Section 7: Black Power & Beyond

**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
77

Prize for Kenya Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan feminist and environmentalist, receives the Nobel Peace Prize. Her Green Belt Movement teaches women to grow trees in order
to improve their
living conditions. Rwandan reform Rwanda manages to rebuild its economy after its devastating civil war. Life expectancy, the number of children attending school, and the amount of money spent on health care have all improved. Robert Mugabe steps down Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe since 1980, loses his grip on power and resigns after the military take control. He is blamed for economic chaos, preventing political freedom, and the abuse of human rights. World Cup The soccer World Cup comes to South Africa, the first time an African nation has held such a prestigious worldwide event. The tournament is a success, boosting both tourism and South Africa’s international image. Economic boom Africa is predicted to have the largest economic growth of any continent over the next decades. Industries such as telecommunications, retail, and banking help the continent to flourish financially. Election day Nigeria votes out President Goodluck Jonathan in favor
of Muhammadu Buhari. Despite being divided along ethnic, regional, and religious lines, Jonathan is gracious in his defeat to Buhari. Civil war in Sudan Civil war begins in the Darfur region of Sudan between rebel groups and the government. Several hundred thousand people are killed and millions flee their homes in a conflict that remains unresolved today. Kofi Annan Kofi Annan from Ghana becomes the Secretary- General of the United Nations. He expands the UN’s work into protecting the environment, fighting against HIV/AIDS in Africa, and improving human rights. Life expectancy Across the continent, life expectancy increases
by 9.4 years in just one decade. This is thanks to developments in healthcare, access to medical treatment, and improved governance. 2003 2011 20

## 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 7: Black Power & Beyond

Lesson Plan at a Glance

• Topic: Section 7: Black Power & Beyond
• Grade: 5 | Subject: History | State: OK
• Reading: Textbook: Leaders, Legends, Legacies: Timelines from Black History, Section 7
• 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