Classroom Resources

The following lesson plans have been written and vetted by Eastern State staff, participants in our Summer Teacher Institute, and/or members of our Collaboratory for Justice Education. They are available for use, free of charge, by all educators.
 

Intro Activities for Discussions on Incarceration
Grades 6-8
This 75-minute activity explores the historical through lines between the 13th Amendment, incarceration, and prison labor including a case study analysis. Students will explore the ethics of incarceration, reflecting on rehabilitation, labor practices, prisoner wage and benefits, and workplace safety.

Defining Justice
Grades 6-12
This 60-minute activity requires students to actively interpret Lady Justice, a symbolic statue designed to encapsulate the American criminal justice system and then define Justice using a Frayer model.

Challenges Facing Women Experiencing Incarceration

Far from Home: Location and Logistics of Women Experiencing Incarceration
Grades 10-12
This lesson explores the complex and far-reaching consequences of maternal incarceration. Students will examine how incarceration of mothers impacts their children through separation trauma, and how this effect is magnified for marginalized communities. The lesson addresses barriers incarcerated mothers face in reuniting with their children after release, including legal challenges, limited access to family support services, and societal stigma. Students will also investigate human rights issues related to maternal incarceration through research and discussion.

Girls in Detention Centers
Grades 8-10
This lesson addresses challenges facing girls in juvenile detention centers, with special attention to the disproportionate representation of girls of color (e.g., Latinx, African American). Students will examine how adverse childhood experiences and trauma can lead to involvement in the juvenile justice system. The lesson explores daily life in detention facilities, including separation from families, interrupted education, and risks of victimization. Students will gain understanding of the challenges facing detained girls and analyze the U.S. approach to rehabilitation and punishment for this population.

See, Think, Wonder: Image Analysis Guide
Grades 9-12
This lesson introduces students to a structured approach for analyzing visual sources. Students will practice observational skills, evidence-based interpretation, and questioning techniques using the See, Think, Wonder strategy. This analytical framework supports critical thinking and visual literacy skills.

Purposes for Incarceration
Grades 9-19
This lesson introduces students to the four primary purposes of incarceration—deterrence, incapacitation, punishment, and rehabilitation—and examines how these goals reflect society’s responses to crime. Through discussion, research, and comparative analysis, students evaluate the effectiveness of each purpose and weigh their relative importance to public safety and justice. The lesson encourages critical thinking about how incarceration balances accountability with the potential for rehabilitation and social reintegration.

Unlocking History is a video series that examines the intricacies of everyday life at Eastern State Penitentiary and in prisons today. In each installment, our researchers delve into the archives and share a unique, often-overlooked slice of history through the lens of a specific person, community, or topic.

Sports at Eastern State Penitentiary — From solitary exercise to team activities, learn more about the important role of sports at Eastern State Penitentiary including the penitentiary’s integrated baseball teams and legendary boxer turned Eastern State baseball player Charles “Jack” Blackburn.

Video | Educator Guide

The Engineering Achievements of Stephen De Ayala — Uncover the fascinating story of Steven De Ayala, who designed Eastern State's eleventh cellblock while incarcerated at the penitentiary in the 1890s.

Video | Educator Guide

Judaism at Eastern State Penitentiary — From solitary worship to the construction of the first ever prison synagogue, learn more about Judaism at Eastern State Penitentiary. How was the faith practiced by those living at Eastern State? What efforts are being taken to preserve these sacred spaces today?

Video | Educator Guide

Justice 101 is a free, monthly discussion series examining the history of the justice system in America, from its founding to today, and the impact it has on society, citizens, and the world. While discussions take place live — in person, online, or both — recordings can be viewed anytime on our YouTube channel.

The Eighth Amendment: Cruel & Unusual Punishment (September 2023) — The Eighth Amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Has that standard been upheld by American criminal justice institutions of the past? Is it being upheld presently? 

Video | Educator Guide

Women Behind Bars: Why Is Incarceration of Women on the Rise? (March 2024) — Female imprisonment is on the rise in the United States, surpassing global rates. Why is this? Consider the historical context of women in prison, and discover the unique challenges faced by women as they navigate life within correctional facilities primarily designed for men.

Video | Educator Guide

Hidden Lives Illuminated is a series of original animated films created by currently incarcerated artists. The series debuted in August 2019 when the 20 newly commissioned short films were projected onto the façade of Eastern State Penitentiary for 29 nights. The stories told by people incarcerated at the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution at Chester and Philadelphia’s Riverside Correctional Facility for Women offer a rare look inside America’s correctional system, conceived, narrated, and animated by incarcerated people.

Major support for Hidden Lives Illuminated was provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

The View From Inside — Featuring Nostalgia by Paul M., Freedom by David G., Where Did It Go? by Aaron W., My Kids by Lamar L., and Lymph Notes by Qwasheam R.

Video Playlist | Reflection Guide

Criminal Justice Today — Featuring The Bus Stop by Alexander S., There He Was, There He Is by Joseph K., Money Talks by Louis B., Between Two Courts by Marvin S., and You Can Go Left or Right by filmmakers at Philadelphia's Riverside Correctional Facility for Women.

Video Playlist | Reflection Guide

Family and Community Impact — Featuring Dear Time by Brian H., My Boys... by Braheem L., Through Her, I Live by Clarence S., Piano Priest by Justino G., and A Special Person by Robert T.

Video Playlist | Reflection Guide

Restorative Justice — Featuring Justice by Jerome L., Big Boy Shoes by Donyea P., Phoenix by Ezra B., Furever Homes by Joseph S., and We Can If We Want To by Michael L.

Video Playlist | Reflection Guide

Eastern State Teachbacks provide an opportunity to engage with fellow educators in a meaningful way. These sessions — made for and led by educators — each feature a conversation centered around a topic in contemporary justice followed by an activity and classroom lesson discussion. Each spring, we offer live virtual Teachbacks, open to all educators. In addition, recordings can be viewed anytime on our YouTube channel.

School-to-Prison Pipeline (March 2024) — Presented by Eastern State with guest speakers Aishah Nashedeem (Science Leadership Academy) and Dr. Keith Reeves (Professor of Political Science, Swarthmore College)

The Persistence of Forced Labor in Prisons (May 2024) — Presented by Eastern State with guest speakers Miriam Rock (Friends Select School) and Jennifer Turner (Human Rights Researcher, ACLU)