A new generation of students can learn about the work of Robert F. Kennedy, thanks to a groundbreaking partnership between NYSUT and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial.

The statewide union spearheaded the creation of original lesson plan guides for fourth, eighth and 11th grades highlighting the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy.

A former U.S. attorney general, Kennedy was a U.S. senator from New York when he was assassinated while running for president in 1968.

The project was carried out in collaboration with the office of Gov. David Paterson and the State Education Department, and underwritten in part through a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

"Kennedy had a tremendous commitment to social justice and we're thrilled to help students throughout New York state learn about the many ways he advocated for those who were unable to advocate for themselves," said NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.

The packets, containing the lesson guides, a classroom poster and other materials, will be mailed to leaders and grade-level teachers in early November. The next issue of New York Teacher will provide in-depth coverage of the project.

Lesson plans for "Speak Up, Speak Out: Robert F. Kennedy, Champion of Social Justice," were developed this summer by a team of educators to showcase Kennedy's commitment to social justice. A highlight of the summer lesson plan writing workshop was a presentation by Ambassador William vanden Heuvel, Kennedy's special assistant from 1961-64, who played a key role in the desegregation of the Prince Edward County, Va., school system.

"I was honored to be a part of this project," said Walter Robertson, Dunkirk Teachers Association, a social studies teacher who participated in the guide's creation.

The lesson plans link Kennedy's commitment to social justice with New York state standards in social studies and English language arts. Educators will have access to primary source interviews and lesson supplements through the NYSUT Web site, where lesson guides will be posted.

In November, New York City's Triborough Bridge will be renamed in Kennedy's honor 40 years after his assassination. NYSUT and its development partners hope educators will use the bridge renaming as a catalyst for incorporating the lessons into their curriculum.

- Kara E. Smith