POV

In the Family
October 1, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film In the Family, which explores issues related to genetic testing and the difficult decisions some must face when they learn they are at high risk for certain forms of cancer.

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Election Day | Lesson Plan
August 21, 2008

Election Day shows the experiences of a number of people in various parts of the United States on election day 2004. Classrooms can use this lesson to study how the voting process differs around the country and to discuss issues related to elections administration. There are five video clips available online associated with this lesson plan.

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The Judge and the General | Looking at Human Rights Abuses Around the World
August 19, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, The Judge and the General, the story of the criminal investigation of General Augusto Pinochet, a dictator who ran a military regime in Chile for 17 years. The film features Judge Juan Guzmán, who led the investigation. During the Pinochet years, Judge Guzmán was unaware of the widespread human rights violations systematically being carried out in his country. Classrooms can use this lesson to learn more about Chilean history, human rights abuses worldwide and what can be done to help stop the abuses.<

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The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández
July 8, 2008

This lesson plan is designed to be used with the film, The Ballad of Esequiel Hernández, the story of an American teenager who was shot and killed by U.S. Marines deployed to the U.S.-Mexican border to watch for drug smugglers. Classrooms can use this lesson to examine the pros and cons of using the military to support law enforcement activities at the U.S.-Mexican border.

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The Camden 28 | Civil Disobedience: Right or Wrong?
September 11, 2007

This lesson asks students to consider whether acts of civil disobedience, such as those committed by the Camden 28, are appropriate means of bringing about positive change.

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Made in L.A.
September 4, 2007

Made in L.A. follows the struggle of three Latina immigrants working for fair labor conditions in Los Angeles's garment factories. Note: This film has bilingual subtitles throughout and is fully accessible to English and Spanish speakers. This lesson compares current conditions in the garment industry with those at the turn of the 20th century.

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The Chances of the World Changing
July 17, 2007

This lesson plan is designed to be used in conjunction with the film The Chances of the World Changing, which chronicles the personal sacrifices and challenges faced by a New York writer who dedicates his time and resources to rescuing endangered turtles. This lesson will explore the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem, identify what some private citizens are doing to protect endangered turtles, and discuss whether or not humans have an obligation to help endangered species.

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Standing Silent Nation | Debate U.S. Government Policy on Hemp
July 3, 2007

Standing Silent Nation documents the struggles of an Oglala Lakota family to grow industrial hemp on their South Dakota reservation as a means of earning a sustainable living after other crops had failed on their land. This lesson will explore U.S. policies related to hemp, as well as the relationship of the U.S. government to indigenous nations.

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Waging a Living | Living Wage v. Minimum Wage: What's the Difference?
August 25, 2006

Roger Weisberg's film chronicles the day-to-day battles of four low-wage earners fighting to lift their families out of poverty. This lesson plan will help students learn about the history of wage policy in the U.S. and understand the difference between "minimum wage" and "living wage."

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The Fire Next Time | Free Speech or Hate Speech?
July 12, 2005

The Fire Next Time explores what happens when free speech dissolves into hate speech. The hour-long documentary looks at a two-year period in the life of a dangerously divided town and shows how heated rhetoric can devolve into hate, intimidation, and violence.

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