The journey’s not over. The work hasn’t ended. Democracy’s dream must be constantly tended.
TEACHERS & ONLINE LEARNING: Democracy is a year round topic! Equality’s Call can be used in many ways in the classroom, at any grade level. The following are some free resources for classroom and home use:
- Free VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISITS – I’m doing free Equality’s Call virtual author visits to schools. For further details (and a video preview) click this link, or contact me: deborah [at] deborahdiesen [dot] com
- New! [Feb 2021] TWO-MINUTE AUTHOR VISIT VIDEOS – A series of seven short videos about voting rights and student empowerment; each is stand-alone or can be used as a series [currently available on my Facebook page and Twitter page; I’ll be adding a link to YouTube soon]
- New! [Feb 2021] GERRYMANDERING EXPLAINED – a video to help students understand gerrymandering – available on YouTube, Facebook, and on my blog
- HANDOUTS and WORKSHEETS – free educational activity sheets
- How will you answer equality’s call? [preK and early-elementary]
- Who’s your voting rights hero? [preK and early-elementary]
- The Voting Process [elementary to HS]
- In-Person Voting [elementary to HS]
- Voting Barriers and Solutions [elementary to HS]
- Compare voting in your state to voting in other states [upper elementary to HS] – also available in Word
- Interview an elections official to learn about voting in your state and community [upper-elementary to HS] – also available in Word
- THIS DAY IN VOTING RIGHTS HISTORY blog entries – an ongoing project over on my Equality’s Call blog
- LESSON PLANS – The lesson plans were written by early childhood educator Karen Keesling. Each lesson plan includes virtual learning adaptations.
- CLASSROOM POSTER – Free classroom poster about voting – click link to view or to download and print.
- CURRICULUM GUIDE — A free Equality’s Call curriculum guide created by my publisher, Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books.
- BOOKMARKS – free Equality’s Call bookmarks for your students – while supplies last, I’m happy to send you a set of bookmarks. See my Contact page for more info.
- STORY TIME VIDEO of Equality’s Call, read by the author. Includes ideas/suggestions for further learning. Available on YouTube and Facebook.
STUDENTS: You’re never too young to help strengthen our democracy! Make sure the adults you know are registered to vote, and ask to go to the polls with them when they vote. Learn more about voting, and then use your voice to speak up for voting rights.
OLDER STUDENTS: Learn about voting rights, and then share what you know at school and in groups you’re involved with. Help the adults in your life better understand voting rights and the barriers that exist to voter participation. Read stories to younger kids using Equality’s Call or other picture books about voting rights. Use your voice to advocate policy changes to politicians.
LIBRARIANS and BOOKSELLERS: An Equality’s Call story time pairs nicely with a voter registration drive at your library or bookstore! For a limited time, I have some Equality’s Call bookmarks for story times – contact me if you’d like some.
PARENTS: Teach your kids about voting rights past and present, and learn more as you explore the topic together. And get involved! When kids see grown-ups speaking up about voting rights, it helps prepare them to be informed and active citizens. You are your child’s first civics teacher.
POLITICIANS & PUBLIC FIGURES: Be a voting rights ambassador and educator by holding a voting rights story time at a local school or library using Equality’s Call and/or other books about voting rights. You are a hero to the kids in your community, so use that recognition factor to educate and inspire them! If you’re not sure how to go about holding a story time, email me for ideas, or just stop by your local library and talk to one of the children’s librarians. For a limited time, I have some Equality’s Call bookmarks — contact me if you’d like some to give out during your story time.
I welcome your suggestions and input about this page. Thank you for standing up for our right to vote!