While reading Stamped, students will encounter historical figures they've heard about, and some that they may not have known about before. In this activity, students will create a map of the historical figures mentioned in the book paying close attention to their impact on the history of racism in America. Students can choose 4 or more historical figures, research their birth, death, place, occupation, accomplishments, and most importantly the positive or negative impact they have had on upholding or fighting to eradicate racism.
The example for this activity contains 24 historical figures mentioned in Stamped along with brief descriptions of each person. These could be printed out as single pages or shown in slideshow mode digitally and used as a preview or recap of the book.
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a chart for the major historical figures mentioned in Stamped.
Student Instructions:
Encourage open-mindedness by setting clear expectations for respectful dialogue. Remind students that everyone may have different perspectives on each historical figure's impact.
Show students how to listen carefully and acknowledge others' ideas before sharing their own. Use sentence starters like, "I hear you saying..." to reinforce understanding.
Offer students sentence stems such as, "I agree with... because..." or "One thing I wonder is..." to help them respectfully express opinions and questions.
Divide students into small groups to discuss the positive or negative impacts of assigned figures. Rotate roles like discussion leader or note-taker to ensure everyone participates.
Bring students together to share highlights from their group discussions. Encourage reflection on how understanding multiple perspectives shapes our view of history.
The historical figures character map activity for Stamped asks students to research and chart key people mentioned in the book, focusing on their backgrounds, accomplishments, and their impact on racism in America. Students create visual maps with details like birth, occupation, and positive or negative influence on history.
Guide students to research each figure's actions and legacy, then discuss whether their influence upheld or challenged racism. Encourage critical thinking by having students provide supporting evidence from the book or other sources.
Stamped features figures like Frederick Douglass, Angela Davis, Abraham Lincoln, and Barack Obama, among others. These individuals are important because they each played a role in the history of racism and antiracism in America, offering diverse perspectives and impacts.
Use visual aids like maps or digital slideshows, let students choose figures that interest them, and encourage creative representation (e.g., through character design or scene selection). Facilitate discussions on their lasting impact to foster deeper understanding.
Mapping historical figures helps students visualize connections, recognize the complexity of history, and understand how individual actions contributed to shaping attitudes toward racism and antiracism over time.