Dear John,

This year, hip-hop celebrates a milestone birthday. Looking at the time and place where hip hop was born allows students to understand how this new medium acted as a social commentary on the challenges facing the South Bronx of New York City in the 1970s and 1980s.

It also acts as a great introduction to the concept of federalism!

The urban decline in the South Bronx illustrates the tension between the levels of government and the local community when facing problems. Who is best positioned to solve these problems—federal, state, local government, or the community members themselves? How does the community respond to these problems that seriously affect their everyday lives?  

We hope you explore this brand new lesson and find a way to incorporate this engaging topic into your classroom this semester.
 

Our recently update Heroes & Villains curriculum is an easy way to teach character and civic virtue. Lessons in this resource focus on the actions of individuals students will encounter through their study of history. The re-release of the resource also includes four new figures: William Stoughton, James Amistead, Clara Barton, and Huey Long. Students are presented with a virtue or vice and examine the individual through that lens. This resource is full of graphic organizers and rich activities to make this engaging and relevant for students. Many of the lessons also have a corresponding video component. 

Get your students into dialogue with other students from around the country on current events. This week's Think the Vote question is:  Should the United States Government Increase Regulations on Tech Companies to Create More Competition?

The best student answer on each side is awarded a prize and entered into the grand-prize drawing at the end of the school year. Referring teachers of the student winners will also win prizes!