Lesson Plan
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Rosa Parks Changed the Rules

For Teachers K - 5th
Students complete a diagram of the Montgomery bus that carried Rosa Parks into the history books. They read about Rosa Park's contributions to the Civil Rights movement. They role play Rosa Park's refusal to move to the back of the bus.
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Building Bridges for Young Learners--Culture

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the concept of "culture." In this cross curriculum literacy and world history lesson, students listen to a letter written by a child from Namibia, then compare and contrast life in Africa with their own life. Students...
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What price Freedom! Civil War and Reconstruction

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familiar with the events of Reconstruction and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. In this reconstruction lesson plan, 5th graders work in pairs where each student  creates a building with blocks and draws it....
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A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students will use texture to create imaginary monsters and learn about the African American inventor Jan Earnst Matzeliger.
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A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.
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Sole People

For Teachers K - 8th
Students create "sole people" using tempera paint, drawing paper, and shoe prints in this multi-level art lesson. The lesson can be combined with a brief history of the African-American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger, who created the...
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Ray Charles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners read the book Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis. For this biography lesson, learners read about the life of Ray Charles. Learners answer pre-reading questions about senses, strengths, and weaknesses they have. The lesson...
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Romare Bearden-Style Collages

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Young scholars create collages in the style of African American artist Romare Bearden. They define the word collage, study African American artist Romare Bearden, view examples of collages by Romare Bearden, and create a collage...
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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...
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Emotion Masks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and discuss masks of different cultures as an art form to evoke emotion. This lesson culminates in the creation of individual mask designs and self-directed assessment (included).
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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...
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Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. For this fable analysis lesson, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse spider stories....
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Build a Black History Database/Timeline

For Teachers K - 12th
Students research famous people and events in Black History then break the biographies and events down into specific information related to dates in history. They
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The Great Migration

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students research the Great Migration and answer questions to discover where it took place, when it took place, who were migrating, and why in a 2 page paper. They use a map or atlas to plot out the routes and destinations of those...
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Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners research the events that led to the Civil War and the Reconstruction. In this Civil War history lesson, students study images of Robert Smalls and research his role in the Civil War. Learners review the South Carolina...
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Nelson Mandela, Symbol of Courage

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study Nelson Mandela. In this leadership lesson, 5th graders study the life of Nelson Mandela. Throughout their learning, they read biographies on Nelson Mandela, compare their community to those in South Africa, discuss...
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Telling Stories About Ourselves

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover how visual images communicate meaning. They create costumes that tell personal stories and perform dances wearing the costumes.
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Number Tick Tack Toe

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students participate in activities that apply Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences in order to improve literacy skills. The lesson is ideal for diverse learners because of the application of the theory.
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The All About Me Poster

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discover the literary genre of biographies.  In this creative writing lesson, students write about their own life experiences and personal stories.  Students create a poster about their lives, a biographical...
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Literature Overview of African Folktales

For Teachers K
Students play a game of tug-of-war, participate in a discussion about the story, discuss the phrase "bigger doesn't mean better." , and illustrate a scene from the story.
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They Put On Masks

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine Native American art. In this mask making lesson plan, 8th graders compare mask making traditions among different cultures. Students watch a demonstration of mask making and construct a mask of their own.
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They Put on Masks

For Teachers K - 9th
Students discover Native American culture by creating masks.  In this customs lesson, students create their own masks in class from plaster and paint.  Students perform a skit in front of their school showcasing their mask...
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Rainbow Joe and Me

For Teachers K - 3rd
Young scholars complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Rainbow Joe and Me. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, answer short answer questions, have...
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Great Gullah Story Telling Packet

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the Creole language known as Gullah which is a form of speech comprised of a number of unrelated languages. They determine how slaves used this to communicate so that slave masters would not be able to understand...