Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
Plymouth-Canton modernized their U.S. history curriculum by integrating the narratives of marginalized groups to better reflect its diverse student body. Through partnerships with cultural institutions, religious centers, and academic experts like Dr. Hasan Jeffries, educators participated in immersive professional development, including place-based learning workshops throughout Metro Detroit. These efforts resulted in teacher-developed lesson plans and a resource repository designed to center African American, Arab American, Asian American, and Jewish American histories.
Partners:
- David Hales - Historical Society of Michigan
- Raman Singh - Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit
- Chris Hemler & Adam Hellebuyck - University Liggett School
- Jeanette Pierce - City Institute
- Pamela Batch - Canton Chamber of Commerce and National Civics Bee
- Michael Boettcher - Pure Detroit (Old Chinatown Walking Tour)
- Richard Mui - Association of Chinese Americans
- Chandru Acharya- Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (Canton Chapter)
- Dr. Hasan Jeffries – Ohio State University Professor and Keynote Speaker on Teaching Diverse History
- Arab American National Museum
- Detroit Institute of Arts
- Henry Ford Museum
- Plymouth Historical Museum
- Zekelman Holocaust Center
- Old Chinatown Historical Tour
Religious Diversity Journeys
- Islamic Center of North America (Dearborn - Islam)
- Singh Sabha of Michigan (Canton – Sikhism)
- Temple Shir Shalom (West Bloomfield – Judaism)
- Hindu Temple (Canton – Hinduism)
Resources Created:
- Teacher-developed lesson plans and units integrating diverse local histories.
- Multimedia materials highlighting marginalized groups in U.S. history.
- Student-centered projects linked to Michigan History Day and the National Civics Bee.
Activities:
- Place-based learning across Metro Detroit (museums, religious centers, community tours).
- Workshops on place-based education led by University Liggett educators.
- Collaborative curriculum design sessions in summer 2025 to embed diverse histories into district courses.
Additional resources coming soon.