Social Studies
Explore government systems - federal
How do you define a “federal” government? Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce the idea of the US government as a federal government, and compare and contrast with other types of government. How is a federal system different? Consider using Venn diagrams to collect and organize student ideas, like shown at this site.
Explore who makes history
As Author Nathan points out, Rosa Parks was not the first to protest segregation rules on southern buses. And while this Minute highlights Sarah Keys Evans refusing to cede her seat three years prior to Rosa Parks, there are multiple other accounts of African Americans doing the same. Consider teenager Claudette Colvin, who refused less than a year prior to Parks, or young mother Irene Morgan who refused a decade earlier, and even a young, yet-to-be-famous baseball player named Jack Robinson in Fort Hood, Texas who would not move in 1944. So why is it that we all know about Rosa Parks and these other courageous people’s acts are not part of our common history? Is it random? An accident of time and place? Are the events we collectively remember dependent on who is there to document them? These are important questions for your students to grapple with as they seek to comprehend the importance of understanding how to read history. Introduce the content and ask the questions, then let your students talk. Conversation will yield some satisfying “aha” moments.
Explore the concept of interstate commerce
What is interstate commerce? How does this impact all Americans as they travel between states? How is this connected to the Constitution and the idea of a federal system of government? Have your students ask and answer their questions, then find stories about the role of interstate commerce and the Constitution's Commerce clause in the Civil Rights movement.
Research Skills
Explore online resources - African American History Month
As important as it is to highlight the historical and ongoing contributions of African Americans during this month designated as African American History month, it is equally critical to remember that these are influential people, places, and events in American history throughout the year - not just in February. Take a look at the collaborative site hosted by the Library of Congress titled African American History to gain access to a carefully curated list of resources for your students to explore further.
Explore government systems - federal
How do you define a “federal” government? Use this Minute to introduce or reinforce the idea of the US government as a federal government, and compare and contrast with other types of government. How is a federal system different? Consider using Venn diagrams to collect and organize student ideas, like shown at this site.
Explore who makes history
As Author Nathan points out, Rosa Parks was not the first to protest segregation rules on southern buses. And while this Minute highlights Sarah Keys Evans refusing to cede her seat three years prior to Rosa Parks, there are multiple other accounts of African Americans doing the same. Consider teenager Claudette Colvin, who refused less than a year prior to Parks, or young mother Irene Morgan who refused a decade earlier, and even a young, yet-to-be-famous baseball player named Jack Robinson in Fort Hood, Texas who would not move in 1944. So why is it that we all know about Rosa Parks and these other courageous people’s acts are not part of our common history? Is it random? An accident of time and place? Are the events we collectively remember dependent on who is there to document them? These are important questions for your students to grapple with as they seek to comprehend the importance of understanding how to read history. Introduce the content and ask the questions, then let your students talk. Conversation will yield some satisfying “aha” moments.
Explore the concept of interstate commerce
What is interstate commerce? How does this impact all Americans as they travel between states? How is this connected to the Constitution and the idea of a federal system of government? Have your students ask and answer their questions, then find stories about the role of interstate commerce and the Constitution's Commerce clause in the Civil Rights movement.
Research Skills
Explore online resources - African American History Month
As important as it is to highlight the historical and ongoing contributions of African Americans during this month designated as African American History month, it is equally critical to remember that these are influential people, places, and events in American history throughout the year - not just in February. Take a look at the collaborative site hosted by the Library of Congress titled African American History to gain access to a carefully curated list of resources for your students to explore further.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission