Using a timeline layout, students will research one of the landmark moments of the Civil Rights Movement. Rather than having students create a timeline that focuses on the entire movement, students are encouraged to focus on one major event inside of the movement. This activity could be used as a summative review of the unit, or an assignment that helps students learn and teach one another about their findings. Teachers can assign events to students or give them the option of choosing their own event. In order to help students decide which event to select, it could be helpful to categorize each event by the impact or result that it had (ex. Educational opportunities, voting rights, employment rights, etc.).
Students may choose to illustrate the following events (among others):
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Student Instructions
Create a timeline detailing the major events leading up to and during the Civil Rights Movement.
Plan a class session where students present their timelines to their peers. This gives each student the chance to share their research and learn from others’ findings.
Provide a simple rubric with time limits, required points to cover, and expectations for visuals. Clear expectations help students prepare confidently and stay on task.
Ask students to jot down one new fact or question during each peer presentation. This keeps everyone engaged and fosters meaningful class discussion afterward.
Lead a class conversation about the most surprising or impactful moments learned. This helps deepen understanding and connect the events to broader Civil Rights themes.
Acknowledge each student’s work with positive feedback, certificates, or a class display. Recognition boosts confidence and values every student’s contribution.
A simple approach is to have students research and illustrate a single landmark event from the Civil Rights Movement on a timeline, describing the event, its impact, and adding images to visualize the moment. This method helps students focus deeply while sharing their findings with peers.
Students can choose or be assigned a major Civil Rights event, then use a digital tool or paper to lay out key moments leading up to, during, and after the event. They should include descriptions and illustrations for each step on the timeline.
Key events include the March on Washington, Montgomery Bus Boycott, Little Rock Nine, Brown vs Board of Education, Rosa Parks' protest, and the Civil Rights Act. Students can also explore Bloody Sunday, the Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., and more.
Focusing on a single event allows students to dive deeper into its causes, outcomes, and significance, making learning more manageable and meaningful. It also encourages students to teach each other about different events.
Teachers can categorize events by their impact—such as educational opportunities, voting rights, or employment rights—to guide students in selecting a topic that interests them or addresses specific learning goals.