About This Lesson
Bring Black History to life with film! This collection features some of our most popular films and lessons!
These film-based lesson plans offer powerful opportunities to highlight important moments in Black History and to expand learning and understanding around Black History in the U.S and around the world. The lessons connect directly with key instruction areas. They are designed to work compelling Black History films — plus many lessons work well on their own or with just short scenes from the films.
Among the resources listed here is a Civil Rights History lesson for the film Summer of Soul, which was the #1 partner resource on the Share My Lesson website in 2022.
These classroom-ready lessons include discussion questions, classroom activities, extension activities, additional resources, handouts, worksheets, and more. Pick and choose what you want to use.
These are great teaching tools for Black History Month and all year round.
Updated with new resources in August 2025!
Index
- Hidden Figures Discussion Guide includes history sections on the Jim Crow South, the Civil Rights Movement in the 50s and 60s, the realities facing women in this era, the Cold War and the Space Race, plus non-history sections and additional resources. For Grades 5-12..
- Hidden Figures Segregation and Civil Rights Lesson This lesson includes 2 handouts and extension activities using short videos available on YouTube, including an activity that connects this historical event to the more recent Dakota Pipeline Protests. Appropriate for US History Classes, especially for teaching about segregation and the Civil Rights Movement. For Grades 7-12.
- Just Mercy Legal History / Civil Rights Lesson is about the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments and Legal History related to the Civil Rights. Includes handouts on constitutional rights and legal case briefs. Appropriate for History and Government classes. For Grades 9-12.
- Just Mercy Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Lesson includes activities for using primary sources in the classroom, specifically political cartoons. Features handouts and an activity using an NPR podcast. Appropriate for US History Classes, especially for teaching about Reconstruction and the period following Reconstruction. Ideal for Grades 11-12, but may work for some Grade 9-10 classes.
- Resisterhood Learning Guide includes the story of Margaret Morrison, who first marched from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, alongside John Lewis and Martin Luther King, Jr. In many ways, Margaret’s story is a story of legacy and a reminder of the ongoing work that is required for equity and social justice. Margaret’s experience is both inspirational and aspirational, offering many entry points for learning and growth. The Resisterhood Leaning Guide section on Margaret Morrison explores the driving question: What does it mean to sustain a lifelong commitment to social justice? For Grades 10-12 and college / adult learning.
- Summer of Soul Civil Rights Lesson focuses on the year 1969 within the broader context of the Civil Rights Movement, the Civil Rights Act, and the Voting Rights Act. Includes a handout (and corresponding answer key) focused on major events in African-American History. This lesson was the #1 downloaded partner resource on Share My Lesson in 2022. For Grades 7-12.
- Chevalier Discussion Guide teaches about historic Black French composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges, plus Black History and the French Revolution. For French History, European History, Music History and World History Classes. For Grades 11-12.
- Queen of Katwe Discussion Guide presents the true story of Ugandan child chess prodigy Phiona Mutesi, her life in a slum of Kampala, and her rise as an international chess star. For grades 5-12.
- The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind Discussion Guide explores the real life story of William Kamkwamba, the Malawian schoolboy who used ingenuity and engineering to save his village from drought, and the country of Malawi. For African History and World History Classes. For Grades 7-12 or adaptable to Grades 5 and 6.
Get information on teaching with this films and where to watch them from Journeys in Film.
Learn more about teaching Black History with film for PD credit through our free, on-demand webinars at Share My Lesson:
