Unit 12 6-8: Learning Plan

Teacher Background Knowledge:

• Fannie Lou Hamer (1917–1977): A Civil Rights leader and voting rights activist. Hamer co-founded the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party and gave a powerful speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention, exposing the struggles of Black Americans fighting for voting rights.
• Ella Baker (1903–1986): A Civil Rights organizer who played a significant role in the NAACP, SCLC, and SNCC. Baker emphasized grassroots activism and empowering young people to lead.
• Septima Clark (1898–1987): Known as the “Mother of the Movement,” Clark created Citizenship Schools that taught literacy and civic skills to Black Americans, helping them register to vote

Materials:

1. Short videos:
   1. Fannie Lou Hamer’s speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
   2. Ella Baker’s role in SNCC.
   3. Septima Clark’s work with Citizenship Schools.
2. Biography handouts for each leader.
   ○      Ella Baker
3. ○      Sepitma Clark
4. ○      Fannie Lou Hamer

Collaborative Poster Protocol with Rubric.
Chart paper and markers for group activities.

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up: Leadership and Justice
   1. Discussion Prompt:
      1. What makes someone a strong leader?
      2. Can you think of a time when someone in your family or community stood up for what is right?
   2. Introduce the Lesson Theme:
      1. Today, we’re learning about three incredible Black women who helped lead the Civil Rights Movement: Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Septima Clark. They worked hard to make sure everyone had the chance to vote and live with human dignity.
2. Watch and Discuss: Profiles of Leadership
   1. Videos:
      1. Show short videos highlighting each leader’s contributions:
         1. Fannie Lou Hamer
         2. Ella Baker
         3. Septima Clark
   2. Guided Questions:
      1. What challenges did Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Septima Clark face?
      2. How did they use their unique skills to create change?
      3. Why do you think their work was so important to the Civil Rights Movement?
3. Group Activity: Collaborative Poster Jigsaw
   1. Instructions:
      1. Divide students into groups of 4, assigning each group one leader (Hamer, Baker, or Clark).
      2. Each group uses the biography handouts to identify key events in their leader’s life and work.
      3. Groups develop a collaborative poster on the assigned leader.
   2. Share and Discuss:
      1. Groups present their collaborative poster to the class, explaining how their leader contributed to the Civil Rights Movement.
4. Reflection and Application: Leadership Lessons
   1. Class Discussion:
      1. What can we learn from Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Septima Clark about making a difference today?
   2. Individual Response:
      1. Students write a short reflection answering:
         1. If you were leading a campaign for fairness today, what issue would you focus on and why?

Closing and Exit Ticket

• Exit Ticket Prompt:
  • One thing I learned about leadership today is _______..