NEW: Black History Month

# Black History Month **Preserving the past and recognizing the achievements of key figures in Black history.** Use this collection of resources to celebrate Black History Month and the contributions of important Black American humanitarians by opening up a wider discussion about their struggles and the preservation of history. **Age range** The primary target age range for this experience is ages 11-14; however, the teaching ideas are easily adaptable for the 9 to 11 and 14 to 16 age groups. **Learning Objectives** - Summarize some major events during the Civil Rights Movement, including the Aug. 28, 1963, march to the Lincoln Memorial. - Recognize the contributions of various Black Americans to society by reflecting on their impact, significance and struggles. - Discuss how sculptures and art serve as a platform for social commentary and preservation. ## How to Use This Playlist: This playlist features a diverse collection of resources to support your lesson planning for Black History Month and beyond. **Teaching Ideas** Here are some suggestions on how to use the resources: ***New Rosa Parks Explorable Scene*** - The New Rosa Parks Explorable Scene, developed with guidance from a U.S. Black History expert, allows students to step into the world of the Civil Rights Movement and explore the social conditions surrounding Rosa Parks’ act of resistance. This offers an important opportunity to discuss how language and attitudes change over time, while fostering critical reflection on the courage and impact of those who challenged segregation. Ensure a thorough review of the experience before sharing with students as for historical accuracy and in consultation with U.S. Black history experts, we have included outdated terms in this scene (see *Note to Teachers* in the *Teacher Notes*). - [New Rosa Parks Explorable Scene](track#728484) **The Rosa Parks Explorable Scene includes a full Teaching Framework with curriculum links, adaptive teaching ideas and extension activities. The framework can be used across a single lesson or developed into a longer teaching sequence.** ***Civil Rights Movement Explorable Scene*** - Transport students to the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where over a quarter of a million people assembled and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech. Students will also see visual clues that aim to convey the efforts of civil rights groups and activists who helped pass new laws. - [Civil Rights Explorable Scene](track#771406) ***Honoring and Preserving Memory 360 Images*** – This collection of powerful 360-degree images captures iconic monuments and memorials that pay tribute to significant figures in American history. These images can be used to discuss the legacy of humanitarians who have shaped American society, from the Roy Wilkins Memorial in honor of the activist and former executive director of NAACP, to the statue dedicated to the memory of abolitionist and social activist Harriet Tubman, who spent her life fighting to free other enslaved people. - Statue of Harriet Tubman - Martin Luther King Statue at the San Bernardino City Hall - Roy Wilkins Memorial ***Visual Testament to African American Resilience*** - The "Ring of Genealogy" by Hubert Massey preserves African-American history through its bronze nameplates honoring iconic figures. This mural was specially commissioned for the Charles H. Wright Museum's Ford Freedom Rotunda in Detroit, Michigan. Discuss with students how art and sculpture can reflect a community's collective heritage. Can they give examples of other works that commemorate and preserve memory? - Charles H. Wright Museum, Rotunda **Curriculum Summary*** **Social Studies/History: Civil Rights and Social Change – Ages 11 to 14** Students should be taught to: - Understand how systems, laws and beliefs shape people’s lives over time. - Analyze connections between events, identifying patterns of cause, consequence, change and continuity. - Evaluate the role of individuals and groups in shaping historical developments. - Interpret and compare sources to understand how and why different perspectives of the past are constructed. **Key Vocabulary** - **Racial bias**: Treating people unfairly or making judgments based on race or skin color. - **Discrimination**: Acting unfairly or denying opportunities because of race, gender, religion, or abilities. - **Segregation**: Forced separation of people based on race, such as in schools, restaurants, or buses. - **Jim Crow laws**: Laws that required African American and white people to use separate public spaces. **All explorable scenes are accompanied by downloadable support materials. Select the Scene Guide tab when you explore this playlist.** **Our Curriculum Summary offers a simplified and progressive best-fit framework derived from a thorough analysis of multiple curricula worldwide, including those from the US, UK, and the rest of the world. By identifying key common strands, we create curriculum statements that align and map smoothly across all territories, ensuring relevance and consistency in diverse educational contexts. Further territory-specific curriculum libraries can be found on the ClassVR portal.*