Current Connections- Black History Month| TCI

Free Lessons

Download a free hands-on activity and start teaching in minutes.

Read the story of a community that became known for their quilts, then make your own class quilt.

Learn how Rosa Parks made her community better, then build a human monument and create a plaque for the monument.

Analyze primary sources, then research statistical data to discuss the degree to which racial equality has been achieved in the United States.

Learn about and discuss 5 lesser-known African American historical figures. Consider assigning a group to read each and share what they’ve learned.

Allen, Richard (1760-1831)

Anderson, Marian (1897 - 1993)

Carver, George Washington (about 1861 - 1943)

Johnson, Katherine (1918-2020)

Washington, Booker T (1856 - 1915)

These rich Primary Sources come with questions to guide students through analysis and can be used to facilitate classroom discussions.

Documents on the Rebellions of Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner Examine 8 different primary sources about the same events and analyze how different sources report the same events.
Booker T. Washington’s “The Atlanta Compromise” Speech (1895) Analyze a speech given in 1895 to understand its content and then write questions based on different viewpoints.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 Analyze the purpose of different parts of the Civil Rights Act to help students unpack the content of the legislation.

Every TCI lesson includes ideas for Enhancing Learning. Here are a few that may be helpful during Black History Month.

Readings

Before the Mayflower: A History of Black America by Lerone Bennett. This history of African Americans in the United States from early colonial periods to the present day discusses their often-overlooked contributions to the development of the country.

The Tuskegee Airmen Story by Lynn M. Homan and Thomas Reilly. A grandfather recounts his experiences as a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the challenges of living in a segregated society, and the role of African Americans in winning the war and fighting segregation at home.

Films

Eyes on the Prize (no rating). The six episodes of this documentary series chronicle the important events of the civil rights movement. Primary source footage, interviews, and first-person accounts bring these events to life.

America Beyond the Color Line (no rating). In this documentary, Henry Louis Gates Jr. travels the United States to examine the lives of African Americans. Gates meets with a diverse group, from Hollywood movie stars to residents of Chicago’s South Side housing projects.

Website
- http://sheg.stanford.edu/montgomery-bus-boycott. Most people know the story of Rosa Parks and the city-wide boycott of the buses by African-Americans in Montgomery, Alabama. Use the documents provided through this site to gain a more nuanced view of the boycott and its causes.