Harlem Renaissance Lesson Plans

Students discover the Harlem Renaissance. In this early 20th century lesson, students use various primary sources including handouts, worksheets, maps, music, and poetry to examine aspects of African American culture. Students will engage in a series of activities geared at answering the days 'Big Idea'. This lesson includes web resources, assessments,  a 5 station activity, and worksheets.

Students investigate the history of African Americans by researching Harlem.  In this culture lesson, students examine a slide-show of images and identify the great African American singers and performers of the 20th century.  Students recite important quotes from the era and explore the beautiful music made in the Harlem Renaissance.

Students examine the men and women who were a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Individually, they recreate their favorite pieces of art from the time period and create their own original works after reading poem from the movement. In groups, they discuss the conditions of Harlem that made it possible for the Harlem Renaissance to occur.

Students examine the time period of the Harlem Renaissance. As a class, they are introduced to five artists and discuss their art and techniques. Using the internet, they also research the philosophers of the time period and how situations were different after the movement. To end the lesson, they create their own artwork based on the techniques of the five artists examined at the beginning of the lesson.

Explore African-American culture in this lesson, which focuses on researching literary figures. After researching Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance, middle schoolers read his play Mulatto: A Play of the Deep South. They investigate the three main characters from the play and write a reflection paper about the play, which is a good opportunity to work on literary research and evidence. You could use this lesson in an American History class as well.

Students examine the significance of the Harlem Renaissance. In this African American history lesson, students investigate images and biographies about African Americans who contributed writing and art during the time period. Students use KWL charts and notes to determine how the work of artists and writers reflected the changing society.

Students explore the social and cultural context of the Harlem Renaissance. In this Harlem Renaissance lesson, students take notes on post-its while watching videos about the Harlem Renaissance. Students define words used to describe African Americans during the 19th century and during the Renaissance. Students complete topic related handouts and write an essay for the lesson.

Students complete a group research project on the Harlem Renaissance. In this Harlem lesson, students pick from a list of topics all related to the Harlem renaissance. They create a PowerPoint presentation, topic outline, and bibliography. 

Students, after researching/analyzing the movement "Harlem Renaissance" and Africa as well as reading literature from that time period, create lists of the major characteristics of the movement and its important writers. They bridge the gap between the social and political implications of this time period.

Learners utlilize technology to research the Harlem Renaissance period. They create PowerPoint presentations that include history, art, music, fashion and literature of the Harlem Renaissance.