Black History ESL Library Lesson Plan

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Black History Month To celebrate Black History Month, we are offering this lesson plan free to all English teachers. We hope you enjoy it. Dont forget to check out our related featured lessons at: ESL-Library.com/blackhistory

Page 2: Cover pagePage 3: ReadingPage 4: Reading comprehensionPage 5: Vocabulary review"Page 6: Vocabulary reviewPage 7: Pair Work (Student A)Page 8: Pair Work (StudentB)Page 9: DebatePage 10: Optional Group Assignment

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Black History Month

1. Black History Month is an observance formally known as Black History Week. It was set in motion by Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Woodson was an African American professor and scholar who felt that African American history was being forgotten in schools. In 1976, Black History Week became Black History Month. Throughout the month of February, in both the US and Canada, students learn about notable African American figures. They also study black American history, culture, and traditions.

2. One of the most talked about periods in black American history is the colonial period. The first African slaves arrived in North America in the 16th century. They settled with their slaveholders in British colonies throughout the US and later up through Canada. The slave population grew slowly at first. During the 17th and 18th centuries, America relied heavily on slave labor to build its growing economy. Slaves did everything from sewing and cleaning to mining, driving carriages, and building roads. In Canada, slaves were mainly used as domestic servants and farmhands. Due to the harsh winters, it was more difficult to keep slaves year-round in northern regions.

3. Slavery was legal in North America until the mid 1800s. The abolition movement began gaining popularity in the northern regions around 1790. Upper Canada (now Ontario) became a safe haven for southern slaves after the 1793 Abolition Act. Thousands of slaves used a system called the Underground Railway to escape to the northern states and Canada. This was a secret route of safe houses that slaves used to find freedom. Slavery was abolished across the British Empire by 1833. The abolition of slavery did not mean the end of discrimination. Equality is something African Americans still struggle for today.

4. New languages, music, and recipes were born out of slavery. Slaves who had different African languages were often placed together. This required them to come up with their own mixed languages such as Creole. Uneducated African Americans popularized oral storytelling. Music forms, such as jazz, blues, and swing, were also popularized by African Americans. Later came the hip-hop genre. African American cuisine, sometimes called soul food is served at Black History Month gatherings. Like the stories and fables, African American recipes were passed on orally. Slaves living on plantations made use of local crops such as sweet potatoes and okra. They also ate discarded cuts of meat such as pigs feet. Even after regaining freedom, many African Americans continued to use these ingredients.

5. Not everyone agreed with Woodsons vision back in 1926. Today, Black History Month still has its critics. Some historians and scholars feel that it is wrong to dedicate an entire month to one race and culture. They dont agree with separating African American studies from general American history. Others feel that this observance forces new generations to take on decades of guilt. Like other holidays and observances, Black History Month has also become commercialized.

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COMPREHENSION

A. Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in the spaces below.

1. Why did Carter G. Woodson want to develop an official observance called Black History Week?

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2. What do people typically learn about during Black History Month?

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3. Why did America rely heavily on slaves during the colonial period?

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4. How did slavery in the colonial period differ in Canada and the US?

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5. What was the Underground Railway? _______________________________________________________

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6. What effect did slavery have on language? _____________________________________________________

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7. Why does the reading mention pigs feet? ______________________________________________________

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8. Describe one criticism of Black History Month.

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VOCABULARY REVIEW

A. Match the words on the left with the correct meaning on the right.

____1. observance a) a place where you feel protected from harm____2. scholar b) the time period when Britain inhabited much of the US____3. notable c) the celebration of a holiday or ritual

____4. colonial period d) unfair treatment due to a quality such as race or gender____5. domestic servant e) a person who cleans and cares for anothers home and family____6. harsh f) to put much time and energy into something____7. abolition g) people who are against or unsatisfied with something ____8. safe haven h) very severe

____9. discrimination i) a person who studies and knows a lot about a specific subject____10. oral j) the complete removal of something____11. cuisine k) related to the mouth ____12. plantation l) worth mentioning____13. critics m) a type or style of food

____14. dedicate n) a large piece of land where crops are grown and many laborers work____15. commercialized o) associated with profits

B. Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined word in the following sentences.

