Check out this 4 page resource about Alabama’s statehood, and significant moments in Alabama history. This is perfect to use when celebrating Alabama’s birthday on December 14th!
Educator Resources
Alabama Statehood
Freedom: Reconstruction 1867
It is the summer of 1867 and Black citizens of Alabama must forge new lives as free people. This historical issue guide asks you to consider Reconstruction from the perspective of freedpeople in this era of our state’s history—people who were faced with difficult, and limited, choices after emancipation.
Votes for Women: Suffrage 1915
The year is 1915 and Alabama suffragists are asking “What is the best path forward to secure voting rights for women?” This resource guides students through the history of women’s suffrage and asks young people to consider what decision they may have made if they were living in 1915. Would they look to the federal government to take action? Would they fight for change on the state level? Or would they work to change society’s perception of women?
Creek War of 1813 – 1814
The David Mathews Center, in partnership with Auburn University’s Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts and Humanities and the Clarke County Historical Society has recently published a new historic issue guide: The Creek War of 1813 – 1814.
Separate and Unequal
Separate and Unequal in 1963: How Can We Create a Fair Society? is a 22-page historical issue guide developed in 2014 by the David Mathews Center for Civic Life, Alabama Public Television (APT), and additional partners for use in a classroom setting.
In Separate and Unequal in 1963, students are asked to place themselves in 1963 Birmingham, Alabama to deliberate together through the difficult choices faced by those working to address segregation and inequality.
Handbook: Place-Based, Deliberative Learning in the Classroom
In preparation for the David Mathews Center’s 2018 professional development series for educators, sponsored by the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, we have been expanding and revamping our free resources available to teachers. Included in our expanded resources offering is the corresponding handbook to this year’s workshop series: Place-Based, Deliberative Learning in the Classroom.
What’s Next, Alabama? In the Classroom
This standards-aligned guide is the key to incorporating “What’s Next, Alabama?” deliberative discussions into your class. The guide offers activities for grades 7-12 which align with state standards.
Deliberation: A Path to Higher Order Thinking
The deliberative process moves students gradually from acquiring a basic understanding of an issue to thinking critically about plans to address it, and eventually revising, combining, and building upon many ideas to find common ground to approaches. This guide offers a few examples of how questions you ask as a moderator can guide students toward higher order thinking.
Alabama Civic Scorecard
The Alabama Civic Scorecard, inspired by data from the 2015 Alabama Civic Health Index, is a tool for engaging young people in local, state, and national civic life. The Scorecard encourages increased youth involvement in political action, social connectedness, and public work. Educators and parents are invited to download and use the Scorecard free of charge. We also grant permission for adaptation, with acknowledgment, to accommodate educational objectives and local contexts. Those who share or send their completed and signed Civic Scorecard to DMC will receive a Certificate of Civic Engagement.
Lesson Plan: Separate and Unequal in 1963: How Do We Create a Fair Society?
This lesson plan serves as a companion to the Project C issue guide; it lays out a lesson plan — which is up to the latest standards–for exploring this issue in the classroom and having a deliberative conversation with students. This lesson plan was developed in partnership with JohnMark Edwards of Birmingham’s Phillips Academy.
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Lesson Plan: Bullying: How Do We Prevent It?
This lesson plan serves as a companion to the Bullying issue guide; it lays out a lesson plan — which is up to the latest standards–for exploring this issue in the classroom and having a deliberative conversation with students. This lesson plan was developed in partnership with JohnMark Edwards of Birmingham’s Phillips Academy.
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Lesson Plan: Dropouts: What Should We Do?
This lesson plan serves as a companion to the Dropouts issue guide; it lays out a lesson plan — which is up to the latest standards–for exploring this issue in the classroom and having a deliberative conversation with students. This lesson plan was developed in partnership with JohnMark Edwards of Birmingham’s Phillips Academy.”
More info »