About Understanding Racism

This mini-course focuses on themes of change, unity and solidarity. By connecting racism to the greater Catholic Social Teaching of Human Dignity, the course helps students understand more about its origins, how it affects others, and how to confront racism and stand in solidarity with people of all walks of life.

Made for the way Generation Z learns. In an increasingly connected world, Saint Mary’s Press’ eLearning platform is designed for the way your students learn best:

  • Discovery: The course structure and content allows students to get into topics and discover answers for themselves.
  • Conversation: Theological content is woven into student questions, comments, and discussions.

Understanding Racism is a responsive curriculum, mediated by the wisdom and knowledge of the instructor.

General Info
Length: 10 Lessons
Grade Level: 10th – 12th
Interactive Glossary:  ✓
Online Activity Teacher Tips:  ✓
Scope & Sequence:  ✓

Rich Content with Solid Theology

Understanding Racism engages students by teaching as Jesus taught: with storytelling, conversation, and relevant application. Imagine students encountering the Catholic teachings on Human Dignity and Solidarity in a way that connects with their lived experience.

Storytelling

Storytelling

“A Class Divided” is one of many real-life stories that are featured in Understanding Racism. This story features a third-grade teacher, Jane Elliot, performing a social experiment with her class. She teaches her students about the impact of racism on its victims. Using powerful stories in this course exposes students to real-life scenarios, which opens up opportunities for teachers to provide direction to them and creating a better future.

Storytelling types:

  • Case Studies
  • Real-life Scenarios
  • Video Clips & Music Video
  • Encounters with Biblical Characters & Scriptures

Conversation

Conversation

Having conversations within your community about racism can be difficult for anyone, but with Understanding Racism course we can prepare students with a firm understanding of human Catholic Social Teachings in a safe environment. Above, is a three-part multiple choice activity called, “Starting the Conversation” that walks students through scenarios and then led by an instructor.

Activities consist of:

  • Online Polls & Free Form Responses
  • Individual & Group Activities
  • Dynamic Classroom Discussions

Application

Application

In this eLearning course, discovering the past is part of educating for the future. “Which Came First: Race or Racism?” digs into this core concept. Students get a chance to research and present historical racist systems that occurred in the United States. This course uses both active and communal applied learning activities to create opportunities for students to discover and empower themselves with Catholic faith base knowledge.

Applied learning categories:

  • Student-Centered Projects & Presentations
  • Interactive Online Tests
  • Reflection on Students’ Role in a Global Community

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Learning Styles & Personality Types

Understanding Racism was created by our highly-qualified instructional designer and renowned subject matter expert Judith Bartel by constructing both independent and cooperative learning elements that work with any student’s learning style and characteristics. This course was built to remove social pressure by letting students think, respond, and discuss, which enhances the emotional depth of learning. To read more about student’s experience, go to the experience page.

Understanding Racism Course Platform

Our platform has the tools every teacher needs when directing his or her class, and with Understanding Racism we provide individual progress tracking to group responses. These tools free up teachers so they can direct students during their discussions, which is especially important when talking about racism. To learn more about platform features, go to the classroom page.

Learning Styles & Personality Types

Course Outline for Stations of the Cross
Lessons:
  1. Introduction to the Stations of the Cross
    • Take Up Your Cross
  2. The Way of the Cross
    • First Station: Jesus Is Condemned to Death
    • Second Station: Jesus Takes Up His Cross
    • Third Station: Jesus Falls the First Time
    • Fourth Station: Jesus Meets His Mother
    • Fifth Station: Simon Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
    • Sixth Station: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
    • Seventh Station: Jesus Falls the Second Time
    • Eighth Station: Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem
    • Ninth Station: Jesus Falls the Third Time
    • Tenth Station: Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments
    • Eleventh Station: Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
    • Twelfth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
    • Thirteenth Station: Jesus Is Taken down from the Cross
    • Fourteenth Station: Jesus Is Buried in the Tomb
    • Fifteenth Station: Jesus Rises from the Dead
    • Closing and Sending Forth

Course Outline for Solidarity
Lessons:
  1. One Human Family
    • You Have Been Chosen
  2. Stereotypes and Prejudice
    • Checklist: How Diverse Are Your Interactions?
    • Interacting in the World
    • I Am Not a Stereotype
  3. Allies for Change
    • Jesus Inspires Us
    • Becoming an Ally
    • People of Light and Hope
    • People of Light and Hope
  4. Now It’s Your Turn!
    • Thank you for your participation!

