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.....
Orlando Shakes
The Best of Enemies
History comes to life with the play The Best of Enemie. Scholars learn literary elements as well explore racial issues in American history. The play is based on a true story and addresses the universal truth that people are capable of...
Curated OER
The Civil Rights Movement in Kentucky
Eleventh graders examine how current race relations in their town compare to those of the 1960's.
Curated OER
The Civil Rights Movement
High schoolers examine the Jim Crow Laws and goals of the Civil Rights movement. They read and discuss handouts, answer questions, conduct research, and write an essay about the effects of the Civil Rights movement.
Curated OER
Re-Examining Brown
Students explore and describe the impact of segregation on African Americans and other non-white minorities. In this segregation lesson students identify, research and report on the legal cases that led to the Brown vs. Board of...
Curated OER
Brown v. Board: Where are We Now?
Learners explore the concept of resegregation. For this civil rights lesson, students research the impact of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling in their community. Learners define and research resegregation.
Curated OER
Teaching Empathy : The Story of Ruby Bridges
Students explore "The Story of Ruby Bridges," by Robert Coles to uncover examples of courage in the lives of others and in themselves. This search into the story is meant to help students form connections with others and to foster the...
Curated OER
Cultural Impact of Jim Crow Laws and the Civil Rights Movement
Students examine the Jim Crow laws and how they impacted the lives of both African Americans and white Americans. They discuss the Civil Rights Movement and how their lives may have been different had it not occurred.
Groups...
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
Brown v. Board
High schoolers investigate Brown versus Board of Education. They read and discuss a handout, discuss vocabulary terms, and in small groups create a brochure, bookmark, puzzle, and a short skit.
Curated OER
World War II: "The Other" Americans
Eleventh graders examine the roles of women and minorities during Word War II. In this American History instructional activity, 11th graders watch the video "Saving Private Ryan". Students read a book on the topic and answer...
Curated OER
Virginian Contributors
Students examine the contributions of native Virginians to the United States. For each person, they read excerpts of a book about their contributions and organize the information in a chart. In groups, they become an expert on one of...
Curated OER
The Living Constitution
Tenth graders explore the Constitution as a "living document." After reading three specific cases, learners consider characteristics that make up a living document. In groups, they conduct guided research on each case. Pupils write a...
Curated OER
John's Dilemma
Students read and discuss the story "John's Dilemma". As a class, they answer discussion questions related to peer pressure and responsibility. They compare a quote by Anne Frank to the situation John is going through in the story to...
Curated OER
Re-Examining Brown
Students 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.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Supreme Court Rules on School Desegregation
This thoughtful unit explores the history of school desegregation legislation, including a discussion of the impact of the Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education decisions. A six-week plan of lessons, along with other sample...
Constitutional Rights Foundation
Constitutional Rights Foundation: Mendez v. Westminster: Paving the Way to School Desegregation
Article and activity on early school desegregation case brought by the Mexican-American community of California. Students explore background information and evaluate the impact Mendez v. Westminster had on school desegregation, and then...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source: Beyond Busing: School Desegregation in Boston
This collection uses primary sources to explore school desegregation in Boston.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Eyes on the Prize: School Desegregation, 1957 1962
As part of a much larger site from PBS' American Experience's series, Eyes on the Prize, look through this multifaceted site that traces the resistance to implementing school desegregation ordered by the Supreme Court and shows the...
Other
Hsi: First Days of School Desegregation
An interactive site for students to learn about school desegregation. Photographs, oral histories and questions help guide the students to their conclusions.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Desegregation Mandate: Jefferson County, Al
A 1967 federal court order resulted in this document, which mandated school desegregation in Birmingham.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz Music and the Crisis Over School Desegregation
Working in cooperative groups, your students will learn how jazz musicians expressed the Civil Rights era in their music. This lesson focuses on the Civil Rights movement in Little Rock, Arkansas. Also, they will learn to about the...
Google Cultural Institute
Google Cultural Institute: Desegregation at Little Rock Central High School
When state and local authorities fail to uphold the Federal Court orders for integration at Central High School, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent in federal troops to enforce those orders. Using an array of photos and primary source...
University of Michigan
University of Michigan Library: Digital Archive: Brown v. Board of Education
A digital collection of materials outlining the famous Brown v. Board of Education case and the events that followed it. Covers Supreme Court cases and school desegregation issues and events.