OBJECTIVES

In this lesson, students will:

● Assess and evaluate the events leading up to, and following, the killing of Michael Brown, Jr.;

● Identify and discuss their own racial biases/discriminatory practices;

● Assess flaws in our three branches of government as they relate to issues of citizenship, race, class, age, gender, sexual identity, etc. and create suggestions for improving these institutions

● Respond verbally to open-ended, Level 2/Level 3 questions;

● Exhibit and hone active listening skills

GRADE LEVELS: 9–12

SUBJECT AREAS

English/Language Arts, Media Literacy, Humanities, and U.S. History

MATERIALS

● Film clips and equipment to project them

● Notebooks

● Writing utensils

● Various ScholasticUpfront magazine articles (803)

● Anticipation guide or survey about race relations/police brutality

● Student-generated, text-based open-ended questions (Level 2/Level 3)

● Excerpts from Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

ESTIMATED TIME NEEDED

2–4 class periods with optional homework in between