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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Development of Federal Civil Rights Acts : 1950's - Present

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the Internet to research one of five cases associated with Brown v. Board of Education and then join a group with people who researched the other four.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Active Viewing: Eyes on the Prize "Awakenings"

For Teachers 11th
Dive deeper into the Montgomery Bus Boycott with this multi-stage lesson plan, centered on the essential question: Why did the boycott last so long? Historians investigate the Jim Crow south through a video clip (not included), then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Massive Resistance and School Integration

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write a short story that shows their feelings on a chosen historical perspective on school integration of the past. For this school integration lesson plan, 4th graders learn about Separate But Equal, resistance to change,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Segregation: From Jim Crow to Linda Brown

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the African American social, economic, and political conditions between 1896 and 1953. In this segregation lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of the plight of African Americans'...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Little Rock Central High Crisis

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the events that led to the Little Rock Central High Crisis. They observe and explain the causes and affects of the Little Rock Central High Crisis.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Schools of Thought on Segregation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners read a New York Times article in order to explain how American courts and communities are dealing with the unanimous Supreme Court decision to end "separate but equal" education. They analyze how this affects the nation's youth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Introduction to the Central High Crisis

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students identify key events and participants in the Central High Crisis
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Re-Examining Brown

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify, research, and report on the people, legal cases and conditions that led to the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education. They role-play various people from the era preceding 1954.
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Article
Hartford Web Publishing

World History Archives: Sncc Fought for Change From the Bottom Up

For Students 9th - 10th
A highly informative narrative on the development and philosophy of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, with comparisons to Dr. King's SCLC and the Black Panther Party. Good resource.
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: u.s. Supreme Court Plessy v. Ferguson [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Read this concise discussion of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Plessy v Ferguson. Find a synopsis of the case, the majority opinion of the court, and the dissenting opinion by Justice Harlan.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: With an Even Hand, Brown vs. Board at Fifty

For Students 9th - 10th
A special exhibit at the Library of Congress to commemorate the Brown vs. Board of Education 50 year anniversary.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Civil Rights Special Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
Multimedia collection of video, primary text documents and audio on Civil Rights, especially Brown vs. Board of Education.
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Primary
University of Missouri

Exploring Constitutional Conflicts: Plessy v Ferguson

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the Supreme Court opinion that solidified the concept of separate, but equal in American law. The dissenting opinion written by Justice John Harlan is also included.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs: Brown v. Board of Education

For Students 9th - 10th
This site discusses the history, significance, and law of the Brown v. Board of Education case.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: Beyond Brown: Pursuing the Promise

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS always provides an excellent website! This time they turn their attention to the famous Brown case. Site presents educational photos and narrative about the long road to Brown and the long road ahead.
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Website
Other

In Pursuit of Freedom & Equality: Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka

For Students 9th - 10th
Teachers and students can find a comprehensive summary of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. Learn about the myths and find out the truth. The activities offered are especially meaningful. Students can perform a...
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Article
NBC

Nbc Learn: Free Resources: Finishing the Dream: Learning From Civil Rights Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Over one hundred video clips, culled from NBS News archives, document events and issues of the civil rights era, from 1954-68. Also includes contemporary perspectives on civil rights, with videos of town hall-style conversations about...
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Lesson Plan
US National Archives

Docsteach: From Dred Scott to Civil Rights Act of 1875: Eighteen Years of Change

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In 1857, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Dred Scott decision that African-Americans were not citizens of the United States. Yet within 18 years, Black Americans would not only have citizenship, but would be guaranteed the right to...
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Article
Other

Learning for Justice: Brown v. Board: An American Legacy

For Students 9th - 10th
An article celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous Brown v. Board Supreme Court decision. Features background information, a timeline of integration of schools, interviews, and links to many other activities and resources covering...
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Website
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion to a four-part PBS series about Jim Crow has a timeline with links to significant events and people, video and audio clips from the series, and in-depth backgrounders on Jim Crow issues and impacts.
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Handout
PBS

Wnet: Thirteen: Supreme Court Landmark Cases: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
From a PBS series about the Supreme Court, Plessy v. Ferguson is considered one of the landmark cases in the court's first 100 years. Read about the background of this important case, read about the thinking of the majority of the court...
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Website
Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University: Separate but Not Equal

For Students 9th - 10th
Telling pictures of elementary schools for Blacks and Whites during the 50s and 60s. Discusses the situation in Prince Edward County that led to the Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County court case.
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Website
Other

Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia: What Was Jim Crow?

For Students 9th - 10th
A listing of the Jim Crow laws and understood Jim Crow etiquette found across the South in the late 19th century.
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Handout
Other

Landmark Cases: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

For Students 9th - 10th
Everything you might want to know about this historic Supreme Court decision. Included are great teacher directed activities, background summary, and the text of the majority opinion.