Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kwanzaa Language Arts: The Tambiko

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars read or hear about famous African Americans to learn about the ways in which they exemplify one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Biographical Directory of the u.s. Congress: Harold Washington

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography describes the career of the Illinois-born African American politician Harold Washington.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Historic Site: Maggie L. Walker Home and Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the remarkable life and career of Maggie L. Walker, an African American teacher and successful business woman. Also includes a gallery of personal photographs, an online tour Walker's home and information about her work as a...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Maggie L. Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
Maggie Lena Walker was an entrepreneur and the first female bank president in the United States. Find out about the personal life and many impressive career firsts of this African American teacher and businesswoman.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Lesson Plan: Black Wings: American Pioneer Aviators

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
With this resource, teachers can select the most appropriate academic level and download a lesson plan that contains images, Word documents and PDF resources for teaching about the history of black Americans in aviation. Excellent...
Handout
Other

Arthur Ashe: Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
This official Arthur Ashe biography describes his life in detail, from his childhood in Virginia to his record-breaking career in tennis. Readers will also learn about his work as an activist and philanthropist, and his HIV positive...
Website
Other

The History Makers

For Students 9th - 10th
Thehistorymakers.com features the stories of African Americans who have succeeded and made achievements in the areas of art, business, education, law, politics, science, religion, and sports. There is a great timeline of African American...
Handout
Other

Jesse Owens Foundation: Jesse Owens

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed biography of Olympic athlete Jesse Owens.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Audra Mc Donald

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Audra McDonald, actress and winner of six Tony Awards.
Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Ernest J. Gaines

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of American author, Ernest Gaines, well-known for his novels and essays, including The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman and A Gathering of Old Men, both adapted for television.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Mathematician and Astronomer Benjamin Banneker

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Banneker, an African American mathematician and scientist. Also contains portraits and a map of New York, which can be enlarged for a closer view.
Handout
Other

Black History From a to Z

For Students 3rd - 5th
Students will enjoy exploring this colorful site during Black History Month, or any other month! Follow the timeline of famous African American women and inventors, or just click on a letter of the alphabet to find brief pieces of...
Handout
University of Richmond

University of Richmond: History Engine: Maggie L. Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography of Maggie L. Walker outlines her rise to success as the first African American bank owner in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Other

Maryland Public Schools: Maggie L. Walker History Lesson Plan [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
With this lesson plan, young scholars will learn about the life of African American teacher and entrepreneur Maggie L. Walker, the woman to own a bank in the United States. This document includes teacher resources, student resources and...
Handout
Alabama Humanities Foundation

Encyclopedia of Alabama: Sports and Recreation: Satchel Paige

For Students 9th - 10th
The first African American to pitch in the major league, Satchel Paige led a full life of baseball. Satchel retired from the mound when he was sixty years old. Discover the successes and setbacks of this famed baseball player.
Handout
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: School Publishers: Jackie Robinson

For Students 3rd - 8th
America honors Jackie Robinson's first year in baseball's major leagues. This site has a brief biography of Jackie Robinson and how he broke the race barrier.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: American Visionaries: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
Despite being born a slave, read how Dr. Carver persevered so that he could become successful.
Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
The online companion to past Field Museum exhibit on the life and scientific contributions of George Washington Carver, this resource includes a biography, photo gallery, an overview of Carter's goal-oriented research, an educator's...
Unit Plan
New York Times

New York Times: Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
An outstanding collection of materials for learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Students can engage in a text-to-text analysis of 'I Have a Dream' and 'The Lasting Power of Dr. King's Dream Speech'
Primary
Other

New York Public Library: Images of African Americans

For Students 9th - 10th
An image database that includes pictures of African Americans from the 19th Century. Each image includes a description.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Bill T. Jones

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of five video lessons about Bill T. Jones, an African American choreographer, director, author, and dancer, and his quest to determine if Abraham Lincoln was a Good Man! or a Good Man? from today's perspective.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Sammy Davis Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of three video lessons about Sammy Davis Jr., comedy, race, segregation in 1960's Hollywood, politics, identity, and The Civil Rights Movement.
Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Thurgood Marshall

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an informative biography discussing the role Thurgood Marshall had in the Civil Rights Movement, particularly as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
An introduction to George Washington Carver, the talented, intelligent inventor. Learn why he was called a "Miracle Worker" for his vast knowledge of plants and agriculture. (In Spanish)