TeachersFirst African-American History Resources
Black History Month, held in February in the United States, is a celebration of the many achievements of African-Americans. Although it started in the United States it is now celebrated throughout the world and not limited to the month of February. This curated collection includes teaching ideas, biographies, interactive sites, research materials, and more to learn about the pivotal roles that African-Americans have had in history and continue to have today. Find inspiration and resources to share with students related to historical time periods, famous figures, and much more.
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Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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The Library of Congress website on Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s offers a curated collection of primary sources that help students explore the complex realities of race in ...more
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The Library of Congress website on Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s offers a curated collection of primary sources that help students explore the complex realities of race in America during the Great Depression and World War II. This section features photographs, documents, and newspaper articles that reflects the experiences of African Americans and other marginalized communities including segregation, labor struggles, military service, and daily life. Designed for classroom use, these materials support historical inquiry and critical thinking, making them ideal for middle and high school U.S. history or social studies lessons.
tag(s): african american (128), black history (135), civil rights (219), segregation (20)
In the Classroom
Have students select a photograph or document from the collection and complete a primary source analysis worksheet, focusing on context, audience, message, and historical significance. Using the primary sources, have students design a 1930s or 1940s-style newspaper front page reporting using templates on Canva Edu, reviewed here on an event or issue related to race relations, incorporating headlines, images, and articles. Ask students to write a fictional first-person account (as a soldier, worker, or community member) based on evidence from the sources, giving voice to underrepresented perspectives of the time.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Eyes on the Prize - PBS Learning Media
Grades
8 to 12
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Experience the heart of the American Civil Rights Movement through Eyes on the Prize, an acclaimed documentary series produced by Henry Hampton's Blackside and first aired in 1987....more
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Experience the heart of the American Civil Rights Movement through Eyes on the Prize, an acclaimed documentary series produced by Henry Hampton's Blackside and first aired in 1987. Spanning approximately 14 hours over 20 episodes, this powerful series traces the movement from the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision through to the Voting Rights Act, highlighting the courage of ordinary individuals who brought about extraordinary change. The PBS website offers streaming access, full transcripts, film credits, a historical timeline, an image gallery, and supplemental resources -- making it an excellent tool for classroom instruction and discussion. Find the videos here Eyes on the Prize.
tag(s): african american (128), black history (135), civil rights (219), segregation (20)
In the Classroom
Assign students civil rights leaders or everyday individuals featured in the documentary. Students will research their background, contributions, and challenges, then present their findings as first-person narratives or digital posters using DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here. Use transcripts or footage from the series to practice analyzing primary sources. Students can identify the point of view, tone, historical context, and intended audience. Students can compare a civil rights issue covered in the series (e.g., voting rights, school integration) with a modern-day counterpart. They should analyze similarities, differences, and ongoing challenges, and share their findings in a short essay or presentation using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Activists of the 20th Century - Library of Congress
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6 to 12
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Discover a rich collection of historical photographs and illustrations showcasing influential African American activists throughout history. Each image is clickable, allowing you to...more
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Discover a rich collection of historical photographs and illustrations showcasing influential African American activists throughout history. Each image is clickable, allowing you to explore detailed descriptions, historical context, and related resources to understand better these prominent figures and their contributions to social justice. This resource is an excellent visual tool for educators teaching African American history and the Civil Rights movement.
tag(s): african american (128), black history (135), civil rights (219), martin luther king (45)
In the Classroom
Have students select an activist from the website, research their life and achievements, and create an interactive digital timeline using tools like Canva, reviewed here or Class Tools, reviewed here. Have students choose an activist and prepare a short presentation or monologue in character, sharing their achievements and struggles. Turn the classroom into a "living museum," with students acting as historical figures. Using the website images as inspiration, students can create hand-drawn or collaged posters highlighting an activist's achievements, including key facts, quotes, and visuals. Ask students to select an activist, research their contributions, and create a short podcast episode using Acast, reviewed here or Podbean, reviewed here) explaining their importance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Innovation, Invention, and Entrepreneurship in the Manuscript Division - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12
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The African American Innovation and Invention guide from the Library of Congress highlights the significant contributions of African Americans in science, technology, engineering, and...more
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The African American Innovation and Invention guide from the Library of Congress highlights the significant contributions of African Americans in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This resource provides access to primary sources, including patents, photographs, and historical documents, showcasing groundbreaking achievements in medicine, agriculture, and transportation. Teachers can use this collection to introduce students to influential inventors, start discussions on perseverance and creativity, and encourage research projects on African American innovators. The site supports cross-curricular learning by connecting history, science, and social studies, making it a valuable tool for exploring both historical and modern advancements.
