Teaching Early Black Communities

The use of primary sources in the Social Studies classroom is gaining favor over that of traditional textbooks, which tend to offer interpretations of historical records based on the cultural norms of a given editor, publisher, or state board of education. Providing students a theoretical framework with which to analyze historical records empowers them to draw conclusions based on evidence. The teaching of Black history necessarily includes the use of primary source documents, because traditional textbooks often lack substantive coverage of events such as those featured in the timeline.

 The educational resources featured include images of primary source materials, guiding questions to provide a theoretical basis for interpretation, suggested learning activities and methods in the form of a focused inquiry, and connections to Indiana state standards, which align with the Common Core.

 *Lesson plans below highlight and focus on early Black communities.*