BRI's Educator Newsletter

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Is gratitude a state of being or a way of living? If it is a way of life, what does a life of gratitude look like? This is one of the themes we explore in this special Thanksgiving newsletter. We invite you and your students to examine gratitude in action in the stories of the self-sacrifice of the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team ([link removed]) , the courage of August Landmesser ([link removed]) , and the responsibility of Ja ([link removed]) ne Addams ([link removed]) , to highlight just a few of the narratives in our Heroes and Villains ([link removed])
and American Portraits ([link removed]) resources.

What are your favorite stories of gratitude in action? Please share with us on social media! In the meantime, all of us at BRI wish you and your families a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!


BRI Lessons and Resources

The Pilgrims’ Courageous Journey
In this lesson ([link removed]) , students will learn about the journey the Pilgrims took before landing at Plymouth Rock and settling in the New World. They will learn about the numerous setbacks they had to overcome in their journey and come to understand the courage often required to accomplish one’s purpose.

Who Are Your Heroes, Past and Present?
In this lesson from Being an American ([link removed]) , students examine how a diverse group of Americans have exemplified the responsibilities of citizenship. Students will consider how these historic figures defended the principles of the Constitution and Bill of Rights through their choices and actions.

Religion in America's Past: Toleration, Liberty, or Both?
In this lesson ([link removed]) , students assess legal and historical documents of toleration and/or liberty, analyze George Washington’s 1790 Letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, and gain an appreciation of Washington’s letter as an example of the shift from religious toleration to religious liberty.

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What are the dangers of passions in creating lawlessness and tyranny? And why are restraint, moderation, and prudence essential traits for a good ruler to possess? ** In last week's scholar talk ([link removed])
, BRI Senior Teaching Fellow Tony Williams sat down with Jon Schaff, author and Northern State University professor of government, to discuss Abraham Lincoln's respect for civic virtues and why they are so important in a democracy.
BRI News and Other Opportunities
Will We See You at the Virtual NCSS Conference?
If you're planning to attend the ** NCSS 2020 Virtual Conference ([link removed])
, please stop by our booths in the exhibit hall and join Eryn Cochran's session on Teaching Women's Suffrage Using Primary Sources on Saturday, December 5 from 11:00-11:45 am EST and Kirk Higgins' session on Foundations of Democracy: American Civics Through Constitutional Principles on Sunday, December 6 from 1:35-2:05 pm EST.

Should States Outlaw "Faithless Electors"?
This week on Think the Vote, we are asking students to answer the question: ** Should States Outlaw “Faithless Electors”? ([link removed])
Students with the best answers on both sides of the debate will each win an Amazon gift card, BRI swag, and be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship. Each student's referring teachers also receive gift cards and swag. Deadline is next Monday, November 30.

New Podcast Episode: Remember the Lusitania
Why do certain moments in time stand out to us?** Listen in ([link removed])
as Mary, Gary, Eryn, and special guest Joshua Schmid explore this question by tracing the sinking of the Lusitania and how it fits into the complicated state of foreign affairs in 1915.

Deadline Extended for Teacher Contest!
The deadline for entries in our ** #UnitedWeStand Teacher Contest ([link removed])
has been extended to 12:00 a.m. ET on December 4, 2020. We will announce the winners on Bill of Rights Day, December 15, 2020. The first prize is a $250 gift card and a Bill of Rights Institute Curriculum Kit (BRICK) full of activities and swag for you and your students.
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What's New on YouTube

Have you seen the new videos on our YouTube Channel?

* ** Allen C. Guelzo: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates | BRI Scholar Talks ([link removed])
* ** American Progress | BRIdge from the Past: Art Across U.S. History ([link removed])
* ** Reading Frederick Douglass & William Lloyd Garrison | A Primary Source Close Read ([link removed])

Please ** subscribe to our channel ([link removed])
to be notified when we release a new video.

Educator Spotlight
Meet Chris Kemp!
"Initially I never thought I was going to be a teacher," admits Chris Kemp. "In fact, I said I would never, ever be a high school teacher." Ultimately, however, his love of learning became something he couldn't help but share with others, and Chris has been teaching at Heights High School in Wichita, Kansas for 28 years. "There's so much information out there," Chris says, "I've been teaching for 28 years and I still feel like I don't know enough** ...Read More. ([link removed])


BoE: Bottom of Email

Dear John,

What does it mean to celebrate Thanksgiving this year when all our celebrations look nothing like what they have before? Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. To me, at its best, it exemplifies what I love most about America: its communities and the familial and civic friendships that grow in a free society. This Thanksgiving I am focusing on what I see as the essence of the holiday: a time for a national pause, for us all to take a collective breath, reflect on who and what sustains us, and thank them. This year, more than most, I have so many communities to be grateful for. I am grateful for my new little growing family (I had a baby girl on July 4th. I know!). I am grateful for my work colleagues at BRI. We have come together in so many ways over the past year. I cannot think of a place I would rather be. I am grateful for all of you. There is no more gratifying work than supporting a national network of educators so dedicated to the future of our nation.

As we enter the holiday season, the end of a very strange but hopefully inspiring semester, I am so grateful to know that you all are out there doing this important work.

Warmly,

Rachel Davison Humphries
Director, Outreach
Bill of Rights Institute
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