tag(s): african american (128), agriculture (53), photography (130), STEM (330), transportation (30)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the website to identify an African American inventor and their creation. They can create a mini-poster or trading card featuring the inventor, their invention, and its impact on society. Students can also research African American inventors and their challenges, including a lack of patents, racial discrimination, and funding barriers. They can write a persuasive speech or essay arguing the importance of diverse representation in STEM. Students can create a physical or digital timeline using Sutori, reviewed here or Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here of African American innovations, organizing inventions chronologically and highlighting technological advancements.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American History Online: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12
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The African American History Online Primary Source Collection from the Library of Congress provides educators with photographs, manuscripts, maps, and audio recordings documenting African...more
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The African American History Online Primary Source Collection from the Library of Congress provides educators with photographs, manuscripts, maps, and audio recordings documenting African American history. This site allows teachers to integrate authentic primary sources into lessons on topics such as slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, cultural contributions, and political activism. Students can engage in critical analysis, historical inquiry, and multimedia exploration with materials spanning centuries. The collection is ideal for fostering discussions on African American experiences, resilience, and the ongoing impact of historical events on society today.
tag(s): african american (128), civil rights (219), maps (220), multimedia (55), photography (130)
In the Classroom
Have students select a historical letter or document and write a response as if they were living in that time, incorporating historical context and personal reflection. Students can listen to oral history recordings from the collection and take notes on key themes, emotions, and historical details. Then, they can summarize or create a first-person monologue based on what they learned. Students can choose a historical primary source (ex., a protest sign, newspaper article, or speech) and compare it to a modern event or movement with a similar theme, such as voting rights, racial justice, or activism. Have students curate a virtual museum exhibit using primary sources from the collection. They can organize sources around themes like civil rights, African American inventors, or cultural contributions and write exhibit captions. Categorize the sources in Google Slides, reviewed here or Sway, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Communities in America's Cities: Photographs by Camilo J. Vergara - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12
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The Camilo Jose Vergara Photograph Collection on the Library of Congress website documents African American communities through a powerful time-lapse photography project spanning several...more
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The Camilo Jose Vergara Photograph Collection on the Library of Congress website documents African American communities through a powerful time-lapse photography project spanning several decades. Vergara's images capture the evolving landscapes of neighborhoods, businesses, and cultural landmarks, providing a unique visual history of urban change, resilience, and struggle. This collection is a valuable resource for teachers looking to explore themes of community development, social change, and historical documentation. By analyzing time-lapse images, students can observe the transformation of places over time, fostering discussions on urbanization, gentrification, and the impact of historical events on African American communities.
tag(s): african american (128), communities (37), photography (130)
In the Classroom
Have students select a set of Vergara's time-lapse photographs of a specific location and analyze the changes over time. They can discuss possible reasons for these transformations (ex., economic shifts, policy changes, gentrification). Students can research factors contributing to urban decay and revitalization, using Vergara's photos as a case study. They can create a cause-and-effect diagram using MindMup, reviewed here showing how policies, economics, and social movements shape communities. Students can take photos of a specific location in their neighborhood over time (or find historical photos to compare to modern ones). They can create collages using PhotoCollage, reviewed here or Photo Joiner, reviewed here to analyze how and why changes have occurred.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Artists: Collection Connection - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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African American Artists: Resources in the Library of Congress, serves as a comprehensive guide to the vast collections and resources on African American art and artists. It...more
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African American Artists: Resources in the Library of Congress, serves as a comprehensive guide to the vast collections and resources on African American art and artists. It provides an introduction to significant artworks, movements, and figures, offering insights into their historical and cultural contributions. The guide is organized into sections that highlight primary sources, exhibitions, photographs, manuscripts, and reference materials available in the Library's collections. It is a valuable tool for educators, researchers, and students seeking to explore the rich legacy and impact of African American artists.
