Jackson Ward in Richmond, VA was one of the most active and well known centers of African American life in this country by 1920.  Other examples of cities such as this one include Alexandria, VA and Church Street in Norfolk, VA. African Americans were able to create vibrant communities with businesses, churches, and entertainment venues despite the challenges they faced in this country.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking Virginia Studies through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking Virginia Studies through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

This activity was originally developed by the teachers in the pilot program for the African  American History elective course (state-developed).  It can be modified for any American History course.

This capstone project can be used for students taking United States History to 1865 through Virginia and United States Government.  The project was written specifically for the state-developed African American History Elective course, but can be easily modified for any course.

Students will be presented with foundation knowledge of the Harlem Renaissance, experience some sights and sounds of this movement, then gain deeper knowledge by creating a virtual “museum exhibit” of a famous artist or author to share with others. At the end of the lesson, students will evaluate the impact and significance of the Harlem Renaissance, and consider how the arts can serve as vehicles for social change.

This represents an entire unit designed to be cross curricular in nature for English 11 and VA/US History. The Historical Fiction Research Unit Google Doc can be found here and contains various links to additional resources to support this unit of study.The "before", "during", and "after" are included in each day for this series.  The unit will take approximately 12 days.

Students will look at an overview of the rise of mass news media in the U.S.. They will then study the Civil Rights movement through the lens of media coverage to determine the impact news coverage of violence against peaceful protestors helped lead to social change.

Students will complete an IDM (Inquiry Design Model) Lesson to guide them through the social and political discrimination, segregation, and violence against African Americans during the “Jim Crow Era.” They will evaluate the effectiveness of the Reconstruction Amendments based on three supporting questions that help guide them to constructing and providing evidence for a final argument that addresses the compelling question.