Dear Morningside Center friends,

Welcome to April! Below you'll find collected lessons for Earth Month and National Poetry month - plus a new activity that explores the controversy over book-banning.

Also: There's still time for NYC after-school programs (grades 6-8) to sign up for free coaching and training with Morningside Center this May - register now!

Activities for National Poetry Month

Explore resources for National Poetry Month, from an "intriguing objects" show-and-tell to reflecting on Amanda Gorman's poetry, as well as other poetry offerings, both text and video. 

Examining the Growing Campaign to Ban Books - and Efforts to Stop It

In this lesson, students read about and discuss the banning of books from schools and libraries, and what young people and adults are doing about it.

Earth Day/Month Resources

Looking for ways to engage your high school or middle school students in environmental issues and the climate crisis?

Here are some of our latest lessons and teaching ideas - good for Earth Day, Earth Week, or any week.

What We're Reading

Giving Educators Permission to Feel

"Adults in schools are feeling strong emotions. Tuning in to these feelings more fully can help them cope." By Marc A. Brackett at ASCD

Will Banning TikTok Make Kids Safer Online? It’s More Complicated Than That

"The relationship between social media and mental health is nuanced and different for each person, says Stephanie M. Reich, a professor of education at the University of California, Irvine, School of Education." By Nadia Tamez-Robledo at EdSurge

Welcome to P.S. Weekly, a new podcast from Chalkbeat and The Bell: Meet the students behind the mics

"Next week, Chalkbeat and The Bell are launching P.S. Weekly, a student-created podcast exploring the most pressing issues affecting students — and discussing possible solutions." By Amy Zimmer at Chalkbeat

“You never knew which split second might be the zigzag bolt dividing all that went before from the everything that comes next.” – Barbara Kingsolver (See our 7 Lessons from Climate Change Fiction.)