Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Courageous Voices that Shook the Nation to Action

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. In this Martin Luther King, Jr. day lesson, students learn about the holiday for Dr. King through literature and music. Students learn the lyrics to Stevie Wonder's 'Happy Birthday' about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students survey free jazz and fusion. They explore how free jazz and fusion reflected American culture and society in the 1960s and 1970s.
Lesson Plan
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Analyzing the economic, political, social, and cultural transformation of the United States since World War II

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine political issues in the United States between 1936 and 2000. In this American history lesson, 11th graders study the economy, education, government, civil rights, and sports of this time period. Students compare...
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Dr. King’s Leadership in the Aftermath of the Bombing of Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of nonviolent resistance. In this nonviolent resistance lesson, students consider how Dr. King led during the aftermath of the bombing of Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.
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Freedom's Children

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners role play a story from from Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. In this segregation activity, young scholars work in a literary circle to create a role play to present to the class. Each...
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Individual Resistance & Social Change

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students examine the Brown v. Board of Education case. In this segregation lesson, students study the details of the case and compare it the Mendez v. Westminster case.
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Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine how Martin Luther King Day is celebrated in the United States. They practice treating others equally and respectfully. They also identify ways in which they can help King's dream of peace a reality.
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To March or Not to March?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read historical artifacts about the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and analyze the choices made during the time. In this March on Washington lesson, students read Martin's Big Words and the 'Step Back in Time' sheets....
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Prudence Crandall House and Little Rock High School

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how Prudence Crandall influenced the education of African Americans in New England prior to the Civil War and compare and contrast events in Canterbury, CN in the 1830's to those in Little Rock, AR in the 1950's.
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Jackie Steals Home

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students draw on their previous studies of American history and culture as they analyze primary sources from Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s - 1960s in American Memory. A close reading of two documents relating to...
Lesson Plan
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The Study of the Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: Overcoming Adversity

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the photographs of Russell Lee and identify the obstacles faced by Mexican-Americans in Texas during the early and mid-20th century. They discuss the ways they overcame these obstacles and relate it to obstacles...
Lesson Plan
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Breaking the Color Barrier: Jackie Robinson's Combat Against Racism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore Jackie Robinson's career. In this 20th century American history lesson, students complete the provided analysis questions based on the provided primary documents about Jackie Robinson. High schoolers discuss...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Black Diamond

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Score a home run with this packet of information on the very first player of the Negro League to be elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame — cultural groundbreaker and sports legend Satchel Paige. These worksheets include a...
Lesson Plan
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Rockin’ the World: Rock and Roll and Social Protest in 20th Century America

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore protest songs. For this interdisciplinary lesson, students examine issues-based music by summarizing lyrics and revealing inferences, generalizations, conclusions, and points of view found in the songs.
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Introduction to Selected Documents from the Roxcy Bolton Collection

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Young scholars listen to a guided imagery exercise that takes them back to 1969. They brianstorm ideas to try to discover why they would not be allowed to sit at an empty table at a Burdines lunch counter in 1969. They read letters...
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"Rosa Parks"

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars use information from the Time 100: Rosa Parks Web site to explore Parks's decision to challenge Montgomery's segregation laws. They answer four questions and apply this information by delivering an introductory speech.
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Do Suspected Enemies Have Rights?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the history of Japanese immigration. They complete an online Webquest, explore various websites, answer discussion questions, and locate and read newspaper articles about enemy compatants.
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Rosa Parks/Segregation

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine the role of Rosa Parks in ended segregtation in the South. Using new vocabulary, they observe the effects of segregation by being placed into different groups over a two day period. They discuss the feelings and emotions...
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"The New Television Set" a Gateway to the Post World War II Era

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders demonstrate their knowledge of the effects of television on the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual and artistic life of the US nation from the 1950's. Research how television shaped public opinion with...
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Lift Every Voice and Sing

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students analyze sculpture, poetry, and music to gain an understanding of historical events. In this critical thinking skills lesson, students take a closer look at African-American history as they examine "Lift Every Voice and Sing'"...
Lesson Plan
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An Analysis of Jim Crow Laws and their Effects on Race Relations

For Teachers 1st
First graders analyze the role of the Jim Crow laws on race relations. As a class, they are segregated based on the color shirt they have or some other simple criteria and wear either a square or circle sticker representing the majority...
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Understanding the Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students work in groups to do a document analyxix of several documents. Students view the Martin Luther King speech, "I Have a Dream." They discuss the Battle of Saratoge. Students give a personal view of the reason the Declaration of...
Lesson Plan
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Crystal Blue Persuasion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine historic posters, jewelry, quilts and buttons that were created to protest or call attention to a political issue. After evaluating how these items were used to communicate a political message, students create an item...
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Rosa Parks

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students complete a variety of written and discussion activities regarding Rosa Parks and the Alabama bus boycott and how they changed an accepted way of life in America.