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This Free Black History Curriculum Helps High School Students Read and Think Deeply About Current Events
A great resource for Black History Month and beyond.
306: African American History is a free digital program that brings to life a number of important leaders and events that impacted the fabric of America. Learn more>>
Black history is American history, but finding (or creating) interactive lessons that help students draw connections between history and what’s going on today can be challenging. That’s why we’re so grateful for the 306: African American History and 306: Continuing the Story high school curricula from EVERFI. You’ll have everything you need to plan lessons and engaging activities for grades 8–12 that are meaningful, turnkey, and free.
What Does “306” Mean?
Did you know that the number 306 has significance in Black history? When Dr. Martin Luther King stayed at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, the site of his assassination in 1968, he preferred to stay in room 306. To support creative and intellectual expression during the Harlem Renaissance, artist Charles Alston founded “Group 306.” And when the Supreme Court issued its decision in the Dred Scott v. Sanford case, it was on March 6, 1857. This common thread and countless key moments in Black history are often left out of textbooks.
Teaching Black History in 2023
Our students crave context from what they see in the news and online. Students also crave representation in what they consume, watch, read, and learn. EVERFI’s 306: African American History and 306: Continuing the Story offer lessons from the full spectrum of our shared history and help us strive for a better future. Students will be introduced to key figures and events as they embark on this important journey at their own pace:
306: African American History
- Slavery in the United States
- Emancipation and Reconstruction
- Civil Rights and Beyond
306: Continuing the Story
- Untold Stories
- Black Business Titans
- Black Contributions to Medicine
For example, the topics covered in “Untold Stories,” the first module of 306: Continuing the Story , include Juneteenth, the Million Man March, affirmative action, and modern protests against police brutality.
The topics covered in the second module, “Black Business Titans,” include both historical examples such as Black Wall Street and the Tulsa Race Massacre as well as present-day examples of Black entrepreneurship.
Here’s a quick video that shares more about the courses:
Capstone Essay
After working on the digital lessons , students will complete a capstone essay to finish the course. They will deconstruct one of two primary sources analyzing the writer’s perspective and experiences as well as the general historical context of the text in relation to themes like perseverance, civic action, and strategic planning.
Through the use of guided questions and a revision checklist, students will write a 250-word analytical essay on Frederick Douglass’ Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass or “The Demands of the March” from the March on Washington.
Students will also select a secondary topic from the course and then create an outline for a 250-word analytical essay by answering a set of guiding questions. They’ll use a revision checklist to review their draft before selecting from several layout options for the final copy.
Key learning objectives: This project will provide the opportunity to work on topic selection, scaffolded outline, essay composition, essay revision, and layout selection.
Once students have completed 306: African American History , they’ll explore the impact of historical influences on our lives today with 306: Continuing the Story . This digital course integrates into Social Studies, U.S. History, and/or English Language Arts curriculum and serves as an eye-opening bridge to the present.
Students will think deeply and critically about the connection between the events of the past and what they see unfolding in the world around them today as they uncover answers to questions like “Has progress been made?” “Is the resistance to change different today than it was years ago?”
The search for answers will expose students to new Black leaders that were the “first” in their fields, analyze post–Civil Rights Era events, and challenge myths and stereotypes.
Teacher Resources
Within the EVERFI teacher dashboard, you’ll find:
- Curriculum guides
- Lesson outlines
- A rubric and instructions for the capstone essay
- Extension lesson plans
- Customizable student activity sheets
Additionally, you’ll have a handy guide that identifies which Common Core standards are addressed in each digital lesson.
Discussing Black history is essential in our classrooms, and navigating the complex stories and topics can be intimidating for many. Delving deeper into a subject often requires us to question our own understanding and beliefs; Black history is no different. The good news is that you don’t need to have all the answers or be an expert to be successful in using these digital resources . As you prepare to lead your students through the lessons, always remember: The goal is progress, not perfection.
Learn More About 306: African American History and 306: Continuing the Story
We know that Black History Month happens every February, but why stop there? Our students deserve a deeper understanding that isn’t limited to the shortest month of the year. You might build on the lessons about Black women in 306: African American History and 306: Continuing the Story during March’s Women’s History Month, for example, or focus on Black entrepreneurs during April’s Financial Literacy Month. There are opportunities and touch points to discuss Black history all year long, and you can find even more resources from EVERFI on their Cultural Literacy Hub . Don’t miss out on this amazing, important resource!
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306: African-American History
306 – African-American History™ is a new digital learning experience that informs and inspires today’s students through the stories and themes of Read More
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306: African American History & Continuing the Story
FREE DIGITAL LESSONS
Cultural Literacy Lessons for Students Grade Level: 8th - 12th Total Lessons: Two digital courses with a African American influence can be found at the total of 8 lessons, 10-15 minutes each, plus core of American life, from science and academia, one capstone essay to music, arts and social movements. When you explore Curriculum Fit: Social Studies, ELA, Advisory the journey of African American history, you find stories Standards Alignment: C3 Social Studies of strength, resilience, and achievement. In every Standards, Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts and College and community, these stories are foundational to building Career Readiness shared values, which inspire today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders.
EVERFI offers two digital programs, 306: African American History and 306: Continuing the Story, that bring to life a number of the influential leaders and events whose impact changed the fabric of American life. These courses can be used alone or paired for a more comprehensive student experience. 306: Continuing the Story is Mobile-Friendly THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ● Self-guided lessons help students understand the events that shaped American history. ● First-person storytelling allows students to draw connections from past and present events to recognize and empathize with the ongoing challenges Black people face in the United States . ● Detailed score reports and offline extension activities help teachers maximize their impact across all students.