tag(s): african american (128), art history (111), black history (135), civil rights (219)
In the Classroom
Have students create a short podcast or audio recording using tools like Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here or Buzzsprout, reviewed here discussing the artist's life, struggles, and contributions to art history. Have students use the Library of Congress website and virtual exhibits to explore and identify a piece of artwork by an African American artist. They can create a short multimedia presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here or Canva, reviewed here analyzing the artist's background, themes, and techniques. Use a free timeline creation tool and assign each student an artist or movement. Use a free timeline creation tool such as Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here to research and add to the timeline, including images and brief descriptions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America's Second Independence Day - Juneteenth - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12
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America's Second Independence Day - Juneteenth is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here that shares...more
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America's Second Independence Day - Juneteenth is part of the TeachersFirst Help! I Lost My Library/Media Specialist series reviewed here that shares book ideas and resources for teaching about Juneteenth. This resource includes background knowledge information, activities, book suggestions, and ideas for extending learning. Information includes correlation to ISTE and AASL standards.
tag(s): black history (135), book lists (170), civil rights (219), emancipation proclamation (14), Juneteenth (22), slavery (79), texas (7)
In the Classroom
Use the suggested activities and book lists to find resources for teaching about Juneteenth in your classroom. Include these lessons as part of Black History Month and when teaching about United States history and civil rights. Engage students in learning about Juneteenth by asking them to create interactive presentations using Genially, reviewed here. Search for Juneteenth on Genially to find a template to use when presenting Juneteenth to students or for students to use to share their knowledge on this topic. Extend learning using Figjam, reviewed here, an online interactive whiteboard, to share additional resources, add polls, diagrams, sketches, and more using Figjam.
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The Birth of Juneteenth; Voices of the Enslaved - Library of Congress and Neely Tucker
Grades
8 to 12
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This article highlights the firsthand accounts and narratives of formerly enslaved individuals to shed light on their experiences and the impact of the announcement of the Emancipation...more
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This article highlights the firsthand accounts and narratives of formerly enslaved individuals to shed light on their experiences and the impact of the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. It shares how the transmission of the news of freedom was delayed, along with the reactions and celebrations of the newly freed enslaved people. The article includes many links to primary source materials, including an extensive collection of stories from "Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers' Project, 1936 - 1938."
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), civil war (142), Juneteenth (22), primary sources (120), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this article to use when planning lessons on Juneteenth, slavery, or the Civil War, both as a resource of quality information and to access the many primary source links found in the article. Visit the Library of Congress: For Teachers, reviewed here to search and find many more Juneteenth-related documents. Engage students in learning more about Juneteenth by asking them to research information through different focus points. For example, this article discusses specific cities, people, and architecture. Ask students to share their learning by creating infographics using templates from Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching Juneteenth - Learning for Justice and Coshandra Dillard
Grades
8 to 12
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This article discusses several lenses for teaching Juneteenth and recognizing the challenges those fighting injustices face. Focus topics include Culture as Resistance, Understanding...more
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This article discusses several lenses for teaching Juneteenth and recognizing the challenges those fighting injustices face. Focus topics include Culture as Resistance, Understanding Emancipation, Backlash to Freedom, and American Ideals. Within each subject, the author discusses why each perspective is relevant to student understanding of the importance of Juneteenth as part of American history. No account is required to read this article on Learning for Justice; however, free registration allows readers to bookmark the report as a favorite and add it to a learning plan.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), civil war (142), Juneteenth (22), racism (81), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
Include this article with your other resources for teaching about Juneteenth, Civil Rights, and slavery to use as a guide for lesson planning. As you gather resources to teach about each focus topic, organize information using Padlet, reviewed here. Create a column within your Padlet for each topic, then add links to your teaching resources. Alternatively, use Wakelet, reviewed here to save and organize resources by creating a collection for each topic. Engage students in Juneteenth lessons using Curipod's lesson generators, reviewed here. For example, use the Did You Know generator to create slides with information about Juneteenth or the Lesson Hook Generator to build a set of slides with open-ended questions for students to discuss. Extend student learning by asking them to create and share podcasts exploring Juneteenth through the different lenses discussed in the article. Buzzsprout, reviewed here offers free tools for creating and sharing professional-looking podcasts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is Juneteenth, and Why is it Important? - Ted-Ed
Grades
2 to 8
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When did slavery actually end in the United States? Learn about the story of Union General Gordon Granger and his march of troops into Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, as ...more
