Demanding Justice in New Jersey Lesson Plans and Inquiries
Local histories of community organizers fighting for social justice are all around. But, these histories rarely enter the space of K-12 classrooms. The Demanding Justice in New Jersey project aims to change that by sharing free educational resources, including lesson plans and podcast episodes connected to New Jersey Learning Standards, that incorporate local stories about community organizing.
The accompanying educational resources draw from the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) and focus on the four dimensions of the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State Standards’ Inquiry Arc:
- Developing questions and planning inquiries
- Applying disciplinary concepts and tools
- Evaluating sources and using evidence
- Communicating conclusions and taking informed actions
For educators interested in learning more about the Inquiry Design Model and using the C3 framework to build their lesson plans, please visit https://c3teachers.org/.
The project’s first iteration focuses on histories of community organizing in Jersey City and Newark.
Lesson Plans and Inquiries
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Migration Stories: Tracing the Journey from Puerto Rico to Jersey City This lesson plan leads students through an investigation of migration in the 1940s and 50s by focusing on the experiences of Puerto Rican migrants in Jersey City. Students will explore the reasons behind migration during this time and examine how media shaped ideas about Puerto Rican migration […] |
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Protesting Police Brutality This inquiry aims for students to develop an informed, critical understanding of resistance against police violence from 1960 to the present. By engaging with primary and secondary sources, students will analyze local rebellions against police violence in the 1960s, the effectiveness of policies passed following the rebellions […] |
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Approaching Gentrification This inquiry aims for students to develop an informed, critical understanding of gentrification today. By engaging with various sources from Jersey City residents, students will analyze how gentrification affects the lives of urban residents, gentrification’s relationship to the displacement of working-class people […] |
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Ensuring Environmental Justice This inquiry leads students through an investigation of climate change and cases of environmental injustice in New Jersey and beyond. Students will analyze how climate change and environmental injustice shape our everyday lives by engaging with sources from scientific news outlets, local community organizations, and environmental […] |