Many students’ exposure to the civil rights movement is often limited to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks. Our learners may not be fully aware of the enormity of all the civil rights movement encompasses. Although our nation recognizes February as Black History Month, it is critical that educators elevate the obstacles faced and achievements accomplished by the many players of the civil rights movement throughout the academic year. Our latest We the People civics inquiry lesson, Music & the Movement, encourages students in grades 5–12 to explore the connection music has had on American protest movements, helping them to understand the power of our First Amendment rights to expression, assembly, and petition.
This lesson is designed to lift up the ongoing struggle for civil rights and allows educators to honor diversity and explore the values of equality and justice. Providing students the opportunity to investigate protest movements and songs helps them to understand the power of taking informed action.
More Resources for Your Classroom
Click here to find the entire teacher-created civics inquiry lesson series, which engages students by making real-world connections through discovery, exploration, and high-level questioning. Find out how you can get your students involved in the research-backed We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution program on our website. This nonpartisan civics curriculum was created by the Center for Civic Education, now in our 60th year. Learn how you can support civic education.
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