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Early Childhood (K-2)

Lesson Plan: Exploring African American Culture and History

Grade Level: K-2
Subject: Social Studies / History
Duration: 45-60 minutes
Topic: Introduction to African American Culture through Museum Artifacts

This lesson plan introduces K-2 students to the concept of museums and African American history through interactive learning with the African American Museum’s repository website. It helps foster curiosity, historical understanding, and cultural appreciation.

Lesson

Learning Objectives:

  1. Students will explore the significance of African American culture and contributions through historical artifacts.

  2. Students will be introduced to a famous African American figure and their impact on history.

  3. Students will develop an understanding of museums as places to learn about the past.

Materials:

  • Access to computers or tablets (to visit the African American Museum repository website).

  • Printed worksheet for drawing and writing.

  • Projector or screen to display the museum website (optional).

Standards:

  • Social Studies: Understanding historical figures, events, and the importance of cultural heritage.

  • ELA: Identifying key details and retelling information about a subject.

Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

  • Discussion: Begin with a short conversation about what museums are and why they are important. Ask students:

    • "Have you ever been to a museum?"

    • "What can you find in museums?"

  • Explain that today, they will "visit" a museum online and learn about African American history through special items in the museum.

2. Explore the African American Museum Repository Website (15 minutes)

  • Guided Exploration:

    • Navigate to the African American Museum repository website and choose an age-appropriate exhibit (such as images of cultural artifacts, artwork, or photographs of historical figures).

    • Show students how to explore one item (e.g., a picture of an artifact like a traditional African American quilt, a piece of art, or a photo of a historical figure like Harriet Tubman or Martin Luther King Jr.).

    • Explain:

      • Who or what the artifact or figure is.

      • Why this artifact or person is important to African American history.

  • Allow students to ask questions about the item or figure.

3. Activity: Draw and Write (15 minutes)

  • Drawing: Hand out worksheets where students can draw the artifact or figure they saw in the museum.

  • Writing Prompt: Ask students to write one sentence (or dictate if needed) about the artifact they drew. For example: "This is a quilt. It is important because it shows how African Americans made art with fabric."

4. Sharing and Discussion (10 minutes)

  • Have students share their drawings with the class and explain what they learned about the artifact or person.

  • Encourage them to use new vocabulary words (e.g., artifact, museum, history, culture).

5. Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

  • Reflection: Ask students to reflect on why it’s important to learn about different cultures and history.

  • Summarize what was learned and emphasize that museums help us remember important people and objects from the past.

Structure

Assessment:

  • Participation: Evaluate student participation during the website exploration and class discussion.

  • Drawing and Writing: Review their drawings and sentences to understand the concept.

  • Discussion: Observe how well students can explain what they learned about the artifact or person.

Extension Activity (Optional):

  • For homework or additional in-class activities, students could "create" their own museum artifact by drawing something important to them (e.g., a family object or favorite toy) and explaining its significance to share with the class.

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