Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Magggie Lena Walker

For Students 9th - 10th
With this brief biography, learn about the life and career of Maggie L. Walker, the first African American bank president. Topics also includes Walker's activism, philanthropy and family history.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Roscoe Dunjee

For Students 9th - 10th
Read the biography of African American writer and civil rights activist Roscoe Dunjee.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Harold Washington (1922 1987)

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography profiles the political career of Harold Washington, the first African American mayor of Chicago.
Article
University of Missouri

Famous Trials: Lapd (King Beating) Trials (1992 1993)

For Students 9th - 10th
It seemed like an open-and-shut case. The George Holliday video, played on television so often that an executive at CNN called it "wallpaper," showed three Los Angeles police officers--as their supervisor watched-- kicking, stomping on,...
Article
Curated OER

History Matters: w.e.b. Du Bois Critiques Booker T. Washington

For Students 9th - 10th
W.E.B.DuBois, famous African American activist, wrote an essay disputing the path Booker T. Washington advocated in his Atlanta Compromise speech, and, instead, proposed a call for greater political power, civil rights, and higher...
Handout
Other

Rhode Island College: About Edward Mitchell Bannister

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a detailed biography of the famous African American artist, Edward Mitchell Bannister.
Lesson Plan
Library of Congress

Loc: Lesson Plans: Civil Rights

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A rich resource on civil rights from the early struggles of African Americans during slavery on through to today. Includes seven lesson plans for multiple grade levels, with information on standards.
Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Becoming Visible: James Baldwin

For Students 9th - 10th
James Baldwin is presented in this biography as a great African American contributor to the literary world during the civil rights movement. See "James Baldwin Activities" for more information.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Great Americans

For Teachers 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about five famous African Americans: Oprah Winfrey, Robert L. Curbeam Jr., Nikki Giovanni, Savion Glover, and Rosa Parks. A question sheet is available to help students build...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Famous African Americans Sojourner Truth

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage shares biographical content about the abolitionist named Sojourner Truth. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Famous African Americans Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This biographical sketch contains information about the Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Famous African Americans Thurgood Marshall

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This mini-biographical pieces shares information about Thurgood Marshall. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: The Struggle for Equality

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction passage gives biographical information about famous African Americans who have worked hard to fight against inequality. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills....
Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
"George Washington Carver" is a one page, biographical passage about George Washington Carver, a famous African American, who taught farmers better farming methods including planting peanuts to improve the soil. It is followed by an...
Website
Other

Afgen.com: George Washington Carver

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource reviews the life of famous African American inventor George Washington Carver. Includes mention of how this humble, soft-spoken man drew the attention of many important world figures of his day and how he "revolutionized...
Website
Other

South Carolina African American History Online

For Students 9th - 10th
A variety of information, including a calendar that is updated every year, that highlights famous South Carolina African-Americans.
Handout
Other

Mississippi Writers' Page: Ida B. Wells Barnett

For Students 9th - 10th
The University of Mississippi offers a detailed biography of Ida B. Wells-Barnett (1862-1931) the famous freedom fighter is offered at this site. It includes an extensive bibliography of her works, and works about her, as well as some...
Website
Great Idea Finder

Great Idea Finder: Lewis Howard Latimer

For Students 9th - 10th
An extensive biography of the life of African-American inventor, Lewis Latimer. Find out about his primary claim to fame in the development of an incandescent light bulb, but be sure to read about his many patents, and his importance to...
Handout
Other

O'malley Seidler Partners: Hall of Famers: Jackie Robinson

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the challenges Jackie Robinson had to deal with while being the first African-American to play major league baseball.
Handout
Other

Texas Black History Preservation Project: William Goyens (1794 856)

For Students 4th - 8th
A biography of William Goyens, a mixed African American and Cherokee married to a white woman, whose father was a freed slave. Goyens was a Texas businessman who himself participated in the slave trade, and friends with many of the well...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The Negro in the Wars of the Nation

For Students 9th - 10th
African Americans have fought proudly for our country as far back as the Revolutionary War. Christian Fleetwood gives an account of the history of African-American soldiers in the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. He cites examples of...
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Marian Anderson's Performance

For Students 3rd - 8th
Marian Anderson was the first African American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera. She had to overcome prejudice many times in her career. The Library of Congress tells you more with words and pictures.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Althea Gibson Won Again!

For Students 3rd - 8th
Althea Gibson made it possible for the Williams sisters to play at Wimbledon. As the first African-American to win that title, she was a pioneer. See photos and read more about her on this Library of Congress site.