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Elementary (3-5)

Exploring African American History through Museum Artifacts

Grade Level: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies / History
Duration: 60 minutes
Topic: African American History and Contributions

This lesson plan allows 3rd-5th grade students to actively engage with African American history by exploring real artifacts from the African American Museum’s repository, fostering both historical understanding and critical thinking.

Lesson

Learning Objectives:

  1. Students will explore and analyze artifacts related to African American history using the African American Museum repository website.

  2. Students will identify key historical figures and events from African American history.

  3. Students will develop critical thinking skills by interpreting the historical significance of museum artifacts.

Materials:

  • Computers or tablets for accessing the African American Museum repository website.

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

  • Printed worksheets for reflection and analysis.

  • Pencils or pens.

Standards:

  • Social Studies: Understanding significant events, people, and contributions of African Americans in U.S. history.

  • ELA: Using key details from informational texts to explain historical events and ideas.

Structure

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

  • Discussion: Begin with a conversation about museums and their role in preserving history. Ask:

    • "What can we learn from museums?"

    • "Why is it important to remember people and events from the past?"

  • Introduce the Lesson: Explain that they will be exploring artifacts from the African American Museum to learn about African American history, focusing on key figures, events, and cultural contributions.

2. Guided Exploration of the African American Museum Repository (20 minutes)

  • Website Navigation: Show the class how to access the African American Museum repository website.

    • Navigate to a few specific artifacts or exhibits that are appropriate for their age level, such as:

      • Artifacts from the Civil Rights Movement (e.g., posters from marches, photographs of sit-ins).

      • Cultural Contributions (e.g., artworks, musical instruments, or items related to African American cultural traditions).

      • Historical Figures (e.g., objects related to Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, or Rosa Parks).

  • Guided Analysis:

    • For each artifact, ask students:

      • "What do you see in this artifact?"

      • "Why do you think this artifact is important?"

      • "What does this teach us about African American history?"

    • Highlight the historical context and significance of each item.

3. Group Activity: Artifact Analysis (15 minutes)

  • Divide the Class: Divide students into small groups and assign each group an artifact or exhibit from the museum’s repository.

  • Group Task:

    • Have each group analyze their artifact using the following guiding questions:

      • What is the artifact? Describe what it looks like.

      • Who used or created this artifact?

      • Why is this artifact important to African American history?

  • Worksheet: Each group will complete a worksheet where they answer these questions and note down key points about their artifact.

4. Presentation and Discussion (10 minutes)

  • Group Presentations: Have each group share their artifact with the class, explaining its historical significance and what they learned.

  • Class Discussion: Encourage the class to ask questions about the other groups' artifacts. Facilitate a discussion on the importance of preserving history and the role of African Americans in shaping U.S. history.

5. Reflection and Wrap-Up (5 minutes)

  • Reflection: Ask students to reflect on what they learned about African American history through these artifacts. Have them answer:

    • "What is one thing you learned today that you didn’t know before?"

    • "Why is it important to learn about the history of different cultures?"

  • Summarize the key takeaways from the lesson, emphasizing the importance of African American contributions to history and culture.

Structure

Assessment:

  • Group Participation: Evaluate how well students worked together during the artifact analysis.

  • Presentation: Assess the quality and understanding shown in their presentations.

  • Worksheets: Review completed worksheets to ensure comprehension of the artifacts’ historical significance.

Extension Activity:

  • Create Your Own Artifact: For homework, students can draw or create an artifact that represents something important about their own family history or cultural background. They should write a short paragraph explaining why this artifact is significant to them.

  • Museum Visit: If possible, plan a field trip to a local museum or invite a virtual guest speaker from a museum to talk more about African American history and culture.

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