This document provides information and resources for teachers to participate in The MY HERO Project with their students. The MY HERO Project allows students to write essays, create art, or make short films about people they see as heroes. It describes how students can share their work on the MY HERO website and discusses how participation helps students develop 21st century skills. Guidelines for appropriate content are also included, as well as links to lesson plans and other resources in the Teacher's Room section of the website.

2. A RESOURCE designed to help YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS
take part in this interactive online multimedia journal
to CELEBRATE THE BEST OF HUMANITY.

3. INTRODUCTION
By Sara Armstrong, PhD
21ST CENTURY SKILLS
There are heroes all around us. Using valuable class time to While academic subjects such as reading, writing, math, sci-
research and discover positive role models in your students’ ence, and social studies are vital in education, other skills such
lives, and in their world, can be a transforming experience. as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, critical
Illuminating heroic acts and deeds with essays, art, and multi- thinking, information literacy, and creativity are equally as
media helps students articulate and understand what is good important. Beleaguered educators protest that they cannot
in the world, and how simple—and epic—acts can make a dif- add one more thing to all the subjects they are expected to
ference in who we are, how we relate to others, and how we teach for students to do well on standardized tests. I suggest
think about ourselves and our places in the world. that academic standards, skills needed to thrive in today’s
world that have been identified by such organizations as the
For many years I have had the opportunity to present The MY Partnership for 21st Century Skills (www.21stcenturyskills.org),
HERO Project to teachers at educational technology confer- can be addressed when students express their understanding
ences across the country. When I talk in my sessions about the of academic concepts through identifying inspiring people
ease with which students and teachers can participate in the and then writing, creating short films, or developing art
project, I always get enthusiastic responses, and excitement about them.
about going back to school and diving in. The positive feed-
back I have received from teachers reinforces my belief that the Not only does the Partnership for 21st Century Skills recognize
project successfully teaches and fosters key standards-based technology literacy and creativity as important parts of learn-
themes and strands, including strengthening 21st Century ing and expression of understanding, but the International
technology skills, building cross-cultural relationships, and Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)’s National
addressing social and emotional learning. Technology Standards (NETS) Project includes these
practices in their updated NETS for Students
This educator’s guide was designed to help you and your stu- (http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=NETS).
dents take part in this interactive online multimedia journal, to Allowing students to use current technology to express their
create essays, art, and short films to honor heroes and hero- understanding and knowledge of academic subjects affords
ism. You will discover how easy it is to integrate MY HERO into them practice with important tools and fosters effective com-
your curriculum, while deepening student understanding of munication through these media.
concepts and content in social studies, English/language arts,
art—even math and science—depending on the hero and CONTENT STANDARDS
medium you choose. Take a look at the website; think about National and state standards in reading and writing can be
your own heroes; and then encourage your students to cele- addressed through composing stories about heroes modeled
brate theirs and share their ideas with the world. after those at the MY HERO website in the Directory of
Heroes. Communication and technology standards, as well as
Sara Armstrong, PhD, is a long-time educator who has promoted writing and researching, are accounted for as students create
project-based learning for many years. She is a member of the short films on their topics. And art standards, as well as com-
Buck Institute for Education’s National Faculty, and is working on munication, writing, and other skills are encompassed in cre-
a book for the Buck Institute on project-based learning in elemen- ating art works and developing the narratives about the pieces.
tary classrooms. She conducts workshops and conference presenta- Students complete work for an authentic audience, and are
tions, as well as year-long coaching, on developing and imple- motivated by the feedback they receive from their peers and
menting effective projects, including appropriate technology use. adults around the world who come across their work at the MY
She also serves as editor of OnCUE, California Computer-Using HERO website.
Educators’ journal, and is an associate of the Thornburg Center for
Professional Development.

