Curated OER
Flipped: After Reading Strategy
Everyone can be an expert! After finishing Wendelin Van Draanen's book Flipped, divide your class into small groups. Then, assign each group a topic to become experts on. The resource suggests topics such as characters, themes, setting,...
Curated OER
Define My Own Destiny: Using Arrested Development and Lauryn Hill to Teach Hansberry's Raisin in the Sun
Literary themes don't just belong to literature. High schoolers listen to the lyrics of modern songs by Arrested Development, Lauryn Hill, and others to enhance their study and to connect to characters, conflicts, and themes of...
Curated OER
To Kill a Mockingbird: A Historical Perspective
Students research the Great Depression. In this Great Depression lesson, students analyze primary sources to develop an understanding of life in the American south during the depression era as they read Harper Lee's To Kill a...
Curated OER
Slavery and Empire 1440 - 1770
Students reflect on the events that led up to slavery in the early years of North America. In this United States History instructional activity, students read excerpts from the book "Out of Many," then gather in small groups to...
Curated OER
Love To Langston
Students complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Love To Langston. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer questions,...
Curated OER
4 Corners Pre-reading Strategy for A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
High schoolers consider different statements based on the themes from Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, and decide what they think of the statement. They share their ideas as a class and discuss all sides to a idea.
Curated OER
Questions to “Drawing the Color Line”
In this African American history worksheet, students watch "Drawing the Color Line" and then respond to 6 short answer questions about slavery.
Curated OER
"Railroad Bill, A Conjure Man"
Students create questions to ask the poet, Ishmael Reed about his poetry. After the poet speaks, students are broken into groups and are to analyze a poem and report back to the class on their findings.
Curated OER
William Lanson: New Haven's African King
Young scholars discuss the misrepresentations of African Americans in the United States. In groups, they examine the life and accomplishments of William Lanson and the importance of extending the Long Wharf. Together, they pretend they...
Curated OER
Philanthropy and You
Young scholars identify human rights and study the values of historical figures who fought for human rights. In this human rights activity, students define the term human rights and research examples of human mistreatment in history....
Curated OER
Reading Test -- B1 Level
In this reading test worksheet, students read about Nelson Mandela. Students read a biography of Nelson Mandela and answer questions about what they read.
Curated OER
Bringing Tolerance to Our Beaches
Learners relate tolerance and discrimination within a Biblical context. They read "The Sneetches" and apply it to situations occuring now. They write a letter to Congresss speaking out against discrimination.
University of Virginia
University of Virginia Electronic Text Center: African American Resources
A collection of primary source materials on African American history. Much of it is about slavery and racism. There are many slave narratives here, letters, essays, and biographical materials, and some of the names are well known ones,...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Pairing Texts With Movies to Promote Comprehension and Discussion
Thematic pairings of novels/short stories with movies can help students access difficult texts and can lead to deeper comprehension and lively classroom discussion. This article suggests pairings for some commonly assigned middle and...
CommonLit
Common Lit: "Little Things Are Big" by Jesus Colon
A learning module that begins with "Little Things Are Big" by Jesus Colon, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through free teacher...
Read Works
Read Works: A Museum of Their Own
[Free Registration/Login Required] This infomrationa text piece discusses the accomplishments of several African-American baseball players from the days of segregation and the museum that has been built to honor their accomplishments....
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: America in Class: America in the 1920s: Divisions: Black & White
The National Humanities Center presents collections of primary resources compatible with the Common Core State Standards - historical documents, literary texts, and works of art - thematically organized with notes and discussion...
US National Archives
Our Documents: Executive Order: Resulting in the Relocation of Japanese
Summarizes the background behind this order that moved people of Japanese ancestry to relocation centers in 1942. Provides a link to an image of the original document and a copy of the text.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Civil Rights Special Collection
Multimedia collection of video, primary text documents and audio on Civil Rights, especially Brown vs. Board of Education.
Other
Letter From Birminghham Jail [Pdf]
This letter shares Martin Luther King's reflections about his involvement in peaceful demonstrations. The letter provides historical information about the plight of African Americans throughout history and why he and others are so...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Virtual Professional Learning Series
Our Virtual Professional Learning Series is created for teachers-by teachers-to bring together content experts and educators from all backgrounds. With an emphasis on fun, engaging, accessible, and free tools for classrooms, these...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Texas Joins the Battle: A Haunting Question
Suffragists in Texas attempted to have their voice heard. However, the issue of race often tore these women apart, and ultimately ended the Texas Equal Rights Association in 1896. Explore the words and strategies of this period's...
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: The Movement Comes of Age: Suffrage Map, Austin Woman Suffrage Association
Here is an interesting "Suffrage Map," showing which states had granted women the right to vote by 1913. Read how the women's voting movement was, unfortunately, soiled by racism, as shown through the map's text, "Won't You Help Us Make...
C-SPAN
C Span American Writers: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
A brief summary of The Adventures of Huck Finn by Mark Twain. Also includes an online text of the work as well as links to other informational websites.