• Were there any surprises? Anything that challenged what you know — or thought you knew
• What messages, emotions or ideas will you take away from this film? Why?
• What questions do you still have?
• What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why?
• Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?

Lessons

• WeTeachNYC on Racism and WeTeachNYC on Civic Education
• Morningside Center Teachable Moment :Listening Circle for George Floyd
• Reckoning-Amidst-Pandemic
• Violence and Backlash
• Teaching Tolerance: Resources on Race and Ethnicity
• Anti-Defamation League: Engaging Young People in Conversations about Race and Racism
• NY Times The Learning Network : "I Can’t Breathe"
• First Encounters With Race and Racism: Teaching Ideas for Classroom Conversations

Looking for even more resources? Ian Lawrence shared a Google Drive folder on Twitter that contains lots teaching resources and materials on anti racism curated by teachers.