We’ve all had that moment in class: A student raises their hand to ask about something troubling they saw online, or connects a current event to patterns from the past. These moments matter because they reveal what we know to be true: History isn’t just a collection of dates and events—it’s a record of choices people made in specific moments that shaped the world we’ve inherited. And when students recognize those patterns, they’re beginning to see their own power to make different choices, to interrupt cycles of hate and injustice, and to create change. These are also the moments that reveal how complex and urgent our work has become.
Students are grappling with rising disinformation, polarization, and injustice that feels both historical and urgently present. When they bring these experiences and questions into the classroom, these aren’t theoretical discussions—they’re the difficult, necessary conversations happening in real time. And navigating them can be challenging even on our best days. It means finding the right words in the moment, holding space for difficult emotions, balancing diverse perspectives, and ensuring every student feels heard while maintaining a learning environment where academic learning, critical thinking and genuine dialogue can happen. It requires skill, courage, and care.
Since 1976, Facing History & Ourselves has been built on a simple but profound belief: To build a more just and equitable future, we must face our history in all its complexity. Not the sanitized version, but the real, messy, challenging truth of what happened and why it matters today.
This is where Facing History lives. Our resources examine identity, choices, hatred, justice and healing at pivotal moments in history—not just to teach about the past, but to help students connect the choices people made then to the choices they face now.
What We Do
Teacher Professional Development: Through live and recorded seminars and online and in-person workshops, educators explore new scholarship and classroom-ready resources, lessons and teaching guides that inspire and invigorate. We model the intentional practices needed to transform classrooms into spaces that nurture community, build relationships, and attend to students’ academic, civic, ethical, and social-emotional needs. We engage educators as professionals and further your work with knowledge and tools you can use the next day.
Free Curriculum Resources: Rigorous, meaningful materials designed for middle and high school classrooms across social studies, humanities, and English Language Arts—including units on:
- The Holocaust
- Canada’s Residential School System
- Contemporary Antisemitism
- Schooling in Canada
- Coming-of-Age Literature
- Borders & Belonging in Literature
- Current Events
- Fostering Civil Discourse in a Diverse Democracy
- Civic Engagement
- Ideas and Insights for the Classroom
- …and more
Our Impact
We’ve seen what happens in Facing History classrooms:
- 94% of students report increased motivation to learn
- 81% develop stronger ability to identify racial and religious bias
- 99% of teachers recommend this approach to colleagues
But the numbers don’t capture everything: Teachers who use Facing History tell us about the students who found their voice in class discussion. The classroom where respectful disagreement became possible. The young person who spoke up when witnessing injustice instead of staying silent.
We know teaching history and social sciences feels harder now than it has in years. You’re navigating curriculum changes and managing diverse classrooms, often with limited resources. But we also know what drew you to this work: a deep belief in education’s power to transform communities.
Over nearly five decades, we’ve built resources, professional learning opportunities, and a community of educators committed to helping students connect past to present. Whether you’re looking to deepen your students’ civic agency or reflect on your own continuous growth as an educator, you’ll find us ready to walk alongside you.
What Comes Next
- Explore our blog, where Canadian educators share classroom stories and practical resources
- Visit our Learning & Events page to discover webinars, workshops, and professional development that help you promote inquiry-based learning, develop students’ perspective-taking, and foster the empathy and ethical reflection they need to become engaged citizens
- Learn more about Facing History & Ourselves or reach out to connect with our team
