Know Your Neighbor (KYN) Curriculum for Educators

Please find below curriculum that supplements social studies content standards relating to religion. The content is curated from the #KnowYourNeighbor Back-to-School and Share Your Story social media campaigns. Content is categorized by the following topics:

Use this material at your own discretion in relation to your state and school district’s social studies content standards.

We hope you will find these resources useful to your efforts. Please give us feedback by writing to [email protected].

Rights of Parents and Students/Bullying Data

Type of ResourceDescriptionAudienceOrganization
Student and Parent Rights in Public School EducationPresentation on legal rights of parents and students in public educationMuslim students and parents K-12Islamic Networks Group
INGYouth Resource Guide to Bullying in SchoolsOne pager on student rights and identifying and responding to bullyingStudents and parents K-12, focus on Muslim youthIslamic Networks Group
Parent Resource Guide to Bullying in SchoolsOne pager on parental rights and identifying and responding to bullyingParents K-12, focus on Muslim familiesIslamic Networks Group
Know Your Rights as a Muslim Youth at SchoolOne pager on student rights and identifying and responding to bullyingStudents and parents K-12, focus on Muslim youthCouncil on American Islamic Relations
Student’s Rights at School: Six Things You Need To KnowAn article by Brian Tashman, political researcher and strategist, with a focus on speech rights, LGBT rights, immigrant rights, dress code, and other issuesK-12 students and parents, focus on immigrants, LGBT students, students of faith, etc.ACLU
Bullying and Bias Against Hindu Students in American Schools24 page document analyzing bullying of Hindu students7-12 students and parents, focus on Hindu familiesHindu American Foundation
American Muslim Poll 2017: Full Report and Key FindingsThis report offers a timely and groundbreaking look into the American Muslim community, with statistics on bullying and harassment against Muslim American students7-12 students and parents, focus on Muslim familiesInstitute for Social Policy and Understanding
Ten Days After: Harassment and Intimidation in the Aftermath of the ElectionThis report reviews how in the ten days following the election, there were almost 900 reports of harassment and intimidation from across the nationK-12 students and parents, focus on immigrants, LGBT students, students of faith, etc.Southern Poverty Law Center
Bullying Prevention GuideThis 20 page resource defines bullying, discusses the prevalence of bullying in schools and provides resources to prevent and combat bullyingK-12 parents, teachers, school administrators and community membersIslamic Networks Group
Mislabeled: The Impact of School Bullying and Discrimination on California Muslim StudentsSurvey of 600+ Muslim students shows bullying at rate twice as high as the national average7-12 students and parents, focus on Muslim familiesCouncil on American Islamic Relation

First Amendment Guides

Type of Resource Description Audience Organization
Religious Liberty in Public SchoolsOne pager on students’ rights at schoolK-12 students and parents, families of faithBaptist Joint Committee
The Bible and Public Schools20 page document on student rights and laws, legal history of conflicts, what religious materials can be used in classroomsK-12 educators, parents and students of all religious backgroundsFirst Amendment Center
Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment Guide to Religion and Public Schools320 page document on teaching about religion in public schools, the impact on classrooms, and guides to understanding and implementationK-12 educators, parents and students of all religious backgroundsFirst Amendment Center
Religion and the First AmendmentA lesson plan for students to understand the First AmendmentK-12 educators for implementation and students of all religious backgroundsPBS LearningMedia/WNET
Religious Diversity in the ClassroomHour long presentation on religious diversity in the classroom.K-12 educatorsTanenbaum and Teaching Tolerance
Religion and Public SchoolsLinks to an overview and other resources on topics of prayer in schools, evolution, school vouchers and free exercise of religionK-12 educators, parents, and students of all religious backgroundsACLU
American Academy of Religion Guidelines for Teaching About Religion in K–12 Public Schools in the United States40 page document outlining how to teach about religion in K-12 public schoolsK-12 educators and students of all religious backgroundsAmerican Academy of Religion

Creating Inclusive Classrooms

Type of Resource Description AudienceOrganization
Resources-ING MidwestThis resource is designed to link young people, educators, and professional development specialists with curricular and multi-media resources that promote mutual understanding, and inclusive communities and cultural competency.Educators for implementation, students for participationING-Midwest
Stand Up and Stand OutDay of action and resources for students and parents to help schools prevent bullying, including a toolkitK-12 students, parents, community members of all backgroundsTyler Clementi Foundation
Educational Panels and Presentations for Schools and Community GroupsPanels and presentations from 3 ING bureaus on interreligious and intercultural diversity, including fostering inclusive classroom for Muslim studentsK-12 educators, community members, and parentsIslamic Networks Group
Know Your ClassmatesDay of action to encourage students to get to know one another and nurture healthy relationshipsEducators, parents and students, mainly focused on middle schoolsBeyond Differences
School Climate ResourcesPackage of tools, protocols and advice for improving school climate and responding to incidents of hateK-12 educators, parents and students of all backgroundsTeaching Tolerance
Inclusive School ProgramLinks to several guides on creating inclusive schools, guides for staff, parents, classrooms lessons, student led initiatives, etc.K-12 educators, students, parents, community members of all backgroundsNot In Our Town
Fitting In Lesson PlanLesson plan to explore personal identity, feelings of belonging and exclusionEducators for implementation focused on 1-6 grade studentsTanenbaum
My Traditions Lesson PlanStudents interview their families on traditions and share with their classmates to encourage dialogue and understandingEducators for implementation focused on 2-6 grade studentsTanenbaum
Puerto Rico School Climate SurveyA detailed report examining the relationship LGBTQ students have with their fellow classmates and communities in Puerto RicoEducators and parents, especially relating to the LGBTQ communityGLSEN
New Public School Holidays: Teachable moments that Foster respectBlog from Debbie Almontaser on the importance of educator awareness and inclusion of minority holidaysEducators, parents and community members of all backgroundsThe Interfaith Center of New York
Golden Rules Educational ExperiencesCurriculum and other resources for engaging students with multicultural activities which foster greater understanding and empathyK-12 educators for implementation, students for participationArizona Golden Rules Educational Experiences
Race: The Power of IllusionA guide and interactive experience for better understanding race and how it impacts our relations with our communityEducators, community members, parents, students of all backgroundsPBS Learning/KQED

