Civil Rights Movement Lesson Plans

Students read articles by Alice Walker about the Civil Rights and write what they know, want to know, and later what they learned. In this psychology of the Civil Rights movement lesson, students write a pre-organized paragraph and reflect on the readings and discussion.

Young scholars conduct research on the Civil Rights Movement and participants in order to create an encyclopedia with alphabetical articles about some of the leaders and the ordinary people who made a difference in the movement. The articles for the encyclopedia are written so first-graders are able to read and understand.

Young scholars examine protest music and songs from the Civil Rights movement. In this music of the Civil Rights era lesson, students listen to selected music before working in groups to determine who the music was directed at, what social ills the lyrics were addressing, and what affect the music had. They write an essay using music and a primary source document.

Learners explore the civil rights movement through historical narratives. In this civil rights lesson, students are randomly separated into two groups. Learners research the civil rights movements using two sets of materials; one for each group. Students are discriminated against in an attempt to appreciate the reasons behind the civil rights movement.

Young scholars explore and compare the Civil Rights Movement in the United States with the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Africa.  In this World History lesson, students will work in groups to research the answers to seven questions about each of the famous Movements.  With this information they gather, each group will prepare a press conference to role play what they would share with the public.

Students identify and acquire an understanding of what the Civil Rights Movement consisted of, the issues that sparked the Movement, the people who participated and the events that occurred during the Movement. They also identify how to analyze and interpret photographs and make inferences. Students then demonstrate what they learned and express it in some form of writing.

Students create encyclopedias for the American Civil Rights Movement. In this 20th century American history lesson, students research the contributions of lesser and well-known civil rights activists and write encyclopedia entries featuring their findings. 

Young scholars analyze Martin Luther King's message of nonviolent protest. They discover how individuals adapted his message to their own communities and situations. Identify several of the defining events of the Civil Rights Movement.

Eleventh graders explore, analyze and study the background to America's Civil Rights Movement through the court system, mass protest, public opinion, political cartoons and legislation. They research Rosa Parks, Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Students investigate the role of religion in the Civil Rights Movement. In this religion and ethics lesson, students explore the separation of church and state as they examine how religious faith has inspired social change in the United States.