Civil Rights
Explore what civil rights are and how people have continued to fight for them in the United States.
Embedded Files
About
About
Throughout the history of the United States, many groups have had to fight to be treated fairly, included, and given a voice in their government and communities. Within these groups, leaders emerged and found themselves being a voice for others. Because of these fearless and determined people, laws have changed and life has become better for many people.
Essential Questions
Essential Questions
What are civil rights and why do they matter?
In what ways have civil rights been threatened both today and in the past?
Who are some of the people who have fought for civil rights?
Choose a Focus
Choose a Focus
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Use the Suggested Activity to learn about your chosen focus in a fun way. Or visit the Activity Library to pick another interactive activity.
Note: Britannica School, BrainPOP, and Kids Discover are provided by Prenda. Make sure you are logged in via Clever.
Martin Luther King, Jr. ⚒️
Martin Luther King, Jr. ⚒️
A leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, King is known for his "I Have a Dream" speech that drew thousands of protestors to Washington D.C. King also organized hundreds of peaceful marches and protests until his assassination in 1968.
Essential questions:
Why do we remember and celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.?
What impact did he have on people living the United States?
Why is he a Changemaker?
Suggested Activity: Words to Live By
César Chávez ⚒️
César Chávez ⚒️
When Chávez and his parents moved to California during the Great Depression, young César saw firsthand how migrant farmworkers were mistreated. He wanted to change that. So he organized farmworkers to unite and protest. This group eventually became known as the United Farm Workers of America.
Essential questions:
How did César Chávez's childhood shape his beliefs as an adult?
What is he remembered for?
In what ways is he a Changemaker?
Suggested Activity: Social Media Post
Curricular Connections
Curricular Connections
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Continue your learning by choosing one of these related activities.
Related Social Studies Topics
Timeline Challenge
Start a class timeline (or add to an existing timeline) showing important events in America's struggle for civil rights.
Socratic Discussion
Discuss: Which do you think is the most effective way to protest injustice: speeches, marches, boycotts, or strikes?
Create
(Not sure what to do? Create an award to give to Dr. King or Cesar Chavez and explain why they deserve it!)
Just for Fun
Use BrainPop to Make a Movie about Martin Luther King, Jr. using these fun resources.
Image Attributions
Civil Rights: Leffler, Warren K., photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonMartin Luther King Jr: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsCésar Chávez: Movimiento, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Page updated
Report abuse