Course Outline for Creating Justice
Module 1: Catholic Social Teaching – The Art of Living Together
Module 2: Stewards of God’s Creation – Caring for our Common Home
Module 3: Seeking Solutions to Poverty – Charity and Change
  1. Guided by Three
  2. Catholic Social Teaching: It’s All about Love
  3. Charity and Justice
  4. Uniting for Human Rights
  5. A Spirituality for Justice
  6. Summative Assessment Project
  1. Partners in Creation
  2. Gospel of Creation
  3. A Planet in Crisis
  4. How Natural Are Our Disasters
  5. The Work is Yours
  6. Solidarity for Integral Ecology
  7. Mercy, Mercy, Me
  8. Summative Assessment Project
  1. Our Global Reality
  2. Understanding Poverty
  3. The Global Poverty Trap
  4. The American Struggle
  5. Making a Difference
  6. Summative Assessment Project
Module 4: The Dignity of Work – People and Profit
Module 5: Solidarity – Uniting as One Human Family
Module 6: Peacemaking – Creating a Culture of Encounter
  1. Work and Vocation
  2. Workers’ Rights at Risk
  3. Structures That Support Workers
  4. Be an Ethical Consumer
  5. The Spirituality of Work
  6. Summative Assessment Project
  1. One Human Family
  2. Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Implicit Bias
  3. Diversity and Solidarity
  4. Champions and Allies for Change
  5. Summative Assessment Project
  1. Deep Roots in Justice
  2. Culture of Life
  3. Seamless Garment
  4. Path to Peace
  5. Summative Assessment Project

Course Outline for Understanding Racism
Lessons:
  1. What Is Race?
  2. Race and Biology
  3. What Is Racism?
  4. Learning and Unlearning
  5. Is There an “Advantage” to Being White?
  6. How Does Racism Affect the Targeted Groups?
  7. What Strategies Work?
  8. Taking a Stand and Making a Difference
  9. Will There Always Be Racism?
  10. Confronting and Disrupting Racism

