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Pirates and Punks
 Virtual Speaker Series

TOP alum, Scott Noet, a Minnesota Social Studies teacher led a 45 minute interactive session for teachers on Pirates and Punks followed by a 30 minute Q&A.

This event took place on June 4, 2025. Recording is below.

Mural of Edelweiss pirates https://www.flickr.com/photos/wwwuppertal/10426574564

Description & speaker

photo of Scott Noet

The Edelweiss Pirates of WWII and the Ost Punks of East Germany may have looked and sounded radically different from each other, but these young people of different eras managed to both resist oppressive systems.  Photographs, surveillance documents, musical lyrics and graffiti will help show the decisions these youth made while standing at their own historical crossroads. Should these young people be remembered? Memorialized? This lecture shows how students today can use the experiences of the aforementioned pirates and punks to inform and guide their own agency to initiate change in their world.

The modular unit posted below focuses on how lessons from past youth resistance can be leveraged to promote youth agency and action today. Using jigsaw planet, sensory figures, primary documents, fashion, music and the DIY spirit, inspire students to shape their futures and make their own history. 

Biography

Scott is finishing his 30th year of teaching middle school with 28 at Owatonna Middle School as a 7th & 8th grade social studies teacher- mostly of his own volition! When not on Zoom he can usually be found in the woods being walked by the raucous and rambunctious Rudy & Fritz the rescue pups.  Scott was TOP’s Fellow of the Year way back in 2009, has won Minnesota history teacher of the year, Minnesota Teacher of the Year finalist, a Fulbrighter, Minnesota Educator of Excellence, Minnesota Council lifetime achievement award guy, and was the president of the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies…. But as he puts it, none of that really matters if you can’t engage kids!

Pirates and Punks Session Recording

Session PowerPoint

Pirates and Punks PowerPoint

Lesson materials

Want to teach your students about the Edelweiss Pirates and Ost Punks? Find Scott's lesson plan and supporting materials below.

TOP resources

Check out some of TOP's supporting materials such as lesson plans and digital resources to keep the learning going!

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