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https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/civil-rights-movement/biography
Lesson Plan Overview
Template and Class Instructions
Student Rubric
Lesson Plan Overview
Lesson Plan Overview
In this activity, students will showcase the significance of several individuals during the Civil Rights Movement and their contributions. Students should consider asking "Why is this important?" to guide their research. Students will create a spider map detailing the significance of at least three figures of the Civil Rights Movement.
For each of the individuals the students choose, they should include the individual’s name in the title, a brief description of their impact on the Reconstruction Era and a visual representation of their legacy. While they're researching, they may want to create two lists labeled “Nice to Know” and “Need to Know” to help them sort through information.
For an alternative assignment or a more in depth look at different major figures, students can create biography posters! This activity encourages further research into a person's life and accomplishments, and can be helpful for understanding how they came to make the decisions that influenced history.
Important Figures of the Civil Rights Movement
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Malcolm X
- Rosa Parks
- John Lewis
- Joseph Rainey
- Bayard Rustin
- Hosea Williams
- Gloria Richardson
- Roy Wilkens
- Dorothy Height
Template and Class Instructions
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Choose three significant individuals from the Civil Rights Movement and create a spider map storyboard that details who they are and what they did.
- Select three figures and research their significance and legacy.
- Write the names of each figure in the title boxes.
- Describe who they were and what their impact was in the description boxes.
- Create an visualization of them and perhaps one of their significant moments using scenes, characters, and objects.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Key Figures Rubric
Create a spider map or chart that highlights key figures and important facts about them.
| Proficient 10 Points | Emerging 6 Points | Needs Improvement 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least 3 important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than 3 important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
Lesson Plan Overview
In this activity, students will showcase the significance of several individuals during the Civil Rights Movement and their contributions. Students should consider asking "Why is this important?" to guide their research. Students will create a spider map detailing the significance of at least three figures of the Civil Rights Movement.
For each of the individuals the students choose, they should include the individual’s name in the title, a brief description of their impact on the Reconstruction Era and a visual representation of their legacy. While they're researching, they may want to create two lists labeled “Nice to Know” and “Need to Know” to help them sort through information.
For an alternative assignment or a more in depth look at different major figures, students can create biography posters! This activity encourages further research into a person's life and accomplishments, and can be helpful for understanding how they came to make the decisions that influenced history.
Important Figures of the Civil Rights Movement
- Martin Luther King Jr.
- Malcolm X
- Rosa Parks
- John Lewis
- Joseph Rainey
- Bayard Rustin
- Hosea Williams
- Gloria Richardson
- Roy Wilkens
- Dorothy Height
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Choose three significant individuals from the Civil Rights Movement and create a spider map storyboard that details who they are and what they did.
- Select three figures and research their significance and legacy.
- Write the names of each figure in the title boxes.
- Describe who they were and what their impact was in the description boxes.
- Create an visualization of them and perhaps one of their significant moments using scenes, characters, and objects.
- Save and exit when you're done.
Lesson Plan Reference
Student Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
Key Figures Rubric
Create a spider map or chart that highlights key figures and important facts about them.
| Proficient 10 Points | Emerging 6 Points | Needs Improvement 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Description | The description includes at least 3 important facts about the famous or historic figure. | The description includes less than 3 important facts or it includes information that is not pertinent to the famous or historic figure. | The description is incomplete and does not contain important information about the famous or historic figure. |
| Artistic Depictions | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are appropriate to the famous or historic figure. Time and care is taken to ensure that the scenes are neat, eye-catching, and creative. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are mostly accurate, but there may be some liberties taken that distract from the assignment. Scene constructions are neat, and meet basic expectations. | The art chosen to depict the illustrations such as scenes, characters and items, are too limited or incomplete. |
| English Conventions | Ideas are organized. There are few or no grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Ideas are mostly organized. There are some grammatical, mechanical, or spelling errors. | Storyboard text is difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Leading Figures of The Civil Rights Movement
1
Engage students with a Civil Rights Movement classroom debate
Organize a classroom debate where students represent different Civil Rights leaders or perspectives. This active approach encourages critical thinking and helps students better understand the motivations and challenges these figures faced.
2
Assign research roles to promote collaboration
Divide students into small groups and assign each a specific leader or topic to research. Collaborative roles like researcher, recorder, and presenter help ensure everyone participates and learns from one another.
3
Guide students to use primary sources
Encourage students to find and analyze primary sources like speeches, letters, or photographs. This builds critical analysis skills and connects students directly to historical voices.
4
Facilitate a gallery walk to showcase student work
Display student spider maps and posters around the classroom. Allow students to walk around and discuss each other's work, fostering peer learning and appreciation for diverse perspectives and research styles.
Frequently Asked Questions about Leading Figures of The Civil Rights Movement
What are effective ways to teach students about leading figures of the Civil Rights Movement?
Spider maps and biography posters are engaging methods to help students research and present the significance of key Civil Rights Movement leaders. These activities encourage critical thinking and creativity while allowing students to organize information visually.
How can I help students differentiate between 'Nice to Know' and 'Need to Know' facts about Civil Rights leaders?
Encourage students to use two lists: one for essential information that explains each leader's impact (Need to Know), and another for interesting but less critical details (Nice to Know). This strategy helps focus research and supports deeper understanding.
What is a spider map activity for the Civil Rights Movement?
A spider map activity asks students to choose key figures from the Civil Rights Movement and visually organize their contributions, significance, and legacy. It promotes analytical thinking and helps students connect main ideas with supporting details.
Who are some important leaders students could research for a Civil Rights Movement lesson?
Notable figures include Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, John Lewis, Joseph Rainey, Bayard Rustin, Hosea Williams, Gloria Richardson, Roy Wilkens, and Dorothy Height.
What are some creative alternatives to spider maps for exploring Civil Rights leaders in class?
Consider using biography posters, timeline projects, or role-play presentations to deepen students' understanding of Civil Rights leaders. These alternatives foster research skills, empathy, and historical analysis.
More Storyboard That Activities
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https://www.storyboardthat.com/lesson-plans/civil-rights-movement/biography
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© 2026 - Clever Prototypes, LLC - All rights reserved.
StoryboardThat is a trademark of Clever Prototypes, LLC, and Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
