Places in History: Researching historic locations associated with the Civil Rights Movement.
Created By:
Marylou DeCamillis
Title/Role:
Teacher
Organization/School Name:
Indian River Middle School
Location:
Virginia
Grade Level:
8 Type of Lesson:
Stand-alone lesson Type of Schedule:
Flexible Collaboration Continuum:
Moderate Content Area:
Social studies Content Topic:
Civil Rights Movement Scenario:
The students have been studying the Civil Rights Movement. The students will research important locations that were prominent in the Civil Rights Movement and evaluate the sources that they've found. The lesson will expose students to alternate search engines besides Google. Many students rely only on Google when conducting internet searches. They also don't understand the differences between .com, .org, .gov, and .edu websites. Additionally, too many students click on the first link that appears during a search with no thought as to how accurate the information is. The students do have some prior knowledge of the Civil Rights Movement and the more well known people/places associated with it such as Rosa Parks,and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Since our school is on a flexible schedule, it facilitates the ability of the librarian and teacher to collaborate. The teacher and I met multiple times leading up to this lesson and I spent 2 full blocks teaching it, as well as two other blocks assisting the teacher to prepare for and then wrap up the lesson. Overview:
Students will have to conduct their research about locations prominent in the Civil Rights Movement thoroughly enough that they can produce a final product illustrating the significance of their location. Students will learn about different search engines and domains. While they are conducting their research, they will evaluate the sources they find to determine if the information found is accurate, valid, appropriate, important, and relates to the social and cultural context we are studying. Final Product:
While students are conducting their research, they will complete an Internet Research Site Evaluation Form. Once the students have completed their research, they will begin working on their presentations to share the information they've found. They may choose to compile their research into a picture postcard, a newspaper headline and article, a written report, a timeline, a storyboard, a poster or another agreed upon option. Library Lesson:
Students will learn about different search engines and understand how domain names can help them decide what a site's purpose is. They will also learn how to evaluate the websites they use to ensure that they are free of bias or propaganda, accurate, relevant, easy to read and free from advertisements or unrelated content. Estimated Lesson Time:
120 minutes Have you taught this lesson before:
Yes Strategies for differentiation:
Special Needs: The pre and post tests have been modified to include simpler terms for the special needs learners. The SOL pre and post- tests for the SPED students has one fewer choice on the multiple choice sections and does not require any short answers. The Internet Research Site Evaluation Form has also been modified to include less categories and simpler terms for these students. To guide all students’ research, but especially these SPED learners, I have created a list of questions so they will have some direction and ideas of what information is important when they are researching. Children like to feel they can make decisions and have choices, so all students will be able to choose which location they wish to research and how to present their final product. If I was teaching an honors or AVID group I would not provide the guided questions for research. In addition, instead of giving them the names of historical places of interest in the Civil Rights Movement, I would have them research what these are on their own, before having them choose which one to target from THEIR own list. I would still let them choose their method to present but would eliminate some of the easier choices like the postcard activity and add a few that were more difficult.