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A Tale of Twin Countries

Students will compare the apartheid movement in South Africa to the civil rights movement that took place in the U.S

Duration
2-3 hours
Lesson Type
Traditional Lesson

Lesson Created By: Shaquetta Moultrie

Lesson Partners: Center for the Education & Equity of African American Students (CEEAAS)

Essential Question

  • What events led up to apartheid?
  • What is apartheid? What was its purpose?
  • What events led to the civil rights movement in the US?
  • How were the black South Africans treated and how does it compare to the treatment of the black Americans prior and during the Civil Rights Movement?

Grade(s):

  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10

Subject(s):

Other Instructional Materials or Notes:

Lesson Progression

  • Do Now: See-Think- Wonder (What do you see in these pictures? What do you think is going on? What do you wonder about the photographs?)
  • Video: Clip of apartheid movement, clip of civil rights movement
  • Graphic organizer: as a class, students and teacher will complete venn diagram explaining similarities and differences between the two movements
  • Direct Instruction History/Timeline of Apartheid and events that led up to the situation
  • Examine letters 12 letters from prison from Nelson Mandela (will also be used later)
  • Students should answer the following questions for homework and to be used later in classroom discussion: Describe what you think Mr. Mandela was thinking and feeling based on his letters from prison.
  • Students will then learn the history of the civil rights movement
  • Students will read a letter from Birmingham jail.
  • Students will discuss the thoughts and feelings of MLK

Students will write an essay outlining both events and discussing similarities and differences.

Assessments

Essay