Teaching About Religious Traditions

Type of Resource Description AudienceOrganization
Resources-ING MidwestIn addition to providing resources about Islam that complement the classes of social studies and global studies, including world religions, the site provides K-12 resources that support teaching with diversity and inclusion, challenging stereotypes, discrimination, and IslamophobiaEducators for implementation, students for participationING-Midwest
Documentary Films on American Religious LifeA list of classroom friendly films to discuss religion with studentsEducators for implementation, students for participationInterfaith Center of New York
Novels Set in American Religious CommunitiesA list of classroom friendly novels and short stories to discuss religion with studentsEducators for implementation, students for participationInterfaith Center of New York
Guidelines for Teaching ReligionA guide to discussing religion in classrooms to encourage conversation and dialogueEducators for implementation, mainly high school students for participationPBS Learning Media/KQED
Civility, Religious Pluralism and EducationTen page document on the pedagogy of teaching about world religions and lived religionsMiddle and high schools educatorsInterfaith Center of New York
Sharing Best Practices for Creating Inclusive SchoolsA webinar featuring heads of organizations sharing best practices for creating inclusive schools and materials for educators, including the #KnowYourNeighbor campaign, Hindu American Foundation, Islamic Networks Group, Beyond Differences Middle and high schools educatorsNational Council for the Social Studies

Multifaith Curriculum

Multifaith Curriculum: Shared Values Among FaithsLesson plan highlighting core values shared by five of the world’s major religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and IslamMiddle and high school educators and studentsIslamic Networks Group
Multifaith Curriculum: Living the FaithLesson plan on the five major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and how they are practiced in the United StatesMiddle and high school educators and studentsIslamic Networks Group
Resources from Religious Worlds ProgramA list of lesson plans, resources for sites visits, student field research, and conversations with faith practitioners. to help expand students’ knowledge of various religionsMiddle and high schools educators and students and parents of all backgroundsInterfaith Center of New York
World Religions ExplorationAn online tool to learn more about religion, faith, and major world religious traditionsElementary and middle school educators, students, and parents of all backgroundsInterfaith Center of New York
Interreligious Understanding GameAn activity to help students challenge their own understanding of faith and learn more about other traditionsMiddle and high educators and studentsTanenbaum

Curriculum on Islam

Who Are American Muslims?A lesson plan for educators to lead conversations about American Muslims through video and dialogueMiddle and high school educators, students and parents of all backgroundsTeaching Tolerance
Promoting Understanding: IslamA toolkit for teachers to educate their students on Islam and answer questions about MuslimsMiddle and high school educators and studentsPBS LearningMedia/KQED
Muslim Women Beyond the StereotypesCurriculum of seven lesson plans, each one of which focuses on a different section of the presentation Muslim Women Beyond the StereotypesMiddle and high schools history and social studies classesIslamic Networks Group
A History of Muslims in AmericaCurriculum of eight lesson plans, each of which focuses on different parts of the presentation, A History of Muslims in AmericaMiddle and high school history and social studies classesIslamic Networks Group
Muslim Contributions to CivilizationCurriculum of six lesson plans, each of which focuses on different parts of the presentation, Muslim Contributions to CivilizationMiddle and high school history and social studies classesIslamic Networks Group
Getting to Know American Muslims and Their FaithCurriculum composed of five lesson plans, each of which focuses on different parts of the presentation, Getting to Know American Muslims and Their FaithMiddle and high school history and social studies classesIslamic Networks Group
Emir Abd El-Kader: A Muslim Hero for Our TimeCurriculum is composed of five individual lesson plans which accompany the digital presentation titled Emir Abd el-Kader: A Muslim Hero for our TimeMiddle and high school history and social studies classesIslamic Networks Group
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About MuslimsAcademic responses to difficult questions many have about Muslim Americans, including topics such as general beliefs, Sharia Law, ISIS and IslamophobiaEducators, community members, parents, students of all backgroundsIslamic Networks Group
An Overview of Ramadan and Fasting PresentationThis powerpoint provides an overview of Ramadan and fasting in the Muslim traditionK-12 parents, teachers, school administrators and community membersIslamic Networks Group
Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith PresentationThis powerpoint is a broad overview about Muslims and their faith, history, and contributions to the world and to the United StatesK-12 parents, teachers, school administrators and community membersIslamic Networks Group
Islamophobia and its Impact PresentationThis powerpoint aims to inform audience members about the problem of Islamophobia, it’s sources and impactK-12 parents, teachers, school administrators and community membersIslamic Networks Group

Curriculum on Hinduism

Hinduism Resources on the origins of Hinduism The History Channel
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