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USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education Bring the Power of Story to Life in ‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ Virtual Field Trip

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— Virtual Event Empowers Students in Grades 5-12 to Take Action
Against the Growing Wave of Racism and Intolerance in our Nation —

Silver Spring, Md. (Tuesday, November 5, 2019) – USC Shoah Foundation—The Institute for Visual History and Education (USC Shoah Foundation) and Discovery Education, the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms, invite students in grades 5-12 to take part in a powerful virtual experience this afternoon.

Based on the idea that everyone has a story to tell – from filmmakers, to survivors of genocide, to artists, to middle and high school students – ‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ gives students tools to counter bullying, prejudice, and the growing hate in our schools by listening to stories and testimonies that build empathy, understanding, and human connections. Premiering at 1 p.m. EST on Nov. 5, 2019, educators are encouraged to register their class for this impactful event here.  ‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ will be available on-demand at teachingwithtestimony.com/virtual-field-trip.

‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ will transport students to USC Shoah Foundation in Los Angeles to hear from powerful voices including:

  • Steven Spielberg: Founder of USC Shoah Foundation and one of the most prominent storytellers of our time
  • Eva Schloss: Holocaust survivor, speaker, author as well as friend and posthumous stepsister of diarist Anne Frank
  • Samantha Grady: College student, musician, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivor
  • David Kassan: Acclaimed realist painter whose artwork captures humanity and portrays the stories of Holocaust survivors

By listening to these transformative voices, students will feel inspired to take steps toward countering hate, whether at school, in the community, or in the world.

“Only when we proactively counter hate can we work to resolve it. Through Teaching with Testimony and today’s virtual field trip, we can empower students to find their voice and to confront hate in their communities,” said Dr. Claudia Wiedeman, Director of Education. “And now more than ever we need to share powerful testimonies of empathy and courage that can show we all have the innate potential to change the future.”

USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education will host a live Twitter chat during the premiere using the hashtag #StrongerThanHateVFT. Educators are encouraged to join the conversation and download the accompanying standards-aligned educator guide, which helps illuminate strategies for how to talk to students about these difficult topics.

“By giving students an opportunity to stand up against hate and find their voice, we reinforce the importance of building empathy and understanding for one another,” said Karen Wells, Library Media Specialist at Midland High School in Pleasant Plains, Ark. “Thanks to free resources like today’s virtual field trip and Teaching with Testimony, educators everywhere can ensure that students have access to meaningful and actionable curricula that has the power to impact real, positive change.”

‘Our Stories are Stronger Than Hate’ is part of Teaching with Testimony, an educational program designed for grades 5-12 that challenges students to employ empathy, build critical-thinking skills, and become inspired to create a brighter future after listening to firsthand accounts from survivors and witnesses of genocide. In addition to being deeply integrated into sections of Discovery Education’s Social Studies Techbook, Discovery Education Experience, and Espresso, the program includes digitally immersive classroom resources, an annual student video challenge, and activities that provide educators with the tools they need to teach students to ultimately counter hate and respond to injustice.

For more information about Discovery Education’s digital content and professional development services, visit discoveryeducation.com. Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest @DiscoveryEd.

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About USC Shoah Foundation:
USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education develops empathy, understanding and respect through testimony, using its Visual History Archive of more than 55,000 video testimonies, award-winning IWitness education program, and the Center for Advanced Genocide Research. USC Shoah Foundation’s interactive programming, research and materials are accessed in museums and universities, cited by government leaders and NGOs, and taught in classrooms around the world. Now in its third decade, USC Shoah Foundation reaches millions of people on six continents from its home at the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences at the University of Southern California.

About Discovery Education:
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms. Through its award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia resources, and the largest professional learning network of its kind, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning, creating immersive STEM experiences, and improving academic achievement around the globe. Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms and primary schools in the U.K. and reach over 5 million educators and 51 million students in more than 90 countries. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to empower teachers with customized solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

 

Contacts:

USC Shoah Foundation
Rob Kuznia
rkuznia@usc.edu

Discovery Education
Jackie Kavege
jkavege@discoveryed.com