4. HOW TO PARTICIPATE
IN THE MY HERO PROJECT
There are three main ways for you and your students to share hero stories: essay, art,
or a short film. The following information will help you get started:
ESSAYS & WRITTEN STORIES (CREATE) myhero.com/create
Through the Create program, students are invited to build
webpages about their heroes using text, images and links.
Watch a short film demonstrating how to create a webpage MY HERO Activity Guide
Teacher’s Guide to Using the MY HERO Create Program How Should We Choose Our Heroes by Charles Harper –
This essay and an online forum help students explore the
difference between celebrities and heroes.
http://myhero.com/FORUM
ART: VISUALIZE HEROISM (GALLERY) myhero.com/gallery
In the Gallery, students are invited to upload their original art and
digital images about their heroes, or the concept of heroism.
Watch a short film about the Gallery Teacher’s Guide to Using the MY HERO Virtual Art Gallery
Step through a tutorial entitled, How To Create/Upload Creating Hero Art and Engaging Students to Select Role
Your Original Art To The MY HERO Virtual Art Gallery Models with Life Forming Values
Family Hero : Joneice illustration
for story by Doug Miller
(Professional)
Happy Mother
Chief Joseph Mother brings joy and security in the family. No War Zone My Hero Begins
Robert Shetterly (Professional), When she is happy all the family is happy. By Tormusa Koroma (Middle School), by St. George Thompson from Laguna
Americans Who Tell the Truth When she is not the family is miserable. Sierra Leone College of Art & Design
By Assiatou Ngom (Middle School) Senegal

5. SHORT FILMS myhero.com/shortfilms
Students, teachers, and other artists are invited to view and submit
documentary, experimental, animated, or narrative short films, 10
minutes and under, about those making a positive difference in our world.
Media Arts Resources to Get You Started Please note that short films must be mailed
Includes production, cinematography, working with images and sound, and on DVD to the MY HERO office. For details,
post production lesson plans, toolkits, guides, reading lists, and more contact media@myheroproject.org
http://myhero.com/MediaArts
by
OKC Abrasevic Produced
and Nicholas Franczyk,
Produced by Seth Warren h Produced by Fatou Jup
iter Toure and Aicha
by Rahul Brown, Oil and Water Trut
: Law of Love Produced ne, Awadi: Messenger of and Sarah Noone
Left to right, top to bottom Jose, Guillermo and Arle duced by Oscar Loreto
Produced by Katherine, Heroes of the Season Pro
Katie Ham pton and Anina Sator, Sam , Gone Fishing Produced by Chris Jones,
Produced by Soo Hee Han
Thiam, First Memories,

6. JOIN AN IEARN/
MY HERO
LEARNING CIRCLE
myhero.com/circle
Elementary, middle, and high school classrooms around
the world collaborate on the subject of heroism.
The MY HERO Learning Circles program is a joint venture
between the International Education Resource Network
(iEARN.org) and The MY HERO Project. The MY HERO Learning
Circles provide a unique forum for students and teachers who
are interested in collaborating with other schools from around
the world on the topic of heroes and heroism through writing,
creating digital art, and filmmaking. Elementary, middle and
secondary schools from across the USA, Pakistan, Israel, Russia,
Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Peru and more share their essays, art, and short
films in the MY HERO Learning Circles.
A Learning Circle is created when a team of 6 – 8 teachers and
their classes join together in the virtual space of an electronic
classroom. The groups remain together over a 3 – 4 month period,
Bertha Kennedy
working on projects drawn from the curriculum of each of the Community School
classrooms organized around a selected theme. At the end of student from Alberta,
Canada
the term the group collects and publishes its work. Then, just as
any class of students does, the Learning Circle comes to an end.
Each session begins with new groupings of classes into new
Learning Circles.
iEARN is the world’s largest non-profit global network that
enables teachers and youth to use the Internet and other tech-
nologies to collaborate on projects that enhance learning and
T SHIRT prize winners
make a difference in the world. Membership in iEARN is Maddy, Kyle & Matthew
required to take part in the Learning Circles. To join, click here.
Once you become a member, complete the placement form to be
placed in a circle for the next session.
How to Become a Participant
Learning Circle Lesson Plan
A semester timeline for this collaborative project
Learning Circle Teacher Debbie Senger’s Class
CLASSROOM WEBPAGE
Watch Teacher Debbie Senger's Class
Project on GLOBAL TV
myhero.com/globalTV

