Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from the Japanese American Internment

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the concept of Japanese internment. In this Japanese internment lesson, students examine primary sources that enable them to discover what internment camp life was like and its implications, Middle schoolers...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I am a Hero for Animals!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the humane treatment of animals. In this character development and civic responsibility lesson plan, students define "hero" and brainstorm related attributes. Students complete an action plan using the "rational...
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Facing History and Ourselves

Eyes on the Prize Lesson 2: Six Steps for Nonviolent Social Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore the concept of nonviolent protest. For this Civil Rights lesson, students examine the attributes of nonviolent protest as they investigate the student protests that took place in Nashville in 1960-1961. Young...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nonviolence as a Tool for Change Lesson 2

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore nonviolent protest. In this Civil Rights lesson, students read the essay "Nonviolence and Racial Justice." Students present the information they gleaned from the essay to their classmates in order to consider how...
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Facing History and Ourselves

Denial and Free Speech

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the meaning and implications of genocide. For this Armenian genocide activity, learners investigate the genocide that took place in Turkey.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine slavery in the revolutionary and colonial eras of the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the presence of slavery in early America, the language of the Constitution, and the intent of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Put Your Hands in Mine: King Day

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the concepts of human and civil rights. In this philanthropy lesson, students watch The Mighty Times: The Children March. Students discuss concepts relating to civil rights and change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Man, The Dream

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners discuss how one person's life can affect a community . For this Martin Luther King Jr. lesson, students read about Dr. King's life and contributions. They formulate ideas about how they can meet the needs of their own community.
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Curated OER

The Many Shades of Our World

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover diversity. In this civil rights lesson, students consider that skin color is unique and that diversity is common in the world as they complete artwork that reflects the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World War II on the Home Front: Civic Responsibility

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore World War II. In this World War II lesson, students discover how volunteerism demonstrates civic responsibility. The lesson uses World War II-era posters to appeal to the learners and help them to understand the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Americans in Aviation: The 1940s- A Decade of Change

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate African Americans in aviation. In this primary resources lesson, students examine primary resources to research the history of African American in aviation. Students answer two research questions and write an essay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rosa Parks Changed the Rules

For Teachers K - 5th
Students listen to a story about Rosa Parks and examine the bus seating rules of the 1950s. In this civil rights movement instructional activity, the teacher reads students a book about Rosa Parks, then students complete a worksheet...
Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Safety or Civil Liberty? The Trial of Sacco and Vanzet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the Sacco-Vanzetti trial and develop a basic understanding of the issues involved. Then they write an essay taking a stance on the Sacco-Vanzetti trial: was the trial fair? were the two men falsely accused? Finally,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstruction

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students explain how the Civil War and Reconstruction both solved and created problems for our nation. They study how Reconstruction caused a further decline in relations between the North & South and how racism has been and is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Public Policy Research

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore a public policy issue of local importance. Through research and survey, they identify a public policy issue affecting people in their local area. Students determine how this issue affects the lives of those involved and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Generation of Fighters

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the reasons why people are less likely to take a stand on issues today than they were in the past. In groups, they research the efforts of Kings, Parks and others to end discrimination and racism. They read excerpts of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Justice Demands an End to Segregation, But it Does Not End

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students define human rights and describe how it applies to politics, economics and cultural rights. As a class, they watch a video how the Constitution was made and discuss its purpose. In groups, they present information to the class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Individual Rights

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students study the individual rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. They determine where these rights come from, and why we value them as we do. They consider that our individual rights are not absolute, and may be limited by other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Story of Latino Civil Rights: Fighting for Justice

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the civil rights abuses suffered by African Americans, Japanesse Americans during WWII, and Hispanic Americans. They explain what the common element is among the discrimination against these three groups. Students are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Burial "Rights"

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students, after viewing several segments of the video, "Stories Under the Stones," discuss the pros/cons of separate burial areas for different groups of people. They analyze a series of documents regarding the burial policy of one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THEMATIC ESSAY

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students Compare and contrast the beliefs and methodology of three leaders of the Civil Rights movement. Using specific examples, discuss how these leaders were either successful or unsuccessful in attaining their goals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continuity or Change? African Americans in World War II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the experience of African Americans during World War II by analyzing primary sources and formulating historical questions. They evaluate if the African American experience during World War II represents continuity...
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Facing History and Ourselves

Emmett Till: Confronting the Murder

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The 1955 murder of Emmett Till is often regarded as the catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. Learn more about the brutal crime—and, as many believe, the miscarriage of justice—that began a national conversation...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Civil Rights Leader

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars investigate and read about the life and contributions of Martin Luther King, Jr. They listen to a biography and take notes, complete a pictorial story, and complete a writing assignment in response to questions about civil...