Curated OER
Diverse Voices -African American Ventures
Young scholars explore acts of kindness through the eyes of the black community. In this philanthropy instructional activity, students understand that even under inhumane circumstances, people can perform for the common good. Young...
Curated OER
Families in Bondage
Students examine actual letters writen by slaves and write essays based on these letters describing what it might have been like for an African American family living in the South during that time period.
National Woman's History Museum
Sally Hemings: Raising a Family Amidst the Brutality of Slavery
Pupils may know about early American figures such as Phyllis Wheatley and Abigail Adams, but what about Sally Hemings? Sally Hemings was the mother of Thomas Jefferson's children, but she is often left in the shadows of history....
Curated OER
The American Civil War: A Nation Divided (1861-1865)
Intended for use with atlases, this presentation details the causes and effects of the Civil War. It includes historical pictures of battles and discussion points about the technology which emerged during (and for) the war. The final...
Curated OER
What This Cruel War Was Over: Slavery and the Civil War
Can't travel to Richmond for your Civil War unit? This plan creates an authentic experience, using primary sources and the essential question: Over What Was the Civil War Fought? Historians examine the Appomattox Marker, the site of Gen....
Curated OER
Taking Up Arms and the Challenge of Slavery in the Revolutionary Era
Students examine a series of documents which discuss the contradiction in the Americans' rhetoric about slavery. They act as members of designated Committees of Correspondence in the five different colonies, communicating their...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Slavery and the American Founding: The "Inconsistency Not to Be Excused"
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...
Curated OER
Sojourner Truth
Students research Sojourner Truth. In this African-American history lesson plan, students read the speech "Ain't I A Woman?" and brainstorm descriptive words that describe Sojourner Truth. Students discuss why her acts were considered...
Curated OER
Slave Resistance
Students examine slavery and slave resistance. In this history lesson, students read several excerpts on slavery then work in small groups to reflect and answer questions on the readings.
Curated OER
American Colonization Society Lesson Plan
Students read an article online "Colonization and Emigration" and break into debating groups. They research points that support their side, namely whether or not the American Colonization Society was for or against segregation. They...
Curated OER
North and South - Impact of the Abolitionist Movement
Students examine history of slavery in United States, discuss abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass who worked to end slavery, listen to excerpts from Douglass' autobiography, and visit interactive Underground Railroad web site.
Curated OER
A Celebration
Students research the role of the Catholic church in the experiences of Haitian immigration. They organize a celebration of African and African-American cultures around the feast day of St. Martin de Porres, a saint of African descent.
Curated OER
Stateside Slavery
Students read "Slavery's Past, Paved Over or Forgotten" from The New York Times and discuss as a class. This activity is the introduction for researching a topic on the history of slavery in the U.S. Student groups present their...
Curated OER
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
In this literature learning exercise, students respond to 12 short answer and essay questions about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave. Students may also link to an online interactive quiz on the novel at...
Curated OER
Criminal or Hero
Young scholars investigate slavery in America circa the American Revolution. They will examine point- of view and perspective as they research a variety of informational resources. While this is designed to be used with the PBS video...
University of Richmond
The Forced Migration of Enslaved People 1810-1860
Slavery not only involved the forced migration of African people from their homes, it also meant the forced removal of people within the United States. Using data and interactive graphics, scholars see how the tragedy of human slavery...
Student Handouts
The Formation of the U.S. Constitution #3
Finish up your study of the United States Constitution with the third resource in a three-part series. Class members respond to three questions that focus on the relationship between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution and...
Curated OER
Questions to “Drawing the Color Line”
In this African American history worksheet, students watch "Drawing the Color Line" and then respond to 6 short answer questions about slavery.
Curated OER
Taking a Stand with Rosa Parks
Students discuss African-American history from slavery to the civil rights movement. They discuss individual people who shpaed history by reading their biographies and researching the age in which they lived. Studnets comprehend the...
Curated OER
The African Burial Ground
Students analyze African American burial grounds. In this African American history lesson, students draw conclusions about African American communities in early New York and consider how archeology made it possible to study the communities.
Curated OER
Happy Birthday!
Students honor African Americans in history. In this celebrating achievements lesson, students plan, design, and implement ways to honor persons in African American history during Black History Month.
Curated OER
A Piece of Bread
Students prepare food. In this African American community lesson, students read a story and discuss how philanthropy was portrayed. Students write about a time they had the opportunity to share or give. Students decide ways they can be...
Curated OER
Women's Achievements
Third graders read the passage in their textbook about Mary McLeod Bethune and discuss why education was important to her, and why she beleived that education allowed African American children to reach their potential. They then discuss...
Curated OER
Revealing Untold Stories
Students explore how and why various historical resources present information about slavery differently. They work in pairs to examine written texts to interpret the objectives, points of view, and depictions of slavery in these resources.