The Civil Rights Movement

Introduction

Guiding Questions:

1. What are the lasting impacts of the civil rights movement on American Society?

2. What were the key events and figures of the civil rights movement?

3. How did the civil rights movement affect laws and policies in the United States?

Learning Objectives: 

  • Analyze the changes the movement brought to the U.S laws, especially concerning segregation and voting rights.
  • Understand the key events, individuals, and organizations involved in the Civil Rights Movement. 
  • Examine the social and cultural impacts of the Civil Rights Movement on modern America.

FSS:

SS.912.AA.3.2 - “Examine social contributions of African-Americans post Civil War.”

SS.912.AA.4.4 - “Analyze the course, consequences and influence of the modern civil rights movement”

SS.8.CG.2.5 - “Analyze how the Bill of Rights guarantees civil rights and liberties to citizens”

Bloom’s Taxonomy:

Remembering - recall, major events, figures, and outcomes of the civil rights movement.

Understanding - describe the significance of the movement and changing American society and laws.

Applying - apply historical lessons to modern issues of race and equality.

Analyzing - examine the effectiveness of key Civil Rights strategies. 

Creating - create a slideshow project that communicates the significance of the civil rights movement.

Task

Students will work in groups to create a PowerPoint presentation that explores a key aspect of the Civil Rights Movement. Group will choose one of the following topics. 

Each group should include historical content, key people involved, the outcomes of the event or issue, and reflections on how it shaped American Society. The final product will be a PowerPoint (5-7 slides max 10 minutes talking)  presentation to educate the class on the selected topic.

  • The role of a non-violent protest: Investigate the role of a nonviolent protest, led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., and it’s impact of the Civil Rights Movement. 

 

  • Major events and protest: Highlight significant events like the March on Washington, the Birmingham campaign, or the Selma to Montgomery marches. Discuss their impact on the movement and the country.

 

  • Legislative changes: Examine the civil rights act of 1964, the voting rights act of 1965, or other important legal victories. Discuss how these laws change society

 

  • Key Figures of the movement: Focus on individuals such as Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X or others. Present their contributions and lasting influence on the movement.
Process

Students will get into groups (3-4ppl). Each group will choose one topic related to the Civil Rights Movement (ex. Key Figures, Major Events, Legislative Changes, Non-Violent Protest).

Research: Each group member will take responsibility for researching one aspect of the chosen topic. Using resources from Google Scholar or textbooks provided by the school. 

Organization: Once research is complete, groups will organize their findings into a presentation. Remember to include visuals (photos, videos, primary source documents) and provide citations for all sources used.

Create the Presentation:

  • Use PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Canvas
  • Have an outline of your key points of what your going to talk about in your speech/presentation 
  • Ensure that your presentation covers all aspects of your chosen topic and makes connections to the broader Civil Rights Movement.

Practice & Presentation: Groups will rehearse their presentations and be ready to present to the

Evaluation
Criteria Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs Improvement (1)
Content Thorough, well-researched, and accurate information; demonstrates deep understanding of the topic. Good research with mostly accurate information; demonstrates a clear understanding. Basic research with some inaccuracies or gaps; limited understanding. Incomplete research or significant inaccuracies; lacks understanding.
Creativity Highly creative; uses diverse media (photos, videos, documents) effectively. Creative and effective use of media. Some creativity; media use is minimal or not very effective. Little creativity; lack of media or ineffective use of media.
Organization Well-organized with clear, logical flow and well-integrated content. Organized with minor lapses in flow or clarity. Somewhat organized but difficult to follow in places. Disorganized and difficult to follow.
Presentation Skills Clear, confident, and engaging delivery with excellent teamwork. Clear and confident delivery with minor lapses. Delivery is somewhat unclear or unengaging. Unclear or disengaged delivery; lack of teamwork.
Citations & References All sources properly cited; high-quality sources. Sources mostly cited, with some minor errors. Some sources cited, but lacking detail or quality. No citations or references.
Conclusion

You have learned about the Civil Rights Movement and how it shaped American society. You explored key events, influential figures, and the lasting impact of this important time in history. By creating a slideshow presentation, you have practiced research, teamwork, and communication skills that are valuable for your future academic work and future jobs. 

Enrichment Activity: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/eyesontheprize-milestones-civil-rights-movement/