Using U.S. History to Teach EnglishUsing U.S. History to Teach English

By Gabriel FriedmanBy Gabriel Friedman

Why use U.S. History in an English class?Why use U.S. History in an English class?

History makes language come alive U.S. History reveals our national

consciousness T. Paine: In America the law is king John F. Kennedy on duty and service

History makes language come alive U.S. History reveals our national

consciousness T. Paine: In America the law is king John F. Kennedy on duty and service

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Compare the American Revolution to Brazil’s independence from Portugal

Seek to understand the United States’ founding document

Acquire new vocabulary Learn how to use the present perfect tense

Compare the American Revolution to Brazil’s independence from Portugal

Seek to understand the United States’ founding document

Acquire new vocabulary Learn how to use the present perfect tense

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Contextualize What does it mean to be free and independent?

Is freedom as important as equality? More important? Less important?

What is the best way for a people to express their desire for freedom?

Contextualize What does it mean to be free and independent?

Is freedom as important as equality? More important? Less important?

What is the best way for a people to express their desire for freedom?

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Why did the U.S. declare independence?

Did the U.S. have good reasons for fighting against Britain?

Compare Brazil’s independence movement with the United States’

Why did the U.S. declare independence?

Did the U.S. have good reasons for fighting against Britain?

Compare Brazil’s independence movement with the United States’

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Vocabulary: dissolve, impel, endow, derive, abolish, prudence, transient, usurpation, wholesome, relinquish, fatigue, compliance, inestimable, obstruct

Activity: In pairs, find positive and negative words in the Declaration of Independence

Vocabulary: dissolve, impel, endow, derive, abolish, prudence, transient, usurpation, wholesome, relinquish, fatigue, compliance, inestimable, obstruct

Activity: In pairs, find positive and negative words in the Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Grammar lesson: Introduce present perfect tense Using the present perfect, students create

Declarations of Independence from their parents. Ex. “They have forced me to study every day!”

Each student lists four complaints, as The Founding Fathers did

Then students can share their Declarations of Independence with the class

Grammar lesson: Introduce present perfect tense Using the present perfect, students create

Declarations of Independence from their parents. Ex. “They have forced me to study every day!”

Each student lists four complaints, as The Founding Fathers did

Then students can share their Declarations of Independence with the class

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

Breaking Free: The Declaration of Independence

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

Identify significant moments in the United States’ racial history

Compare race relations in United States to race relations in Brazil

Examine beautiful metaphors (optional) Grammar lessons

Identify significant moments in the United States’ racial history

Compare race relations in United States to race relations in Brazil

Examine beautiful metaphors (optional) Grammar lessons

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

The Constitution of the United States Dred Scott v. Sandford The Emancipation Proclamation Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union”

The Constitution of the United States Dred Scott v. Sandford The Emancipation Proclamation Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union”

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

Contextualize What do we already know about the United

States’ racial history? Is it similar to Brazil’s? What are civil rights? What do you think about affirmative action?

Activity: Jigsaw reading

Contextualize What do we already know about the United

States’ racial history? Is it similar to Brazil’s? What are civil rights? What do you think about affirmative action?

Activity: Jigsaw reading

The ConstitutionThe Constitution

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States...according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons...three fifths of all other Persons

Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States...according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons...three fifths of all other Persons

Dred Scott v. SandfordDred Scott v. Sandford

Beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect

Beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect

The Emancipation ProclamationThe Emancipation Proclamation

On the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State...shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free

On the first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State...shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free

“I Have a Dream”“I Have a Dream”

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal”

“A More Perfect Union”“A More Perfect Union”

But I have asserted a firm conviction – a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.

But I have asserted a firm conviction – a conviction rooted in my faith in God and my faith in the American people – that working together we can move beyond some of our old racial wounds, and that in fact we have no choice if we are to continue on the path of a more perfect union.

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

All Men are Created Equal: Race Relations in the U.S.

Closing Discussion What are race relations like in Brazil today?

Have they always been that way? Having explored these texts, how do race

relations in Brazil compare to those in the U.S.? How can we confront and eliminate racism in

our own country and abroad?

Closing Discussion What are race relations like in Brazil today?

Have they always been that way? Having explored these texts, how do race

relations in Brazil compare to those in the U.S.? How can we confront and eliminate racism in

our own country and abroad?

Final QuestionsFinal Questions

How can teachers explore grammar using these classic texts and speeches?

What challenges face the English teacher who wants to use history in his or her class?

What steps can the English teacher take to overcome those challenges?

How can teachers explore grammar using these classic texts and speeches?

What challenges face the English teacher who wants to use history in his or her class?

What steps can the English teacher take to overcome those challenges?