African American Unit: Lesson Plans, Slides, Handouts - History, Ethnic Studies

Perfect for Black History Month! Compelling and relevant – this unit provides an overview of African American history with a focus on the Civil Rights Movement and current issues. Intensive prep has been done so you can focus on teaching! LOW PREP (print and go) — includes lesson plans, slides with activities, PDF handouts, plus formative and summative assessments. Use for Ethnic Studies and History, provide context for English topics. High School resource that can be used for digital learning. The lessons help you address complex issues with sensitivity and respect.

Teacher directions include differentiation strategies to help meet individual student needs. Student directions are clear and concise, and the lessons include numerous graphic organizers that provide scaffolding. The multiple-choice test is editable so assessments can be differentiated, as are the slide text boxes that have definitions, explanations, and questions. There are even slide templates so you can customize the lessons!

*For copyright reasons, other materials in this resource are NOT editable (the editable components are listed above).*

This African American unit includes these primary concepts: privilege, intersectionality, oppression, race, racism, systemic racism, interpersonal racism, overt racism, microaggressions, colorism, internalized racism, narrative, master/dominant narratives, counter-narratives, and counter-storytelling.

The unit has five sections. Take your students on an interactive journey that begins with an exploration of the theme, power, continues with terms and concepts, covers African American history and current issues, then addresses social justice. Lessons are organized in a step-by-step manner that enables students to comprehend interconnected and complex concepts. The unit ends positively with an exploration of ways to be proactive through anti-racism.

This is a stand-alone unit that is also Unit 3 of a 5-unit Ethnic Studies Year Course. In addition, the course includes an LGBTQ+ introductory unit, a Native American unit, an Asian Pacific American unit, and a Latinx American unit.

WHAT YOU GET

• An overview that includes information about addressing sensitive topics
• 17 PDF lesson plans with objectives, essential questions, standards, and differentiation
• Lesson plans also include easy, step-by-step, procedures
• 160 PowerPoint slides with multiple activities and 9 slide templates so you can customize the resource
• Lesson plan procedures are also in the slide notes
• 62 pages of PDF handouts with clear directions, including:
  • A Conceptualizing Structures of Power reading and questions with a Key
  • A privilege statements questionnaire
  • A Terms and Definitions handout
  • A Draw It! activity on four key terms
  • A multiple-choice test in editable Word and Easel versions with a Key
  • A Close Watching: Video Response Notes handout
  • Close Reading Annotation cards
  • Links for readings on multiple topics including racism, colorism, “reverse racism,” master and counter narratives, systemic racism, “white supremacy,” and anti-racism.
  • Guided Reading Questions for A Young People’s History of The United States – Chapter 2: “Black & White” with a Key
  • An African American History Timeline handout
  • A living timeline activity with 24 African American history events cards
  • An illustrated timeline activity on 36 African American history events with accompanying slides
  • An infographic activity about systemic racism with a Rubric
  • A mini-debate activity about taking action for justice with a Rubric
  • A primary source reading: the C.P. Ellis Interview, “Why I Quit the Klan”
  • Civil Rights Milestones: readings and questions that can function as a stand-alone unit
  • An Argumentative Essay Organizer for a five-paragraph essay about youth activism based on the 1963 Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama
  • A reflection in which students write about the most important things that they learned
  • Optional suggestions for readings and activities from A Different Mirror for Young People by Ronald Takaki

BONUS: An editable Syllabus and Pacing Planner is included!

The slides can be imported into Google Slides, Nearpod, or Pear Deck to enhance online learning and/or to add activities such as discussions and polls.

The unit teaching duration is eight to fourteen weeks if every lesson is used. The variation in the length of the unit is mainly due to the option of doing assignments as classwork or homework. In particular, an extensive Civil Rights Movement Milestones mini-unit. I have made the Ethnic Studies units thorough and extensive in order to meet diverse needs. You may need to pick and choose lessons to fit within your time frame.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While teaching online during the pandemic, I began to utilize short video clips for instruction. They were particularly impactful in Ethnic Studies, due to their visceral nature. Because of their effectiveness, I have incorporated them into my curriculum, so this resource includes links to short videos. Thus, I suggest that you consider your ability to show videos to students when making a decision about purchasing this resource.

These Ethnic Studies units are also available:

· LGBTQ+ Introductory Unit

· Native American Unit

· Asian Pacific American Unit

· Latinx American Unit

For BIG SAVINGS, check out the ETHNIC STUDIES YEAR COURSE!

I have taught various iterations of this content for over 25 years and this hard-to-find material has evolved as both society and I have evolved. The topic and content have proven to be deeply engaging and memorable for my students.

I care about these issues, and I would love to hear any questions or suggestions that you have. If you find the resource useful, I would appreciate it if you would write a review—you’ll receive TPT credits to apply to future purchases! Thank you.