Civil Disobedience Lesson Plans

Tenth graders evaluate the role and consequences of civil disobedience compared to other forms of protest in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. They use Henry David Thoreau's essay, "Civil Disobedience," to delvelop their knowledge of the concept. Pupils define the term "civil disobedience" and give an example.

Students read and discuss the ideas included in the document, "Civil Disobedience". They defend their ideas using textual support and write a multiple paragraph essay responding to the ideas included in the text.

Learners analyze civil disobedience through history studying Thoreau, Gandhi, and Dr. King. In this civil disobedience lesson, students read and analyze excerpts from Thoreau, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King. Learners demonstrate their reading comprehension of the lesson by creating a skit, digital story, or analysis paper.

Students analyze Henry David Thoreau's 'On the Duty of Civil Disobedience' and Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail." In this civil disobedience lesson, students read Thoreau's essay and answer 6 questions for the lesson. Students read Dr. King's letter and answer 7 questions. Students write an essay using one of the three prompts for the lesson.

Students investigate incidences of civil disobedience. In this civil disobedience lesson, students watch a video and read a newspaper article on civil disobedience. Then, in groups, they search a current newspaper for examples of civil disobedience.

Young scholars examine the meaning and use of civil disobedience. They decide whether civil disobedience is a viable form of protest in contemporary times after studying the acts of Rosa Parks.

Students use this design as an electronic reading and writing guide to Henry David Thoreau's famous essay, "On Civil Disobedience." They use activities to familiarize students with the political issues of Thoreau's time. Comprehension questions are geared to the appreciation of his philosophy while at the same time challenging certain of his ideas. A range of Internet activities allows for a variety of learning styles and levels. On-task time is thus maximized.

Students consider the concept of civil disobedience. In this lesson plan on changing unjust laws, students use primary sources to understand how Gandhi and King changed the law. Students will then list laws that they feel are unjust and plan ways in which they might peacefully challenge them.

Students explore geography by analyzing the slavery era. In this Civil Rights lesson, students identify the anti-slavery outlook from the North in the U.S. during the times of slavery. Students identify vocabulary terms based on slavery and write a persuasive essay about civil disobedience.

Students research Muhammad Ali's act of civil disobedience. In this civil disobedience lesson, students research Ali's defiance of the Vietnam War draft and compare his reasoning to Martin Luther King's thoughts on the war. Students debate nonviolent action and write a response to Ali's violent/nonviolent nature in his life and draft resistance.