Grades 9-12
Lesson Plans & Activities
LESSON PLANS
Rhythm & Improv: Jazz & Poetry
Students ingrades 9-12analyze jazz music, considering sound, rhythm, and improvisation in order to identify jazz characteristics in poems by Yusef Komunyakaa, Sonia Sanchez, and Langston Hughes. They will then incorporate the elements in their own poetry.
Teaching Hard History
These resources for middle- and high-school educators include Learning for Justice's grades 6–12 framework, as well as student-facing videos and primary source texts to help all students grasp the historical significance of slavery. Educators will also findteaching tools and professional development resources.
Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten
Through a series of video clips and activities, students can learn about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and how the community of Tulsa is coming to terms with its past, present, and future.
African American English
In this unit, students ingrades 9-12examine several hypotheses about the development of African American English (AAE), consider how AAE has been treated in schools, and analyze the influential role of AAE in modern culture and society.
PBS Black History Lesson Plans
These lesson plans and resources cover topics ranging from civil rights events to discussions about race in current events. These lessons are appropriate for history, ELA and social studies classrooms.
National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
The Smithsonian's free, interactive platform provides ways to explore well-known and lesser-known moments of history by utilizing objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge, hone historical thinking skills and inspire users to see themselves as agents of change. (Free account registration required)
ACTIVITIES
Notable African Americans from the 18th-century to the present
In this Jeopardy-type quiz game students ingrades 5-12can choose from three levels of difficulty to test their knowledge of famous African Americans. Spelling counts, for example Billy Holiday rather than Billie Holiday would be marked incorrect.
Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was the network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom in the 30 years before the Civil War (1860-1865).
Background Resources
SOCIAL STUDIES
African American History Month Exhibits & Collections
Resources covering art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides.
W. E. B. Du Bois: Online Resources
Includes digital materials related to W. E .B. Du Bois and links to external Web sites.
Separate Is Not Equal - Brown v. Board of Education
History, images, and other resources covering the historic Supreme Court ruling ending segregation and ensuring opportunity in education.
Africans in America
Images, documents, stories, biographies, and commentaries. The site provides teacher’s and youth guides. The four part series may be in local libraries.
Black History - Biography - Celebrate Black History Month & People
Biographies, photos and videos of notable African Americans.
The Awakening of Norman Rockwell
This article examines Norman Rockwell’s career and how his painting, The Problem We All Live With, for the January 14, 1964 issue of Look magazine was a turning point in this career and reflected his unexpected politicization in the 1960s.
ARTS
Poems to Celebrate Black History Month
Poems and articles by African-Americans.
Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
Online activities and biographies, transcripts of many interviews with musicians,K-12lesson plans, and a music study guide forgrades 5-8.
The History of Hip-Hop
A collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement.
African American Visual Art and the Black Arts Movement
The Black Arts Movement (BAM) began in the mid-1960s to provide a new vision of African Americans. This site provides images galleries a theoretical essay, timeline, and links to other online art sources. Note: the top banner links are dead but the bottom links are functional.
The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed
African American History by region.
SCIENCE
10 Black Scientists that Science Teachers Should Know About
A list from PBS Education of some of the top Black scientists, engineers, inventors, and mathematicians that includes links to media resources to help you bring their work—and stories—into your classroom.
8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier
This blog post outlines some of the lesser-known but vital contributions of Black inventors.
SPORT
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum: Resources for Teachers
Before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball there was Negro League Baseball. This site features history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources.
10 African American Pioneers in Sports
Concise biographies of Black athletes who broke barriers, represented their communities, and made history with their impressive athletic skills.
Quizzes
Printables
- Timeline (Separate Is Not Equal)
A timeline of segregationist laws and court rulings. - Word Search and Crossword
Video & Multimedia
Free Learning Resources for Black History Month (and Beyond)
Common Sense Media compiled a list of resources — including videos, texts, lessons, podcasts, and more — about activists, art and culture, inventors, engineers, historical events, and beyond.
Blues Journey(23:17 minutes)
This four part audio series explores the history of the blues.
Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans(68 minutes)
Considered the oldest black neighborhood in America, Faubourg Tremé is the origin of the southern civil rights movement and the birthplace of jazz. Check local listings to see when it airs on a local PBS station.
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson(220 minutes)
Jack Johnson was the first African American boxer to win the Heavyweight Championship of the World. The website includes the story of Johnson’s life and career, a timeline, and media gallery. The DVD may be available in local libraries.
Through the Window and into the Mirror: Narratives of African American STEM Professionals
This video conversation series shares the experiences of African American STEM professionals today.
Books
Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the Peopleby Kekla Magoon
An essential account of the Black Panthers as militant revolutionaries, social activists, and human rights advocates working to defend and protect their community.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and Youby Jason Reynolds; adapted from Stamped from the Beginning by and with an introduction from Ibram X. Kendi
Using humor and a conversational style, author Jason Reynolds deftly reworks Kendi'sStamped from the Beginning,exposing young adult readers to the history of America's racist past that textbooks leave out.
Find African American booklists from Read Across America.
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. In this article, the concepts covered include lesson plans and activities for grades 9-12, teaching hard history, African American English, Black history lesson plans, the National Museum of African American History and Culture's learning labs, notable African Americans, the Underground Railroad, African American history exhibits and collections, jazz and poetry, hip-hop, African American visual art, Black scientists, Black inventors, Negro Leagues Baseball, African American pioneers in sports, civil rights heroes, and resources for Black History Month. Let's dive into each concept in more detail.
