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Curated OER

Separate But Equal? A Lesson on the Briggs v. Elliott Case in Claredon County, SC

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discussschool integration.  In this racial inequality instructional activity, 3rd graders read Remember: The Journey to School Integrationand discuss the school facilities and how people must have...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling Southern Style: A Lesson on the Jim Crow Laws

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a poster of a travel route. In this discrimination lesson, 3rd graders read The Gold Cadillac and use it to discuss the problems African Americans faced while traveling south in the 1950's. Students compare three...
Lesson Plan
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Keep Your Eye On the Prize

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers learn about citizens who were actively involved in the civil rights movement, and the strategies they used to overcome the Jim Crow laws that were so prevalent in the 1960s. They investigate the voting amendments of the US...
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Jazz Music and the Crisis Over School Desegregation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will learn to appreciate the civil rights movement with a focus on Little Rock, Arkansas. They will also acknowledge Louis Armstrong's unparalleled contributions to American music.
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"Jazz is About Collaboration": Jim Crow Laws And Segregation

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore development of jazz music in the 1930s by forming imaginary jazz bands which tour several cities in Depression-era America. Jazz band members create imaginary identities for themselves, develop publicity for their tour,...
Lesson Plan
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Freedom on My Mind: A Marginalized Voice in the Segregated South

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze the film, "Freedom on My Mind." They view the film and discuss its points in small groups. They create a fictional southern state reflecting segregation in the 1960's. They present their states to the class.
Lesson Plan
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Sam Cooke - Lesson 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the impact of the social injustices and Civil Rights movement on Cooke's life and career. They create lyrics to a familiar song that express a personal struggle or concern.
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The Past Half Century: Achieving Equality

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students analyze reactions to the Brown vs. Education decision of 1954. In this segregation lesson, student look at the actions that were taken in the education world as a result of the Brown decision. They watch a CD, examine political...
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National Park Service

Civil War to Civil Rights: From Pea Ridge to Central High

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
Explore how the Civil War impacted the Civil Rights Movement. Class members complete a series of projects for a unit that uses a layered curriculum approach to learning. 
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Freedom's Children

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners role play a story from from Freedom's Children: Young Civil Rights Activists Tell Their Own Stories. In this segregation activity, young scholars work in a literary circle to create a role play to present to the class. Each...
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Separate is Not Equal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers use political cartoons and editorials to study Brown v. Board of Education. In this Brown v. Board of Education lesson, students read the background information on eight cartoons and editorials for a study...
Lesson Plan
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Civil Rights Movement: Closing Day

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Young scholars explore the American Civil Rights Movement. In this African American history instructional activity, students close a Civil Rights unit by preparing Civil Rights Open House exhibits for an audience.
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The WCTU and the Lynching Controversy

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Pupils analyze writings of famous authors and record their positions on lynching and segregation. They research arguments to explore the attitudes of people in the South and the North during the 19th century.
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This is Rosa Parks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students observe the difference that one person can make. In this Civil Rights Movement lesson, students discuss the concepts of segregation and boycotting. They compare and contrast two African American women who were pivotal to the...
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Satchel Page

For Teachers 5th
Bring a lesson about Negro League Baseball to your Black history unit, or any other research unit throughout the year. While the lesson plan itself is simplistic, there are several good ideas that you could use, such as creating trading...
Lesson Plan
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Growing Like Dr. King

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore American History by reading biographical material. In this civil rights lesson, students read information about Martin Luther King Jr. and his successful demonstrations which led to equal rights for African Americans....
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African Americans in World War II: Staging a Double V Campaign in the Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The feelings and attitudes of African-Americans during World War II are examined by high schoolers. After watching various clips from "The War," they answer comprehension questions for each section. In groups, they create their own...
Lesson Plan
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The Race Card

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students use Ernest J. Gaines' A Lesson Before Dying to investigate the reality of legal segregation. In this segregation lesson, students work in groups to study the books characters and how their classification affected the rights they...
Lesson Plan
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The Fight to End "Separate but Equal" in American Schools

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars study the court cases related to Brown v. Board of Education and the "separate but equal" standard established by Plessy v. Ferguson. They create an informational display that can be used to teach others the particulars of...
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Brown v. Board

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate Brown versus Board of Education. They read and discuss a handout, discuss vocabulary terms, and in small groups create a brochure, bookmark, puzzle, and a short skit.
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In the Shadow of Death

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students research the initial labeling and classification of Jews through the use of images on the Web. They gather additional information about the history and effects of the Holocaust on survivors.
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James Brown: Life and Times

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students trace James Brown's rise from "Little Junior" in Depression-era Augusta, Georgia, to the "Minister of the New Super Heavy Funk" and create a collage that captures his impact on American music.
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Rosa Parks Autobiography

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Learners write the story of Rosa Parks from the perspective of someone who was sitting on the bus that day.  In this Rosa Parks/biography lesson, students read the story of Rosa Parks and discuss it in small groups.  After...
Lesson Plan
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The Rise and Fall of the Jim Crow Era

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore African American history by researching the Jim Crow laws. In this Civil Rights lesson, students define the Jim Crow laws, the reasons they were put into place, and how they were ultimately defeated. Students write a...