Strategies and Engaging Tasks for Exploring African American History During February

In the ongoing pursuit of knowledge and understanding, the importance of learning about Black history and the civil rights movement cannot be overstated. This article highlights a variety of resources available for educators and students to delve into these crucial aspects of American history.

Elizabeth Jennings: An Unsung Hero

Elizabeth Jennings, a little-known but significant figure in the early fight for civil rights, is the subject of an in-depth excerpt from America's First Freedom Rider: Elizabeth Jennings, Chester A. Arthur, and the Early Fight for Civil Rights. This insightful work offers a deeper appreciation for Jennings's courage and contribution to the civil rights movement.

Montgomery Bus Boycott: Tracing Its Origins

The Montgomery bus boycott, a pivotal event in the civil rights movement, was triggered by events investigated in an interactive lesson for grades 6-8, titled "National Civil Rights Museum Before the Boycott". This resource provides a captivating exploration of the events leading up to the boycott, offering students a comprehensive understanding of its historical significance.

Claudette Colvin: A Precursor to Rosa Parks

The remarkable 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, months before Rosa Parks, is the subject of a standards-aligned history lesson. This engaging resource includes an immersive reader with narration, allowing students to delve deeper into Colvin's story.

Exploring the Voices of the Enslaved

The Library of Congress offers a remarkable set of interviews with people who were once enslaved, recorded between 1932 and 1975, in nine states. Accompanied by transcripts for careful study, these interviews provide a unique insight into the experiences of enslaved individuals during that time.

Integrating Black History Year-Round

There is a resource available for teachers to learn how to integrate Black history into their history and social studies curricula year-round. This guide offers valuable insights into teaching strategies and resources for making Black history a regular and integral part of the American History curriculum.

Notable African Americans: A Journey Through Time

A Jeopardy-type quiz game called "Notable African Americans from the 18th-century to the present" is available for students. This engaging resource tests students' knowledge about notable Black Americans in the arts, sciences, politics, cinema, and television, fostering a deeper appreciation for their contributions.

The National Archives: Investigating the Slave Trade

The National Archives offers resources for educators to investigate the slave trade in American history, including primary source documents, teaching activities, and document analysis worksheets. These resources provide students with a firsthand look at the historical evidence surrounding the slave trade.

Langston Hughes: Poetic Voice of the Harlem Renaissance

The poetic voice of Langston Hughes is explored in a comprehensive lesson for grades 6-8. This resource includes guiding questions, teacher preparation, activities for students, and lesson extensions, offering a rich learning experience for students.

Jazz Music and the Harlem Renaissance

The lesson "How is jazz music reflective of the Harlem Renaissance?" includes audio clips from Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Bessie Smith, a slideshow of iconic Harlem nightclubs, and interactive resources for grades K-5. This engaging resource allows students to explore the connection between jazz music and the Harlem Renaissance.

Poets.org: Black History Month Lesson Plans

Poets.org offers lesson plans for Black History Month featuring poetry from African-American poets. These resources provide students with an opportunity to engage with poetry that reflects the Black experience and contributes to a deeper understanding of Black history.

Rosa Parks: A Life of Activism

The life and activism of Rosa Parks is examined in an authoritative and comprehensive examination for grades 9-12. This resource reveals the depth of Parks's commitment and contributions, offering students a deeper appreciation for her impact on the civil rights movement.

Black History: An Integral Part of American History

Black history is an integral part of American history and has grown in recognition since the creation of Negro History Week. This resource provides a historical context for the growing recognition of Black history in American culture.

The Origins of Hip Hop

The origins of hip hop are explained in a fascinating and lively video for grades 9-12. This resource offers students an engaging exploration of the history and cultural significance of hip hop.

The Tulsa Race Massacre: A Forgotten History

The multimedia lesson "Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten" offers resources to help teachers address the topic of the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, including printables for students. This resource provides a valuable opportunity for students to learn about a tragic event in American history that has often been overlooked.

African-American Scientists: Shaping the Modern World

There is a list of 31 highly influential African-American scientists, past and present, whose work has been instrumental in the making of the modern world. This resource provides students with a glimpse into the significant contributions African-American scientists have made to various fields.

The Bay Area Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement: Civil Rights Movement Archive

The Bay Area Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement: Civil Rights Movement Archive offers an extensive archive of resources related to the 1950s-60s Civil Rights movement, including lessons, activities, and a way to connect students virtually with freedom movement veterans. This resource provides students with a unique opportunity to learn from those who were directly involved in the civil rights movement.

Teaching About the Slave Trade

There is a guide available for teaching students about the difficult topic of the slave trade and its role in American history, organized around key concepts and essential knowledge. This resource offers teachers valuable insights into teaching strategies for addressing this challenging topic.

The Negro Leagues: A Critical Role in the Rise of Baseball

There is a collection of videos about the Negro Leagues that offer insights into the critical role Blacks played in the rise of baseball. This resource provides students with a deeper understanding of the history of baseball and the contributions of Black players.

iCivics: Civil Rights Activists and Pioneers

iCivics offers six brief videos and standards-aligned lesson plans for grades 6-8, illuminating activists like Constance Baker Motley and lesser-known pioneers, as well as topics such as the Jim Crow era and the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School. This resource provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the civil rights movement and the individuals who played a significant role in it.

Black Athletes: At the Forefront of the Struggle for Civil Rights

Black athletes have been at the forefront of the struggle for civil rights for over a century. This resource provides students with a historical context for the role of Black athletes in the civil rights movement.

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr., Juneteenth, and Women's History Month

There are best free Martin Luther King Jr. lessons and activities, Juneteenth lessons and activities, and Women's History Month lessons and activities available. These resources provide students with opportunities to learn about and celebrate these important figures and events in Black history.

In conclusion, the resources outlined in this article offer a wealth of opportunities for educators and students to learn about Black history and the civil rights movement. By integrating these resources into their curricula, educators can provide students with a comprehensive understanding of these crucial aspects of American history.

Strategies and Engaging Tasks for Exploring African American History During February