1. The slaves worked twelve-hour days on the cotton plantation. a. cuisine b. labor c. farm

2. My grade school teacher became a history scholar after I graduated. a. researcher b. critic c. opponent

3. Their grandmothers house was a safe haven because her skin looked white. a. retreat b. railway c. school

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B. Continued

4. Most families on our street had domestic servants when I was growing up. a. slave holders b. maids c. waitresses

5. The true abolition of slaves came later in the South. a. disadvantage b. discrimination c. discontinuation

6. It was a harsh winter, so nothing grew on the plantation. a. severe b. fruitful c. laborious

7. Being allowed to fight in the war was a notable achievement for a black American. a. commercial b. remarkable c. necessary

C. Choose the correct word from the list to complete the following sentences. One word will not be used.

1. African American ____________________ is sometimes called soul food.

2. Street vendors have ______________________ Black History Month by selling T-shirts and CDs.

3. ______________ of Black History Month feel that American history should be taught as one single subject.

4. We will _________________ the whole month of February to studying African American musicians.

5. During the _______________ period, many slaves were brought to America.

6. There were no cookbooks. Recipes were passed down _________________ from one slave to another.

7. Rosa Parks did not accept ______________ on buses. She refused to give up her seat to a white man.

critics orally discrimination colonial observance commercialized dedicate cuisine

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PAIR WORK

Directions: You and your partner have different information about African American firsts. Share the information below with your partner in your own words. Work together to complete the questions that follow.

STUDENT A

One important part of Black History Month is remembering and honoring important firsts by black figures, such as Eugene Jacque Bullard, the first African American to become a combat pilot. Bullard served in the

French Flying Corps in World War I and received the Legion of Honor. Another notable figure is Booker T. Washington who was born to a slave. This author wrote extensively about slavery, and was the first black American to ever be invited to the White House. We also remember Thomas L. Jennings, the first African American patent holder, and Jackie Robinson, the first Major League baseball player. Some firsts happened more recently. In 1997, Tiger Woods became the first African American to win a Masters golf tournament, and

he became a millionaire. In 2003, Canadian Jerome Iginla was named the first black captain in the NHL.

1. What is the main difference between the two readings?

2. What different fields did the historic figures from these readings specialize in?

3. What is the most recent first mentioned in the readings?

4. In what ways were Booker T. Washington and Mary Ann Shadd similar?

5. In what ways are Tiger Woods and Mary C.J. Walker similar?

6. Why might Oprah Winfrey belong to this reading? Work together to write a sentence that could be added to the reading. Where would your extra sentence go?

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7. Now work together to write an additional sentence after the line about Tiger Woods. _________________________________________________________________________________________

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PAIR WORK

Directions: You and your partner have different information about African American firsts. Share the information below with your partner in your own words. Work together to complete the questions that follow.

STUDENT B

One important part of Black History Month is remembering and honoring important "firsts" by black figures.

Many of these firsts were accomplished by women. The first female publisher in North America was Mary Ann Shadd. Though she was born in America, she found her way to Canada where she established an abolitionist newspaper in 1853. Almost 150 years later, Toni Morrison became the first Nobel Prize for Literature winner. In 1910, Mary C.J. Walker became the first self-made African American millionaire. She was a business woman who specialized in beauty products. She invented a hair growth product that helped women with scalp prob-

lems. Madam Walker grew her business by marketing her hair solution and cosmetic products throughout the southern US. Later she helped other women start their own businesses. We also cant forget the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald. She was known for being able to sing every type of music from jazz to ballads.

1. What is the main difference between the two readings?

2. What different fields did the historic figures from these readings specialize in?

3. What is the most recent first mentioned in the readings?

4. In what ways were Booker T. Washington and Mary Ann Shadd similar?

5. In what ways are Tiger Woods and Mary C.J. Walker similar?

6. What could be added about Oprah Winfrey in this reading? Work together to write a sentence that could be added to the reading. Where would it go?

