1960s Civil Rights Teacher Resources

In March, I guided my U.S. History students through the significant Civil Rights Movements of the 1950s, 1960s & 1970s. We discussed the importance of the African American civil rights marches throughout the South, which spawned other civil rights campaigns, including Asian Americans, Native Americans, gay Americans, disabled Americans, Hispanic Americans & the elderly. Also, we engaged in provoking chats on the civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King Jr., Betty Friedan, Cesar Chavez, and Malcolm X. At the end of the unit, we reviewed the material and I emphasized the fact that the civil rights movements in the United States never officially ended - the campaigns are active today, most notably the Black Lives Movement and abortion/Planned Parenthood crusades, among others. The resources I have attached below were created by me, and include lecture presentations (which are tied to Texas standards), worksheets, and student-driven (fun) activities. If you are a high school history educator, feel free to use these resources in your class, and let me know how your students responded to each report - enjoy!

In August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I have a dream" speech, one of the most famous addresses in American history. The March On Washington event attracted some 250,000 people. (History)

Lectures (created by Mr. Chanin, 2023) - each lecture includes content and academic vocabulary that the state requires U.S. History students to be familiar with (Unit 8 of the 11th grade curriculum). Images and embedded videos provide students with a fuller, colorful picture of what happened in the United States at this time. Each lecture has a recap slide at the end, where the teacher may highlight the important parts of that presentation (and allow the students to "connect the dots"). My lectures emphasize content as well as critical thinking/application opportunities. Each lecture (20-30 minutes in duration) was presented on the projector and the students were tasked to answer questions on the content. After the lectures, I reviewed the material with my students and ensured everyone was familiar with the main people, places & events of this unit before moving on.

Segregation in Post-WWII Period - this lecture covers the Jim Crow Laws & methods Southern officials used to suppress the black vote, the Green Book, the NAACP & CORE, Thurgood Marshall, and the 1954 landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education.

The Civil Rights Revolution - this lecture surveys the heart of the African American crusade, including Rosa Parks and the bus boycott, Martin Luther King Jr, freedom riders, sit-ins, Little Rock Nine, Selma, 1963 March on Washington, and LBJ's 1964 Civil Rights Act & 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Redefining Equality: Black Power & Affirmative Action - this lecture covers black ghettos & the Kerner Commission, Malcolm X, black power & Black Panther Party, Afrocentrism (including the hit TV series Roots), and the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

The Widening Struggle - the final lecture in this unit surveys the other civil rights campaigns in America after WWII, including women, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, disabled & gay Americans, and the elderly. In all my classes, I strive to foster a diverse & inclusive atmosphere by discussing histories and viewpoints from every culture in the U.S.A. - our nation's history is not only the story of the white men!

JFK & LBJ - a short presentation on John F. Kennedy & Lyndon B. Johnson, the presidents in the 1960s. It is important for students to become familiar with the White House occupants and politics of this era so that a higher level of content immersion can occur.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Lyndon B. Johnson in the Oval Office, 1964 - despite their tense relationship, the two giant leaders respected one another and jointly vowed to create/sign the biggest pieces of civil rights legislation in history into law. In this unit, I highlighted LBJ's perseverance in social politics & foreshadowed his ultimate political demise via the Vietnam War. (History)

Notes/Assignments (created by Mr. Chanin, 2023) - lecture notes are given to the students prior to the start of each lecture; students then answer each question according to the information in the lecture. The many student-driven assignments in this unit were designed to give students the opportunities to not only become more familiar with the content, but also apply the material to real-life scenarios.

Segregation in Post-WWII Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs with the first lecture.

Civil Rights Revolution Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs well with the second lecture.

Redefining Equality Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs with the third lecture.

Widening Struggle Notes - the notes worksheet that pairs well with the fourth & final lecture

Brown v. Board of Education Cartoon Analysis - I consider political cartoons to be invaluable primary resources to study the past - these "doodles" give us a unique window into how the media and public were feeling about a particular event, person, or topic in time. In this worksheet, students analyze a few political cartoons on the famous 1954 Supreme Court case, and answer questions that require critical-thinking skills. The analysis activity pairs well with the first lecture.

Civil Rights Road Trip Timeline - this is a massive assignment - students create a timeline/roadmap on the events from the African American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s/1960s. Students observe the cause & effect relationships, as well as the dramatic buildup of this great American crusade. This assignment links to the content found in the second lecture.

MLK "I have a dream" Speech Analysis - I enjoy discussing the importance of great speeches in American history; these passionate and timely outbursts illustrate a person's emotions and plans for a brighter future. MLK's "I have a dream" speech is an essential primary resource for students to examine during this unit. In this assignment, students will grasp the sincere gravity of the situation many African Americans found themselves in during the 1960s. The assignment pairs well with the third lecture after students have compared MLK's peaceful marches with Malcolm X's abrasive/direct campaign.

A Farmer's Tale Activity - after students have learned about the various other Civil Rights crusades that were happening across America in the latter-half of the twentieth century, they are tasked to imagine being a Hispanic-American farmer in either California or Texas and document their story (i.e. a journal entry). Students are asked to get creative, and write down everything they do, every person they meet (including Cesar Chavez), and every union/labor organization they join. Students who enjoy writing and using their imagination will love this brief writing activity. This assignment pairs well with the fourth lecture.

Review Presentation #1 & Review Presentation #2 - these may be used as warm-up activities for students where they are able to informally test their prior knowledge without looking at notes. Class discussions about correct & wrong answers/test-taking strategies follow the reviews.