This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
MUSIC
SEASON ONE | 19 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY JOE POSNER
When does sound become music? Why are humans so uniquely able to master musical? Researchers
talk rhythm, octaves, and the magic of song and dance.
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
What is music?
Why is it universal?
How does sound become something more?
The episode presents a lot of data distinguishing how humans perceive music from how various
animals perceive it. In your own words, discuss your understanding of the difference.
What do we have to learn from comparing human perceptions to animal perceptions?
Discuss Jennifer Lee’s experience of losing her ability to “hear” music. What was her emotional
response to that? What does her experience teach us about the science of how we hear music?
What did it teach you about the importance of music in our lives?
FOR SCHOOLS IN THE HOME
Use this episode and this context as the basis ACTIVITY: DECONSTRUCT YOUR
for a class activity or discussion FAVORITE SONG
Describe your understanding of each of Have each member of the family find a
the elements of music that are explained recording of their favorite song, or a song
in the episode: that has meaning to them. Spend some time
Rhythm breaking the song down by rhythm, pitch/
Pitch harmony, emotion and memory. Describe to
Harmony one another what the song means to you.
Timbre
Emotion
The episode mentions many applications
of music, including learning, healing,
connection, pleasure, mood, and group
cohesion. Choose one of those uses and
conduct some online research about
how music can be used in that way, and
present the evidence about why it works.
Write an argument about why you believe
music is universal to human cultures.
Remember to distinguish between the
presence of music, and the differences in
scales and the emotions associated with
scales across cultures.
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
THE WATER CRISIS
SEASON ONE | 19 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY FRANK MATT
The global water crisis is at an inflection point. How do we price our most valuable resource, while
also ensuring access to it as a human right?
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
“It’s easy to forget that the quest for clean water has been one of the defining struggles of human
history. Civilizations that harnessed water thrived, the ones that failed, fell.”
-Kyle MacLachlan, The World’s Water Crisis
After watching and learning about the current state and increasing scarcity of freshwater for
human consumption, what are your recommendations for sustaining a thriving civilizations?
HERE ARE OTHER STATEMENTS MENTIONED IN THE WORLD’S WATER CRISIS TO DISCUSS:
“There is no substitute for water. . . How have we built a world where we don’t have enough of its
most valuable resource? What does a new world need to look like with a different relationship to
water?” - Kyle MacLachlan, Narrator, The World’s Water Crisis
“The benefit of valuing water as we should is that we wouldn’t be growing crops in really arid
places. . . How are you supposed to value an invaluable resource while ensuring everyone has it?”
- Betsy Otto, Water Resources Analyst
“We have to defend our water. Because it is a vital liquid. It is the most important thing we have
right now.” - Laura Mena Garcia, Farmer
FOR SCHOOLS
Use this episode and this context as the basis for a class activity or discussion.
RESEARCH AND MORE! This episode offers many opportunities for student research, as
water affects many issues in politics, industry, agriculture, and human rights.
MEAT: “Nothing has more water embedded FARM SUBSIDIES AND AGRICULTURE:
in it than meat. More people around the “Water does not abide by some of the basic
world are eating like Americans. But there rules of capitalism. Farmers hardly pay
is not enough water in the world to eat anything so the true cost of water does not
like Americans.” How is meat consumption end up in food costs.” You may also look to
linked to water scarcity? current desalination technology and work.
CURRENT CITY POLICY & GROUND ZERO: POLITICS OF THE COLORADO RIVER:
Research one of the cities noted and what We learn in the episode that the use of
they are doing to address this growing crisis. and damming of the Colorado River has
Cities mentioned: Sao Paulo, Melbourne, enabled cities - Salt Lake, Phoenix, Las
Jakharta, London, Beijing, Istanbul, Tokyo, Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles, etc. - to thrive,
Bangalore, Barcelona and Mexico City. but the overuse of this river also has major
consequences. Research the history of the
FRESHWATER USE: Research what Colorado River and how it has impacted the
constitutes the percentages in this cities it reaches.
infographic from The World Bank. Focus on
Agriculture and Industry. Recommend at
least three realistic new ways for both areas
to change practices and institute policies.
IN THE HOME
In 2010 the United Nations recognized access
to water and sanitation is a human right.
