Middle School Lesson Plans
Lesson Plans by SC Educators
(recently added are listed first)
Jim Crow and the Movement Behind the Scenes
The South is marred by its past as it relates to racial discrimination, and no more is true than during the time of Jim Crow. Jim Crow reign began with Black Codes in the 1860s and would evolve to be called Jim Crow Laws until the 1960s. While this time period is dominated by the story line that there was no fighting these laws, this could not be further from the truth. This lesson plans examines the movement and organizing that was not always depicted in mass media.
Civil Rights Youth Councils
This lesson plan examines the key role Youth Councils played in the civil rights movement. From children to college students; these individuals helped pave the way for nonviolent demonstrations and eventually equal rights. These young people participated in marches, protests, sit-ins, and more, in order to get the same rights as anyone else. The youth fought for their right to a quality education; their right to vote; and their right to sit, eat, drink, walk, and ride in the same places as white people.
Onset of the Civil Rights Movement
Students will analyze primary sources from the Library of Congress to determine the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. Using 21st Century skills, students will use technology to examine primary sources, provide perspective, provide effective feedback, and use technology as a tool to inform and communicate with peers
Larry Doby, Jackie Robinson, Baseball, and Civil Rights
After completing the instructional activity on this website, students will be able to determine the difference between primary and secondary sources as well as explain the importance of desegregation in baseball.
Youth in the Civil Rights Movement
This website looks at the African American Civil Rights Movement, including initial strategies, landmark court cases and legislation, the roles of key civil rights advocates and the media, and the influence of the Civil Rights Movement on other groups seeking equality.
Silent Resistance – The Silent Fight for Civil Rights While Enslaved
This website looks at one of the most common and important acts of resisting the institution of slavery: maintaining cultural identify. By keeping the cultural traditions of their homeland alive, they silently resisted the psychological breakdown during the process of enslavement and continued their fight for their civil rights while creating a new and unique culture.
Youth in the Civil Rights Movement
Jackie Robinson, Baseball & Civil Rights
Understanding the Civil Rights Movement with Primary Sources
Students will analyze primary sources of the Jim Crow Era and the Civil Rights Movement, make historical and current event connections, and write a letter and/or give a speech to the leadership of the NAACP in the 1950’s and 60’s with ideas for how to implement today’s technology to help their cause with their analysis of the situation and their ideas for improvement.
Journey Through the Civil Rights Movement
In groups, students will choose an event that influenced civil rights in the U.S. Events will range from the 1700s to modern day and focus on a variety of marginalized groups throughout the history of our nation. Students will create a presentation to share with other students.