Since the implementation of the 2023 History and Social Science SOLs, the Virginia Studies SOLs have placed a greater emphasis on the Civil Rights Movement in Virginia. For decades, Virginians fought for and against ending segregation in the state. Let’s look at some ways to make your Civil Rights Movement in Virginia lesson plans more hands-on and engaging for students!
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Examine Primary Sources of Virginia History
Primary source analysis is one of the Virginia History and Social Science Skills, and there are lots of opportunities to incorporate primary sources when teaching the Civil Rights Movement in Virginia SOL.
I like to show my students images from the past and have them write about what they think is happening in the images. Then, we discuss what is actually happening in the images. Using primary sources also enables students to practice ELA skills, such as inference and drawing conclusions.
When searching for primary resources to use with this Virginia Studies SOL, consider visiting the Library of Congress website. The site contains hundreds of images related to the Civil Rights Movement in Virginia and across the United States.
Read Books About Segregation
The topic of segregation can be a sensitive topic, especially when teaching elementary students. Picture books can be a gentle, relatable way to teach students about this period in American history. Two of my favorites to use when teaching this Virginia Studies SOL include–
- Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh
- Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
Research People from the Virginia Studies SOLs
The Civil Rights Movement in Virginia SOL includes many individuals who participated in the Civil Rights Movement.
Encourage your students to complete a project where they research a famous Virginian. Students can document their findings in several different ways, such as creating a Google Slides presentation, writing a five-paragraph essay, creating a poster, or creating a picture book. When students are finished with their Virginia Studies research projects, have them share their research and presentation with the class.
Play a Famous Virginians Matching Game
There are always some students who struggle with memorizing all of the famous Virginians in this Virginia Studies SOL. Matching games make for fun Virginia Studies activities that help students memorize facts.
Throughout my Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Unit, I always keep sets of famous Virginians matching game cards in an easily accessible spot. Early finishers can use them any time to review Virginia Studies. Incorporating images on your matching game cards is also an easy way to help students identify and remember each of the famous Virginians.
Virginia Studies Review Activities
My Civil Rights Movement in Virginia lesson plans always include a day for students to play review games. There are two review activities that students always love for this unit: a task card game and an escape room.
Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Task Cards
Do your students like board games? You can create an easy game by using task cards with any game board. Students play the board game the same way they normally would. The only difference is that they must correctly answer a question on a task card to take their turn. If they answer incorrectly, their turn is skipped.
I have a Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Task Cards resource. The resource has 28 task cards that feature the types of questions that students will see on the Virginia Studies SOL test. Question types include multiple choice, multiple select, matching, and ordering events. The resource includes a PDF version and a self-checking digital version for Google Forms.
You can find a complete list of games to play with task cards HERE!
Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Escape Room
It is no secret that I love using classroom escape rooms to teach Virginia Studies. I explain more about using classroom escape rooms to make history hands-on HERE.
My Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Escape Room includes six challenges that incorporate math and critical thinking skills. As students complete each puzzle, they are reviewing the important people, places, and events that are part of the Virginia Studies SOL.
I continue to use escape rooms to review Virginia Studies because I frequently hear students discuss how much they enjoy these activities. Anytime a student is having fun learning, they are more likely to remember what they are learning.
At-Home Virginia Studies Review
Don’t forget to give students a study guide, so they can keep reviewing the SOL at home!
My Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Study Guide includes three versions– one completed study guide, one for student completion with review worksheets, and one digital study guide. It also has 10 short-response questions that model the critical thinking questions on the SOL test.
Where to Find Virginia Studies Resources…
The activities described can be replicated in your classroom, but I know planning time is limited. If you’re short on time, I’ve got you covered! You can find all of my Civil Rights Movement in Virginia lesson plans and activities in my store, including:
- Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Unit: My unit includes detailed lesson plans, passages and comprehension questions, worksheets, digital activities, and assessments.
- Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Task Cards
- Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Escape Room
- Civil Rights Movement in Virginia Study Guide
All of my Virginia Studies resources are also bundled together for a discounted price.
- Virginia Studies Curriculum Bundle: Includes all of my Virginia Studies unit plans.
- Virginia Studies Task Cards Bundle
- Virginia Studies Escape Rooms Bundle
- Virginia Studies Study Guides Bundle
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