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Sporting Tolerance
Students investigate African-American baseball players from the early 20th century. They read an article, answer discussion questions, write a journal entry, and create a poster-size baseball card for an athlete.
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Reconsidering Malcolm X
Students analyze the strategies and speeches of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Jackie Steals Home
Students read articles relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial barrier in professional baseball. This leads to a deeper exploration of racism in the United States. They use a variety of worksheets imbedded in this plan to...
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The Civil War Experience
Eighth graders study the Civil War. In this Civil War lesson, 8th graders read and analyze primary sources. Students complete handouts in relation to the primary sources.
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Malcolm X
In this famous leaders learning exercise, students read a passage about Malcolm X and then complete a variety of in-class and homework activities to support comprehension, including partner interviews, spelling, cloze, synonym matches,...
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Literature for Lesson 4 - Abolitionists
Students examine the definition of abolition and abolitionists. In this abolition lesson plan, students complete vocabulary work before reading about Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Frederick Douglass. They watch a video about...
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An Abolitionist Lecture
Tenth graders investigate the Abolitionist Movement in the United States. In this 19th century American lesson, 10th graders research Frederick Douglas, William Lloyd Garrison, and Sojourner Truth and their efforts to end slavery....
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Breaking the Color Barrier: Jackie Robinson's Combat Against Racism
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...
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Martin Luther King, Jr. vs. Malcolm X
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the visions of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X. In this African-American history lesson, 11th graders read speeches by each of the men and summarize the arguments made by each of them about...
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America responds to Dred Scott
Eleventh graders examine the reactions Americans had to the Dred Scott decision. In this American History lesson, 11th graders read editorials from newspapers. Students analyze these editorials and audio tapes from that time.
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Introducing the Essay: Twain, Douglass, and American Non-Fiction
Students analyze American essayists Mark Twain and Frederick Douglass in an introduction to American literary non-fiction writing. In this essay history activity, students identify methods for writing essays. Students read and analyze...
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Doing the Right Thing
Middle schoolers examine the trait of courage. For this character traits lesson, students discuss how to their face fears in order to do the right thing as they discuss the corageous acts of Jackie Robinson.
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Frederick Douglas
Fourth graders explore the African Americans resistance to slavery. In this US History lesson, 4th graders read excerpts of a speech by Frederick Douglas.Students develop a position of right or wrong to certain situations within their...
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On the Other Side of the Color Barrier: Segregation and the Negro Leagues
Students study segregation that occurred in the past and that is currently occurring. For this equal rights lesson, students use primary source documents to student segregation of the past. In a culminating activity, students find or...
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John Brown Lesson Plan
Students investigate John Brown. In this U.S. history slavery lesson, students view a PowerPoint presentation about John Brown. Students discuss the North's and South's reaction to John Brown's raid, and determine whether they think...
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Jackie Robinson, A Black Hero
Students explore the meaning of the word hero. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students examine what the word hero means as they discover Jackie Robinson and hits contributions to society.
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Music of the Civil Rights Era, 1954-1968
Students experience the aesthetics of music and learn about freedom songs that motivated the Civil Rights activists. In this music history lesson, students learn how music can motivate and move listeners. Students then describe how...
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What’s in a Name? Understanding Malcolm X
Students study the life of Malcolm X. In this autobiography lesson, students read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, investigate and evaluate the time period of his life, and write an essay based on their reflections pertaining to his...
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Bigger than Life
Students explore courage. In this moral and character development instructional activity, students read biographical information about Jackie Robinson and identify examples of courage exemplified in his life story.
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Who Am I? Jackie Robinson
In this sports heroes instructional activity, students read the clues about a famous African-American baseball player. Students fill in the blanks to break the code and use the code to name the mystery person - Jackie Robinson.
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Louis Armstrong
In this reading comprehension worksheet students read a biography of jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Students answer 6 questions.
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Frederick Douglass
Students read and illustrate a time line of Douglass's life and listen to an
excerpt of his diary describing his escape from slavery. They assemble with their pictures in chronological order around the classroom. In turn, they share...
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Malcolm X and Race Relations
Students read sections of Malcolm X's autobiography. In groups, they create a poster which highlights the events in his life and explains his philosophy on race relations. They present their poster to the class and answer any questions...
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Exploring the Life of a Slave
Eleventh graders explore importance of abolitionists who worked to advance freedoms of black Americans prior to/during Reconstruction era, read and identify key concepts in Frederick Douglass's narrative, recognize how Douglass's slave...