"¡Si Se Puede!" Celebrating Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta

Delivery of this lesson will require one, 60–min visit.

Lesson Plans:

The presentations below are designed to provide volunteers with options for preparing their visits based on the classroom's specific needs. Notes contained on the slides provide additional facts and background information for visitors to use, as they wish.

Update: Based on feedback from judges delivering this lesson, volunteers may wish to omit some of the historical content. Most report running out of time because so much historical information is included.

Volunteer Here

Activities

New for 2022: Activity (10 minutes each)

Many volunteers find activities helpful in breaking up the presentation. For this lesson, activities may be integrated at any point to offer students a closer look at what motivated these two "ordinary people" to fight for social justice on behalf of farmworkers.

A close look at Cesar: students view this video and learn about Cesar Chavez's connection to his community, as well as how he developed from an organizer to the leader of the United Farm Workers. Once the video is shown, have students break into groups and prepare responses:

How do you think Chavez’s background helped him to emerge as the leader of the migrant farm workers’ movement?
What were some of the strategies used by Chavez? Are there any that are still used today?
At several points in his career, Chavez went on prolonged hunger strikes--one lasted 36 days. Why do you think he did this? Does this seem like an effective technique?
Using what you know about Martin Luther King, name some similarities they all share in common, both in their personal and professional lives.

Close look at Dolores: students view this video of modern-day Dolores, reflecting back on what inspired her to form the slogan "Si, Se Puede." She reflects on who inspired her to take on the big growers, and speaks on what "Si se puede" means to her. Break students into groups and prepare responses:

How were Cesar's and Dolores' backgrounds different?
Contrast the leadership styles of Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez
What is the meaning of "Si se puede"? Why do you think the slogan lives on, outside the farmworker movement?
What factors in her childhood does Dolores point to in crediting her interest in social issues and civil rights?

GRADES 3–5

Chavez_Huerta_Grades 3-5 R.pptx

Grades 3–5 (print w/notes)

Chavez_Huerta_Grades 3-5 Spanish.pptx

Spanish (print w/notes)

GRADES 6–12

SiSePuede_Grades6_12 Final.pptx

Full Stack

Note the optional slides that may be pulled in the interest of time. If this is an AP class, you may find them helpful.

Shortened_SSP

Short Stack
Just 31 slides that are better suited for younger learners (grades 5-8)

Print PDF with speaker notes

SiSePuede_Grades6_12 Spanish_Final.pptx

Spanish (print or download slides with notes)

Objectives

Students will:

Learn unique facts and anecdotes about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta
Apply the provisions of the Constitution to the actions of these civil rights leaders
Gain a deeper understanding of the First Amendment, the state court system, the Three Branches of Government, and the role of a judicial officer.

Terminology and Citing Cases:

Protesting: It is lawful and protected, as long as there is no violence, peace is not breached, or intimidation is not involved. (See Thornhill v. Alabama (1940) 310 U.S. 88, 105; Steiner v. Long Beach Local No. 128 (1942) 19 Cal.2d 676, 682.)

LAW, LAWYERS, AND LABOR: THE UNITED FARM WORKERS' LEGAL STRATEGY IN THE 1960S AND 1970S AND THE ROLE OF LAW IN UNION ORGANIZING TODAY, published by University of Pennsylvania Journal of Labor and Employment Law.

Multimedia

The following videos are intended for students to view before your visit. These videos provide background information supporting the content of this lesson.

Video: The Farm Worker Movement (16:20)

Farm workers play a crucial role in feeding the nation and ensuring the viability of commodities, yet they have suffered extremely poor working conditions for many years. Explore the early days of the United Farmworkers under the guidance of Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. See the conditions that led to the organization of a farm labor union and the initial challenges to its work.

Suggest to the teacher they view it with their students in preparation for your visit.

Video: Dolores Huerta (1:17)

This video is a snippet from the Sacramento rally where Dolores addressed the large crowd following the pilgrimage from Delano. The graphic here is linked to the video hosted on PBS.org

Video: Dolores Huerta on Si Se Puede! (1:46)

"Each of us have the power to change things." Dolores Huerta talks about how the slogan started and who influenced her most in life.

César Chávez: American Civil Rights Activist | Mini Bio | BIO (3:59)

This video is embedded in the presentation. Ask the teacher to test it to make sure the link is live. Better, have the teacher load the video so it is ready to play.

Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist Video (3:51)

Migrant farm workers in the United States were exploited routinely by the agricultural industry, which forced them to work in unsafe conditions for little pay. They had no political representation or advocates until the United Farm Workers, the first successful union for farm laborers.

In preparation for the visit, the teacher may use any of the following resources to deepen students’ understanding of the movement:

Planning with the Teacher

Meet ahead of time.
A printable PDF of slides with speaker notes is posted with the lesson presentation. You should print it out and make additional notes as you go through the lesson with the teacher.
Teachers have expressed that students in upper grades get more out of dialogue than they do from presentations. Turn off the presentation so the class can focus on a conversation. Presenter notes give suggestions for dialogue.
Teachers may ask for a copy of the presentation to load onto their meeting platform. Each teacher will receive a link to the presentation without notes when they are matched with a volunteer.

After the visit, be sure to collect Feedback forms!

For Teachers | For Students | For Judges

Lesson Source:

The Power of Democracy is grateful for the contributions coming forward from the California judiciary, committed to continuing outreach to students during these challenging times. This lesson was created in English and Spanish by:

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Alex Ricciardulli, with help from members of the Los Angeles Latino Judicial Officers Association (Judges Annabelle Cortez, Roberto Longoria, Serena Murillo, Patricia Nieto & Maria Puente-Porras).

Spanish translation by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Ana De Alba; Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges Annabelle Cortez, Roberto Longoria, Maria Puente-Porras, Serena Murillo & Alex Ricciardulli; Orange County Superior Court Judges Andre De La Cruz, Elizabeth Macias & Maurice Sanchez; and Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Ricardo Cordova.

"¡Si Se Puede!"

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