Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Civil Rights Historical Investigations Unit PlanCivil Rights Historical Investigations Unit Plan
Publisher
Facing History and Ourselves
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - 12th
Subjects
Social Studies & History
2 more...
Resource Type
Unit Plans
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
4 more...
Technology
Audio
Video
Internet Access
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Unit Plan

Civil Rights Historical Investigations

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Civil Rights Historical Investigations unit plan also includes:
  • Lesson Plan
  • Activity
  • Worksheet
  • Reading Passage
  • Rubric
  • Teacher Reference
  • Join to access all included materials

The murder of Emmett Till, the Selma to Montgomery march, and the desegregation of Boston schools are the focus of three units that ask class members to investigate why these events were so key in the struggle for civil rights. Groups examine primary source materials to gain an understanding of the historical context, the timing, and the role played by individuals in these events that launched the Civil Rights Movement. 

96 Views 61 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

civil rights, the civil rights movement, emmett till, rosa parks, desegregation, segregation, racism, jim crow laws

Additional Tags

social studies

Instructional Ideas

  • The final unit in the packet focuses on the attempts to desegregate Boston area schools; while the activities and concepts are universal, instructors could choose to have class members research the same attempts in their area

Classroom Considerations

  • A protocol must be in place for a safe, respectful discussion of controversial issues
  • Many of the images and comments in the primary source materials are disturbing but essential to reinforce the central theme of the resource; therefore, remind class members that these materials provide the historical context required

Pros

  • The 268-page packet includes an overview of the Facing History and Ourselves program, three unit plans, detailed lessons and activities, and an appendix that includes all required graphic organizers, handouts and other teaching resources

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RI.9-10.1 RI.9-10.7 RI.11-12.1 RI.11-12.7 W.9-10.1.a W.9-10.1.b W.9-10.1.c W.9-10.1.d W.9-10.1.e W.11-12.1.a W.11-12.1.b W.11-12.1.c W.11-12.1.d W.11-12.1.e RH.9-10.1 RH.9-10.3 RH.9-10.6 RH.9-10.9 RH.11-12.1 RH.11-12.3 RH.11-12.6 RH.11-12.9

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Rights Auction

Close Up Foundation
In an engaging activity on universal and unalienable rights, learners work in groups to establish a democratic nation and determine what principles they want to protect to ensure a democratic society. They conduct a "rights auction" in...
7th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

PBS
What rights are guaranteed to students? Do they align with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was approved by the United Nations in 1948? Middle and high schoolers present persuasive arguments about the rights they believe...
7th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
PPT

US Civil Rights Movement: Beginnings through the 60s

Curated OER
A real find for a U.S. History teacher, this presentation could supplement many class sessions about the Civil Rights Movement. Pictures of events, major figures, and "Whites Only" signs are striking and effective for even your most...
8th - 11th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

Using Historic Digital Newspapers for National History Day

National Endowment for the Humanities
Your learners will take a trip through history as they peruse through historic digitalized newspapers, reading real articles from such historical periods in the United States as the Temperance movement...
7th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Designed
Interactive

From Dred Scott to the Civil Rights Act of 1875: Eighteen Years of Change

DocsTeach
What do a photo of Abraham Lincoln, a map for the Battle of Antietam, and the Dred Scott decision all have in common? Learners consider the broader question as they examine documents related to civil rights during the Civil War and...
10th - 12th Social Studies & History
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Civil Rights or Human Rights?

Stanford University
Young citizens consider the American civil rights movement as part of the global struggle for human rights. After using a timeline activity to learn about the major events in the civil rights movement, class members study...
6th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

The Long Struggle for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights

DocsTeach
Academics analyze 10 primary documents and photos to create a timeline of the LQBTQ+ movement. The activity includes an online worksheet. Scholars also participate in a group discussion to understand the long struggle the LGBTQ+...
9th - 12th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

The Rights of the Child

Advocates for Human Rights
Don't be fooled by the size of the resource: these few pages provide the blueprint for a substantial, thoughtful unit on children's rights and the different philosophies and approaches that the United States and other countries have...
8th - 12th Social Studies & History
Lesson Plan

Observing Human Rights Day

Stanford University
How much intervention is appropriate for America to take in cases of human rights violations? Class members ponder a question that has lingered since the birth of America with a series of primary sources that reflect the degree to which...
6th - 12th English Language Arts
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Civil Rights Video Essay

Curated OER
Students investigate a decade of American history when the civil rights movement was a focus of national attention. They create a video essay about a person or event that played an important role in shaping the civil rights movement.
9th - 12th Social Studies & History
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use