Any story can have multiple viewpoints. Providing diverse perspectives not only allows students to acquire a better understanding of the subject, but also fosters their curiosity and critical thinking skills.
Suggestions for Educators
Teaching social science and history in a multicultural education curriculum can assist students in becoming thoughtful, active, and effective citizens. Educators can foster this development as follows:
- Be aware of common misconceptions of both educators and students; make a conscious shift toward a holistic and culturally inclusive understanding.
- Help students make connections between the past and present.
- Teach citizenship and democracy.
- Use a variety of books, and discuss a variety of characters.
- Present many sides of the story or event.
Links
Facing History and Ourselves
Helping to provide a more accurate understanding of history, this webpage provides students and educators with diverse perspectives on historical events.
70 Famous Women Who Changed the World
This website provides many links to biographies of notable women and to female perspectives on historical events.
Black Facts
Claiming to be the world's largest free archive of black history information ("We want to become the virtual Black Wikipedia"), this website has many helpful resources for history educators.
African American History
This website provides an African American perspective to historic events, especially the Civil War.
Asian American History
This site traces roots of Asian American history in Arizona and explains contributions Asian Americans made to the history of the state.