The Students of Brown vs. School District No. 20 - Charleston
The South Carolina African American History Calendar February honoree is the case of Brown vs. School District 20, Charleston. This lesson will highlight the significance of the case, the impact it had, and the students/families who were involved in this landmark case.
Essential Question
1. What were the major issues surrounding this case?
2. What significance does this case hold?
3. What was the impact of the verdict in this case?
Grade(s):
- 3
- 4
- 5
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Ipads, Chromebooks, Laptops
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Pens/Pencils, Paper
Students can choose to complete a hard copy of the assignment or they can complete it digitally.
Lesson Progression
Introduction:
1. Share photo(s) of students from the Brown vs. School District 20 case. Allow time for students to observe the images.
2. Discuss what students observe in the images as well as how the images make them feel, what they think or wonder, or any questions they may have. What words could/would you use to describe what you see and think?
3. The teacher will create a chart of student responses that can be referred back to later.
Procedure:
1. Tell students to think about their first day of school: How would you describe it? How did you feel? Who or what did you see? What did you hear?
2. Inform students that the images they were shown are from these students first day of school as well.
3. Challenge them to begin thinking about how their first day of school might have differed from these students.
4. Share some background information with students regarding the case of Brown vs. School District 20-Charleston being sure to highlight the impact Millicent Brown and the other students had on education and how they were instruments of change.
5. Allow time for students to explore the other resources provided and share their findings with table partners. Students should also consider the impact this case had on the future of education and how things would have been if schools remained segregated.
6. Give students an opportunity to share their learning aloud with the rest of the class if they choose to.
Conclusion:
Once students have had an opportunity to view the photos and explore the other resources provided, they will complete a creative writing assignment. Students will write two first day journals, one highlighting their own first day of school experience, and a second about the first day of school experience for the students from Brown vs. School District No. 20. Remind students to think about the emotions that might have been involved, thoughts, reactions, lessons learned, how we can continue to honor their legacy, etc.
Teacher Notes
This lesson and assignment may take several days for students to complete. Challenge students to think deeply and analytically in their responses as they work through the assignments.
Brown v. School District No.20
The month of February in the South Carolina African American History Calendar features the case of Brown v. School District No. 20, Charleston, SC. This lesson explores the issues of the case, the significance of the court’s decision, as well as the role of the plaintiffs in bringing about social change.
View LessonMillicent Brown
View ResourceFirst day of school
View ResourceAfter Brown vs. School District No. 20
View ResourceSouth Carolina African American History Calendar
Link to the 2024 SC African American History Calendar
View ResourceBrown vs. School District 20-Charleston
SCDE video highlight Brown vs. School District 20- Charleston as the February honoree
View ResourcePost and Courier 60th anniversary article
Post and Courier article celebrating the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. School District 20
View ResourceABC News 4 Article and Video Highlight
ABC news and video highlight of the 11 students from Brown vs. School District 20-Charleston
View ResourceSomebody Had To Do It
View ResourceStandards
- ELA.3.OE.2 Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
- ELA.AOR.10 Evaluate and critique multimedia presentations of a text or subject, including their impact on an audience.
- ELA.R.1 Use critical thinking skills to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize a variety of sources to obtain and refine knowledge.
- ELA.AOR.7 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
- ELA.4.OE.2 Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
- ELA.AOR.7 Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases.
- ELA.AOR.10 Evaluate and critique multimedia presentations of a text or subject, including their impact on an audience.
- ELA.R.1 Use critical thinking skills to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize a variety of sources to obtain and refine knowledge.
- ELA.AOR.10 Evaluate and critique multimedia presentations of a text or subject, including their impact on an audience.
- ELA.R.1 Use critical thinking skills to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize a variety of sources to obtain and refine knowledge.
- ELA.C.2 Write informative/expository texts to analyze and explain complex ideas and information.
- 4.5.CO Compare the roles of various groups on Reconstruction.
- 4.5.CE Analyze the impact of federal legislation on the South during Reconstruction.
- 5.4.CC Analyze the continuities and changes of race relations in the United States and South Carolina following the Supreme Court decisions of Briggs v. Elliott and Brown v. Board of Education.
Assessments
Students will complete a creative writing assignment. Students will write two first day journals, one highlighting their own first day of school experience, and a second about the first day of school experience for the students from Brown vs. School District No. 20.
