Unit 9 9-12: Learning Plan

Teacher Background Knowledge:

• Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): This Supreme Court case upheld the constitutionality of racial segregation under the doctrine of “separate but equal.” It reinforced systemic inequality and legitimized Jim Crow laws for decades.
• Brown v. Board of Education (1954): This landmark Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson and declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The NAACP, led by Thurgood Marshall, played a critical role in this victory, which became a cornerstone of the Civil Rights Movement.
• NAACP’s Role: The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund strategically selected cases to challenge segregation and discrimination, focusing on education as a foundation for broader change.

Objectives:

1. Students will be able to analyze the significance of legal cases such as Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education.
2. Students will be able to evaluate the strategies and impact of organizations like the NAACP in fighting segregation.
3. Students will be able to discuss the limitations and successes of using the legal system as a tool for resistance.

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up: Why Do Laws Matter?
   1. Discussion Prompt:
      1. Think about a rule or law you think is unfair. How would you go about changing it?
   2. Connect to Lesson Theme:
      1. Today, we’ll explore how African Americans challenged unfair laws through the legal system, focusing on two major cases: Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education. We’ll see how the fight for justice unfolded in courtrooms.
2. Watch and Discuss: The NAACP’s Role
   1. Video:
      1. Show this short video explaining how the NAACP supported legal challenges to segregation.
   2. Guided Discussion Questions:
      1. What was the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education case in the context of Black Americans’ citizenship rights?
      2. Describe the role of the NAACP in the fight against school segregation leading up to the Brown v. Board of Education decision.
      3. How did the social and political climate of the time influence the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education?
3. Group Activity: Case Comparison Chart
   1. Instructions:
      1. Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the two cases (Plessy v. Ferguson or Brown v. Board of Education).
      2. Provide handouts with excerpts from the court decisions and historical summaries.
         1. Plessy V. Ferguson
         2. Brown V. Board of Education
      3. Groups will analyze their case, answering the following:
         1. What was the main issue in the case?
         2. What arguments were made for and against segregation?
         3. What was the outcome, and how did it impact society?
      4. Groups fill out their section of the Case Comparison Chart.
   2. Class Discussion:
      1. Groups share their findings, and the class completes the chart together, comparing the two cases. Following the sharing of the findings, students reconvene with their small groups to answer the reflection questions under the chart.
4. Reflection and Application: Lessons from Legal Challenges
   1. Class Discussion:
      1. What can we learn from these legal challenges about fighting injustice today?
   2. Individual Reflection:
      1. Students write a short essay response to the following prompt:
         1. If you were a lawyer fighting for justice today, what issue would you focus on, and why?
         2. Short Essay Rubric

Closing and Exit Ticket

• Exit Ticket Prompt:
  • One thing I learned today about using the law to fight injustice is _______.