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When did slavery actually end in the United States? Learn about the story of Union General Gordon Granger and his march of troops into Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, as he announced that all enslaved people were free by completing this interactive lesson and video presentation. In addition to the animated video, this lesson includes multiple and short response questions, additional resources to dig deeper, and further discussion questions. Create a free account with Ted-Ed to save and customize this lesson. The video is hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then it may not be viewable.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), Juneteenth (22), slavery (79), texas (7)
In the Classroom
Share this lesson with students to complete at school or as a flipped learning lesson. On their own or with a partner, have students answer the multiple-choice and open-answer questions by clicking on "Think." Then, consider having small student groups read the additional information inside the Dig Deeper section and investigate the links with the information. Following that, have groups share the information with other class members. For a mini project like this, consider using the tools available at Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here for students to create presentations, infographics, and other visual media. Another project suggestion would be to have small groups of students investigate the story of Juneteenth further through different perspectives, such as those of a soldier, Texas citizens, or children. You could have them produce an animated video using a program like Animoto, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Freedom on the Move - Cornell University
Grades
3 to 12
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Freedom on the Move is a compilation of thousands of stories of fugitives from North American slavery. The database uses "runaway ads" from newspapers to provide details on the individual...more
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Freedom on the Move is a compilation of thousands of stories of fugitives from North American slavery. The database uses "runaway ads" from newspapers to provide details on the individual lives involved in the anti-slavery movement. Begin by selecting the link to search the database of over 10,000 ads. Narrow results using filters for locations and type of ads, information on the runaway or enslaver, and the date of the runaway event. The download search offers many more filters and is available to download as a CSV or JSON file. Also, be sure to visit the area for K-12 educators that includes lessons and teaching activities for grades 3-8.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), civil war (142), primary sources (120), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
Include this database with your other resources when studying Black history, the Civil War, or American History during the early to mid-1800s. Engage students by sharing this site and allowing them time to explore on their own by searching by your location. Each of the ads provides interesting details and descriptions that provoke class discussions and perspectives on the treatment of enslaved people. As students learn and research more information about fugitives from slavery, use Genially, reviewed here, to create interactive images that share additional information about the location, the role of enslaved people, and possible journeys to freedom. As an extension activity, ask groups of students to collaboratively create a map of the journey to freedom of some of the enslaved people found in the site's database using Google My Maps, reviewed here. In addition to mapping the journey, Google My Maps allows you to add links to additional information, videos, and primary source information to provide a complete overview of the difficulties encountered as a fugitive from slavery.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Black History Milestones: Timeline - History.com
Grades
6 to 12
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Learn about important events in Black history in the United States, starting with the arrival of 20 enslaved people brought into the British colony of Virginia in 1619 and continuing...more
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Learn about important events in Black history in the United States, starting with the arrival of 20 enslaved people brought into the British colony of Virginia in 1619 and continuing through present times. This timeline updates frequently and includes the latest and most relevant milestones related to Black history. Each entry consists of images or videos along with a summary of the event; many also have links to additional information and resources.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), martin luther king (45), presidents (145), racism (81), rosa parks (9), slavery (79), women (178)
In the Classroom
Include this timeline with your Black history and civil rights resources. Share with students using Padlet, reviewed here, along with other resources including videos, weblinks, and reading suggestions. Other considerations for using Padlet are to use the column feature in Padlet to sort information by dates or use the timeline option to build a visual timeline of the events shared in this timeline and additional ones taught in class. Ask students to share their understanding by creating timelines using the templates found at Canva Edu, reviewed here or Knight Lab, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Freedom Riders - PBS
Grades
6 to 12
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This documentary film from award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson tells the story of six months in 1961 that changed America's future forever. Follow the wrenching tale of 400 black...more
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This documentary film from award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson tells the story of six months in 1961 that changed America's future forever. Follow the wrenching tale of 400 black and white Americans traveling throughout the south in the face of oppressive Jim Crow laws through non-violent means of activism. The film begins with information on the background of segregated travel and follows the Freedom Riders through training and travels to cities throughout the south. The conclusion celebrates the final chapter of the story with Justice at Last.
