Educational Resources

Educational resources that center the experiences of African Americans

Here you can find a collection of curricula, lesson plans, and activities that I have conducted in the classroom on the themes of African American studies and culture and historic preservation. These resources are for educators in the classroom, homeschooling, parents, or simply community members. Learners of all ages are encouraged to find something here. Some of the projects or suggested readings are fantastic for summer and winter break because they encourage folks to engage with their communities and explore their identity. My goal in compiling these resources for free is to embolden the next generation of historians and African American scholars. If you have any questions, please email me at alchemyarchivesllc@gmail.com. Please continue to visit this page for new materials and activities in the coming months.

Women in the Civil Rights Movement

Ideal for 11th grade learners and up

Overview, Common Core, and Methodology

Five Day Lesson Plan

Teacher's Guide

Primary Sources Pt. 1

Primary Sources Pt. 2

Supplemental Resources

For additional materials or files, please email alchemyarchivesllc@gmail.com to gain access to specific resources.

Family or Community Oral History

Ideal for 6th through 9th grade learners

*Compiled from various sources; Alchemy Archives LLC does not own the rights to these materials.

Writing a Personal Narrative Using Oral Histories - Read, Write, Think by NCTE

How to Interview a Relative - Read, Write, Think by NCTE

Oral History Sample Questions - Read, Write, Think by NCTE

Grading Rubric - Read, Write, Think by NCTE

Podcast on Narrative Writing - Cult of Pedagogy (Jennifer Gonzales)

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.5

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.9-10.3

Preserving the History of African American Churches

Ideal for 11th grade learners and up

Common Core

Objectives:

To conduct historical research
To create a primary source of an oral history
To create an argument using the primary source set
To analyze that oral history for documentation purposes
To make a documentary style video for the church to archive
To document the stories of three church members for the church to archive and for the interviewees to keep for themselves

Research a local historic African American church in the area. How did this church start? Where did the name come from? What impact did it have on the Black community over time? What has been their involvement in the community or civil rights in history? Discuss the church as it is today? What impact does this church have on the Black community today?
Interview two to three members of the church

You can include a clip/audio of a sermon, choir, etc. to support your research. Please make sure that these clips are no longer than 45 seconds.

Phase I: Historical Research

First, research the denomination of the church you are seeking to conduct this project on. Cross reference at least two reliable sources and write a brief summary that should be included in the final documentary.
Reach out to the church administration to find out how you can review their oldest records of the church’s history. Find out the following:
- How did the church acquire the space?
- What (if any) plans of the building structure are here? Have there been any additions or renovations? How did the church acquire the property?
- Include details about the layout of how members are expected are able to use the space for religious services and worship. What is the order of service or any routine practices of the church? Include music (hymns), layouts of who sits where (if there is one).
- Create a detailed description of roles for each member and any history that the church may have on this (i.e. Julius Morris was the first treasurer of the church in 1980)
- Does the church have additional assigned property (past/present) (i.e. graveyards, community center, etc.)? Include the location of these places and maps or images from Google maps or from your phone if you can visit there and acquire photography yourself.
- What does membership entail? What is the history of this? Has it changed over time?
- What records of births, deaths, marriages, baptisms, etc. does the church hold?
- What records of the different organizations within the church structure does the church hold (choirs, boards, leaders, etc.)? Create a chart of this.
- Create an organized list of these notes. You will need them for the documentary in the end.
- Schedule a meeting with the pastor and/or church administrator to review your findings? Make a note of any discrepancies and be prepared and willing to share where you found the inconsistencies. This will aid your documentary.
- **Ask the administrator if they can assist you in modifying this consent and release form so that the church can archive the interview for your project
Now that you know the history of the church, write a list of five to ten open-ended questions that you could ask your interviewees to share their experiences of.
- (Ex. In 1985, the church moved to this new building because of a fire, tell me about that experience. / During the Black Lives Matter Movement, the leadership of this church decided to host a voting registration event, tell me about this experience.)

Phase II: Oral History Interviews

Scheduling interviews
- Select three appropriate church members that could give you as much information about your curated questions as possible.
- Prepare a letter asking them could you interview them with a list of dates and times. Have a quiet location in mind included for the scheduled interview. Ask for their phone number to follow-up
- Confirm the date and time with a thank you letter that reminds them of the date, time, and location
- Let them know that you will send them a copy of the interview when it is completed

Conducting the Interview
- Note: When interviewing people, sometimes they need time to think and consider what they want to say. When you ask your questions, give them time to answer comfortably. Wait 10-15 seconds when they finish speaking on a question or if there seems to be a break to make sure that that is all they want to say. Be comfortable with silence.
- Note: Begin recording by stating the name of the church you are doing the interview for, who you are interviewing, and ask them for their permission to record and archive the interview for the name of the church.
- Note: If you have the capability to record video, you can or you can record audio only. The interviewee may have a preference, but the video would be ideal for the future and for your documentary.
- Ask them the questions from the “Basic Questions, Family History Questions, and Personal questions” sections of the Oral History Questions
- Ask them the questions that you curated for this interview
- Conclude the interview by thanking them
- Retrieve their email address or where you can forward them the recording. Then make sure to forward them the recording as soon as possible.
- Repeat the same process for the other two interviewees
Review your materials: Review your sources for overlapping information, corroboration, large themes.

Phase III: Creating your documentary

Congratulations! You have done all the hard research and you have created primary sources. Knowing what you know now, you must create a thesis or claim. You can use imovie or another video editing software to create your documentary. Aim to make it 15-20 minutes long. Ideally, your sources will tell the story for you. You can use voice overs or your own video of yourself talking to tell the history of the church.

For your documentary to be successful:

The project includes a linear timeline of the church’s history
This thesis or claim must be supported by the evidence that you are found and established.
The primary sources consistently support the historical argument
You have provided credit to where you gathered all sources of information
Relevant connections to the topic’s time and place must be consistently analyzed and made
Varied perspectives must be consistently included throughout the project
Historical information must be consistently accurate, credible, and without critical omissions
The impact of the topic is consistently analyzed in the conclusion
Audio is consistently appropriate and easy to understand.
Visuals are consistently appropriate and support the narrative.
Volume of audio components is consistently even.
Your analysis is consistently clear and balanced between their own words/ideas and supporting evidence