Course Outline for Catholicism 101
1. Welcome!
2. Revelation
3. The Bible
4. Jesus Christ
  • Good Reasons
  • Introduce Yourself
  • In Unity
  • Your Turn
  • God is Mystery
  • God Became Human
  • Your Turn
  • Bible Basics
  • The Old Testament
  • The New Testament
  • The Bible as Guide for Today
  • Your Turn
  • God With Us
  • The Way, The Truth, And The Life
  • Images of Jesus
  • Your Turn
5. The Trinity
6. The Paschal Mystery
7. Loving Our Neighbor
8. Original Sin, Morality, and Grace
  • Unity of Three
  • Great Mysteries
  • The Unifying Power of Love
  • Your Turn
  • New Life
  • Jesus' Saving Actions
  • New Beginnings
  • Your Turn
  • Seeing the Needs of Others
  • Not Alone
  • Catholic Social Teaching
  • Your Turn
  • Missing the Mark
  • Free Will
  • God's Special Help
  • Your Turn
9. Prayer
10. Sacraments and Liturgy
11.Mary and the Saints
12. Last Things: Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory
  • Building Friendship
  • Friendship with God
  • Traditional Prayers
  • Your Turn
  • Beyond Our Senses
  • The Seven Sacraments
  • It's About Commitment
  • "Do This in Memory of Me"
  • Your Turn
  • Faithful Guides
  • Pray for Us
  • Mary, Mother of God
  • Your Turn
  • The Big Picture
  • Room for All
  • Open to Mystery
  • Your Turn
13. Review Challenge
  • You Can Do This!
Case Studies Topics and Locations
Topic
Module
Lesson
Activity Sets
Human Rights Defender: The United Nations Module 1 Lesson 4 3
Who Is My Neighbor? Refugee Crisis Module 1 Lesson 4 4
A Complex Legacy: Earth in Crisis Module 2 Lesson 3 1
Refugees of Hurricane Katrina Module 2 Lesson 4 3
The Majesty of Mountains Module 2 Lesson 4 4
Those Bad Habits! The Story of Stuff Module 2 Lesson 5 2
Nature Can’t Wait: Endangered Species Module 2 Lesson 6 3
On Eagle’s Wings: Bald Eagles and DDT Module 2 Lesson 7 3
Reverence for All Life: Role Models Saint Francis, Rachel Carson, Pope Francis Module 2 Lesson 7 3
What Does It Mean to Share? Changing Social Structures Module 3 Lesson 2 2
The Face of Global Hunger: Six Critical Reasons for World Hunger Module 3 Lesson 3 2
The 5 Ps of Least-Developed Countries: Focus on Country of Chad Module 3 Lesson 5 3
Solidarity and Poverty: Pope Francis’ Leadership Module 3 Lesson 5 1
The Paradox of Giving and Receiving: The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy Module 3 Lesson 5 3
Understanding Social Structures: Spotlight on the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire Module 4 Lesson 3 1-4
Greed Leads to Injustice: Spotlight on the Immokalee Farmworkers Module 4 Lesson 4 2
Ethical Consumerism Module 4 Lesson 4 7
Growing through Adversity: Nelson Mandela Module 5 Lesson 4 1
People of Light and Hope: Billings, MT Stands in Solidarity Against Hate Groups Module 5 Lesson 4 8
What is Peace? Pope Paul VI’s Message for Celebrating Peace Module 6 Lesson 1 3
God’s Gift of Life: Abortion Survivor Gianna Jessen Module 6 Lesson 2 2
Shalom: Creating Peace in Colombia Module 6 Lesson 4 2
Always, We Pray for Peace: Bomb, Sadako, and Paper Cranes Module 6 Lesson 4 7
Projects Topics and Locations
Topic
Module
Lesson
Activity Sets
National and Global Social Justice Organizations Module 1 Lesson 4 2
Everyday Heroes Module 1 Lesson 6 1
On Care for Our Common Home: Pope Francis’ Encyclical Module 2 Lesson 2 3-5
See, Judge, Act Module 2 Lesson 8 3-5
Green Living Module 2 Lesson 8 1-2
Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes: Balance a Family Budget Module 3 Lesson 4 2
Poverty Project Module 3 Lesson 6 1-2
Champion for Change Module 4 Lesson 6 1-2
Disrupting Prejudice and Oppression Module 5 Lesson 5 1-2
Life Issues Module 6 Lesson 3 4-6
Peace Campaign Module 6 Lesson 4 4-6
This I Believe Module 6 Lesson 5 1
Download Case Studies & Project Topic Locations

