Civil Rights 1

Why teach children about civil rights?

It is important for teachers to give children the opportunity to learn about history and the struggles that certain groups of people went though in the past and continue to go through today. Reading civil rights children's books provides for an interesting and enjoyable way to introduce children to important and factual events in history. This also allows teachers to incorporate non fiction and historical fiction texts into classroom instruction, which might otherwise primarily draw information from social studies text books.

Remember: The Journey to School Integration

Toni Morrison

A blend of archival photographs, historical background, and fictional narrative brings to life the experiences and emotions of the African-American students who made the tumultuous journey to school integration. Dramatic, mostly full-page, black-and-white photographs make up the bulk of the book. An introduction sets the scene, and factual pages, consisting of several sentences, are scattered throughout. They explain the significance of the events, the trauma of racial conflict, the courage and determination of African Americans and their supporters, and the importance of remembering and understanding. Amazon.com recommends this book for students in grades 3-8.

From Stanford.edu: Toni Morrison has collected a treasure chest of archival photographs that depict the historical events surrounding school desegregation. These unforgettable images serve as the inspiration for Ms. Morrison"s text--a fictional account of the dialogue and emotions of the children who lived during the era of "separate but equal" schooling. Remember is a unique pictorial and narrative journey that introduces children to a watershed period in American history and its relevance to us today. Remember will be published on the 50th anniversary of the groundbreaking Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision ending legal school segregation, handed down on May 17, 1954.

Additional Resources for Classroom Use:

Activities for teaching the Civil Rights Movement From PBS Teachers

Teachers Guide from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Brown vs. Board of Education Celebrates 50 Years (Education World)