Black History Month Resources

Essential Question

What are my identities?
How do I see myself? Is it the same way others see me?
Does my identity mean I get to do things other kids can’t, or keep me from doing something?
How am I the same as other people? How am I different from other people?
How do I speak up when I see people treated unfairly?

Texts

Visual

Two Friends

This photograph depicts two children playing. One child has multiple disabilities and the other child does not.

Realistic Reflections

Grade Level

K-2

Topic

Ability

July 2, 2014

Multimedia

Ben DeSoto 'Understanding Poverty' exhibit

In this video, photojournalist Ben DeSoto discusses "Understanding Poverty," an exhibit featuring images of people and communities affected by poverty and homelessness.

Ben Tecumseh DeSoto

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Subject

Economics

Topic

Class

July 2, 2014

Informational

In this excerpt from his memoir, Rodriguez provides a stirring recollection from his adolescence: the first time he experienced racism as a result of being an immigrant in America. As he says, the experience "stays with [him] like a foul odor."

Luis J. Rodriguez

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Class Immigration

July 2, 2014

Literature

Raspberries! An American Tale of Cooperation

With only one wing, the little bird cannot fly to the raspberry patch with her brothers. As luck would have it, she meets a little dog, a chipmunk, and a frog who work together to get them all across the street to the raspberry patch.

Mary Newell DePalma

Grade Level

K-2

Topic

Ability

July 2, 2014

Literature

What If There Were No Black People?

In this poem, the speaker explores how our culture would be lacking—in people, in music, in movements, in contributions—without contributions of African Americans.

Sean Mauricette (aka SUBLIMINAL)

Grade Level

3-5 6-8

Subject

History

July 3, 2014

Literature

Foul Line—1987

In this poem, a black woman carefully analyzes her interaction with a white waitress, whose actions, although civil, are smoldering with superiority.

Colleen McElroy

Grade Level

6-8 9-12

Topic

Gender & Sexual Identity

July 5, 2014

Teaching Strategies

Exploring Texts Through Read Alouds

Creating Questions to Engage Critically with Texts

This strategy provides tools to create questions that help students engage critically with Perspectives central texts and examine them for issues of power and social inequity. The activities suggested here also encourage readers to bring their knowledge and experiences to the reading of a text.

Grade Level

K-2

CCSS

RL.K-2.1, RL.K-2.2, RL.K-2.3, RL.K-2.6, RI.K-2.1, RI.K-2.2, RI.K-2.3, RI.K-2.6

July 16, 2014

Exploring Texts Through Read Alouds

Examining Texts

Children will learn about the key components of paper and online text structure. Students will also gain the terminology necessary to talk about the structure and parts of a text.

Grade Level

K-2

CCSS

RI.K-2.5, RI.K-2.6, RL.K-2.5, RL.K-2.6

July 13, 2014

Plan Built By

Garner08

Black History Month Resources

Two Friends

Ben DeSoto 'Understanding Poverty' exhibit

Always Running

Raspberries! An American Tale of Cooperation

What If There Were No Black People?

Foul Line—1987

Creating Questions to Engage Critically with Texts

Examining Texts

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Black History Month Resources

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