Discuss at home, or individually explore, how
water is a human right and the implications of this
ACTIVITY: TRACKING YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT
“The trick is recognizing how valuable water is before there is not enough of it.”
- Kyle MacLachlan, The World’s Water Crisis
STEP ONE: How to understand the scope of STEP TWO: Conservation Efforts
water use in our lives and how important it is
to understand conservation. As a family or household, choose one
or more strategies to cut down and
List all the ways that you personally use conserve water in an area you have
water on a daily basis identified as possible to conserve water
List all the appliances in your home that Track your conservation efforts over a
you use on a daily basis that use water week, or over a longer period of time
and see how much water you have been
able to conserve by looking at your water
meter, your water bill, or establish other
ways of tracking your use
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
WHY WOMEN ARE PAID LESS
SEASON ONE | 18 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY JOHNNY HARRIS AND SARAH KLIFF
Hillary Clinton and Anne-Marie Slaughter discuss the cultural norms at the center of the worldwide
gender pay gap, including the “motherhood penalty.”
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
Why are women all around the world paid so much less than men?
What factors other than gender discrimination affect the gender pay gap?
In historical terms, what has changed, and what has stayed the same, with regard to the gender
pay gap in the United States? How does the picture shift when you include racial disparities?
Discuss the stories of how Rwanda and Iceland reduced their pay gaps. What were the big “aha,”
moments or major influencers in each case?
FOR SCHOOLS
Choose one of the following quotes from the episode, and use your own words to restate
the point that the speaker(s) makes. Using independent research from credible sources, find
other examples and evidence that supports the argument of your choice.
“We know that just freeing the potential of women, that is the fastest multiplier we have
in terms of our growth. That is such an accelerator in eradicating poverty.”
-Rwandan Ambassador to the UN Valentine Rugwaziba
“A pay gap based on choices is different than a pay gap that’s just because you’re a
woman...” -Greta Sustern, Journalist
“But often, women and men don’t get the same choices. In the U.S., there are three times
as many single moms as single dads.” - Episode Narration
“The wage gap is not just a woman’s issue, it’s a family issue.”
- Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
The episode offers two examples of countries where the pay gap has been largely eliminated,
Rwanda and Iceland. Create a graphic organizer* that illustrates your understanding of what
sparked the change, the policy and social changes that had to occur, and the outcomes of
each story.
*If you are unfamiliar with graphic organizers, do a Google image search for “graphic organizer template” to generate
ideas.
Write an op-ed for your local newspaper describing what you believe needs to happen in
order to address the wage gap in the United States.
IN THE HOME
ACTIVITY: LEARNING FROM PERSONAL HISTORY
Identify someone you know, perhaps a grandmother or close family friend, who lived
and worked through the changes for women that the episode describes between the
1950s, 1960s, and through the 1970s and beyond. Interview that person to learn about her
experiences working, and if relevant parenting, during those times.
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
THE STOCK MARKET
SEASON ONE | 17 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY ESTELLE CASWELL
Does the stock market accurately reflect the status of the economy? Finance specialists discuss
market history, valuations and CEO incentives.
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
What story does the stock market tell us on a daily basis about the health and well being of
our economy and our country?
If corporations built the American middle class in the mid-20th century, who or what is
building the middle class today?
What do you think are all the responsibilities of a corporate executive? Is it to their
shareholders? Does it reach beyond their own corporation? Why or why not?
How do stockholders influence how companies behave? Whose interests are they taking into
account?
“Stock markets give people a change which company deserve to succeed. Which ideas are worth
a gamble.” - Narrator, The Stock Market
“There’s something about giving people games to play. You look at successful countries and
they all have stock markets, and countries that tried to shut them down are coming around and
instituting them.” - Robert Schiller, Nobel Prize Economist
“My concern is we have evolved to this much shorter term view of shareholders rights vs. a longer
term view of stakeholder responsibilities.” - Hank Newell, Former CEO, Wausau Paper
“This trend [of short term gain vs. long term responsibilities ] is seriously threatening the ability
of our corporations to pursue the kinds of projects that lead to long term corporate responsibility
and economic growth.” - Lynn Stout, Corporate Lawyer
FOR SCHOOLS
Use this episode and this context as the basis for a class activity or discussion
STOCKMARKET 101
What more would you add to this definition and information on the stock market? What is
missing?
