Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black History Stamps

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students explore the lives and contributions of the many black Americans who are honored on U.S. commemorative postage stamps, make a presentation that synthesizes information about a historical figure and time, and write a persuasive...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Roots of Modern Dance in America

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop an understanding of how African culture impacted modern dance in the United States.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Bird's Eye View of the Caribbean: Art, Folklore, and Music

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine the Caribbean in terms of its music, art, and folklore. As a class, they listen to a folktale and discuss the difference between telling a story and reading a story. In groups, they write their own folktale and share...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: The Black Press

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine the history of the black press. In this media awareness lesson, students watch videos and conduct research regarding the history of the black press in America. Learners explore media careers as they read provided...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Underground Railroad

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students role-play as escaped slaves making their way from North Carolina to Canada, stopping in Indiana. They track their journeys on maps and include a stop at Harriet Tubman's. Students write three paragraphs about how Tubman aids...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Birth of Freedom: Black Soldiers in the Union Army

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate the history of civil rights by viewing historical photographs.  In this U.S. history lesson, students discuss why Black Soldiers fought for their rights by joining the Union Army in the 1800's.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Birth of Freedom: Black Soldiers in the Union Army

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars use primary documents to analyze the events surrounding black soldiers joining the Union Army. In this content area reading lesson, students view multiple primary documents, analyzing and answering questions about them.
Lesson Plan
Huntington Library

The Poetry and Prose of Langston Hughes

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discover the poetry of Langston Hughes. In this social issues lesson plan, 11th graders experience the views of Langston Hughes. Students read Hughes' poetry and discuss the basic theme. Students evaluate the political,...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Being Heard

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Examine the work of contemporary authors who use their writing to express opinions about the struggle against prejudice and oppression in our society. A short lesson on the Harlem Renaissance introduces learners to the most prominent...
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

From Airmail to Airlines

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore changes in air transportation from 1920 to the present. In this air flight lesson plan, students are introduced to the history of air transportation. This lesson plan contains three different activities that will...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Patriot or Loyalist? A Revolutionary Decision

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers research as a reporter would and present the loyalist and patriot point of view on the American Revolution.  In this patriots versus loyalist lesson, students produce a project such as a video debate or webpage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Choose Your Path

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the plot and theme of cartoons. In groups, they discuss and compare the written and movie versions of popular fairy tales. Individually, they write their own fairy tale and share them with the class. They write their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt

For Teachers K - 5th
Students read and understand the book Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt. In this language lesson, students understand the Ebonics and colloquialisms of the book. Students discuss the events and vocabulary used. Students explain their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fredrick Douglass...A Digital History

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research the life of Fredrick Douglass. In this Fredrick Douglass lesson, 7th graders read about his life and discuss it. They write poetry describing his experience as a slave and create their own monument for Fredrick...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Love To Langston

For Teachers 1st - 6th
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,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz Dance and Music

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write a poem. In this jazz music lesson, 4th graders learn about the basics of jazz dance and practice basic movements. Students learn common terminology and listen to several recordings of jazz music. Students create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Folk Music

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Last Day of Slavery

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book The Last Day of Slavery. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kindergarten Memories

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students create a monthly memory and compile it into a Kindergarten Memory Book.  In this memory book lesson plan, students create a monthly memory page.  Students create a graphic organizer in Kidspiration which is developed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The House of Dies Drear

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students read The House of Dies Drear and understand how he filled a need and helped people. In this philanthropy instructional activity students understand how the people who helped on the "Underground Railroad" filled a need and helped...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hero Within

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Young scholars interview a hero. In this heroes lesson, students read Number the Stars to begin a discussion about heroes and then create mind maps on each character. Young scholars pick a local hero and interview them and then write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Matthew Henson: Heroic Explore Who Conquered Racism

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore the concept of racism.  In this character building instructional activity, students read a biography about a hero Matthew Henson.  Students discover the challenges he, and others, faced during a time of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strong to the Hoop

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Strong to the Hoop. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer questions,...