7. SELECTED STORIES
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:
Angel Hero: Sadako Sasaki by Amanda E.
myhero.com/Sadako
Peacemaker Hero: Martin Luther King, Jr. by Nick Campbell
myhero.com/MLK
Writer Hero: Elizabeth Jane Cochrane by Penelope
myhero.com/Cochrane
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:
AIDS Hero: Austin Gutwein by Lindsey
myhero.com/Gutwein
Earthkeeper Hero: Jean-Michel Cousteau by Slater
myhero.com/Cousteau
Peacemaker Hero: Peace Pilgrim by Shiloh
.myhero.com/PeacePilgrim
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AUTHORS:
Rachel Carson as a Young Girl Artist Hero: Jim Henson by Joe
by Maia Desjardins
myhero.com/henson
Child Hero: Ruby Nell Bridges by Madison
myhero.com/Ruby_Bridges
Freedom Hero: Iqbal Masih by Kelly Frost
myhero.com/Iqbal
UNIVERSITY STUDENT AUTHORS:
Peacemaker Hero: The 14th Dalai Lama by Catherine
myhero.com/Dalai_Lama
Family Hero: Dick Hoyt by Jay
myhero.com/Hoyt
Faith Hero: Immaculee Ilibagiza by Molly
myhero.com/Ilibagiza
TEACHER AUTHORS:
Literary Hero: Charlotte A. Cavatica by Amy Mack
myhero.com/charlotte
Artist Hero: Mamadou Tall Diedhiou by Cheikh Darou Seck
myhero.com/Diedhiou
PROFESSIONAL FREELANCE WRITERS:
Lifesaver Hero: Ryan Hreljac by Wendy Jewell
myhero.com/Hreljac
Artist Hero: Rembrandt Van Rijn by Rebecca Miller
myhero.comRembrandt
Freedom Hero: Chief Joseph by Jennifer Beck
myhero.com/Chief_Joseph
Student Reporter and Mentor: Slater Jewell-Kemker
Global Exchange Artistic Director Skip Blumberg
and teacher Cheikh Seck from Senegal
MY HERO provides an interactive and dynamic program
to nurture aspiring young writers, artists and filmmakers.
myhero.com/Slater

8. GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATION
The MY HERO Project has developed the following guidelines to promote thoughtful communication, fairness, and concern
for each other. We believe that the world is a better place when everyone can feel safe, respected, and honored for who they are.
Your guidance is essential to help ensure that children have a safe and rewarding online experience.
NO HATRED, VIOLENCE OR PREJUDICE – we are looking for heroes who
inspire us with the best in humanity.
NO PLAGIARISM OR COPYING – work must be written in the student’s
own words, not copied or copy/pasted.
Artwork should be original.
All sources must be credited and cited fully. Text from other sources should appear
within quotation marks and include a reference to the original source. All online sources
for information should be cited and linked. Resources such as the Citation Machine
(http://citationmachine.net/?resize=1) make it easy for students to give credit where credit is due.
Examples:
Olaf, Michael. “The Montessori Method.” http://www.michaelolaf.net/. 01 May 2009.
Michael Olaf Montessori. 11 May 2009
The My Hero Project, My Hero: Extraordinary People on the Heroes Who Inspire Them.
New York: Free Press, 2005. Print.
Be very specific. Do not credit a search engine such as Google or Yahoo. Cite the particular source that was used.
Include all online educational resources used to research the essay, artwork, or short film. Sources should be included
as live links within the MY HERO Related Links template. Example: The Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov
Dakar Hero Fest 2008 Media arts educator Wendy Milette with students

9. TEACHER’S ROOM RESOURCES
We highly recommend the Lesson Plans and Resources tabs in our TEACHER’S ROOM. Teachers who have successfully
integrated MY HERO into their classrooms have contributed lesson plans to this growing online resource. Please consider
adding your lesson plans to this area of the website.
Lesson Plans, activity guides, handouts Resources: Downloadable PDF flyers, DVDs, current newsletter
myhero.com/lessonplans myhero.com/resources
MY HERO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
? The FAQs tab gives quick answers to questions you may have about the MY HERO Project,
and how to use it in your classroom. http://myhero.com/FAQ
THE DAILY CALENDAR lists the birthdays of many heroes, some with links to stories in the MY HERO database, and some
whose stories need to be told by your students! http://myhero.com/calendar
THE THEMATIC CALENDAR can be helpful for developing lessons about global and multicultural events throughout the year.
HUMAN RIGHTS HEROES
EARTH DAY HEROES
SPACE EXPLORATION HEROES
(EDUTOPIA.ORG ON MY HERO)
NECC HIGHLIGHTS: TOP WEB RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
http://www.edutopia.org/necc-highlights-top-web-resources-teachers
By Peggy Benton
7/12/06
If you want a standards-aligned project-based-learning community that uses technology and
writing, you will like The My Hero Project. It offers lessons in creating your own hero essay,
including images about a person who has been a hero to you. These become a Web page. You
can also submit a short video about your hero to the film festival and have the opportunity to
read stories of remarkable individuals submitted by others in the library, or view images in the
gallery. A great site for social awareness and character education, too.

