Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Venus Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Venus Williams, African-American tennis player who, along with her sister Serena, redefined the sport with her strength and superb athleticism.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Clarence Thomas

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn biographical details on Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1991, the second African-American to serve on the court.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Cootie Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Cootie Williams, an African-American trumpeter whose mastery of mutes and expressive effects made him one of the most distinctive jazz musicians.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: David Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief life history of David Walker, an African-American abolitionist who was involved in the anti-slavery movement in the early 1820s.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Denzel Washington

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biographical sketch of African-American actor Denzel Washington. His performances have earned him seven Oscar nominations for acting.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Emmett Till

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical details on Emmett Till, the African-American teenager whose murder catalyzed the emerging civil rights movement.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Henry Threadgill

For Students 9th - 10th
Summarizes the life and career of Henry Threadgill, an African American improviser, composer, and bandleader, an important figure in free jazz in the late 20th century.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Jean Toomer

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn interesting facts about Jean Toomer, African-American poet and novelist.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Coleman Young

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical sketch of Coleman Young, first African American mayor of Detroit.
Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Toni Morrison

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For teaching the work of Toni Morrison, this site provides lesson plans, activities, and other resources for Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon, and Morrison's other fiction.
Lesson Plan
Utah State University

A Mini Unit of Gwendolyn Brooks

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Nice lesson plan for grades 5-6 that explores poetry and personal expression through the work of Gwendolyn Brooks. Has lots of activities but could easily be modified for time. Has nearly everything you need to do the lesson plan!
Lesson Plan
Schools of California Online Resources for Education

Literature Unit: The House of Dies Drear

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
"The House of Dies Drear," is a powerful novel by Virginia Hamilton.
Lesson Plan
Other

Book Club Lesson Plan: The Watsons Go to Birmingham

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore this comprehensive book club lesson plan for "The Watsons Go to Brimingham-- 1963," by Christopher Paul Curtis.
Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Toni Cade Bambara

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Have your students ever read any of Toni Cade Bambara's work? This site offers links to important resources about her life and work.
Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Paul Laurence Dunbar

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This Web English Teacher site compiled links to learn more about Paul Laurence Dunbar's work. Explore this informative resource to learn more about his poetry and life.
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Trailblazers and Trendsetters: James Baldwin

For Students 9th - 10th
The Art of the Stamp presents this historic postal stamp of James Baldwin, writer and leading figure during the civil right movement. With short biographical passage.
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "George Washington Carver" by Barbara Radner

For Students 5th - 6th
A learning module that begins with "George Washington Carver" by Barbara Radner accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: "Marian's Revolution" by Sudipta Bardhan Quallen

For Students 5th - 6th
A learning module that begins with the "Marian's Revolution" by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
Graphic
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Art of the Stamp: Benjamin Banneker

For Students 9th - 10th
View the artwork of Jerry Pickney honoring Benjamin Banneker on a stamp. Banneker predicted a solar eclipse, published farmers almanacs, and was famous for many more things.
Activity
Other

Database of Award Winning Children's Literature

For Students 4th - 9th
This is a phenomenal resource. It allows the user to create a reading list of quality children's literature based of choices such as reading level, type of book, genre, ethnicity, gender, etc. In addition, one can determine if a book won...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Arthur Ashe

For Students 9th - 10th
This article provides an in-depth look into the life and career of athlete Arthur Ashe. Includes detailed statistics on his professional tennis career.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: w.e.b. Du Bois Growing Up

For Students 3rd - 5th
This introduction to the life of W.E.B. Du Bois, a founding member of the National Association of Colored People, informs readers about his childhood, the impact of racism on his life and the many accomplishments he achieved despite...
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Masterpiece Lesson Faith Ringgold

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This resource features a look at Faith Ringgold's work "Tar Beach." It provides information on how this author/artist created this story quilt. Find out how you can have your students develop their own autobiographical story quilt.
Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how George Washington Carvers' contributions to science radically changed the agricultural economy of the United States.