The Michael Brown case in Ferguson, Missouri has been making national headlines for the past few weeks, and teachers are wondering how to handle these events with their students. 

When it comes to teaching these type of sensitive events in the classroom, how should teachers go about it? The Huffington Post offers five ways teachers can teach about Michael Brown and Ferguson in the classroom. 

"The best educators know that if there are issues that students are deeply engaged in and with but their teachers choose to ignore those issues, we are loosing opportunities to make powerful connections and doing students a disservice," the article said. "When educators ad parents ignore events that affect students' lives, the effects emerge later on in the academic year and influence not only teaching and learning but the students' views on the world and their place in it. Bringing the events in Ferguson to the classroom is not only best teaching practice but a way to establish powerful expectations for the academic year."

The article offers tips such as writing class letters to all those involved in the shooting, creating a classroom memorial, making classroom connections, and more. The first tip is to ask students what they know, and what they want to know. Asking students to create a KWL chart on what they know can be a good way to start.

Towards the end of November, a grand jury announced that officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted for fatally shooting Michael Brown, which turned the entire world on edge. There's no doubt that students will overhear their parents discussing civil rights, police force diversity, and law enforcement. Teachers will need to be prepared. 

Along with five lesson plan ideas from The Huffington Post, here are five other resources teachers can use in the classroom:

• PBS: Ferguson in the Classroom: This article offers six videos teachers can use along with a timeline of events. 
• PBS: How Can Teachers Talk to Students About Ferguson: With this video, teachers can use this video to help them understand how to address Ferguson in the classroom. 
• The Death of Michael Brown: Teaching About Ferguson: The New York Times offers a list of resources, videos, and lesson plans for teachers to educate their students about Ferguson. 
• Helping Students Make Sense of a Young Black Man's Death in Missouri: In this article, NPR offers the best methods for teaching about Ferguson. 
• Preparing to Discuss Michael Brown in the Classroom: This document provided by District of Columbia Public Schools offers tips on how to prepare and teach students about Michael Brown. The document also offers articles for teachers to use as well. 
• Resources for Addressing Ferguson in the Classroom: Here, teachers can access resources from teachers, publications, and more.

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor

Updated: 12/01/2014