Introducing students to new terminology at the beginning of a history unit will help them better understand what they're learning about. In this activity, students will create a spider map that illustrates and defines key terms of the Civil Rights Movement. Students should be encouraged to select words they are more unfamiliar with, as this will help them expand their understand.
In an extension activity, teachers can display just the illustrations that students have created to the class, and have students guess which term it is. Students would be able to show off their creativity to their peers while being engaged in a challenging review activity to reinforce the main concepts from this unit.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard describing and illustrating important terminology for the Civil Rights Movement.
Encourage open dialogue by creating a safe environment for students to share ideas and questions about Civil Rights terminology. Use prompts and guiding questions to help students connect new vocabulary to historical events and their own experiences. This approach deepens understanding and fosters critical thinking.
Establish respectful communication norms before beginning. Review expectations for listening, disagreeing respectfully, and supporting opinions with evidence so all students feel comfortable participating.
Present relatable scenarios that incorporate Civil Rights terms. Ask students to explain how words like 'boycott' or 'oppression' apply in the examples, making abstract concepts more concrete and memorable.
Have students ask each other questions about the vocabulary. This encourages active listening and deeper engagement, while providing opportunities for students to clarify and reinforce their understanding.
End discussions with thought-provoking questions like, 'How might understanding these terms influence our actions today?' This helps students synthesize learning and relate it to broader themes.
A spider map is a visual organizer where students place a central concept, such as 'Civil Rights Vocabulary,' in the center and branch out with key terms and their definitions. This helps students visually connect and understand important words related to the Civil Rights Movement.
Start by presenting key Civil Rights terms and encourage students to choose unfamiliar words. Have them define and illustrate each term using a storyboard or spider map. This approach makes the vocabulary meaningful and easier to remember.
Essential Civil Rights vocabulary includes terms like boycott, segregation, equality, movement, non-violence, legislative, community, oppression, provoke, expression, racism, prejudice, stereotype, sit-in, and suffrage.
Display students' illustrated vocabulary boards without the terms and have the class guess each word. This interactive game reinforces understanding while allowing students to show creativity and engage with peers.
Introducing Civil Rights vocabulary early helps students better comprehend historical events and concepts, supports critical thinking, and ensures they can engage meaningfully with the unit content.