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tag(s): 1960s (31), black history (135), civil rights (219), congress (41), racism (81), social and emotional learning (110)
In the Classroom
This film is almost two hours long; however, it includes dividing points that break the video into several shorter chapters. Consider sharing this film with students for several days, not only as a means for adapting to time constraints but also to allow time to process and discuss the information in shorter chunks. As an opportunity for reflection, use Podcast Adobe, reviewed here, to encourage an ongoing conversation about the events shared in this film. Create a channel to discuss each chapter, including a prompt to initiate student discussions. For more ideas on facilitating difficult conversations in the classroom, visit the TeachersFirst Special Topics Page, located here, that is devoted to resources for difficult conversations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Do's and Don'ts of Teaching Black History - Learning for Justice
Grades
K to 12
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This easy-to-follow list of do's and don'ts provides an excellent start to understanding the basics of teaching Black history throughout the year. Adapted from lessons created by Pat...more
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This easy-to-follow list of do's and don'ts provides an excellent start to understanding the basics of teaching Black history throughout the year. Adapted from lessons created by Pat Russo at SUNY Oswego, these simple ideas offer guidelines that ensure Black history lessons are meaningful and relevant.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), cross cultural understanding (176), cultures (241), difficult conversations (52), martin luther king (45), politics (119), racism (81), rosa parks (9)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and use the information provided in the article as a guideline for teaching Black history, not just during Black History Month but throughout the year. Find many Black History resources at the TeachersFirst Black History Special Topics page, found here, or within many of the Reading Treks, found here. The Reading Treks share virtual field trips of resources based upon literature and include many Black history selections. Celebrate your students' learning throughout the year using digital tools to create virtual field trips using Google My Maps, reviewed here, or creating interactive infographics using Canva Infographic Templates, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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BlackPast - BlackPast.org
Grades
6 to 12
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BlackPast is an incredibly robust resource for learning about Black history around the world. Begin your search by locating information classified by African American History or Global...more
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BlackPast is an incredibly robust resource for learning about Black history around the world. Begin your search by locating information classified by African American History or Global African History. Within each of those topics are several categories: people, places, speeches, newspapers, and much more. Another category includes the Main Features page with multimedia, timelines, historic landmarks, and a mentoring page. The Special Topics section focuses on specifics such as COVID-19, Negro League Baseball, and racial violence.
tag(s): african american (128), biographies (96), branches of government (66), civil rights (219), inventors and inventions (83), journalism (74), racism (81), sports (84), STEM (330)
In the Classroom
BlackPast is a must-have for any social studies classroom. Bookmark this resource to use when learning about Black history, African-American biographies, important events, and more. Consider creating a Padlet, reviewed here, to save different articles from BlackPast for students to easily access specific information. Use the shelf option to divide your Padlet into sections by date, topic, or events. Padlet also has a timeline feature when creating biographies or highlighting important dates within a specific time. Ask students to create blogs using Edublogs, reviewed here, to share information learned from this site. As students prepare to "show what they know," modify their technology use by asking them to use Sway, reviewed here, as a presentation tool and include images, videos, and student writing to share their learning.
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The Sojourner Truth Project - Leslie Podell
Grades
8 to 12
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The Sojourner Truth Project explores the different versions and background behind changes in Sojourner Truth's 1851 "Aint I a Woman?" speech. The most well-known version of the speech...more
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The Sojourner Truth Project explores the different versions and background behind changes in Sojourner Truth's 1851 "Aint I a Woman?" speech. The most well-known version of the speech was modified in 1863 that misrepresents the original words and intentions of the speech. Select the link to compare the two versions that include highlighted differences. Listen to readings of the speech in a variety of videos in contemporary dialects. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), primary sources (120), womens suffrage (63)
In the Classroom
Include information from this site as part of lessons on women's rights and slavery. Create an online course using eduflow, reviewed here, to guide students through their exploration of the work of Sojourner Truth. Include additional information for students to use for comparison, guide students through their comparison of the two texts, and add videos for students to view. eduflow offers tools for in-app recordings to use for student discussions. Use Edpuzzle, reviewed here, to add comments and questions into the videos to guide student thinking and focus on important areas within the speeches. Challenge students to explore and research other examples of revisions to history and share their findings through a multimedia presentation. Examples of presentation tools include Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, and Genially, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Lowdown: The Obama Years, A Retrospective Lesson Plan - PBS Learning Media
Grades
6 to 12
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Explore the achievements and setbacks of Barack Obama's presidency in this lesson that includes an interactive timeline of his eight years in office. The lesson plan includes essential...more
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Explore the achievements and setbacks of Barack Obama's presidency in this lesson that includes an interactive timeline of his eight years in office. The lesson plan includes essential questions, vocabulary, and suggestions for small group or individual instruction. Activities are correlated to Common Core Standards, or sign in using a free account to link activities to your state standards.
