Acts of Reparation — New Resources Now Available!

We’re pleased to introduce our collection of Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources, new at Journeys in Film!

In Acts of Reparation, two friends — one Black, one white — travel south to their ancestral lands to explore what reparations means to them. From kitchen tables to porches, lost cemeteries to discovered diaries, their journeys lead to unexpected opportunities that transform their friendship, families and communities. Together they reclaim and reckon with their roots and find that small acts can lead to big change.

Get these resources now from the Acts of Reparation page in the Journeys in Film Resource Library — or keep reading to learn more!

Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources FAQ

Why Use Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources In Your Classroom

Acts of Reparation is a powerful way to bridge the past and the present. It brings history to life through the experiences of individuals today seeking to look back at painful aspects of the U.S. History and repair — together.

These resources also provide opportunities for learning around primary sources and the archive as well as engagement with the topics of allyship and action. We feature community service learning elements as well as activities around historical inquiry.

Tell Me More About These Resources

We created both a Learning Guide with multiple sections and a Lesson Plan for Acts of Reparation. In both, we focused on handouts, worksheets and printables to encourage in-class pen and paper engagement for students. The lesson plan is Project-Based and aligns with key common core standards listed in the lesson plan.

Handout examples include:

  • Empathy Map
  • Researching Narratives Handout
  • Listening Skills Handout
  • Primary Source Detective Handout
  • Historical Inquiry Handout
  • Project Planners
  • Reflection Journal Handout

What Ages Are These Resources For

Acts of Reparation is not rated. We recommend it for ages 14 and up. The Learning Guide is appropriate for classroom use as well as community learning and is easily adaptable for collegiate and adult learning opportunities. The Lesson Plan is appropriate for Grades 9-12.

Who Should Teach with Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources

The Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources are suitable for classes in: Civics, Community Service Learning, History, Social Studies, and US History.

Where Can I Watch This Film

Get the latest information on where to watch from the Acts of Reparation listing in the Journeys in Film Resource Library.

Where Can I Get the Acts of Reparation Teaching Resources

Get your free copy of these teaching resources from the Acts of Reparation page in the Journeys in Film Resource Library and learn more about teaching with this powerful and inspiring series.

Where Can I Get More Related Resources

Our Windows and Mirrors Media Literacy Activity gives students a way to consider if the perspectives of underrepresented and marginalized people are included in their media diets.

You can also check out our related resource collections for teaching with film about: Black History

How Can I Do Professional Development Related to this Series

Acts of Reparation filmmakers Selina Lewis Davidson and Macky  share their experience with archival research and working with the Library of Congress and other archival tools in a live presentation for the Uncovering and Amplifying Untold Stories webinar. Learn more and register for the series: Stories That Connect: Using Film and Primary Sources to Build Belonging

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How Can I Share Feedback

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Our Newest Film Guides

As a new year begins, we’re excited to share our newest film guides with you!

 

Our Latest Teaching Resources for Acclaimed Contemporary Films

To start a new year, we’re recapping our ten newest film guides. These acclaimed documentaries and hit feature films shed new light on history, current events, and the important figures and issues of our time. Our free teaching resources can help you put the rapidly-shifting news landscape into context for your students and lead productive discussions on sensitive and sometimes difficult topics.

Joseph Bologue, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, looks confidently at the viewer, wearing a plum-colored 18th century French suit, and holding a violin in his left hand, while in the background nobles of Marie Antoinette's court look on.Chevalier (For Grades 11-12)

Inspired by the incredible true story of France’s first Black classical composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges. Our Chevalier Discussion Guide sheds new light on the realities of 18th century France and can ignite student interest and engagement in learning more about the French Revolution.

Text across the top reads: Crip Camp. A green bus with wheelchair accessibility is below the text.

Crip Camp (For High School) 

Crip Camp shares with insight, humor, and joy the experiences of a group of disabled teenagers and their journey to adulthood and activism. Our Crip Camp Curriculum Guide and Discussion Guide delve into this rich and powerful story of disability activism, culture, and history.

Gabby Giffords Won't Back Down nominated for 2 Critics Choice Documentary Awards including Best Documentary Feature.Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down (For Grades 8-12) 

This compelling documentary tells the extraordinary story of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords: her relentless fight to recover following an assassination attempt in 2011. We’ve created a “Gabby Giffords Discussion Guide and a Learning Guide.” También están disponibles en español.

A deep blue-toned photo of Alexey Navalny, a clean-cut middle aged white Russian man in an open collared white shirt and dark blue blazer, He sits at a table with a glass of water, his hands crossed before him, chin tilted down, look up intensely at the viewer. Text on the image says: "Winner: Best political Documentary. Critics Choice Awards. A CNN Film. Navalny. The Most Dangerous Job in the World is Going Against Putin. HBO Max: Now Playing."

Navalny (For High School) 

Navalny unfolds with the pace of a political thriller. This Oscar-winning documentary follows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in his quest to identify the men who poisoned him in a failed assassination attempt. We offer a Discussion Guide and a flexible Learning Guide that features six key learning sections which cover 9 subjects across the curriculum.

Image of an outdoor movie theater. On the movie screen are the words Rebel Hearts

Rebel Hearts (For High School) 

This heart-grabbing documentary chronicles the bold acts of faith, defiance and activism of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart that turned the Church upside-down. From marching in Selma in 1965 to the Women’s March in 2018, they challenged the notion of what a nun and a woman were supposed to be. Our Rebel Hearts Curriculum Guide includes a hands-on arts lesson based on the pop art of Sister Mary Corita.

Movie poster for Schindler's ListSchindler’s List Special 30th Anniversary Guide (For High School) 

In 2023, we launched a new improved Schindler’s List Curriculum Guide with a brand new antisemitism lesson to teach with this powerful & inspiring Academy Award-winner.

Promotional image for the film Summer of Soul featuring a graphic image of a Black man in a blue suit with a guitar. Text overlay reads: Academy Award Winner! Best Documentary Feature. Summer of Soul

Summer of Soul (For Grades 7-12) 

Summer of Soul is a powerful and transporting documentary—part music film, part historical record—about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture and fashion. Our Summer of Soul Curriculum Guide provides an engaging introduction to major events in Black history—with an award-winning soundtrack.

Poster for Unzipped, showing a Black woman in a red knit cap and blue denim ovralls making a face at an adorable Black baby girl in a bright flower-print sundress.

Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality (For High School) 

This intimate documentary explores the frontline of America’s heated battles over gentrification, lack of affordable housing, and homelessness. UNZIPPED explodes stereotypes and humanizes the lived experiences of people caught in the cross-fire of America’s growing housing divide. Our Unzipped Learning Guide also explores actionable solutions.

A diverse array of youth at a climate march. Text overlay reads Youth V GovYouth v Gov (For Grades 7-12) 

This compelling climate court case documentary follows 21 courageous youth activists who file a ground-breaking lawsuit against the U.S. government for their right to a safe climate. Our Youth v Gov Curriculum Guide and Discussion Guide provide context to discuss breaking climate litigation news. Redirect your students’ climate anxiety into action-oriented optimism with these powerful teaching tools.

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