Ethnic Studies 9th-Grade Course Model Curriculum - Continuously Revising

SFUSD 9th-Grade Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

Our North Star

Course Overview

A thematic blueprint for all Ethnic Studies courses to follow
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Artwork by Favianna Rodriguez

Unit 0 (Draft): Building Community

Goal: Establishing the foundation for learning partnerships
Unit Slide Deck with tutorial video linked
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Artwork by Favianna Rodriguez

Unit 1 (Draft): Self and Stories

Concepts Examined: Identity and Narrative
Unit Slide Deck
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Artwork by Favianna Rodriguez

Unit 2 (Draft): Power and Privilege

Concepts Examined: Systems and Power (Supporting Concepts: (De)Humanization)
Unit Slide Deck
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Artwork by Favianna Rodriguez

Unit 3 (Draft): Beliefs and Bias

Concepts Examined: Hegemony and Counter-hegemony (Supporting Concepts: (De)Humanization)
Unit Slide Deck
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Artwork by Favianna Rodriguez

Unit 4 (Draft): Activism and Action

Concepts Examined: Transformation and Change
Unit Slide Deck
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#QueerBlackLivesMatter

Queering Black History Month (Draft)

Mini-lessons of 10-15 min each
Slide deck with all the materials, videos, and information embedded
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Lessons planned to be embedded into the 4 core units

Black Studies Infusion Lessons (Draft)

All lessons contained in this slidedeck have been carefully designed to be embe…
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SFUSD Ethnic Studies Course Student Survey Results 2023-2024

Each year Ethnic Studies students across the District complete pre and post course surveys to provide much needed feedback on their experience. Here are this past year's results of over 1,000 student responses.
2022 Ethnic Studies Student Survey

Furthering Knowledge and Love of Self

76% of students agree + strongly agree that our Ethnic Studies course is helping them understand themselves better.

Important Readings About SFUSD's Ethnic Studies Program

The following are some key texts to read for those interested:

Ethnic Studies Increases Longer-Run Academic Engagement and Attainment by Sade Bonilla, Thomas Dee and Emily Penner (quantitative study published in the National Academy of Sciences illustrating the academic gains resulting from our Ethnic Studies course, even 4 years later)

New Ethnic Studies Requirements Mean More Lessons About Race(link is external) by Linda K. Wertheimer (Boston Globe comparative piece on the SFUSD's Ethnic Studies program can be a model for others across the nation)

Advancing Ethnic Studies with Youth Storytelling(link is external) by Soundtrap (the why, what and how of our youth podcasting project)

This page was last updated on January 27, 2025