February is Black History Month

3. Ask yourself why you thought this was an important photograph.

The Portsmouth, New Hampshire Black Elders, highlights from an oral history project

1. Browse through the short journals from the black elders.

2. Select one to look at more closely. Find specific events or experiences that seemed to be especially memorable for the person.

3. Use your imagination to focus on what might be the most memorable events you expect to encounter in your life. Are any similar to those experienced by the Portsmouth Elders?

Conclusion
After this exploration of Black History, you probably have found at least one thing that helps you connect to the people and experiences that make up that history. Utilize this in your teaching, it will enhance this lesson plan in ways that I alone cannot provide.

Objectives:

To understand the social environment that led up to the establishment of Black History Month.

To understand and appreciate the writings of African Americans.

To use the Internet to locate and analyze the words and writings of African Americans.

To use Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint to create a project that demonstrates understanding of core concepts stressed in this lesson.

Prerequisite Skills:

Basic computer and research skills using the library and Internet resources.

Time Allotted:

2 class periods and ongoing

How to Begin

1. Pose the question in written or verbal format: How important is the written and spoken word? Would you call it a mark of humanity?
2. Introduce the concept of human rights, in reference to the lack thereof which African Americans experienced, in an age-appropriate way:

· Assign older students to use the dictionary, library resources, and the Internet to develop a working definition of human rights, and what makes a group of people "civilized".
· Assign younger students to find out who wrote a specific poem, or gave a specific speech. Have them use the library and the Internet to explore how these works came to be--- and what makes them unique and everlasting.

3. Next, take your students online to one of the Web sites listed on the Student Activity page. While they're performing the treasure hunt and webquests, pose these questions: Were these African Americans sub-human, as was the opinion

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