History
Understanding the origins of its use and historical context in which blackface emerged will help students to understand why photographs in old yearbooks and its use in Halloween costumes are offensive and part of centuries-old degradation of one race by another.
First jobs were once forever jobs, but now many are part of the gig economy. Workers face decisions about job security, wages, benefits and loyalty — and employees who may or may not care about their well being. Many personal stories of survival rest beyond the paycheck.
With one foot in Europe and the other one in Asia, Turkey straddles ancient cultures and contemporary aspirations. Contrasting views make Turkey a complex and dynamic country in the headlines, behind closed doors and on the world stage. Activities focus on its ancient civilizations, refugee settlements, role in investigating the murder of Post contributing commentator Jamal Khashoggi and future as a leader in the Middle East.
To better understand the individuals who held the office and their presidential leadership, The Washington Post created Presidential, a podcast series of 44 segments. Post NIE activities are provided to focus on the presidents’ background and influences on them, approaches to tough decisions and unexpected challenges, and personal traits that helped or hurt their success as president of the United States.
The religion beat crosses over many areas — from art to conflicts at home and around the globe, to tourism and zoos.
President Lincoln is assassinated and a nation mourns just as its jubilation had begun. The end of the Civil War is not the end of political, economic and social battles. Reconstruction continues the debates over relationships between federal and state authority, master and slave, industrial and agrarian societies.
Advances in technology permit exploration deeper into oceans and over wide expanses of uninhabited or unexplored lands. Centuries-old maps provide direction for modern-day trekkers seeking to follow in early pilgrims’ footsteps, modern maps allow comparison, and 3-D maps give dimension to discoveries above and below sea level.
Major stories and subthemes — Generals Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson at the turning point of the war, women in combat and friendly fire, strategy and resolve — are found in the suggested lessons and Washington Post articles that focus on March-September 1863. Students focus on leadership, map reading and geography, close reading and annotation, as well as a variety of research topics and writing genres.
The National Gallery of Art exhibit, Shock of the News, is the inspiration for this Washington Post NIE curriculum guide. The show exhibited works of artists who incorporated newspapers in their compositions — from Pablo Picasso’s use in 1912 of a fragment of a newspaper. The suggested art activities span the sections of The Washington Post and the variety of mediums found in the National Gallery of Art’s exhibit. The projects can be assigned in many disciplines and all grade levels.
Providing future generations with places that reflect their cultural values and ideals and maintaining their political, social and historic legacy requires a commitment of individuals, organizations and government. After decisions have been made on whether to restore, adapt, preserve or toss, the next steps require collaboration, knowledge and persistence.
