Black History - Lesson Page

Lesson Plan for Black History Primer

Created by:

Juanita Washington

Audience:

Created for Grade 1, but useful for any age or grade

Subject Areas:

Social Studies and Language Arts

Objectives:

1. Students will recognize that many Black Americans have made significant historic contributions to American society.

2. Students will gain a greater awareness of Black Americans currently contributing to American society.

3. Students will learn about, and be able to recall specific accomplishments of some great Black Americans.

4. Students will be able to identify some famous Black Americans by name when shown their pictures.

Procedure:

1. Make a K-W-L (Know-Want to Know-Learned) Chart. Ask students to brainstorm a list of Black Americans whom they recognize as having become well known for their particular position, ability, or expertise. List names on chart paper under the following categories: (a) leaders,(b) entertainers, (c) scientists or innovators, and (d) athletes. Ask them if they would like to know more about some of the Black Americans who they are not already familiar with. Ask them questions such as the following: Do you know who the first woman self-made millionaire was in the United States? Would you like to know who invented the stop light? Who made the first clock in the United States? Who was the first American to set foot on the North Pole? Who was the first Black tennis player to win at Wimbledon? Which basketball player holds the record for the highest number of point in a game? Who was the first Black woman to run for president? Tell them that they will learn answers to those questions, and more, by viewing and working with information on the Black History Primer Web Page.

2. Have students go to the computers in the classroom or in the computer lab in pairs. (For first graders, especially, it would be important to try to pair students with stronger reading skills with those who are not yet independent readers.) Give them a graphic organizer that is labeled with one of the categories above. Instruct them to find names of specific Black Americans who have contributed, or are contributing, to American society in that category, and write them on their graphic organizer. This exercise contributes to the mathematical skills of sorting and analyzing, reading and comprehension skills, and written and oral collaboration skills, as well as adding to their knowledge of Black history.

3. Have them do the matching exercises in Quia at the end of each category, then take the multiple choice test in Quiz Lab at Funbrain.com. Print out some of the pictures of Black Americans from the web page or from books or magazines, and have them identify them in a game like Tic-Tac-Toe.

4. You can also make a printable Word Find by using the Puzzlemaker at discovery.com. Click on "school."

Teacher Notes:

Students will need to know how to scroll in windows in order to read the selected materials. They will also need to know how to click on links and to use the "Back" button on the toolbar. For optimum viewing, use of a monitor with 800 x 600 pixels and a setting of 256 colors is recommended. It will load best on computers with Pentium or Athlon processors; my students will be using a fast T1 line, but it also works fine on 28.8k modems. For best viewing, I would recommend using Internet Explorer.

Reinforcement:

After they have done a graphic organizer for a single category, they should try the Quia matching and concentration activities Try a Tic-Tac-Toe game where you show faces of famous Black Americans. A Tic-Tac-Toe grid would be drawn on the chalkboard, and the class would be divided into teams. If a the student can name the Black American pictured, they can put their mark on the Tic-Tac-Toe grid. Regular rules apply to winning.

Evaluation:

After they have completed the graphic organizers and Quia activities for each category, they should try the comprehensive mutiple-choice test in the Quiz Lab at Funbrain.com: http://www.FunBrain.com/teachers/index.html. Students need to click on "Quiz Lab", then enter our password "Seahawk1." Quiz Lab will e-mail you the results of students' tests. Don't forget to go back to the K-W-L Chart and fill in lots of information that they have learned! It may be helpful to have a group discussion about how knowing this new information makes them feel.

Teacher resources:

Books:

Burt, McKinley, Jr. (1989). Black Inventors of America. Portland, OR: National Book Company.

Cooper, F. (1996). Mandela: from the life of the South African statesman. New York: Philomel Books.

Haskins, J. (1992). Outward Dreams. New York: Bantam.

James, P. (1989). The Real McCoy: African-American Invention and Innovation, 1619-1930. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.

McKissack, P. and McKissack. F. (1994). African-American Inventors. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press.

Yount, L. (1991). American profiles: Black scientists. New York: Facts on File.

Videos:

Woodard, A. (1998). Underground Railroad. The History Channel.

Web Sites:
February is Black History Month

Madame C.J. Walker Home Page

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (more info)

Hear an audio file of his famous speech "I Have A Dream"

Sojourner Truth

The Underground Railroad

Student resources:

Adler, D. A. (1992). A picture book of Harriet Tubman. New York: Scholastic.

Adler, D. A. (1993). A picture book of Rosa Parks. New York: Holiday House.

Adoff, A. (1970) Malcolm X. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.

Bennett, L., Jr. (1971). Ebony Pictorial History of Black America. Chicago: Johnson Publishing.

Brandt, K. (1992). Jackie Robinson: A life of courage. United States: Troll.

Diamond, A. (1995). The importance of Muhammad Ali. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books.

Ferris, J. (1988). Walking the road to freedom. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. Hudson, W. & Wesley,

V. W. (1988). Afro-Bets: Book of black heroes from A-Z. Orange, NJ: Just Us Books.

Lawrence, J. (1993). Harriet and the promised land. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Marzollo, J. (1993). Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Scholastic.

Mitchell, B. (1986). Shoes for everyone: A story about Jan Matzeliger. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.

Moutoussamy-Ashe, J. (1993). Daddy and me. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Myers, W. D. (1993). Young Martin's promise. Raintree.

Mumford, E. (1990). The Man who founded a town. Washington Biography Series.

Ringgold, F. (1999). If a bus could talk: The story of Rosa Parks. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Sterling, D. (1954). Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman. Doubleday.

