Examine themes of racism and perseverance with a study of Jackie Robinson. Class members analyze his baseball card, read historical background, and work in pairs to discuss the material and complete a brief writing assignment.

What is a hate symbol, and what role did racism and anti-Semitism play in the Holocaust? Your young historians will answer these questions through a series of engaging and interactive activities, as well as discover how Jews were...

Young readers delve into The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan with a discussion and writing activity about characterization. After reading the first four chapters of the book, they discuss the various obstacles that the characters face, such as...

“The only thing white people have that black people need, or should want, is power—and no one holds power forever.” Powerful, poignant, pointed excerpts from The Fire Next Time are used to “incite debate and discussion” of James...

Class members have an opportunity to develop empathy as they assume the identity of one of the characters in Ernest Hemingway's short story, "Indian Camp." They write about one event in the story from the point of view and in the voice...

Whether new to teaching The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or an experienced pro, you’ll find useful resources in this teacher’s guide. The 40-page packet includes background information, historical context, an annotated list of...

"With his ebony hands on each ivory key, he made that poor piano moan with melody." Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, James Weldon Johnson and other greats from the Harlem Renaissance are introduced in this PowerPoint-style presentation.

Did you know that Rosa Parks was the secretary for the NAACP? Her famous refusal to give up her bus seat was actually a premeditated act designed by the NAACP to draw light the growing civil rights movement. In part two, professor Melani...

Knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, evaluation. Class members use Bloom's taxonomy to craft six levels of discussion questions for Chris Crowe's novel, Mississippi Trial, 1955. Model questions from Chapter 3, a...

Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" and other images set the stage for a PowerPoint about the Great Depression. Whether used as background for Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, or as part of a historical study, the presentation would...

Eleventh graders explore the events of the  Holocaust.  In this cross curriculum lesson, 11th graders examine the differences between prejudice and discrimination.  Students read various forms of literature and write journal entries. 

Learners comprehend the meaning of the word steretype, work in groups to come up with stereotype statements, discuss whether the statements are fair, and write what they learned from the activity. Balloons are used as a conduit in this...

Satires may be designed to expose a bias to ridicule but if misunderstood can they reinforce that bias? Langston Hughes poem, “Minstrel Man” opens a discussion of racist stereotypes, the minstrel tradition, and the musical, “The...

Facts and transcripts of Rosa Parks are transcribed in this 9-slide PowerPoint. The slides include a brief biography, history of racism, which lead into Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat. What follows are slides about her feelings...

First banned in 1885 because it was seen as “immoral in its tone,” as “trash of the veriest sort,” the controversy over The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn continues today. While some consider Twain’s story “a masterpiece” others contend...

Students analyze racism and justice. In this legal system discrimination lesson plan, students listen to their instructor lecture on disparities in the legal system. Students respond to discussion questions following the lecture and...

Students read "A South African Storm" by Allison Howard and participate in a class discussion that examines Howard's letter for both content and writing form. They write a letter using some of the techniques they identified in Howard's.

Compare and contrast old and modern historical accounts of the life of Thomas Jefferson. Learners begin by evaluating the responsibilities of history textbooks in reporting historical events, people, and eras. Next, they discuss how new...

Invite your class to investigate racism and civil rights by analyzing the great Dr. Martin Luther King's speech. Your learners will read the words from the "I Have a Dream" speech and analyze the political and racial overtones. They will...

Explore this story involving prejudice and racism to enhance learners' comprehension skills. The story The Jacket by Andrew Clements involves an African American boy who is falsely accused of stealing someone's jacket. This teacher's...

Have your middle and high schoolers analyze instances of celebrities using racial slurs or making prejudiced comments in public. After reading an article, they consider the roots and effects of prejudice and bias. As a class, they...

Learners examine the actions of Tommie Smith, John Carlos, and Muhammad Ali. In this United States history instructional activity, students explore primary and secondary sources regarding acts of political activism. Learners participate...

Use this handy presentation to prepare your class before reading the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Segregation, the stock market, and the sociopolitical climate of the times is covered. This will really help build a...