$5 - $10 12th Grade Black History Month Independent Work Packet

Civil Rights Heroes & History: A Bundle of Engaging Reading Comprehension Activities

This compelling bundle offers 11 captivating reading comprehension activities that bring the Civil Rights Movement to life for your students.
Uncover the inspiring stories and enduring legacies of iconic figures like Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others who bravely fought for equality.

Explore pivotal moments like the Freedom Rides, the Brown v. Board decision, and the March on Washington, gaining a deeper understanding of the movement's impact on American history.

Engage your students with:

• Informative reading passages packed with historical context and captivating details.
• Primary source analysis of speeches, news articles, and other firsthand accounts.
• Thought-provoking questions that encourage critical thinking, discussion, and reflection.
• Multiple choice, true or false, fill in the blank, and short answer formats to assess comprehension at various levels.
• Detailed answer keys for self-assessment and guided discussions.

Let's explore the powerful stories within:

1. From Bus Boycott to Beloved Icon: Decoding Rosa Parks' Legacy:

This activity goes beyond the Montgomery Bus Boycott, exploring Rosa Parks' lifelong activism, leadership, and enduring impact on the movement.

2. Dream Big, Fight Fierce: Malcolm X's Radical Voice for Equality:

Students will examine Malcolm X's life philosophy, analyzing his critiques of American society and his calls for self-determination.

3. Beyond Marches: Dr. King's Legacy of Love and Justice:

This activity delves into Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s commitment to nonviolence, social justice, and systemic change, analyzing excerpts from his speeches and exploring his lesser-known campaigns.

4. Freedom Rides: Risking Everything for Change:

The story of the Freedom Rides unfolds, highlighting the courage of participants and the impact on desegregation efforts. Students will create timelines, analyze firsthand accounts, and discuss the significance of nonviolent resistance.

5. Selma: A Defining Moment in the March for Equality:

This activity examines the Selma to Montgomery marches, analyzing primary sources and comparing Selma to other pivotal events to understand its lasting impact on voting rights.

6. Brown v. Board: Breaking the Walls of Segregation:

Students will delve into the landmark Brown v. Board case, analyzing the legal arguments and historical context, while researching the experiences of the Little Rock Nine and the ongoing fight for educational equity.

7. From Lunch Counters to Sit-Ins: The Power of Youth Activism:

This comprehensive activity highlights the role of young people in the movement, showcasing their courage and impact through sit-ins and other forms of protest. Students will learn about specific youth activists, analyze speeches, and discuss the importance of youth involvement in social change.

8. Freedom's Song: Music as a Weapon in the Civil Rights Struggle:

Explore the power of music in the movement, analyzing anthems like "We Shall Overcome" and artists like Nina Simone. Students will analyze lyrics and historical context of protest songs, understanding how music served as a powerful tool for change.

9. From "I Have a Dream" to Action: The Enduring Legacy of the March on Washington:

This activity examines the historical context, key figures, and lasting impact of the March on Washington, with emphasis on Dr. King's iconic speech and its call to action. Students will analyze primary sources, compare the March to other pivotal moments, and discuss its relevance to contemporary social justice movements.

10. The Long Road to Voting Rights: From Segregation to Empowerment:

This resource explores the historical struggle for voting rights for Black Americans, highlighting key milestones, discriminatory tactics like Jim Crow laws, and ongoing challenges to voter suppression. Students will analyze timelines, primary sources, and discuss the importance of protecting voting rights.

11. The Civil Rights Movement:

This resource provides a broader context for the movement, encompassing additional figures, events, and ongoing issues related to social justice.

12. The Black Panther Party:

This resource discusses the political movement advocating for self-defense and social justice.

Learning Objectives:

• Analyze the historical context, motivations, and key figures of the Civil Rights Movement.
• Evaluate primary sources to understand the perspectives and experiences of individuals involved in the movement.
• Analyze the effectiveness of different strategies employed by Civil Rights activists.
• Explore the impact of landmark events and legislation on the fight for equality.
• Recognize the ongoing relevance of the Civil Rights Movement in contemporary struggles for social justice.

Common Core Standards Alignment:

• RI.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
• RI.5.2: Determine the central ideas or author's purpose of a text and explain how it is developed.
• RI.5.3: Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.
• RI.5.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support a point of view.
• SS.5.US.3: Explain the impact of key events and individuals on the Civil Rights Movement.

Expand your students' understanding of this critical chapter in American history and empower them to become informed and engaged citizens!

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Sources

Engage your students in having them draw important connections between the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s and contemporary grassroots movements taking place in the United States. This lesson will prompt students to analyze short documentary video clips that focus on six different contemporary grassroots movements:

1) Women’s March

2) Immigration

3) Standing Rock

4) Black Lives Matter

5) Climate Change

6) Teacher Strikes

With the corresponding video clips, students will fill out a provided T-chart that will identify the following aspects of each movement:

1) Desired Outcome/Changes

2) Group(s) involved

3) Strategies

4) Obstacle/Challenges

5) Questions

Hands-on activities: Two relevant, critical thinking activities follow that involve having students take their prior knowledge of the Civil Rights era (1950/60’s) and;

1. Using a Venn diagram, students will compare this time period with current day grassroots movements.

2. Each group will then discuss what issues are relevant and meaningful for them. Students will choose an issue that they wish to see change, and then as a group, will create a poster that promotes their cause.

Time frame for lesson:

• 3-4 class periods (60 min) *If time is an issue; the teacher can choose from the six contemporary movements that he/she would like for their students to focus on.

Materials:

• One 21 Slide Presentation
• Detailed lesson plan
• Digital Student Handouts:

1. HANDOUT #1- PowerPoint T-Chart
2. HANDOUT#2- Venn Diagram
3. HANDOUT#3- Grading Rubrics
4. HANDOUT #4- Rethinking schools blog: Making People’s History in Arizona: Educator’s Rise Up

*Note:

Students will have already learned about the Civil Rights era. This lesson serves as a critical thinking extension activity that encourages students to draw connections to contemporary grass roots movements & the Civil Rights movement.

Civil Rights Movement, current events, grassroots, racism, controversy, poster, Trump

Ignite Critical Thinking and Informed Debate with 11 Essential Current Events Worksheets

Bring current events to life in your classroom with this comprehensive bundle of 10 engaging and thought-provoking worksheets!
Key features:

• Explore 11 crucial issues shaping today's world: Gun control, immigration, abortion, housing market,social security, cybersecurity, political polarization, racial justice, voting rights, climate change, and education.
• Engage students with a variety of activities: Multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer questions foster critical thinking and analysis.
• Incorporate diverse perspectives: Primary sources provide authentic insights and encourage informed debate.
• Boost critical thinking and argumentation skills: Students learn to analyze arguments, form opinions, and participate in respectful discussions.
• No-prep, easy implementation: Answer keys included for quick assessment.
• Aligned with current events, social studies, and civics standards:

Empower students to navigate complex issues, analyze diverse viewpoints, and become informed citizens!

Download this bundle today and spark meaningful conversations in your classroom!

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