Lesson 1: More to the Story 306 helps start and deepen conversations about Black history in your classroom. LESSON HIGHLIGHTS:
306: AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY LESSON TOPICS Harlem Renaissance - Jim Crow Period 1. Slavery Period Trans- Atlantic Slave Trade , Phyllis Wheatley, Underground Railroad 2. Emancipation & Reconstruction Period Frederick Douglass , Hiram Revels 3. Jim Crow Period Tuskegee Institute, W.E.B. Du Bois, Harlem Renaissance 4. Civil Rights Period & Beyond Brown v. Board of Education, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Freedom Rides, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Mae Jemison Madam C.J. Walker - Black Business Titans 5. Capstone Essay What are the major themes discussed in the primary text that you read in the course? How does another topic covered in the course relate to those themes?
Curriculum developed with Dr. Clayborne Carson, Director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute
306: CONTINUING THE STORY LESSON TOPICS 1. Introduction Ferguson Protests - Untold Stories Counter Storytelling, Black History Before Slavery, Definition of Systemic Racism 2. Untold Stories Juneteenth , Affirmative Action, LA Riots, Ferguson Protests, Million Man March, 2020 March on Washington, Black Lives Matter Movement 3. Black Business Titans Golden Age of Black Business, Influential Black Businesspeople, O.W. Gurley, Black Wall Street, Tulsa Race Massacre 4. Black Contributions to Medicine Racial Inequities in Healthcare, Black Medical Trailblazers, Historical & Modern Racial Discrimination of Black People in Medical Practice
Curriculum developed with subject matter expert Patrice McLaurin, author, image activist and advocate for Black youth.
EVERFI, Inc. empowers educators to bring real-world learning into the classroom and equip EVERFI students with the skills they need for success - 2300 N Street NW Ready to Start? Register now at now and in the future. 3 of 5 U.S. school districts Washington, DC 20037 use EVERFI’s digital resources to teach topics (202) 625-0011 EVERFI.COM/NewTeacher like financial literacy, social-emotional learning, http://www.everfi.com/k-12 career readiness, and prevention education.
Home / Essay Samples / History / History of The United States / African American History
African American History Essay Examples
Equality for all: an in-depth analysis of black reconstruction.
The slave went free; stood a brief moment in the sun; then moved back again toward slavery. - W.E.B Dubois, Black Reconstruction in America In the work 'Equality for All: Black Reconstruction Essay' we will raise the issue of equality in America between blacks and...
How Did Slavery Cause the Civil War: 'The War before the War' Report
I chose to write a book report about 'The War Before the War' by Delbanco Andrew because he writes about relation on how did slavery cause the civil war. In this essay I will review this topic thought the lens of Delbanco's book because slavery...
Equality in America: an Issue Or Opportunity for African American
The analysis of the controversy of a black person’s life in America in an essay on equality in America. 'The challenges African Americans are facing today are in the rooted system of slavery.”--Charles Rangel. Ever since the middle passage, African Americans have been discriminated in...
Knowing Your Past: Why is Black History Month Important
My name is Jordan Mikayla White and I am African-American or also mentioned to as Black. In our society, we are portrayed as one of the minority groups of in American culture. There are several cons and pros to being an African-American in our ecosphere...
Black History: a Reflection on Resilience and Triumph
Black history is a tapestry woven with the threads of resilience, courage, and triumph. It is a chronicle of struggle against oppression and a testament to the indomitable spirit of Black individuals throughout history. This essay delves into the rich tapestry of Black history, exploring...
Why is Black History Important Nowadays
Black history is an integral part of the broader human narrative, yet it has often been marginalized and overlooked. This essay explores the profound importance of black history, shedding light on its contributions, struggles, and lessons that resonate far beyond the African American community. Understanding...
Causes and Effects of the Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was a period committed to activism for equal rights and treatment of African-Americans in the United States. During this period, many people revitalized for social, lawful and political changes to deny separation and end isolation. Numerous significant occasions including victimization African-Americans...
National Museum of African American History
Within essays on African American history the review of the National Museum of African American History and Culture is discussed. Located on the intersection of 14th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington DC, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is one...
Crucial to Louisiana Purchase for the United States
When the United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, little did we know that this would be one of the biggest land deals in history and that it would be transformational for the United States. The Louisiana Purchase gave the United States an additional...
The Influence of Dred Scott Decision on Fredrick Douglass' Arguments
The Dred Scott Decision supported pro-slavery tactics, legal expansion of slavery that directly made the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional, through skewed viewpoints on the framer’s outlook of slavery when originally composing the constitution. To begin the court stated their opinions regarding African Americans. The court stated,...
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About African American History
The uninterrupted history of Blacks in the United States began in 1619, when 20 Africans were landed in the English colony of Virginia. These individuals were not enslaved people but indentured servants — persons bound to an employer for a limited number of years — as were many of the settlers of European descent (whites). By the 1660s large numbers of Africans were being brought to the English colonies. In 1790 Blacks numbered almost 760, 000 and made up nearly one-fifth of the population of the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali, Jackie Robinson, Langston Hughes, Maya Angelou, George Washington Carver, Ruby Bridges, Barack Obama
The 2020 United States census reported that 46, 936, 733 respondents identified as African Americans, forming roughly 14.2% of the American population. Of those, over 2.1 million immigrated to the United States as citizens of modern African states. African Americans have made major contributions to the culture of the United States, including literature, cinema and music.
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