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7.Now work together to write an additional sentence after the line about Tiger Woods.

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DEBATE TOPIC

Directions: Work in small groups or as a class. Have a debate about the quote below. One side should agree with the quote. The other side should disagree. Spend a few minutes brainstorming with other members on your side before the debate begins.

If Obama's election means anything, it means that African American history is American history and should be remembered and recognized every day of the year. Stephen Donovan (lawyer)

Notes...

Words and expressions to use in a debate: In my opinion... I firmly believe... I disagree with that because...What youre saying is... (rephrase the previous speakers point) As a matter of fact...I agree with you, but...I see what youre saying, but...I beg to differ. I agree with you 100%.

More words and expressions for debates:

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SMALL GROUP WORK

Directions: Write a Freedom Song for Black History Month

Here is a popular song that is sung by African Americans:

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,Ring with the harmonies of liberty;Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listning skies,Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.Sing a song full of the faiththat the dark past has taught us,Sing a song full of the hopethat the present has brought us;Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,Let us march on till victory is won.

Choose a popular tune that you think members of your class will know (such as the alphabet song or a national

anthem). As a group, write some original lyrics about freedom that can go with the tune you chose. Practice your freedom song and sing it for the class.

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ANSWER KEY

Lesson Description: Students read about Black History Month and slavery in America. They are introduced to important black American figures and firsts. Includes a reading with comprehension questions, a vocabulary review, a pair activity, a debate, and a group song.

READING COMPREHENSION1. Carter G. Woodson wanted to develop the observance to help students know more about African American history as well as the

contributions that African Americans had made to American society. 2. People typically learn about the history, culture, and traditions of Black Americans. They also learn about important African

American figures. 3. America relied heavily on slaves to build an infrastructure and grow the economy. 4. In Canada, it was difficult to hold slaves year-round because of the harsh winters. It was more common for Canadians to keep

slaves as domestic servants and farm helpers. In the US, slaves worked in many other areas such as plantations, mines, and construction.

5. The Underground Railway was a network of safe houses that slaves used to move north to find freedom. 6. Slaves from different regions of Africa got placed together and had to invent new languages to communicate. 7. The reading mentions pigs' feet because this was a type of food that was discarded by whites and used by blacks. It became part of

the African American cuisine. 8. One criticism of Black History Month is that it separates the period of slavery from the rest of American History. Some feel it is

wrong to devote a whole month to one race or culture. Others feel it causes new generations to take on the guilt of their ancestors. It also has become commercialized.

VOCABULARY REVIEWA. Match the words

1. c 2. i 3. l 4. b 5. e 6. h 7. j 8. a 9. d 10. k 11. m 12. n 13. g 14. f 15. o

B. Choose the words with the closest meaning1. c 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. c 6. a 7. b

C. Choose the correct word 1. cuisine 2. commercialized 3. Critics 4. dedicate 5. colonial 6. orally 7. discrimination

PAIR WORK - Comprehension Questions1. The main difference between the two readings is that Student As reading focuses on male African American figures while Student

Bs reading focuses on female African American figures. 2. The historic figures from these readings specialized in the army, sports, business, beauty, publishing, and literature. 3. The most recent first mentioned is by Jerome Iginla, who in 2003 became the first black NHL captain. 4. Booker T. Washington and Mary Ann Shadd were both interested in writing about slavery. 5. Tiger Woods and Mary C.J. Walker both worked very hard to become millionaires. 6. (Answers will vary.) Oprah Winfrey was the first African American female billionaire. A sentence about her could go in Student Bs

reading after Madam C.J. Walker is mentioned. 7. (Answers will vary.)

Spelling Note: The text shows the words Labor, Honor, and Practice which are the American spellings. Most other English speaking countries spell it this way: Labour, Honour, Practise. Make it a challenge for your students to find these words in the text and see if they know the alternate spellings.

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MessageCover PageReadingComprehensionVocabularyVocabulary ContinuedPair Work APair Work BDebate TopicsSmall Group WorkAnswer Key

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Black History ESL Library Lesson Plan