Definition: The stock market is people buying and selling pieces of a company based on
how much those pieces will be worth in the future. There are stock markets all over the
world.
In the United States:
NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) - est 1792
Nasdaq - est 1971 and is for technology companies
Need to know how both are doing in order to know how the stock market is
performing
Two big American Indexes: S & P 500 and Dow (more exclusive) - 30 most
important
There were several men mentioned during this episode. Some familiar, some less familiar.
Choose one name and do a Stock Market Profile Biography - a one page written overview of
their role and influence in American corporations and/or the American stock market.
Andrew Carnegie
Cornelius Vanderbilt
John D. Rockefeller
Warren Buffet
Milton Friedman
Read “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase Its Profits” by Milton Friedman and
discuss his central argument that the sole responsibility of business is to increase its profits.
IN THE HOME
ACTIVITY: READING THE STOCK EXCHANGE DAILY REPORT
Choose a company and look at and track its performance on the stock market over a
designated period of time.
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
CRICKET
SEASON ONE | 16 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY MACK SCHNEIDER
Cricket experts look at how the confusing sport became so popular and discuss its evolution in
becoming more accessible, entertaining and profitable.
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
What are the rules of this complicated game?
How has this game changed over time, to become one of the most popular sports on Earth?
Have you ever played cricket? Watched a game of cricket? Who did you watch it with, and where
did they learn to play and/or watch it?
What influences changes how the game has been played over time?
FOR SCHOOLS
Use this episode and this context as the basis for a class activity or discussion
What meaning do professional sports hold in society?
Using examples from the episode, and from your own experience and community,
discuss your understanding of the purpose and meaning of professional sports.
Draw on your knowledge of, or your independent research into, the colonial history of
England and India and write a brief description of the nature of the relationship between the
two countries and how it has changed over time.
How does that history deepen your understanding of how the importance of cricket has
evolved over time in India?
Read this quote from Mihr Rose, author of A History of Indian Cricket: “The power of
cricket has shifted from England to India, there’s no question about it. Why Lords is seen
as the home of cricket, that’s the symbolic home of cricket. It’s like seeing Rome as the
great capital of the world - that was a long time ago.”
How do you see this perspective as related to the colonial history of the two
nations?
Read these two quotes describing the tension between national/local pride in a sports team,
and the monetary value of playing the game:
“People will develop an opinion that some players don’t like playing for their country,
they’re just running the money down. But sport is about money - you have to make a
living, you’re a sports person”
- Brian Lara, Cricketer, West Indies, 1990-2007
“This is entertainment, and you can watch it every night, and there will be an unfolding
narrative. That’s what sport at its best is. If cricket isn’t trying to entertain people, I’m not
sure why we’re playing it.”
- Jarrod Kimber, Journalist, ESPN
Write an opinion about:
Whether a professional player has a duty to their home community or country
The role of money in professional sports
The relationship between sports and entertainment
IN THE HOME
ACTIVITY: PLAY CRICKET
Based on the episode’s description of the game, make some wickets, choose a bat, and see if
you can play the game.
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
!
SEASON ONE | 15 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY CHRISTINE LASKOWSKI
Do we overuse exclamation points!? Linguists and copy editors look at how the punctuation has
adapted across history, literature and internet speak.
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit the guiding questions and quotes form the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
What is the correct way to use an exclamation point?
Why do we have only three punctuation marks to end sentences?
Why is the exclamation point so confusing? And is there something better?
When do you use exclamation points? Do you use them differently in different contexts, like at
school, work, or online? How do you decide when to use them?
Does learning how the exclamation point has evolved over time change your thoughts about how
it “should” be used now? How and when does what is ‘correct’ in language evolve?
FOR SCHOOLS
Use this episode and this context as the basis for a class activity or discussion
Using multiple examples from the episode, state your understanding of why exclamation
point use might be perceived differently when used by men and women. For a deeper
understanding, read the abstract of the original article cited by the episode, “Gender and
the Use of Exclamation Points in Computer-Mediated Communication: An Analysis of
Exclamations Posted to Two Electronic Discussion Lists.”1
After stating your understandings of the research findings, write about:
Whether they feel true to you given your interactions with others
What implications these findings have for the real world, like in work settings, and
Further research questions that might be useful to explore.
