Race, Riots, and Reality
Summer Fellowship Project 2008

By:  Amos Lee

 

Lesson 1:  Question of Race?

 

Abstract:

 

Students will watch a film from United Streaming called Question of Race? This film investigates race as a sociological and cultural creation and not biological.  Students will begin to grapple with this idea and discuss ways in which their own thinking is biased in believing that race is biological.

 

Essential Questions:

 

á      Why did segregation and Jim Crow laws exist?

á      Why do racism, discrimination, and bigotry exist?

á      What causes a population to riot?

á      Why is their so much emphasis on race in our society?

á      Why does most of society believe race to be biological in light of new scientific evidence proving otherwise?

 

Enduring Understandings:

 

á      Students will understand that race is not biological but rather a cultural and sociological creation.

á      Students will understand the history behind why race was considered biological and how it continues to still affect our society today.

 

Assessment:

Pre-assessment:

 

á      Use the Frayer Model Worksheet to assess what students know and do not know about the topic of race.

 

Formative Assessment:

 

á      Students will use a Learning Log in order to think about what is important from the film they watched and answer the following Writing Prompt.

 

Procedures:

 

1.     Begin lesson by telling students that we will be looking into the topic of race, Jim Crow laws, race riots, and the relationship between a government and its citizens.

2.     Have students complete the Frayer Model Worksheet to assess their knowledge and to get them thinking about the topic.

3.     Play Question of Race? by Discovery Education from United Streaming.

 

Question of Race. Discovery Education.
(2004). Retrieved January 17, 2010, from
Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

 

4.  As students watch, have them complete the Learning Log.

 

5.  After the students finish watching the film, break students into smaller groups so they can discuss what they wrote on their learning logs.  Then have each group share out what they learned, what they found interesting and write down all the questions the groups still have about race.

 

6.  After the discussion have students answer the following Writing Prompt to deepen their understanding about this topic.

 

7.  Once they have completed the Writing Prompt, have them begin lesson 2.