Course Outline for Understanding Catholicism
Module 1: The Journey to Happiness
Module 2: Finding God and Being Found by God
Module 3: Inspired by the Trinity
  1. You Are on a Journey
  2. Who Are You?
  3. A Life of Happiness
  4. Jesus, Our Ultimate Guide to Happiness
  5. Other Guides for Our Journey
  6. In Communion with the Saints
  7. When the Journey Isn’t Easy
  8. False Road Maps to Happiness
  9. Embracing Human Dignity
  10. Case Study: The Homeboys and Homegirls of Los Angeles
  11. Which Road Map Will You Follow?
  12. Summative Assessment Project
  1. Thirsting for God
  2. The Gift of Revelation
  3. The Need and Hope for Salvation
  4. Salvation History Begins in Creation
  5. The Fall
  6. Salvation History Continues through Covenants
  7. Salvation History Up-Close and Personal
  8. The Paschal Mystery
  9. The People of God
  10. Summative Assessment Project
  1. God Is Mystery
  2. Revealing God the Father
  3. Revealing God the Son
  4. Revealing God the Holy Spirit
  5. Revealing the Blessed Trinity
  6. Called to Participate in the Life of the Trinity
  7. Summative Assessment Project
Module 4: Being Church in the World
Module 5: Weaving a Sacramental Life
Module 6: Following Jesus and Growing in Morality
  1. The Mystery of the Church
  2. Images of Church
  3. Marks of the Church
  4. Inspired by Scripture
  5. Inspired by Tradition
  6. United by Liturgy
  7. Summative Assessment Project
  1. Symbols: More Than Meets the Eye
  2. What Is a Sacrament?
  3. Jesus: Our Fundamental Sacrament of Love
  4. Sacraments of the Church
  5. Sacraments of Initiation
  6. Sacraments of Healing
  7. Sacraments at the Service of Communion
  8. Virtues: Growing in Holiness
  9. Sacramental Worldview
  10. Summative Assessment Project
  1. The Foundations of Christian Morality
  2. The Courage to Be Happy
  3. Expressing Love by Following the Ten Commandments
  4. Agape through Servant Leadership
  5. A Christian Model for Moral Decision Making
  6. A World in Need of Salvation
  7. Catholic Social Teaching
  8. Case Study: Make a Difference
  9. The Stations of the Cross
  10. Summative Assessment Project
Case Studies Topics and Locations
Topic
Module
Lesson
Activity Sets
The Homeboys and Homegirls of Los Angeles Module 1 Lesson 10 1-3
Make a Difference: Building a Culture of Encounter Module 6 Lesson 8 1-3
Projects Topics and Locations
Topic
Module
Lesson
Activity Sets
Saints Module 1 Lesson 6 1-2
Natural Revelation Module 2 Lesson 2 3-4
Bible Person Module 2 Lesson 7 1
Sharing Salvation History and the Paschal Mystery Module 2 Lesson 10 1
Trinity Module 3 Lesson 1 6-9
The Spiritual Meaning of Christmas Module 3 Lesson 3 3-5
Rublev’s Icon of the Trinity Module 3 Lesson 5 1-2
Trinity Coat of Arms Module 3 Lesson 7 1-2
Catholic Outreach with the Poor and Vulnerable Module 4 Lesson 1 8
Many Ways of Holiness Module 4 Lesson 3 5-7
On the Day I Was Born Module 4 Lesson 7 1-3
The Ten Commandments Module 6 Lesson 3 1-3
Create a Make a Difference Story Module 6 Lesson 10 1-2
Download Case Studies & Project Topic Locations

Course Outline for Seasons of Faith
  • The Gift of Time
  • The Liturgical Seasons
  • Advent and Christmas
  • Ordinary Time
  • Lent and Easter
  • An Examination of Conscience
  • Holy Week
  • Prayer: I Have Called You by Name

Course Outline Environmental Justice
Lesson 1: Our Common Home
Lesson 2: Handle with Care
Lesson 3: Our Sisters and Brothers Cry Out
  1. Time for a Micro-Field Trip!
  2. Nature in My Life
  3. Me & We
  4. Creation in Crisis
  5. This Struggle is Real
  6. Take the Goodall Challenge!
  7. Champions of Creation: Pope Francis
  1. Gifts That Keep On Giving
  2. Creation As Gift
  3. Everything is Connected
  4. Laudato Si’
  5. Faith Matters
  6. Nature Can't Wait
  7. Champions of Creation: John Muir
  8. Lectio Divina
  1. The Power of Love
  2. Culture of Encounter
  3. Environmental Refugees
  4. Champions of Creation: Rachel Carson
  5. God is Our Rock
Lesson 4: Choices Matter
Lesson 5: Make a Difference
Lesson 6: Be a Champion
  1. Would You Rather?
  2. New Habits
  3. Learning from the Past
  4. Champions of Creation: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
  1. Real Actions Make Real Progress
  2. You Have the Power
  3. See, Judge, Act
  4. Champions of Creation: Saint Francis of Assisi
  1. Cause and Effect
  2. What Could You Do?
  3. Be Spiritual; Stay Strong
  4. Champions of Creation Checklist