tag(s): 20th century (73), black history (135), presidents (145)
In the Classroom
As you explore the interactive timeline together as a class or with small groups, use a simple polling tool like SurveyPlanet, reviewed here, to assess student understanding of the different events on the timeline. Use SurveyPlanet to add each event to a poll and ask students to weigh in on their opinion on if the event was an accomplishment or a setback to the Obama administration. Use an online curation tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and share additional resources with students to enhance learning. For example, create a Padlet with columns for each year of the Obama presidency and add online articles from different resources that discuss each event. Extend learning by asking students to apply their knowledge of the Obama presidency and compare it to another president's term in office using one of the storytelling tools found at Knight Lab, reviewed here. Scroll down Knight Lab's main page to find options that include a Storyline to tell the stories behind numbers, StoryMap - maps that tell numbers, and a timeline creation tool.
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Harriet Tubman: Abolition Activist - PBS Learning Media
Grades
3 to 7
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This lesson teaches students about the accomplishments of Harriet Tubman through the use of two primary sources. After watching a biographical video as an introduction to Tubman, students...more
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This lesson teaches students about the accomplishments of Harriet Tubman through the use of two primary sources. After watching a biographical video as an introduction to Tubman, students examine a photo and letter sent to her by Frederick Douglass to learn more about her life. As a culminating activity, students then compare and contrast Harriet Tubman to modern-day females who confronted risks as they helped others. The lesson includes all materials needed to teach the activity, including the video and a graphic organizer. The lesson is correlated to National Social Studies Standards.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), civil war (142), primary sources (120), women (178)
In the Classroom
This lesson provides an excellent starting point for lessons about Harriet Tubman, strong females, and the Underground Railroad. Use the provided links to assign to students within Google Classroom and other media tools. Take advantage of technology to enhance student learning beyond the basics of this lesson. Instead of using the printable graphic organizer, use an online tool such a Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers. Use the Venn Diagram feature to compare and contrast Civil War times to the present, use the flow chart to help students visualize the flow of events leading up to and through the Civil War, or use the diagramming features to organize Civil War information including events, people, and places. Use an online bookmarking tool such as Padlet, reviewed here, to organize and share online resources with students. Extend student learning even further by asking them to use a game-creation tool like Scratch, reviewed here, to create a game. Use facts, places, and events within the games to reinforce and teach about Harriet Tubman and her peers.
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Sojourner Truth: Abolitionist and Human Rights Activist - PBS Learning Media
Grades
3 to 7
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Learn about Sojourner Truth and her fight against slavery along with her support for women and equal rights using primary sources in this lesson provided by PBS Learning Media. Click...more
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Learn about Sojourner Truth and her fight against slavery along with her support for women and equal rights using primary sources in this lesson provided by PBS Learning Media. Click on Procedure to find a lesson that includes a video and two primary source documents - a photo of Sojourner Truth and excerpts from her most famous speech. Information is correlated to National Standards for History, Civics and Government, Common Core State Standards, and College and Career Readiness Standards.
tag(s): black history (135), civil rights (219), civil war (142), women (178)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson to introduce students to Sojourner Truth, Civil Rights, or Women's Rights. Share the lesson into your Google Classroom account using the provided link. Extend this lesson using technology to motivate and engage students as they learn more about each topic. Create an entire unit that includes this lesson within Actively Learn, reviewed here. Include links to additional online resources, have students take notes, and include assessments all within the Actively Learn framework. Use the many resources found at ReadWriteThink, reviewed here, to help students organize and share information. For example, use the Bio Cube with students to organize biographical information on Sojourner Truth or have students use the Comic Creator to tell the story of Sojourner Truth. For a complete multimedia presentation, ask students to use Book Creator, reviewed here, to share their information about Women's Rights. Book Creator offers a variety of options to include in the digital books such as video, images, audio, and more.
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