From solitary worship to the construction of the first ever prison synagogue, learn more about Judaism at Eastern State Penitentiary. How was the faith practiced by those living at Eastern State? What efforts are being taken to preserve these sacred spaces today?
The Engineering Achievements of Stephen De Ayala
Uncover the fascinating story of Steven De Ayala, who designed Eastern State’s eleventh cellblock while incarcerated at the penitentiary in the 1890s.
Unlocking History: Sports at Eastern State Penitentiary
From solitary exercise to team activities, learn more about the important role of sports at Eastern State Penitentiary including the penitentiary’s integrated baseball teams and legendary boxer turned Eastern State baseball player Charles “Jack” Blackburn.
See, Think, Wonder: Image Analysis Guide
This lesson introduces students to a structured approach for analyzing visual sources. Students will practice observational skills, evidence-based interpretation, and questioning techniques using the See, Think, Wonder strategy. This analytical framework supports critical thinking and visual literacy skills.
Girls in Detention Centers
This lesson addresses challenges facing girls in juvenile detention centers, with special attention to the disproportionate representation of girls of color (e.g., Latinx, African American). Students will examine how adverse childhood experiences and trauma can lead to involvement in the juvenile justice system. The lesson explores daily life in detention facilities, including separation from families,
Defining Justice
This 60-minute activity requires students to actively interpret Lady Justice, a symbolic statue designed to encapsulate the American criminal justice system and then define Justice using a Frayer model.
Intro Activities for Discussions on Incarceration
This 75-minute activity explores the historical through lines between the 13th Amendment, incarceration, and prison labor including a case study analysis. Students will explore the ethics of incarceration, reflecting on rehabilitation, labor practices, prisoner wage and benefits, and workplace safety.
Bell Ringer: Harry Burn & the 19th Amendment
Author Misty Heggeness highlighted the significance of Harry Burn as it relates to the 19th Amendment.
Bell Ringer: The Constitution of the United States Vignette
This 1950s classroom film depicts the problems that led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution, such as Shay’s Rebellion and confusing state currencies, and then dramatizes some of the major events of the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
Bell Ringer: Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Legal Analysis and Originalism
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett talked about the different between original public meaning and original intent, the use of history in legal analysis, the legal analysis of unenumerated rights, and why she is an originalist.