Civil rights lesson plans for high school students

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It’s been over half a century since the major events of the civil rights movement, but it’s still important to keep the struggles and milestones from the era fresh in students’ minds. After all, the civil rights movement had a huge impact on American history and gave us some of the most inspirational leaders of the 20th century. To help you engage your students on civil rights and its leaders, Prezi presents three new lesson plans aimed at high school students, and how to incorporate them into your curriculum.

Introducing the civil rights movement

Kick off the unit with an introduction to the civil rights movement. The lesson plan defines what the civil rights movement was and its significance in history. Plus, you’ll find a timeline of key events, as well as short biographies of the people who led the movement. Be sure to save time at the end of class for the image gallery, which includes snapshots of demonstrations and leaders — perfect for visual learners.

View the Civil Rights Movement presentation here.

MLK’s critical role in establishing civil rights

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Martin Luther King Jr.’s name is practically synonymous with the civil rights movement in the US. Through inspiring speeches and marches, MLK led peaceful demonstrations to advocate for racial equality. Use this detailed lesson plan to teach your students about the big milestones in the civil rights movement and in Dr. King’s personal life. The content in this lesson plan comes from Stanford’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute, and includes excerpts from speeches and images of rallies.

Make a copy of the Martin Luther King Jr. lesson plan when you view this presentation.

Gandhi’s influence on the civil rights movement

The civil rights movement wasn’t contained to the US, nor were the ideas that propelled the movement. Use this lesson plan to discuss the role that nonviolence took in the civil rights movement and to explore the important connections between MLK and Gandhi. The content of this lesson plan was sourced from Stanford’s Liberation Curriculum, and includes exercises, discussion questions, and assignments.

View the Nonviolence in the Civil Rights Movement lesson plan and make your own copy today.

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