For Teachers: Ideas for Classroom Activities
The 14 hours of Eyes on the Prize cover over three decades of history, and dozens of events across the country. Use the documentary or delve into the rich resources on this Web site to learn more.
Find activities for:
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Middle School Students
High School Students
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Buy the educational version of the DVD
From Facing History and Ourselves
Series Study Guide
Major Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement
Within each section, activities are grouped under five of the Civil Rights Movement's major lessons:
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" is a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s April 1963 "Letter from Birmingham Jail."
"Civil rights can't be separated from economic rights" addresses one of the underpinnings of inequality and reflects the Movement's progress into the arena of economic injustices as it grew.
"Ordinary people can change the world" reflects the fact that the struggle for civil rights was a mass movement made up of thousands of individuals who each committed themselves to the cause.
"Culture can enslave or empower" explores issues like self-identity, black pride, and the definition of societal "norms."
"Right makes might" is a quote from Abraham Lincoln's famous 1860 speech at Cooper Union.
Be a Featured Educator — Share Your Own Activities
Do you have a favorite classroom activity for teaching about the civil rights movement? Share it with other educators — send it in an e-mail to American Experience via this site's Share Your Views e-mail form.
Find More Resources for Teaching and Learning
Video and More
Access video, audio, primary sources and images in the Video and More section of this Web site, and make them part of your own lessons.
Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching
Visit the Web site of civilrightsteaching.org for free handouts and an extensive list of resources for going beyond a "heroes" approach to teaching the
Civil Rights Movement.
Facing History and Ourselves
Facing History and Ourselves offers a comprehensive study guide on their website to help teachers from grades 8 to 12 use Eyes on the Prize in the classroom. The guide includes episode overviews and timelines, extensive primary sources, archival photographs and guiding questions to help teachers bring the history of the civil rights movement alive.
page created on 8.23.06
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