Go West, young man! Scholars investigate the impact of African American settlers moving to the Nebraska territory, following the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act in the mid 1800s. Using primary sources, timelines, maps, and...

Students read about the life and work of John and Mary Jones. Using primary source documents, they draw conclusions about their role in the abolistionist movement. They also examine artifacts from their lives and analyze their portrait...

Explore poetry written by African-Americans before emancipation. 8th graders create collages, and explain why they chose specific stanzas. They display the collages on the class bulletin board that demonstrate an understanding of the...

Students read and view video about the pioneers moving west.  In this African American pioneer lesson plan, students become familiar with the problems faced by the pioneers and African-American pioneers. Students complete...

Students examine 19th century life for African-Americans. In this slavery lesson, students analyze the lyrics of slave songs and present their findings to their classmates.

Students learn about African American inventors. In this inventing lesson, students are assigned an African American inventor to research. Students work in pairs to complete their research. Students write a compare and contrast paragraph...

Students explore and analyze a database of historical portraits of an African American family of the late 1800's. They trace the migration of one of the African Americans as he/she migrates toward urban areas.

Eleventh graders describe the foundation for legal segregation in the South and identify three key African American leaders' responses to discrimination. They also find and copy the definition of sharecropper and answer a variety of...

Learners explore the migration of African Americans into the Hoosier area. They develop a time line showing migration patterns in Indiana and explore reasons for African Americans to settle and/or travel through Indiana.

To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...

Students research the Columbia River Basin Ethnic History Archive (CRBEHA) and use a variety of primary sources to explore the history of blacks in the region.

Students investigate the history of unequal education in the United States and the impact on African American history. In this unequal history lesson, students discuss the purpose of education and describe an ideal school. Students...

Students compare and contrast symbols used in African and Plains Indian art. In this visual arts activity, students compare symbols of 2 cultural groups found in their art. Students write a description of what items might have been left...

Students examine the purpose and goals of education in African American society. They analyze photos, answer discussion questions, and participate in a class discussion.

Describe, analyze, compare and contrast poets from the Harlem Renaissance. Critical thinkers analyze the imagery, characterization, tone, symbolism, and historical context of Jacob Lawrence, Helene Johnson, and Paul Laurence Dunbar. A...

In this African colonization worksheet, middle schoolers respond to 4 short answer questions that accompany a reading selection about political motives in Africa. Students also complete a graphic organizer based on the selection.

Students investigate the history of civil rights by viewing historical photographs.  In this U.S. history instructional activity, students discuss why Black Soldiers fought for their rights by joining the Union Army in the 1800's....

High schoolers examine writings from Booker T. Washington. They write short essays based on topics given to them and complete a matching activity. They also discuss aspects of Washington's life.

Middle schoolers examine symbols used by the Plains Indians. Using examples of African art, they discuss what symbols they use that relate to the Native American symbols. They compare and contrast the two cultures and discuss as a class...

Students consider how African American responded to social injustice. In this social injustice lesson plan, students compare and contrast the visions of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois for obtaining civil rights for African...

Students examine the reasons why people leave their country to live in another. In groups, they use print and electronic resources to answer questions about where immigrants came from during different time periods and advice given to...

In this African culture worksheet, students read a selection about the creation of South Africa and then create a time line and respond to 4 short answer questions. 

Students explore U.S. History by researching Kansas. In this immigration lesson, students discuss the benefits of immigrating to a state like Kansas in the 1800's while writing their thoughts and research in a reporter's notebook....

Individuals tackle a crossword puzzle that tests their knowledge of key documents and individuals associated with the Civil War era.