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Grades level iconsGrades 9–12
Session time icon60+ Minutes
Genre information iconNarrative, Poetry
Video resource type iconVideos

Write With. . . Life Stories: Art as Activism with Martin Sheen

by 826 National and Life Stories
Activism and art are personal—they are fueled by your perspective of the world. In this lesson, you will write a poem or a narrative that shares your deep connection to an important topic or issue.
About the Author

Actor Martin Sheen was born Ramón Estévez. He is a multiple Emmy and Golden Globe winner. Known for his role as President Bartlet in The West Wing, Sheen is a longtime activist for social justice and human rights, fighting for farmworkers’ rights, for climate justice, and for many political campaigns.

About Life Stories 

Life Stories is a 501(c)(3) non-profit media organization that creates and distributes documentaries, interviews, and educational resources about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. These stories address issues of civics, history, politics, the arts and culture by shining the spotlight on relatable human stories of purpose and meaning in times of change. We provide open access to all our content for communities and classrooms through our curated website and YouTube channel.

About The Thread 

The Thread is a new documentary interview series exploring what it means to live a purpose-driven life through conversations with multi-faceted people who have helped shape our society. Each 30-minute episode takes viewers on a personal journey into the life of extraordinary people who candidly share their triumphs and failures. The Thread is available on the Life Stories website and YouTube channel, and as a podcast across all major platforms. Teaching The Thread brings the series  into the classroom with episode lessons designed to strengthen social emotional learning and media literacy skills and expand the scope of subject matter in Social Studies and English Language Arts. Future seasons of The Thread will include similar curricular support.

What You Will Do

Introduction:

In this video, Martin Sheen delves into his activism, arrests, and community service. Sheen reflects on his long acting career, including the impact of his role in The West Wing, a fictional television drama about the people who work in the White House. This role inspired young people to pursue careers in public service. Please visit “Martin Sheen: Lights, Camera, Activism” to see the full lesson by Life Stories. 

Content Note: 

Before watching the video, we suggest you provide students with an overview of the Civil Rights Movement and the Selma Marches, to ensure they understand the historical context of the clip they watch in STEP 1. This resource from the National Archive provides background on the Selma Marches. To create an environment where all students feel welcome to participate, we encourage students to start where they feel comfortable. For example, they may draw or journal...

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