Resources for Talking About Anti-Racism in the Classroom

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We’ve rounded up classroom resources for discussing race relations, protests, violence, diversity, and activism with your students.

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Whether you’re still teaching remotely or have a break until next fall, kids need help from the adults in their lives—including their teachers—to process events like the killing of George Floyd and others including Ahmaud Aubery and Breonna Taylor, and the protests and riots that have followed.

No one has all of the answers, but we can point you to some important resources from respected thought leaders who offer advice and help.

The resources below on race relations and anti-racism are suitable for varied ages. For some of the links, we’ve indicated the most appropriate age group.

Classroom or homeschool resources

• Addressing Race and Trauma in the Classroom: A Resource for Educators from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network is a comprehensive guide on racial trauma and historical trauma, among other topics.
• Education Week Teacher recently compiled a blog post called 15 Classroom Resources for Discussing Racism, Policing, and Protest.
• The National Museum of African American History and Culture website Talking About Race has resources for educators, parents and caregivers, and anyone wanting to learn more about equity.
• The National Education Association’s Black Lives Matter @ School—Resources and Racial Justice is Educational Justice include resources to help facilitate conversations about race, classroom-appropriate lesson plans, and guides on how to have tough conversations with peers and students.
• The Center for Racial Justice in Education shares resources for talking about race, racism, and racialized violence with kids.
• Teaching Tolerance has resources for teaching about race, racism, and police violence.
• The National Association of School Psychologists has tips for teachers on countering coronavirus stigma and racism.
• The American School Counselor Association has links to extensive resources on race and equity.

Books

• embracerace.org lists 31 children’s books to support conversations on race, racism and resistance.
• Bounceback parenting blog has a curated list of resources including books, activities, and media for talking to kids of all ages about race and racism.
• The Brown Bookshelf promotes awareness of children’s books (picture, middle grade, and young adult) written and illustrated by people of color.
• New York Family recently compiled a list called Resources and Books to Help Parents Educate Themselves on Racism.
• A free e-book from Teaching Tolerance, Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice has stories and conversation starters for ages 2-5, 6-12, and 13 and up.
• A New Jersey teacher started this viral list of children’s books about race on the popular website ScaryMommy.com.

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