To e-mail Juanita Washington, site creator Go to:|Black History Web Site|


Lesson Plan for Black History Primer
Created by:	Juanita Washington
Audience:	Created for Grade 1, but useful for any age or grade
Subject Areas:	Social Studies and Language Arts
Objectives:	1. Students will recognize that many Black Americans have made significant historic contributions to American society. 2. Students will gain a greater awareness of Black Americans currently contributing to American society. 3. Students will learn about, and be able to recall specific accomplishments of some great Black Americans. 4. Students will be able to identify some famous Black Americans by name when shown their pictures.

Procedure:	1. Make a K-W-L (Know-Want to Know-Learned) Chart. Ask students to brainstorm a list of Black Americans whom they recognize as having become well known for their particular position, ability, or expertise. List names on chart paper under the following categories: (a) leaders,(b) entertainers, (c) scientists or innovators, and (d) athletes. Ask them if they would like to know more about some of the Black Americans who they are not already familiar with. Ask them questions such as the following: Do you know who the first woman self-made millionaire was in the United States? Would you like to know who invented the stop light? Who made the first clock in the United States? Who was the first American to set foot on the North Pole? Who was the first Black tennis player to win at Wimbledon? Which basketball player holds the record for the highest number of point in a game? Who was the first Black woman to run for president? Tell them that they will learn answers to those questions, and more, by viewing and working with information on the Black History Primer Web Page. 2. Have students go to the computers in the classroom or in the computer lab in pairs. (For first graders, especially, it would be important to try to pair students with stronger reading skills with those who are not yet independent readers.) Give them a graphic organizer that is labeled with one of the categories above. Instruct them to find names of specific Black Americans who have contributed, or are contributing, to American society in that category, and write them on their graphic organizer. This exercise contributes to the mathematical skills of sorting and analyzing, reading and comprehension skills, and written and oral collaboration skills, as well as adding to their knowledge of Black history. 3. Have them do the matching exercises in Quia at the end of each category, then take the multiple choice test in Quiz Lab at Funbrain.com. Print out some of the pictures of Black Americans from the web page or from books or magazines, and have them identify them in a game like Tic-Tac-Toe. 4. You can also make a printable Word Find by using the Puzzlemaker at discovery.com. Click on "school."

Teacher Notes:	Students will need to know how to scroll in windows in order to read the selected materials. They will also need to know how to click on links and to use the "Back" button on the toolbar. For optimum viewing, use of a monitor with 800 x 600 pixels and a setting of 256 colors is recommended. It will load best on computers with Pentium or Athlon processors; my students will be using a fast T1 line, but it also works fine on 28.8k modems. For best viewing, I would recommend using Internet Explorer.

Reinforcement:	After they have done a graphic organizer for a single category, they should try the Quia matching and concentration activities Try a Tic-Tac-Toe game where you show faces of famous Black Americans. A Tic-Tac-Toe grid would be drawn on the chalkboard, and the class would be divided into teams. If a the student can name the Black American pictured, they can put their mark on the Tic-Tac-Toe grid. Regular rules apply to winning.

Evaluation:	After they have completed the graphic organizers and Quia activities for each category, they should try the comprehensive mutiple-choice test in the Quiz Lab at Funbrain.com: http://www.FunBrain.com/teachers/index.html. Students need to click on "Quiz Lab", then enter our password "Seahawk1." Quiz Lab will e-mail you the results of students' tests. Don't forget to go back to the K-W-L Chart and fill in lots of information that they have learned! It may be helpful to have a group discussion about how knowing this new information makes them feel.

Teacher resources:	Books:
	Burt, McKinley, Jr. (1989). Black Inventors of America. Portland, OR: National Book Company.
	Cooper, F. (1996). Mandela: from the life of the South African statesman. New York: Philomel Books.
	Haskins, J. (1992). Outward Dreams. New York: Bantam.
	James, P. (1989). The Real McCoy: African-American Invention and Innovation, 1619-1930. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.
	McKissack, P. and McKissack. F. (1994). African-American Inventors. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press.
	Yount, L. (1991). American profiles: Black scientists. New York: Facts on File.
	Videos:
	Woodard, A. (1998). Underground Railroad. The History Channel.

Web Sites:	February is Black History Month
	Madame C.J. Walker Home Page
	Martin Luther King, Jr.
	Martin Luther King, Jr. (more info)
	Hear an audio file of his famous speech "I Have A Dream"
	Sojourner Truth
	The Underground Railroad

Student resources:	Adler, D. A. (1992). A picture book of Harriet Tubman. New York: Scholastic.
	Adler, D. A. (1993). A picture book of Rosa Parks. New York: Holiday House.
	Adoff, A. (1970) Malcolm X. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell.
	Bennett, L., Jr. (1971). Ebony Pictorial History of Black America. Chicago: Johnson Publishing.
	Brandt, K. (1992). Jackie Robinson: A life of courage. United States: Troll.
	Diamond, A. (1995). The importance of Muhammad Ali. San Diego, CA: Lucent Books.
	Ferris, J. (1988). Walking the road to freedom. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books. Hudson, W. & Wesley,
	V. W. (1988). Afro-Bets: Book of black heroes from A-Z. Orange, NJ: Just Us Books.
	Lawrence, J. (1993). Harriet and the promised land. New York: Simon & Schuster.
	Marzollo, J. (1993). Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Scholastic.
	Mitchell, B. (1986). Shoes for everyone: A story about Jan Matzeliger. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
	Moutoussamy-Ashe, J. (1993). Daddy and me. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
	Myers, W. D. (1993). Young Martin's promise. Raintree.
	Mumford, E. (1990). The Man who founded a town. Washington Biography Series.
	Ringgold, F. (1999). If a bus could talk: The story of Rosa Parks. New York: Simon & Schuster.
	Sterling, D. (1954). Freedom Train: The Story of Harriet Tubman. Doubleday.
To e-mail Juanita Washington, site creator Go to:\|Black History Web Site\|