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Junior Scholastic Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine.
Real Teens of History
These inspiring teens fought for what they believed in—and made history in the process.
Featured Teaching Kits
Teacher-approved stories, resources, and worksheets for teaching about real teens who changed the world throughout history, courtesy of Junior Scholastic, the middle school Social Studies classroom magazine
While the Vietnam War raged, many teenagers in America struggled with reports of the violence. One 13-year-old named Mary Beth Tinker decided to do something about it. Her fight for the right to express her views took her all the way to the Supreme Court.
In 1951, there were 21 American states that required black students and white students to attend separate schools. A young African American girl named Barbara Johns knew this wasn't right—and that she had to do something about it. Her bravery led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling that changed the nation forever.
In the early 20th century, young children across the country were toiling away at dangerous jobs in factories and mills. After suffering a terrible injury on the job, one courageous 12-year-old girl helped change the lives of thousands of American workers.
Not all the heroes of World War II were soldiers. Find out how a shy Jewish teenager in France risked his life to help thousands of victims escape the Nazis by forging documents.
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Quotes
Famous quotes from real teens throughout history
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
— Anne Frank
“We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”
— Malala Yousafzai
“Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge”
— Louis Braille
“I am not afraid. I was born to do this.”
— Joan of Arc
Key Figures
Four teens who made an impact on the world
Louis Braille
A blind French educator born in 1809, who, as a teenager, invented the Braille system of printing and writing for the blind.
Anne Frank
A Jewish teenager whose diary provides a unique and personal account of Nazi Germany's persecution of the Jews during World War II.
King Tutankhamen
An Egyptian pharaoh who ruled from age 9 to 19 between the years 1332–1323 B.C. He is one of the most famous Egyptian kings because his tomb was the richest of the few royal burial chambers that survived comparatively intact.
Malala Yousafzai
An advocate of female education in Pakistan and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.
Resources
Supplemental resources that link to external websites about real teens of history
Mary Beth Tinker: ACLU
Read the ACLU's report for students on Tinker v. Des Moines, the landmark Supreme Court ruling on behalf of student expression.
PBS Learning Media: Barbara Johns
Video and support materials about student activist Barbara Johns, who organized a school strike and demanded equal education in the Jim Crow era.
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank house in Amsterdam is now a museum. Take a virtual tour of the secret space where Anne’s family hid from the Nazis for two years.
Glossary
Terms and definitions that pertain to real teens of history
activist
noun
a person who campaigns to bring about political or social change
boycott
verb
to refuse, as an act of protest, to participate in a certain event or buy particular products
strike
an organized effort by employees who refuse to work until certain conditions are met by their employer
protest
to express an objection against an idea, an act, or a way of doing things
segregation
the separation of people by race, ethnic group, gender, or class
sit-in
a protest in which people seat themselves somewhere and refuse to move until their demands are met
Explore Other Topics
Discover other free social studies topics and middle school teaching resources.
The Roles of the Presidency
From Commander-in-Chief to Chief-of-State, the President has many critical roles.
The United States Constitution
Ancient Civilizations
An overview of humanity’s first large societies: how they formed, who ruled them, and how they influenced the world today.
The Civil Rights Movement
TKTKTK
Women’s History: The Struggle for Equality
Learn about important women throughout history—including Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Sojourner Truth—and the progress that’s been made in the fight for gender equality.
The History and Heroes of World War II
An overview of World War II: why the U.S. got involved, what citizens did to fight back, and how people worldwide were affected
Social Studies Debate Kit
Teaching the art of debating—and how to write an effective argument essay—can help students master critical-thinking and communication skills.
Mastering Media Literacy and Digital Literacy
In an increasingly digital world, being able to navigate technology skillfully and evaluate online resources for accuracy and trustworthiness is crucial.
Map Skills
Teaching map skills can build students’ geography knowledge—and enhance their understanding of the world in which they live.
Middle School Civics
An overview of civics: what it means to be a good citizen, how democracy works, and why staying informed and engaged matters—even as kids.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
Use these features and supporting resources to give students deeper as well as broader knowledge of these key periods in U.S. history.
Immigration
The U.S. is a nation of immigrants, built by people who left their homes to seek new lives and opportunities. However, Americans' feelings about immigrants are mixed.
Empower Your Students to Explore Their World
Discover Junior Scholastic Magazine for Grades 6–8
James D. Morgan/Getty Images for The Growth Faculty (Top Malala Yousafzai); Bettmann/Getty Images (free speech teens); Rudolph Faircloth/AP Images (classroom), Gluekit (photo colorization); Illustration by Allan Davey (child worker); Courtesy Sarah Kaminsky (forging materials); Anne Frank Fonds Basel/Getty Images (Anne Frank); ullstein bild via Getty Images (Louis Braille); DEA/G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images (King Tut); Richard Stonehouse/Getty Images (Bottom Malala Yousafzai)