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African American Identity in the Gilded Age
Ninth graders examine the tension experienced by African-Americans as they struggled to establish a vibrant and meaningful identity based on the promises of liberty and equality in the midst of a society. For this American History...
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The Role of African Slaves on South Carolina Rice Plantations
Fourth graders investigate the role of African American slaves in rice plantations. In this slave life lesson, 4th graders discuss the products produced in the 13 colonies. Students discuss the importance of rice to South Carolina's...
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African Masks
Learners make replicas of African masks. They also express what attributes they would want to have as an adult and put that into their mask.
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Folktale through African Art
Learners study folktales and other stories from West Africa. By hearing and reading these stories they explore many new cultural and religious beliefs, such as spirits inhabiting nature and possessing special powers. Once the students...
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The African-American Experience During the Vietnam Conflict
Students examine the experiences of African-Americans in the Vietnam War. They illustrate their experiences showing how these events related to the Civil Rights movement. They compare and contrast the views of sailors and officers aboard...
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Africa/United States-How do we compare materially?
Students discuss the material possessions of an African or American family. They examine how the material possessions of a family and the uses of their possessions are affected by their place of living.
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Music in West Africa
High schoolers explore power and the symbols of power in West African music. They discuss the music of West Africa and compare it to African American music of today. In addition, they investigate musical instruments of Africa, identify...
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The Clever Monkey Rides Again
Students explore a West African folktale. For this folktale lesson, students read the book The Clever Monkey Rides Again and discuss the trickster characters from the tale. Students participate in a discussion about the folktale and...
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Romare Bearden's The Dove - A Meeting of Vision and Sound
Students explore African american culture of the late 1950's and 60's through various primary sources including literature, music, art and others. They then prepare and conduct a mock interview and present with the class.
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South Carolina's African American Women: "Lifting As We Climb"
Students explore the formation of the National Association of colored Women's Club. In this civil rights lesson, students research the history and mission of the NACWC.
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African Masks
Fourth graders create three-dimensional paper African masks. They analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of Africa. they discover that masks were worn for various ceremonies.
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Bamana Chi Wara Headdresses
Students create African headdresses out of styrofoam blocks and black paint using information gathered from the Bamana Chi Wara style of headdresses. This Art lesson can be adapted for many different levels.
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Power of Symbols in West African Art
High schoolers examine and analyze symbols used in the Asante community of Ghana and look at the history of power struggles in West Africa. They discover how to express meaning and power as they create their own symbols and short...
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Family Sells House to Help the Hungry
Students compare their wants and needs, then read a news article about a family that downsized their home to help African villagers. In this current events and poverty in Africa lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a...
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Knowledge is Power
Students explore the distinct forms of knowledge that enslaved Africans brought with them to America or developed while enslaved. They study how political movements of the 18th century helped develop abolitionist thinking.
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Adventures in Africa
Students research Africa and prepare an advertisement about travelling to the continent. In this African travel lesson, students research a country in Africa and write an advertisement that encourages travel to the country. Students...
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Jackie Robinson, Civil Rights Activist
Learners analyze the life of Jackie Robinson and determine which characteristics contributed to his success as the baseball player who broke the color barrier and as a political activist.
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Nasco Color Sculpt Mask Making
Learners study the various masks made in African, Japanese, and Ancient Egyptian cultures and discuss the funtion of these masks in each society. They create a mask from one of these cultures using a molding technique.
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Music Motivates
Middle schoolers listen to songs from the Civil Rights movement. They explain how the music might have inspired African-Americans to be activists in the movement. They examine how the Civil Rights movement affected the common good.
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The Jessie Jackson Campaign
Students explore an African American's presidential campaign. In teams, students create a campaign for their presidential candidate. They create political ads and plan campaign strategies. Students are simulate jobs such as a campaign...
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The Amistad Case
Students analyze the Amistad case and how it impacted slavery in the United States. They, in groups, receive a document, answers the focus questions and presents their findings to the class.
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The Massachusetts 54th Regiment: Honoring the Heroes
Students use art and images analyze the Civil War. In this lesson on the Shaw Memorial, students engage in 3 activities, discussion, and art analysis to better comprehend the events of the Civil War. This lesson includes web resources,...
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Matthew Henson: Heroic Explore Who Conquered Racism
Young scholars explore the concept of racism. In this character building lesson plan, students read a biography about a hero Matthew Henson. Young scholars discover the challenges he, and others, faced during a time of unfairness.
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State v. Russell, Minnesota Supreme Court
Students examine the impact of court decisions. In this Minnesota Supreme Court lesson, students read the State v. Russell case study regarding cocaine drug use. Students take notes on the case and respond to discussion questions...