Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mosaic America: Patterns of Racism

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders use print and electronic resources to gather and analyze information on the political system in the United States. Using the Constitution, they identify and discuss instances of racism included in amendments and laws. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racism and the Box

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine racism and how it relates to self-deception. They identify the effect of racism on society. They reflect on the lesson by writing a paragraph about discrimination and racism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Piano

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read The Piano and become familiar with racial discrimination.  In this racial discrimination book lesson, 2nd graders answer comprehension question to focus on the importance of the book.  Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Racist Behavior

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students brainstorm definition of racism, identify forms of racism, including direct and indirect, individual and institutional, and examine effects it may have. Students then discuss whether they have ever experienced or witnessed racism.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You and the Law -- Beating the Odds

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the rate of institutional racism in the United States. Individually, they write in their journals about how they can make better choices and increase their self-esteem. Using historical documents, they identify the...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

The Hate U Give

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas became a quick hit in the young adult literature genre before its adaptation in the 2018 film of the same name. Use a thorough lesson plan, discussion guide, and series of activities to discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Unfinished Work

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Pupils investigate the racism elements after the election of President Barack Obama. In this racism instructional activity, students read a recent article about 'post-racial' society. Pupils compile a list of achieving a post-racial...
Unit Plan
Children's Museum of Indianapolis

Anne Frank: Facing Hatred, Daring to Dream

For Teachers 6th - 9th Standards
The stories of Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges, and Ryan White illustrate the power of children to make a difference. The three lesson in this must-have resource are designed to inspire young people to make a difference in their world....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eighteenth-Century Slave Codes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners explore slavery by reviewing the written laws intended to keep African Americans subservient. For this U.S. slavery lesson, students analyze a time-line of the history of African Americans. Learners discuss the patterns of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King Jr. Who Is He?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students describe MLk's leadership of the desegregation movement. Students discuss the meaning of non-violent revolution. Students identify the difference between their lives and those ofcitizens in 1963. Students write a short essay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

John Gary Evans and the Politics of Race

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students read letters written by Evans and Gunton regarding race relations. In this Progressive Movement lesson, students interpret the intentions and tone of the letters to understand contemporary racial beliefs. Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remember

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders mention any recent racism or discrimination they have seen placed on an ethnic group other than their own. After reading an autobiography, they read and write poems based on past events in the Hispanic culture. They are...
Lesson Plan
Global Oneness Project

Repairing the Fabric of Democracy

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
During elections, headlines constantly lament the issue of low voter turnout. Help class members understand why this is such an important topic with relevant articles, a discussion of both sides of the issue, and a reflective essay. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz's Beginnings

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine jazz's roots and their hybridization in New Orleans in the early 20th century. They listen to ragtime and jazz recordings, then complete worksheets imbedded in this plan.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Power of Protest

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain how Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. They discuss how her actions were heroic and how they affected the civil rights movement. They reflect on the lesson in journal entries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Langston Hughes: Voice Among Voices

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Langston Hughes's poetry, short stories, and his first autobiography. They read and appreciate the candid, honest and powerful creative masterpieces of this black genius and discuss the numerous universal themes and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Remus to Rap: A History in Theory and Practice of the African-American Storytelling Tradition

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the specific form and function of tall tales and toasts. They discover the importance of performance in the telling of a story and the importance of rhythm in the telling of toasts. They create stories of their own, in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get up, Stand up. Stand up for your Civil Rights.

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study civil rights leaders. In this Civil Rights lesson plan, 4th graders investigate what it means to stand up for something you believe in after reading about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Obama. Students...
Lesson Plan
Yale University

Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Changing Attitudes in America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A collection of lesson plans that help teachers examine diversity, institutional racism, and other topics in social justice.