In the 1960s, Mark Spekter invented the interrobang in the U.S., and Hervé Bazin proposed
the acclamation point, the conviction point, and the authority point. Why do you think they
were never widely adopted?
If you were to invent one or more punctuation marks to augment the three options
we currently have to end sentences, what would they be? Include images of what they
would look like, as well as when you think they should be used.
In the closing of the episode, Jason Parham, senior writer for Wired, states, “Language and
writing is supposed to be fluid...the internet is new and young, sort of the Wild Wild West,
anything kind of goes.”
Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not?
Write an opinion piece about whether or not it is important for language to have ‘rules,’
including your ideas about what the rules should be in different contexts, who should
have the power to decide, and what are the implications of breaking the rules for people
from different genders, races, or other social groups.
IN THE HOME
ACTIVITY: FUN WITH PUNCTUATION
Think back to the example from the episode from Beowulf, where the first passage would
change significantly if the first word is, “Listen?” or “Listen!” As a family, find a few phrases,
like a passage from a favorite book, a recent text exchange, or movie quotes. Take turns
writing them down in ways that their meaning might be changed with different punctuation.
1
Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Volume 11, Issue 4, 1 July 2006, Pages 1012–1024, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2006.00305.x,
This enlightening docu-series from Vox digs into a wide range of topics that puts
the spotlight on topical issues that impact people’s lives. Each episode generally
ranges from 15 to 20 minutes in length and aims to dig deeper into topics,
questions, and ideas that aren’t often part of the daily news cycle.
2018 | TV-MA
WATCH TRAILER
THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP
SEASON ONE | 16 MINUTES | PRODUCED BY JOE POSNER
Cory Booker and others discuss how slavery, housing discrimination and centuries of inequality have
compounded to create a racial wealth gap.
START THE CONVERSATION
After watching, revisit these guiding questions or quotes from the opening of the episode. They
can also be used as writing or discussion prompts in a virtual class, or as a source for inspiration
for students and families to discuss.
“Since 1865 America has slowly, and painfully, broken down racial barrier after racial barrier.
Wealth is different.” - Narration from “The Racial Wealth Gap”
“This [the racial wealth gap] is something that started with slavery but its never diminished
over time. That is because government policy keeps perpetuating the circumstances for the
wealth gap” - Mehrsa Baradaran, Author
“Whenever this issue of compensatory or preferential treatment for the Negro is raised,
some of our friends recoil in horror. The Negro should be granted equality, they agree; but he
should ask nothing more. On the surface, this appears reasonable, but it is not realistic. For
it is obvious that if a man is entered at the starting line in a race three hundred years after
another man, the first would have to perform some impossible feat in order to catch up with
his fellow runner.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Why We Can’t Wait
“This does have a generational cost. We just can’t hope to thrive as a nation with some
wounds that have not been addressed.” - Senator Cory Booker
FOR SCHOOLS IN THE HOME
Use this episode and this context as the basis ACTIVITY: “EFFECTS OF RACISM
for a class activity or discussion BECAME A JUSTIFICATION FOR
MORE RACISM.” -SAMIRA WILEY, NARRATOR, THE RACIAL WEALTH GAP
President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil
Rights Act of 1968 on April 11, 1968 - one Revisit the history of redlining in the United
week after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin States. Several historical maps of cities were
Luther King, Jr. This Act expanded on previous displayed with redlining clearly shown- Los
acts prohibiting discriminatory practices Angeles, Baltimore, Denver, Atlanta, Miami,
concerning the sale, rental and financing Brooklyn, Detroit.
of housing based on race, religion, national
origin, sex (and as amended) handicap and Research your own city or town and see
family status. Title VIII of the Act is also known if you can find historical housing maps
as the Fair Housing Act (of 1968.) that show which neighborhoods were
redlined.
Why didn’t the passage of the 1968 Fair Interview someone in your community
Housing Act end housing discrimination? who may know the history of redlining in
your community.
Home ownership is the single most Listen to the 1619 Podcast - Episode 2:
determining factor to perpetuating the racial The Economy That Slavery Built. You
wealth gap. Two-thirds of America’s middle can also read this accompanying article,
class wealth is in the form of home ownership. here.
Because of enslavement, and the centuries of
legal barriers for African Americans to own
their own homes including red-lining, the racial
wealth gap continues to increase.
Why is the racial wealth gap continuing
to grow and grow?
