Cesar+Chavez

//Post resources related to Cesar Chavez here.//

Use an exploration of the life of Cesar Chavez as the springboard for a unit on social change. . . can one person make a difference. . . which people have changed the world by uniting a small group of people focused on a single, common goal? Have students think about who has changed their world just by being themselves (a friend, a relative, etc.). Have students think about their own unique gifts, talents, interests, capacities. . . and toward what issues they’d like to apply those gifts, talents, and capacities to make the world better for someone else. . . to stand for truth and against injustice, etc. The trick is to empower students to see themselves and their abilities differently as they learn about and consider issues, events, and people from the target culture.

These three links would be good springboards to **getting students to think about how THEY can make a difference,** right now, from where they are standing, in ways that impact the larger world in which they live:

[|Students 2.0] - Geographically distributed, international team of teen bloggers who launched the blog to engage adults in conversations about technology in education user:chericem1

[|Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference] - Blog by a 10-year-old girl that focuses on her efforts to make a difference in the world. Dec. 1, 2007 post - she began by shoveling snow and putting salt down so people wouldn't slip and is now into charity & activism. user:chericem1

[|U.S. teen brings school to Cambodia - Giving- msnbc.com] - Teen raised $52,000 and partnered with World Bank, etc. user:chericem1

[|Student Walk Out]- While I think this article would have to be framed quite carefully to use in a high school classroom, it does talk about what students have done to show their opinions and what they can do about Chavez Day being recognized throughout the country. It shows a good example of youth today being active about their surroundings, and not apathetic. Great conversation starter. user:cartierm

[|Indawo Yothando (A Place of Love)]- What MSU college students have done to make a difference in the lives of HIV/AIDS orphans in South Africa. The program originally started as a pen pal program, and ended up as a orphan care center to support, educate, and harbor vulnerable youth in the area. user:cartierm

**Useful Videos**
[|Cesar Chavez - Fasts] – “First hand accounts of the inspiring story of Chavez' nonviolent protests. Featuring his family and founding members of the UFW” user:chericem1

[|A History of Hispanic Achievement in the US – Cesar Chavez] - (Historical background, ~7 min.) user:chericem1

[|Cesar Chavez] user:chericem1

[|Somos La Revolución]- A song from Ska P that can easily relate to migrant workers and chavez. It is about the "obrero" class. While it is fast, I think it can get students attention and be a great resource to help students gain perspective. user:cartierm

[|Living Voices]- If you are in the New York area, this might be most helpful to you. This is an acting group that presents information from historical perspectives. If you are not in New York, [|try this video], I'm sure it is not as good as having the actors there, but may be helpful too. 1209477898

**Resources**
[|Cesar Chavez Foundation]- Gives a very detailed view of what Chavez did, has lots of information on units, Chavez Day, and other information around the subject. Great resource for planning! Also gives away FREE bilingual bookmarks every year for Chavez Day March 31st! user:cartierm

[|UFW]- United Farm Workers website. This has all kinds of information about the past and present struggle of farm workers all over (but more predominately in CA) Has information out How Chavez formed the organization, and what they are currently fighting for. Although slighty biased because it is a union organization, contains good information to talk about human rights, social justice, migrant workers, and how migrant workers relate to business and economy in the United States. user:cartierm

[|Poster Images]- Authentic text, a poster for the Carnegie Hall benefit to support Chavez and the grape strike in 1968. Students could create their own replica, create one that has to do with a certain cause today, or look at it with historical perspective and use it to support an understanding of a timeline, because it has rather low level language, even Spanish one students can understand and make sense of it with the right amount of support. user:cartierm

[| Understanding the UFW Flag]- This image could create conversations about what each individual visual represents, and how it came about in the Cesar Chavez and the UFW's work. While the credibility of the rest of the site may be questionable, this is a great piece of work to get students thinking about symbols, imagining, and representation. user:cartierm

Children's Books
[|Cosechando Esperanza]- A children's book about Cesar Chavez. user:cartierm

Consider combining this with a unit on migrant workers, such as the one [|available from the NFLRC] based on the children's book, //El canto de las palomas// by Juan Felipe Herrera. You could also combine this with a unit on human rights or social justice.

[|Esperanza Renace] - This is a chapter book by Pam Muñoz Ryan but it has a wide range of possibilities. It does not directly deal with Cesar Chavez, but ties directly with migrant workers and the perspective of a child growing up during the times of Chavez and the fight for migrant workers rights. user:cartierm