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All TRAILS Resources
All TRAILS Resources
May 31, 2023

Browse the entire collection of TRAILS resources here.

A line of infant's strollers, unattended, beside an empty building.
Hayley Lotspeich, Kyla Walters
High School Workshop Toolkit: Danish Baby Carriage on the Curb: An Introduction to Ethnocentrism
November 30, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Children and Youth, Family, Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This interactive lesson introduces students to the concepts of ethnocentrism, cultural relativity, and cultural discontinuity using the parenting of babies as a case study.

In 2022, ASA assembled a workshop with high school sociology teachers and sociology...

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Ava Isaac
Who am I? : The Looking Glass Self
November 30, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:
In this activity, students will familiarize themselves with the concept of the Looking Glass Self (1902) by participating in a low-stakes classroom sales pitch. Volunteer participants will complete pre- and post-questionnaires asking them to rate their performance...
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An aerial view of colorful buildings connected together.
Jared Wagenknecht, Maria De Jesus Mora
High School Workshop Toolkit: Understanding the Social Construction of Reality
November 30, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Other
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
High School
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This lesson is an activity that uses a humorous street magician video to help students discuss and understand “the social construction of reality.” It also includes a reading excerpt explaining this concept. There are two potential assessments that ask students to...

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Tal Peretz
A Cost/Benefit Analysis of Religion's Effects in Society
November 30, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Religion
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:
This classroom activity is a multi-stage guided discussion about religion. It introduces sociological ways of considering religion, using students’ existing collective knowledge about different religions and their effects on society. By allowing them to express their...
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A crosswalk full of people, some couples, some families, others single strangers.
Ashley Metzger, Maria Peden
High School Workshop Toolkit: Social Relationships Activity
November 30, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This lesson includes a class activity and its associated usage notes where students will learn about the social construction of groups and their impact on the life chances of individuals through the exploration of social relationships. This activity was designed...

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Students using post-it notes on the wall to code qualitatitive data
Andrew R. Smolski, Rebecca Shisler, Abbey E. Piner, Angel Cruz, Emma Brinkmeyer
Applied Social Science as Tools for Change
November 13, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Community, Organizations, Formal and Complex, Qualitative Methodology, Race, Class and Gender, Racial and Ethnic Relations, Research Methods, Sociological Practice
Resource Type(s):
Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 100, College 200, College 300, College 400
Class Size(s):
Medium
Abstract:

Sociology provides important empirical tools for evaluating organizational progress
toward racial equity. In food system work meant to address racial inequality, there is
often an assumption that intent to not be racist translates into equitable...

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Apartment buildings
Bryant Crubaugh
Zoning, Gentrification, and Affordable Housing: A Classroom Simulation and Set of Assignments
November 3, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Community, Political Sociology, Public Policy, Social Change, Urban Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
College 300, College 400
Class Size(s):
Medium, Small
Abstract:

In this simulation, students work through the legislative process of rezoning a part of a nearby city and grapple with their decision’s impact on gentrification and the provision of affordable housing. The resource provides a specific example in Long Beach, CA...

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A child and parent reading a children's book
Elicia Cousins
Understanding and communicating sociology through children’s picture books: An adaptation of Maples and Taylor (2013)
October 26, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Introduction to Sociology/Social Problems, Socialization
Resource Type(s):
Assignment
Class Level(s):
College 100, College 200, High School
Class Size(s):
Medium, Small
Abstract:

This resource outlines a final project option for an introductory undergraduate sociology course: writing and illustrating a children’s picture book that explores a sociological topic of choice. Students are reminded that children’s books contain stories that are...

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A college classroom
Jerrod Yarosh
Utilizing Padlet to Curate and Integrate Student-Generated Examples
October 6, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Other, Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Assessment, Assignment, Class Activity
Class Level(s):
Any Level
Class Size(s):
Any
Abstract:

This teaching practice involves utilizing student generated/curated content as a way to break down and modify the student-instructor relationship and transform it into a co-educational space. Students take the lead (with assistance) creating a collection of...

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A globed zoomed onto Europe
Svetla Dimitrova, J Tyler Fox
Sustainable Development (taught as Study Abroad course)
October 6, 2023
Subject Area(s):
Development, Environmental Sociology, Public Policy, Social Change, Teaching and Learning in Sociology
Resource Type(s):
Syllabus
Class Level(s):
College 300, College 400
Class Size(s):
Small
Abstract:

This course introduces students to the major perspectives on development theory and practice from a sociological and an ecological perspective. The focus is on exploring specific sustainable development initiatives and how those connect to the United Nations...

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