Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Election of Barack Obama 44th President of the United States

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers consider the historic implications of Barack Obama's election. In this election of 2008 activity, students research Obama's accomplishments and determine how his election signifies the success of the American Civil Rights...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are The Freedom Riders

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the role of the Freedom Riders. In this American Civil Rights lesson, students watch videos, listen to lectures, and conduct research regarding the participants in the Freedom Ride protest. Several weblinks, worksheets,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Martin Luther King Jr. Day

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore civil rights by researching the late Dr. King. In this African American leader lesson plan, 3rd graders read the book Martin's Big Words which explore the foundation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s principals and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The End of the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers examine the relationships between blacks and whites in their community. In this racial discrimination lesson, students make race relations observations within their community and then write letters that reveal their...
Interactive
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Students 7th - 12th
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about the accomplishments of Martin Luther King, Jr. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Interactive
Curated OER

Breaking News English: Rosa Parks

For Students 5th - 10th
In this Rosa Parks worksheet, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion questions, write, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Envisioning Equality

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research the contributions of Civil Rights leaders. In this human justice lesson, students research selected websites about the accomplishments of leaders of the American Civil Rights Movement. Students use their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Land, Liberty and the Struggle for the American Dream

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate equality by reading a historical fiction book in class.  In this civil rights lesson, students read the story Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry with their classmates and define the Jim Crow Laws that kept blacks...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Segregation

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students consider the implications of prejudice. In this segregation lesson, students experience a simulation that has school staff favoring students with blue eyes. Students discuss the simulation experience, watch "The Eye of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

King Campaigns in Birmingham

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discuss the contributions of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.  In this civil rights movement lesson, 11th graders read Rev. King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail", answer questions about the letter, share their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nonviolence the Road to Freedom

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discuss the use of nonviolence.  In this civil rights movement lesson, 11th graders write a journal entry on the differences between Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., discuss nonviolence and create a poster...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New Voices for African Americans

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study Malcolm X and black power. In this African American lesson, 11th graders write a journal entry about black power and create a timeline of the events during the civil right movement.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Roots of Ahimsa

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students investigate the philosophy of nonviolence. In this Ghandi instructional activity, students discover that Gandhi inspired many civil rights leaders with the idea of ahimsa. Students complete venn diagrams, create timelines,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning to Respect Each Other

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Discover how important Martin Luther King Jr. is to our society. For this civil rights lesson, investigate how Dr. King was an advocate for nonviolence and how he fought for civil rights for all Americans. Read and analyze Dr. King's "I...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black Separatism or the Beloved Community? Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students interpret historical evidence presented in primary and secondary resources. In this African American history lesson, students compare and contrast the tactics employed by Malcolm X and Martin Luther King,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King and Writing as a Tool for Social Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore writing as an agent for social change. In this Social Studies lesson, students examine the power of writing using Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail.  Students will practice the technique of persuasive writing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

MLK: using Nonviolence to Make Positive Change

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students read about Martin Luther King and discuss the rights and responsibilities of citizens.  In this Martin Luther King lesson, students recognize the vocabulary words associated with freedom and nonviolence.  Students view...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans in California’s Heartland – The Civil Rights Era

For Teachers 11th Standards
Events related to the Civil Rights Movement in Sacramento, California during the 1960s offer class members an opportunity to compare the nonviolent resistance approach favored by Dr. Martin Luther King and the NAACP with those of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Religion in Social Change: What's God Got To Do With It?

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Learners determine how religion influences social change. In this religion and social change lesson, students examine how the religious beliefs of Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. were inspirational as they worked to reduce...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continuing Gandhi's Legacy of Cross-Cultural Understanding: Central Asia and the Middle East

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students investigate the lifestyle of Gandhi by creating a Venn Diagram.  In this biographical lesson, students compare the philosophies of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi while discussing their teaching methods.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Have a Dream Podcasts

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students write dream speeches and record them as Mp3's. In this speech lesson, students watch Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have Dream Speech." They use the writing process to develop a dream speech which they rehearse. They record their...
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Facing History and Ourselves

Eyes on the Prize Lesson 1: The Philosophy of Nonviolence

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the concept of nonviolent demonstration. In this Civil Rights Movement activity, students investigate examples of injustice and discuss the philosophy of nonviolence fueled by leaders of the movement. Students apply...
Lesson Plan
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National Endowment for the Humanities

A Raisin in the Sun: Whose "American Dream"?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
How does Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun factor into a discussion of the American dream? High schoolers define the American dream and recognize the historical setting of the play. Additionally, they identify...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a study in celebrating people

For Teachers K - 5th
Students analyze obstacles in their own life by studying Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. For this humanity lesson, students create T-charts listing the obstacles one faces in life and how they can be overcome. Students compare and contrast...