Not In Our Town Northern California presents four stories that look at five communities dealing with and responding to hate violence. With this Educator Guide, you can build a unit around the entire film or you can focus on one or more of the individual Educator Modules.

The activities and lesson plans in the Educator Guide target students at the middle school and high school levels, but can also be used at the elementary school level. All content aligns with the California state standards for social studies and English. The lesson plans for each module is designed to last for two days; together, the four lesson plans and modules contain a unit that can last one to two weeks.

Please remember that these lesson plans are guidelines only. The content of this film is difficult and will require heavy preparation and scaffolding, especially for use in the primary grades. We hope that you will make the necessary adjustments to meet the needs of your academic and social environment, keeping in mind your own and your students' familiarity with the issues, the needs of your school and community, your students' grade level and social awareness, and class size and duration.

EDUCATOR'S GUIDE

The Educator Guide is presented in the order that the modules are listed here. The four modules are:
Staging a Response to Hate, Newark, CA, 2002
After a transgender teen is killed by local youth in the Silicon Valley suburb of Newark, high school students, residents and civic leaders struggle to deal with a brutal and preventable crime
Summer of Hate, Sacramento and Redding, CA, 1999
Sacramento mobilizes after the worst anti-Semitic arson attacks in the California capital's history; Redding citizens find new strength in diversity after a prominent gay couple is murdered
Reversing Vandalism, San Francisco, CA, 2000
The San Francisco Public Library turns the mutilation of gay-themed books into an opportunity for creative community action.
Welcome Signs, Anderson, CA 2004
The Shasta County town of Anderson joins forces to make their values clear when a cross is burned on an African-American family's lawn.

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:   The lesson plan for each module includes a story synopsis, a collection of quotations from the story, pre-viewing/warm-up questions, discussion questions about the content and themes of the story, and learning extensions that go beyond the film. In addition, language-arts theme-based learning questions are also included. The lesson plans focus on language arts around the themes of identity, community, and change. Produced by KQED Education Network in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves. For more thematic lesson plans please visit www.facinghistory.org.

Companion Programming:Not In Our Town Northern California


CHRONICLE IN THE CLASSROOM

In addition to the Educator Guide, KQED Education Network produced six in-newspaper features in the San Francisco Chronicle through their Chronicle in Education Program during March and April of 2005. The features include a story about community response to hate and a student lesson plan that utilizes the newspapers as a resource. For more information on the Chronicle in Education Program, please visit www.sfchronicle.com/cie.

Hate Crimes in America

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  The theme of the film Not In Our Town Northern California: When Hate Happens Here focuses on hate crimes that occurred in our own backyard of Northern California. This activity has students search the newspaper for an article that documents a criminal act that is based on race, religion, sexual or gender orientation, ethnicity, or national origin. Ask your students how the community responded to the act and what else could have been done. (printed: March 7, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

Backlash in a Post-9/11 World

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  How do we maintain the balance between preserving the constitutional rights of all Americans and doing everything possible to defend our national security? Have your students find a newspaper article that helps them defend their position. (printed: March 15, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

Memory of Vincent Chin - A Community's Call to Action Against Hate

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  In what ways can a violent or criminal act be a catalyst for positive action in a community? Why is it that so often a negative act must occur in order for something positive to happen? Have your students find a newspaper article that reports on a community's positive response to a hate crime. (printed: March 22, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

A Murder in Jasper, Texas, Brings Back Haunting Memories

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  Should crimes motivated by hate based on race, religion, gender and sexual preference carry stiffer penalties than "ordinary" crimes? Have your students write a short argumentative essay and find a newspaper article that helps defend their position. (printed: April 5, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

Religious Centers As the Targets of Hate

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  In what ways does religion bring people together? In what ways does religion contribute to conflict or misunderstanding? Have your students find a newspaper article that supports their opinions. (printed: April 12, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

Laramie, Wyoming

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Grade Levels:  6-12

Subject Area(s):  U.S. History, World History, American Government, English, Language Arts

Description:  Have your students find a newspaper article that focuses on an issue around which the division of public opinion is primarily rooted in the two major political parties. Have them summarize the article and explain their own stance on the issue. (printed: April 19, 2005.)

Companion Programming:  Not In Our Town Northern California

Learn about other Not In Our Town initiatives across the country. (at pbs.org/niot)