Crafting Freedom
The Self-Empowerment of Harriet Jacobs
In a hands-on learning activity, pupils read about and recreate the experience of Harriet Jacobs, author of one of the most famous slave narratives of all time in which she describes her years of hiding from her master in a confined...
Curated OER
African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman
Fifth graders become familiar with the role of African Americans during WWII. In this WWII lesson, 5th graders watch a newsreel and discuss its use as a primary source. Students answer questions about the newsreel.
Curated OER
Three-Way Match: Famous Black Americans
Students research famous African-Americans using an online resource. They complete a three-way matching activity.
Curated OER
An Academic, Economic, Cultural, and Political Lesson Plan
Students reflect on how many board games they've played have African Americans, their culture or history incorporated within. They identify four street games and three card games that appeal to African Americans. They play the...
Curated OER
Past Presence
Students examine British Black History. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to research the history of Blacks in Great Britain. Several lesson enhancement ideas are included.
Curated OER
Black History Month Newsletter
Students become familiar with the process of creating all of the elements of a newsletter. They input stored articles about famous black Americans in which they insert photos with captions and add finishing touches.
Curated OER
African American History Challenge
Middle schoolers research and retrieve information from the Internet. They participate in an online quiz. They identify areas of cultural diversity in United States history.
Curated OER
The Journey to Civil Rights
Students explore Civil Rights. In this Civil Rights activity, students read about Ruby Bridges and define the words segregation and supremacy. Students make a timeline of important events in Civil Rights and write a paragraph about why...
Curated OER
Famous Firsts Crossword
In this crossword puzzle worksheet, students read the 10 clues about famous firsts for Black history. Students use the words in the word bank to complete the puzzle.
Curated OER
Steps to Freedom
Students complete discussion and reading comprehension activities for the novel Almost to Freedom by Vaunda Micheax Nelson. In this African American history activity, students discuss the Underground Railroad and complete a reading...
Curated OER
African Americans Seen Through the Eyes of the Newsreel Cameraman
Fifth graders examine the portrayal of African Americans in the media. In this socio-political lesson, 5th graders view various news clips of African Americans and discuss the way they are presented. Students create narrations of the...
Curated OER
African Americans and the Military of World War II
Fifth graders view a news reel of African Americans in World War II. In this World War II lesson plan, 5th graders discuss the newspaper clippings they get to view and hypothesize about why the African Americans use military news clips....
National Woman's History Museum
Fannie Lou Hamer and Social Activism
Not all heroes wear capes. An impactful lesson focuses on the life and activism of Fannie Lou Hamer during the civil rights movement. Scholars read her speeches and other material, participate in group discussion, and complete a jigsaw...
US House of Representatives
Objects in Time
Artifacts can be used to study people and events of the past. That's the takeaway from the fifth instructional activity in a unit study of African Americans who served in Congress. Groups select an artifact associated with a Black...
PBS
Jackie Robinson's Complicated — and Important — Legacy
Americans tend to lock their heroes in history, holding these icons to a particular event or time. Jackie Robinson is such a hero, remembered by most for becoming the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. Young historians...
PBS
Remembering Nelson Mandela
To learn more about Nelson Mandela, young historians watch a 20 minute video that traces his life from boyhood in a small South African village, to his work as an activist opposed to Apartheid, his imprisonment, and to his leadership as...
Curated OER
We Have a Dream
Students work as partners to study Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. In this African American history instructional activity, students work with their cross-grade partner to study, understand, and memorize the speech....
Curated OER
Famous Firsts Challenge
For this Black history month worksheet, pupils read the statements about Black history month. Students select the best answer to complete the 10 statements.
Curated OER
African-American Innovators
Students investigate the contributions of African Americans throughout history. They research and identify accomplishments of various African American Scientists/Innovators in recognition of Black History Month.
Curated OER
Happy Birthday!
Students honor African Americans in history. In this celebrating achievements lesson, students plan, design, and implement ways to honor persons in African American history during Black History Month.
National Gallery of Canada
A Unity Wall Drawing
Build class community with an art project. Learners first examine and discuss works of art. They then contribute to a class mural by tracing their hands and decorating them in relation to their own cultures. The final mural incorporates...
Curated OER
Famous African Americans Mini-book
Students develop understanding of prejudice as they study famous African Americans. In this African American instructional activity, students become familiar with various African Americans and the obstacles they faced and overcame....
National Woman's History Museum
Sally Hemings: Raising a Family Amidst the Brutality of Slavery
Pupils may know about early American figures such as Phyllis Wheatley and Abigail Adams, but what about Sally Hemings? Sally Hemings was the mother of Thomas Jefferson's children, but she is often left in the shadows of history....
Curated OER
Countries of Africa
Students investigate the different countries of Africa. In this African geography lesson, students choose an African country to investigate and construct the country's flag. Students use a map of Africa to color in their country.