Lesson Plans and Activities for Grades 9-12
The article mentions lesson plans and activities for grades 9-12. These resources are designed to engage students in various subjects and topics. They include analyzing jazz music and identifying jazz characteristics in poems by Yusef Komunyakaa, Sonia Sanchez, and Langston Hughes, teaching hard history with a focus on slavery, learning about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, examining African American English and its role in modern culture and society, exploring Black history through lesson plans and resources, and utilizing the National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs for interactive learning experiences.
Teaching Hard History
The teaching hard history resources are specifically designed for middle and high school educators. These resources aim to help students grasp the historical significance of slavery. They include a framework for grades 6-12, student-facing videos, primary source texts, teaching tools, and professional development resources. By using these resources, educators can effectively teach about the history of slavery and its impact on society.
African American English
The unit on African American English (AAE) is targeted at students in grades 9-12. It explores the development of AAE, how it has been treated in schools, and its influential role in modern culture and society. By studying AAE, students can gain a deeper understanding of language diversity and the cultural significance of different dialects.
Black History Lesson Plans
The Black history lesson plans mentioned in the article cover a wide range of topics, including civil rights events, discussions about race in current events, and other aspects of Black history. These lesson plans are suitable for history, English language arts (ELA), and social studies classrooms. They provide educators with resources to teach about important events and figures in Black history.
National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs
The National Museum of African American History and Culture offers Learning Labs, which are free and interactive platforms for exploring various moments of history. These labs utilize objects, documents, imagery, and videos to enhance content knowledge and develop historical thinking skills. By using the Learning Labs, students can gain a deeper understanding of African American history and their own role as agents of change.
Notable African Americans
The article mentions a Jeopardy-style quiz game that allows students in grades 5-12 to test their knowledge of famous African Americans. The game offers three levels of difficulty and covers notable individuals from the 18th century to the present. This activity can help students learn about the achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history.
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network used by enslaved black Americans to obtain their freedom in the years leading up to the Civil War. The article provides background resources on the Underground Railroad, including its history, photos, and teacher resources. By studying the Underground Railroad, students can gain insights into the struggles and resilience of those seeking freedom during a challenging time in American history.
African American History Exhibits and Collections
The article mentions resources covering various aspects of African American history, including art and design, baseball, civil rights, culture, folklife, military, music and performing arts, religion, slavery, and resource guides. These exhibits and collections provide valuable information and insights into different aspects of African American history.
Jazz and Poetry
The article highlights a lesson plan for grades 9-12 that involves analyzing jazz music and identifying jazz characteristics in poems by Yusef Komunyakaa, Sonia Sanchez, and Langston Hughes. This activity helps students explore the connections between jazz and poetry, considering sound, rhythm, and improvisation. Students are encouraged to incorporate these elements into their own poetry.
Hip-Hop
The article mentions a collection of interviews from National Public Radio (NPR) that chronicle the seminal people and events in the hip-hop movement. This resource provides insights into the history and cultural significance of hip-hop, allowing students to explore the evolution of this influential genre.
African American Visual Art
The article mentions the Black Arts Movement (BAM), which began in the mid-1960s and aimed to provide a new vision of African Americans. The article provides links to online galleries, a theoretical essay, a timeline, and other art sources related to African American visual art. This resource allows students to explore the artistic expressions and contributions of African American artists.
Black Scientists
The article includes a list of 10 Black scientists that science teachers should know about. This resource from PBS Education provides links to media resources that can help educators bring the work and stories of these scientists into the classroom. By learning about the achievements of Black scientists, students can gain a broader perspective on the contributions of diverse individuals to the field of science.
Black Inventors
The article mentions a blog post that outlines the contributions of Black inventors. This resource highlights the lesser-known but vital inventions and innovations made by Black inventors. By studying the work of these inventors, students can gain an appreciation for their contributions to society.
Negro Leagues Baseball
The article provides resources for teachers interested in teaching about Negro League Baseball. This includes history, a timeline, photos, and teacher resources. By exploring the history of Negro League Baseball, students can learn about the challenges faced by Black athletes and the impact of their achievements on the broader sports landscape.
African American Pioneers in Sports
The article features concise biographies of African American athletes who broke barriers, represented their communities, and made history with their impressive athletic skills. By studying the achievements of these pioneers, students can gain inspiration and learn about the importance of diversity and inclusion in sports.
Civil Rights Heroes Quiz
The article mentions a civil rights heroes quiz that allows students to test their knowledge of key figures in the civil rights movement. This quiz can help students learn about the individuals who played significant roles in the fight for civil rights and social justice.
Resources for Black History Month
The article provides a list of resources compiled by Common Sense Media for Black History Month. These resources include videos, texts, lessons, podcasts, and more, covering topics such as activists, art and culture, inventors, engineers, historical events, and beyond. These resources can be used to deepen students' understanding of Black history and celebrate the achievements of African Americans.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored various concepts related to lesson plans and activities for grades 9-12, teaching hard history, African American English, Black history lesson plans, the National Museum of African American History and Culture's Learning Labs, notable African Americans, the Underground Railroad, African American history exhibits and collections, jazz and poetry, hip-hop, African American visual art, Black scientists, Black inventors, Negro Leagues Baseball, African American pioneers in sports, civil rights heroes, and resources for Black History Month. These resources provide educators and students with valuable information and opportunities for learning and engagement.
