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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the conflict between the institution of slavery and the new nation’s founding ideals. Black voices are noticeably absent in the early United States’ narrative, but by investigating Black geniuses such as John Parker, Charlotte Dupuy and Lewis, and Harriett Hayden we can honor their resistance, perseverance and…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of Black women writers and the literary devices they employ to communicate with audiences and “be heard.” The compelling question—What gets Black women heard?—asks students to evaluate the writing of three prominent Black women writers and contemporary Black writers in order to deconstruct the relevance and meaning behind…
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In the middle of the 1970s, the city of Boston entered a period of intense racial conflict when the city’s public schools were ordered to integrate through mandatory busing. The order sparked significant protest, particularly from parents of South Boston high, a poor white school whose kids would be bused to Roxbury, a poor black…
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Much of the popular history of the Civil Rights Movement leads Americans to believe that African American freedom happened thanks to a few extremely well-known heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. While these leaders certainly played their roles and committed acts of significant bravery, this lesson aims to expand the…
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For much of American history, the indigenous peoples of the United States faced immense challenges, from genocide to forced relocation to family separation. In the face of a mortal threat to their existence, however, indigenous people demonstrated incredible bravery. Tribal groups often formed alliances to push back against mistreatment and lobby for land, rights, and…
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Throughout American history, women have faced significant barriers in their fight for equality, from suffrage struggles to the ongoing quest for workplace and social rights. Despite these challenges, countless women have demonstrated extraordinary bravery, organizing protests, advocating for change, and breaking societal norms to demand their freedoms. Despite history’s focus on certain outstanding individuals like…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the women’s suffrage movement in New York State as an example of how different groups of people have gained equal rights and freedoms over time. Through examining the role women played in society before the 20th century and the efforts made by women to gain the right…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of campaign finance by examining election costs, expenditures, and the complex relationships between candidates and political-action committees. By investigating the compelling question “Does money matter in political campaigns?” students dissect contemporary political campaigns in order to assess whether or not campaign-finance reform should take place. In investigating contemporary…
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Political cartoons tell stories and offer specific arguments across a range of topics in a way that text cannot. In this inquiry, students will become familiar with what we can learn from political cartoons on American imperialism.
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of economics and the impact of new technologies on our world. By investigating the compelling question “Is the United States ready to be a cash free society?” students evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of abandoning the dollar for the new methods of payments. The formative performance tasks build…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation that assesses the extent to which celebrities and public figures have a social responsibility to give back to the communities and take stances on controversial issues. The inquiry provides students with the chance to explore the current ways celebrities influence society and the risks those celebrities face when…
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This inquiry helps students understand current censorship efforts as played out in the past year’s unprecedented number of book bans. Students will examine commonly banned books and will evaluate why different groups–families, teachers, and politicians–argue those books should be banned. The performance tasks provide space for students to understand why people ban books and how…
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In the late 1960s, Chicano activists in East Los Angeles started a newspaper and magazine called La Raza that covered the struggles faced by Mexican Americans. Raul Ruiz was a Chicano activist, journalist, and photographer who joined the staff of La Raza. Ruiz covered student walkouts, marches, protests against the Vietnam War, and the often…
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The impact of rapid industrialization in the early 20th century was felt by many groups, including children. While children had been engaged in agricultural work since the country’s founding, with industrialization, children increasingly worked in factories. Changes to the nature of work, the number of children working, and images of child laborers led to calls…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the consequences faced by children of war, including hunger, displacement, trauma, and the loss of family and stability. By investigating the compelling question “How does war affect children?” students attempt to contextualize the consequences of war on children. The formative performance tasks help students build knowledge and…
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In many societies, childhood is seen as a time of innocence, free from the burdens and complexities of adulthood. It’s a time of frivolity and joy and is often depicted nostalgically in literature and art. However, the realities of childhood have not always reflected this depiction. Childhood and its experiences depended on a variety of…
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The third-grade annotated inquiry focuses on the concept of universal human rights and fair treatment of all people through the compelling question “Do people around the world care about children’s rights?” This question highlights the idea that human rights, including the right to have one’s basic needs met, are to be universally ensured and protected….
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the actions, policies, and laws of Emperor Shi Huangdi of the Qin dynasty, 220–210 BCE. By investigating the compelling question “Did Emperor Shi Huangdi improve China?” students evaluate whether Shi Huangdi’s policies and practices ultimately hurt or helped Chinese society. By investigating historical sources, students will assess…
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In this inquiry, students examine the extent to which the Chinese and Romans had knowledge of and interacted with one another. Knowledge of one another accumulated over time, and a long history of interaction was part of the process that led to the establishment of regular trade and cultural relations along the Silk Road. This…
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This inquiry provides students with an opportunity to examine nine of China’s most impactful innovations and their contributions to the modern world. These innovations and inventions fall into three categories: 1) Communication innovations including, written language, paper, and printing; 2) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) innovations including the compass, the Great Wall of China,…
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Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission was a 2010 Supreme Court case that ruled that the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act’s ban on corporations using general funds for independent political spending violated the First Amendment’s free speech protection. This ruling effectively enabled corporations to spend uncapped amounts of money on political campaigns. In this inquiry,…
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As the concept of citizenship began to develop within Ancient Greece and the Roman Republic, ordinary people began to gain rights along with the responsibilities of citizenship. However, not all citizen’s rights were equal. Through this inquiry, students will be challenged to evaluate if a citizen’s rights and responsibilities are truly equal to each other….