Section 5: The Harlem Renaissance

**Subject:** History | **Grade:** 5

## Overview
Visual timeline-based biography collection of Black leaders, legends, and cultural figures from ancient Africa to present day

## Source Text Excerpt
57

May 11 Birmingham riots A protest following a night of bombings targeted at civil rights leaders turns into 8 days of
riots in Birmingham, Alabama. Local police respond violently, stunning the country. Media coverage of the riots sparks
a national debate. 1963 At the end of a march attended by 250,000 people in Washington, D.C., civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. delivers his famous speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. King’s powerful words convince many Americans that now is the
time for change. August 28 1968 April 4 Luther King, Jr. shot A sniper assassinates Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. Shock spreads quickly, and riots break out in several US cities. Pressure is put on Congress to pass the legislation that King fought for. April 11 Civil Rights Act of 1968 Congress signs this act to
give everyone fair and equal access to housing. The impact
of civil rights legislation like this
is huge, but the march for equality continues. Selma The march in Alabama from Selma to Montgomery was organized to draw attention to the difficulties African Americans faced when registering to vote. Although African Americans had the right to vote, state officials tried to stop them from registering. Registration offices were rarely open, and officials forced Black people to complete unnecessary literacy tests, fill in long forms, and pay fees. “I have a dream” VIOLENCE EQUAL ACCESS April 3 Malcolm X gives speech Activist and religious leader
Malcolm X gives a fiery speech
in which he promotes change by any means necessary, whether
it’s the ballot box or the bullet.
Rivals assassinate him in 1965. July 2 Civil Rights Act of 1964 After a summer of protests,
the US government proposes legislation to end segregation in public places and give everyone equal access to jobs regardless of a person’s race, color, or religion. The act is signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson. June Regis

## Learning Objectives
- Master the concepts in this section
- Apply skills through hands-on activities
- Demonstrate understanding through projects

## Activities


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*Source: Leaders, Legends, Legacies: Timelines from Black History*

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Guide — Section 5: The Harlem Renaissance

Lesson Plan at a Glance

• Topic: Section 5: The Harlem Renaissance
• Grade: 5 | Subject: History | State: OK
• Reading: Textbook: Leaders, Legends, Legacies: Timelines from Black History, Section 5
• Suggested Pacing: 4 sessions × 45 min (Read → Narrate → Activity → Notebook)

Teaching Sequence

1. Read Aloud the assigned text; have student narrate back in their own words.
2. Big Idea to Land: Core concept of this lesson.
3. Cover These Sections: (see student content for section headings)
4. Do a Hands-On Activity from the list — concrete experience before abstract.
5. Notebook: Student completes journal entry recording observations.
6. Review: Ask discussion questions orally; finish with review questions.

Discussion Questions (with what to listen for)

• Q: Whose perspective is missing from this account? (Listen for awareness of multiple perspectives.)
• Q: What caused this event? What were the effects? (Listen for cause-and-effect chains.)
• Q: How is this similar to/different from today? (Listen for historical connections.)

Vocabulary to Define Together

Materials to Gather

• Notebook/journal
• Writing utensils
• Textbook: Leaders, Legends, Legacies: Timelines from Black History
• Map/globe (for history/geography)
• Basic lab supplies (for science)

Standards Covered

Watch For (Common Misconceptions)

• Confusing mass with weight — use the Moon example consistently.
• Skipping narration — oral retelling is where retention happens; don’t skip it.
• Activity without notebook — the journal entry IS the assessment; don’t separate them.
• Lecturing instead of questioning — aim for 80% student talk, 20% teacher talk.

Differentiation

• Struggling: Provide sentence frames for narration; allow oral responses.
• Advanced: Add extension question: “How would this change if…?”
• ELL: Pre-teach key vocabulary; use visual aids and sentence frames.

Assessment Look-Fors

• Accurate narration with key vocabulary
• Notebook entry shows observation + reflection
• Map/timeline entry accurate
• Discussion participation with evidence
• Project completion with explanation