Curated OER
Questions of Courage
Examine discrimination. In this character education lesson, learners read two biographies, Vivien Naki and Hamilton Naki then analyze their personal discrimination experiences. They complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two...
Curated OER
Picturing America: Images and Words of Hope from Romare Bearden and Langston Hughes
A carefully crafted three-day lesson integrates poetry and visual art. By analyzing and comparing Langston Hughes' poem "Mother and Son" and Romare Bearden's collage "The Dove," readers explore the theme of hope. The lesson activates...
Curated OER
We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Robert Coles’ The Story of Ruby Bridges forms the basis of this powerful cross-curricular study of civic education and civic responsibility. Class members consider how the book presents authority, responsibility, justice, and privacy.....
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Bad Blood
When it comes to science and medicine, ethics should always be a primary consideration; unfortunately, that has not always been the case. There are countless examples throughout history of questionable medical practices, marginalized...
Curated OER
Samuel's Choice
The book, Samuel's Choice is used to illustrate the decisions that African Americans who were enslaved during the Revolutionary War had to make. The series of four lessons is designed to be implemented after the book is read. The book,...
Center for History Education
Dust Bowl Story
Images of the Dust Bowl during the Great Depression are haunting in the suffering they show. Young historians use photographs—both iconic and lesser known—to tell about the human experience during this time. A series of photographs, as...
Curated OER
Spirituals
Students review factors that contributed to the development of the spiritual, which reflects the influence of African religious and Christian traditions, and slavery. Students collect spirituals/songs of their heritage from family...
Curated OER
Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People
Fifth graders explore poems of African Americans. They research a famous African American, write a report, create a timeline of events in African American history, create a map of the New World, and research Molly Walsh. After...
Curated OER
Kwanzaa Language Arts: The Tambiko
Students read or hear about famous African Americans to learn about the ways in which they exemplify one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Curated OER
Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday
Students will recognize the problem of prejudice and racism in the history of America especially during the time of Martin Luther King Jr. They will also recognize that feelings can be expressed through the written medium of poetry.
Curated OER
Courageous Voices that Shook the Nation to Action
Students study Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In this Martin Luther King, Jr. day lesson, students learn about the holiday for Dr. King through literature and music. Students learn the lyrics to Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' about...
Curated OER
Breaking Barriers
Students investigate racism in the 20th century by exploring U.S. History. In this Civil Rights lesson, students review the history of slavery, the Civil War and the fight for equality in the mid 1900's. Students complete Civil Rights...
Curated OER
A Golden Age: Three West African Empires
Seventh graders research the kingdoms and rulers of Ghana, Mali and Songhay. In groups, they explore the trade routes and the spread of Islam. Using the internet, textbook and other sources, 7th graders collect information and write a...
Curated OER
Against the Odds: The Trials and Tribulations of the Harlem Renaissance
Students become familiar with the Harlem Renaissance movement. They present information gathered and discuss issues pertaining to African American art through a power point presentation as well as an oral presentation.
Curated OER
Legacies of the Middle Passage
Students research the Atlantic slave trade during the 18th century. In this slave trade lesson plan, students read a narrative about colonial expansion in the Americas and the rise of slavery in the United States. Students write down...
Curated OER
Cultural Impact of Jim Crow Laws and Civil Rights Movement
Students compare the cultural customs of people from European descent and African Americans between 1900 and 1940. Next students listen to interviews about life during the time of Jim Crow laws, and determine how life might be different...
Curated OER
They Put On Masks
Eighth graders examine Native American art. For this mask making lesson, 8th graders compare mask making traditions among different cultures. Students watch a demonstration of mask making and construct a mask of their own.
Curated OER
Mango Walk
Students sing music representing the Caribbean culture in the calypso style. They discover the role that the event of African slavery and the history of Carribean culture played in generating calypso music.
Curated OER
Introduction to World Religions: Islam
Sixth graders explore religion by viewing a presentation in class. In this global culture lesson, 6th graders define the Islam religion and the stories that accompany it. Students read the story "Muhammad" by Demi and view an Internet...
Curated OER
Doll Making
Students discuss folktales and read Tiger and The Big Wind, listening for animal characters for later discussion. In this language arts lesson, students complete a T chart on characters and make a doll for one either chosen or assigned....
Curated OER
Dubois and Washington Venn Diagram
Students compare and contrast the visions of W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington. In this African American history lesson, students read biographies about both men and create a Venn diagram about the men.
Curated OER
Out and About: Masks
Students investigate the art of mask-making. In this cultural masks lesson plan, students may visit the Hancock or Horniman Museums in Britain online or in-person to discover details about cultural masks and give a try at making their own.
Curated OER
History Through Picture Books and Photographs
First graders become familiar with historical figures central to the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery.
Curated OER
American Music Styles - Lesson 1
Students describe some of the distinguishing characteristics of rock, folk, blues, and country music. They identify two main musical roots of today's American popular music.