Zinn Education Project: Teaching People’s History

Mission of Organization

“We believe that through taking a more engaging and honest look at the past, we can help equip students — and all of us — with the analytical tools to make sense of and improve the world today.

Curriculum Description

Zinn Education Project contains units and lessons that are broken down by time period and theme. The lessons and accompanying activities are geared towards a specific grade level. The time periods stretch from pre 18th century to 21st century US history.

Curriculum Materials Reviewed
  • Rethinking Columbus
  • Our Grandparents Civil Rights Era
Source of Funding
  • Individual Donors
Learning Resources
  • Videos
  • Articles
  • Books
  • Songs
  • Audio
Target Population/Grade Levels
Cost Per Classroom
Free
Training
Professional Development Workshops
Domain Presence
Critical Consciousness

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Notes: Students are able to understand injustice by examining moments in history where injustice took place. Examples include Mexican American deportation during the Great Depression and the Taínos people in North America who faced Christopher Columbus's colonization efforts. 

Social Action

Presence Evaluation: Minimal Presence

Evaluation Notes: Lessons do not explicitly call for students to take action. Some lessons include a call for students to be critical of what they learn and to check the facts they hear.

Reciprocal Community Relationship

Presence Evaluation: Not Present

Evaluation Notes: There were no opportunities for the students to engage with their local community in the lesson reviewed.

Systems Wide Approach

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Notes: The website includes materials for teachers to improve their teaching practice and school to adjust their approach to teaching history. 

Explicit Teaching of Social Justice Principles

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Notes: There is explicit teaching of social justice through the examination of difficult histories.

Self-Reflection

Presence Evaluation: Not Present

Evaluation Notes: These lessons focus more on the historical underpinnings of systemic oppression than self-discovery.

Evidence Based

Presence Evaluation: Not Present

Evaluation Notes: To date, there has been no empirical study of this curriculum to evaluate its effectiveness.

Inclusion and Equity

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Notes: There are many historical lessons about inclusion and equity.

High Expectations

Presence Evaluation: N/A

Evaluation Notes: We are unable to evaluate this domain since it is best measured through observation.

Social Identities

Presence Evaluation: Full Presence

Evaluation Notes: Lessons ask students to think critically about race, class, and gender and how that affects a person's experience.