In the sixth-grade United States History & Cultures class, students explore the development and evolution of the United States and learn about the impact of the past on today’s America. One of the themes of the class is the idea of equality, and in line with that, the students have studied the history of enslavement—and thus inequality—in the 18th & 19th centuries. However, History Teachers Mark Duvall and Megan Caulfield wanted to ensure that students also focused on the achievements of Black Americans in order for students to see the full breadth of African American History. They challenged their classes to research and learn about an influential African American through that person’s experiences, lens, and their impact on the country. The time frame was 1776 through the late 1800s, and students used what they learned to create poems and art.
Students began by studying the timeline and experiences of Africans before being enslaved, during the Middle Passage, and as both enslaved and free people in the Americas. They then explored influential African Americans in the years after the Civil War. Finally, they dove into their sources and selected one individual to profile. From their research, they wrote a short biography that included family, impact, and legacy to teach their classmates about their individual. They strove to provide relevant and necessary family and early life history of the person, detailing their accomplishments and impact while highlighting any obstacles their subject overcame to make a difference. The goal was to clearly detail the impact and legacy of that person to society and the United States.
After composing their biographies, students worked creatively to tell that person’s story through their chosen art form: poetry or artwork. Each piece represented their chosen person and what that person symbolized to their peers at that particular time in history and their lasting impact on America today.
The presentations ranged from symbolic art and digital and hand-drawn portraits to meaningful poetry. They focused on notable figures such as Phillis Wheatley, Sojourner Truth, Nat Turner, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, William H. Carney, Elijah McCoy, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Madam C.J. Walker, Scott Joplin, Hiram Revels, and Blanche K. Bruce.
Students learned a lot about the fuller experience of African Americans, and showed their creativity through a variety of drawings, poems, and other art. Above is a small sample of their outstanding work.