In the Classroom: Teaching About Slavery

Over the last yearimportant if uncomfortable questions have been raised about how to approach the topic of American chattel slavery with children. I’ve been following the conversations closelyandthey have informed me greatly asI prepare to begin my ownteaching of the topic with my 4th grade students this week. It is aunit I’ve done for many years, always reworking itin response to new learnings, new circumstances, and new thinking.

Part of our year-long study of immigration, the unit is blunt...