11. Above: The toolbar
The MY HERO
myhero.com/organizer
Creating your Please note: When students log on to use MY
HERO web authoring programs, i.e. Create or
Gallery- their registration form will ask for the
name of school or organization and teacher.
When using the ORGANIZER, these details will
help you search MY HERO’s vast database for
Log in your students’ completed MY HERO work.
Artwork:
Film:
At the bottom of the page.
(Remember changes can be made later by
Text:
selecting Page Details on the toolbar
Title:
Example: classroom photo, school logo, or
an image that represents your theme
Divider:
Caption
Show,
Add
Submit!
Story:
Link:

12. MORE WAYS TO CONNECT WITH MY HERO
MY HERO GUESTBOOK
GUESTBOOK Who is your hero?
MAINZA LIBELEKI from GABORONE, AFRICA BOTSWANA writes:
myhero.com/guestbook
Sign in to honor and celebrate heroes from all My hero is Ben Carson...one of the best doctors in the world. From
the bottom of the class to the best. He brings hope to kids who
walks of life in this online journal. believe there is no hope.
FORUM
myhero.com/forum
Exchange opinions and ideas with peers
around the world on a variety of topics
on this Forum.
LIBRARY
myhero.com/library
View a reading list of biographies about
heroes featured on the website.
HEROES IN THE NEWS
myhero.com/newswire
Bring current events into the classroom with
AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam
a focus on ordinary people who have made
an extraordinary difference.
AP Photo/John Parkin/file
MI HEROE
Children from the Andile School choir sing
miheroe.org during World AIDS Day, in Cape Town,
South Africa, Monday, Dec. 1, 2008
Read and submit stories in Spanish about
heroes around the world on the Spanish
version of MY HERO. In this Feb. 26, 1990 file photo veteran
anti-apartheid activist Helen Suzman,
left, holds hands with Nelson Mandela.
REMINDERS
1. Students register, log in, build, save, and/or submit 3. Teachers can organize activated classroom essays, art,
essays (Create) and art (Gallery), and short films on one index page by accessing
2. Mail copies of short films on DVD to MY HERO: http://myhero.com/Organizer
The MY HERO Project We look forward to viewing your students’ artwork and short
1278 Glenneyre #286 films, and reading their stories about their heroes!
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
USA For questions, please contact:
myhero@myheroproject.org

13. Nobel Peace Prize Winner Wangari
Maathai has been celebrated on MY
HERO in stories, art and films.
Below are selected works that can be used as a model
for using MY HERO multi-media in the classroom
HERO’S HERO: HEROIC WOMEN
by Wangari Maathai
From My Hero: Extraordinary People on the Heroes Who Inspire Them
MY HERO Short Film Festival 1st Place Student Winner
WANGARI MAATHAI by Will Levitt (age 15) 2006
Wangari Maathai
VIDEO (part 1) VIDEO (part 2)
“We can work together for a better world with men and women of goodwill,
those who radiate the intrinsic goodness of humankind.” –WANGARI MAATHAI
HERO’S HERO: WANGARI MAATHAI
by Frances Moore Lappe
From My Hero: Extraordinary People
on the Heroes Who Inspire Them
Frances Moore Lappe cares deeply about the “roots of suffering in the world.”
A pioneering woman, she has dedicated her life to the causes she cares most
about — hunger and poverty, and social and democratic reform. She believes,
“Hunger is not caused by a scarcity of food, but by a scarcity of democracy.”
Convinced that the problem of hunger will not be solved from the top down, with governments shipping
food to those countries in need, Frances advocates starting from the ground up by giving people a base
to create their own ways of nourishing themselves. At a crossroads in her life, Frances Moore Lappe, like
Wangari Maathai, chose to follow the pounding beat of her heart to create a healthier planet for us all.
For more information about this courageous and tireless activist and author, visit http://myhero.com/lappe
Art Miles Mural, Tribute to a Hero - Wangari Maathai - Kenya by Linda Gallagher

14. The MY HERO Project is a not-for-profit project.
Gifts to this 501c3 organization are tax deductible. Donations from
individuals, foundations, and organizations keep this award-winning,
nonprofit, educational project freely accessible to students and
individuals of all ages. http://myhero.com/Donate
Thanks so much for being part of
The MY HERO Project.