Unit Plan
New York Times

New York Times: Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
An outstanding collection of materials for learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights movement. Students can engage in a text-to-text analysis of 'I Have a Dream' and 'The Lasting Power of Dr. King's Dream Speech'
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Sammy Davis Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of three video lessons about Sammy Davis Jr., comedy, race, segregation in 1960's Hollywood, politics, identity, and The Civil Rights Movement.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Laurence Fishburne, 2008

For Students 3rd - 8th
Portrait and short profile of the career of Laurence Fishburne, an award-winning screen and stage actor, as well as a playwright, director, and producer.
Graphic
New York Times

New York Times: A Diverse First Family

For Students 9th - 10th
Investigate Barack Obama's family tree to discover his family's diverse multicultural roots.
Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Jan Matzeliger

For Students 9th - 10th
Jan Ernst Matzeliger is remembered for his creation that had a tremendous effect on the shoe industry. He was a Surinamese inventor of the "lasting machine," patented in 1883.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Tyler Perry, 2008

For Students 3rd - 8th
Portrait and short profile of the career of Tyler Perry, a playwright, actor, producer, and director. Perry developed and played the character of Madea, a comical grandmother, in the hit show Diary of a Mad Black Woman, as well as in...
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.
Unknown Type
Other

Seattle Times: Martin Luther King Jr. Quiz

For Students 9th - 10th
Test your knowledge on the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by taking this quiz.
Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Baseball and Social Change: The Story of Roberto Clemente

For Students 9th - 10th
In this blended lesson supporting literacy skills, students learn about baseball legend Roberto Clemente, his early years in the United States during segregation, and changes in the 1960s that made the U.S. culture more open to...
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Linda Brown 1943

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read a brief summary of the life story of Linda Brown whose civil rights experiences were the basis for the famous historical case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Colin Powell (Spanish Version)

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at the fast-paced and successful career of General Powell. Find out more about this talented and patriotic American. (In Spanish)
Website
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Harcourt: Biographies: Colin Powell

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at the fast-paced and successful career of General Powell. Find out more about this talented and patriotic American.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Ralph J. Bunche: An American Odyssey

For Students 9th - 10th
The companion website to the PBS documentary about Ralph Bunche, the first person of color to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Includes an interactive timeline of his life, in-depth analyses of his life and work at key stages of his career, a...
Website
Other

Photos of Ralph Bunche

For Students 9th - 10th
Are you looking for great pictures of Ralph Bunche? This site has 29 high quality images that give us a look into his childhood, professional career and accomplishments. Various portraits are also included.
Article
Seeker

Seeker: Mlk Tested 'Dream' Speech as a Teen

For Students 9th - 10th
Article reports on a speech given by a teen Martin Luther King, Jr. and its similiarities to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Includes a video.
Handout
Alabama Humanities Foundation

Encyclopedia of Alabama: Selma to Montgomery March

For Students 9th - 10th
One of the most famous events in Civil Rights history, this report covers the Selma to Montgomery March for voting rights.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman

For Students 9th - 10th
Janell Hobson details Harriet Tubman's many fights for freedom.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Duke Ellington

For Students 3rd - 8th
Duke Ellington (1899-1974 CE), a jazz legend, was a very interesting person. Here you will get brief biographical information along with a few additional articles on Ellington.
Website
University at Buffalo

University of New York: J. Ernest Wilkins, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography from the University of New York at Buffalo on Wilkins that also includes a partial list of his research publications and his lifetime awards.
Handout
Alabama Humanities Foundation

Encyclopedia of Alabama: Mahala Ashley Dickerson

For Students 9th - 10th
Mahala Ashley Dickerson is featured in this brief biography as the first black woman attorney permitted to join the Alabama and Alaska bar associations.
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Frederick Douglass

For Students 3rd - 8th
As a leader in the abolitionist movement Frederick Douglass (1817-1895 CE) was a most inspirational man. This site provides much interesting information including an account of his escape from slavery and his newspaper THE NORTH STAR.
Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Mae Jemison

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site takes a look at Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut. Content includes a brief biography, a picture, and an excerpt from her book, "Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life."
Handout
A&E Television

Biography: Hank Aaron

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides a biographical sketch of Hank Aaron. This African American baseball player is one of the greatest of all time.
Handout
Wisconsin Historical Society

Wisconsin Historical Society: A Life of Firsts: Brief Biography of Vel Phillips

For Students 9th - 10th
Born in Milwaukee in 1924, Vel Phillips was a women's and civil rights activist, and the first female African American lawyer in Wisconsin. Her many accomplishments as an African American woman paved the way for others.