Trailblazer Tales Teacher Guide Trailblazer Tales
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grades K-5
30 Minutes
Objective
Famous Black Americans
Approach
Experiential & Collaborative
Materials
Slides, Video, Paper, Crayons
Why This Lesson?
This lesson introduces students to famous Black Americans, highlighting their contributions and impact on society. Through a video, discussion, and activity, students will learn about perseverance, respect, and the importance of diversity. This lesson helps students appreciate cultural contributions and fosters an inclusive learning environment.
Instructional Sequence
1
Introduction
5 MINS
Begin with a brief introduction about the importance of learning about diverse historical figures.
Explain that today's focus will be on famous Black Americans and their contributions.
2
Video Viewing
8 MINS
Show the video Story: Ronnie and His Grit .
Encourage students to pay attention to the themes of perseverance and respect .
3
Discussion
7 MINS
Facilitate a discussion using the prepared discussion guide.
Encourage students to share their thoughts and reflections on the video.
4
Creative Activity
8 MINS
Provide students with the Trailblazer Tribute worksheet.
Ask them to draw or write about a famous Black American they admire or learned about.
Encourage sharing their work with the class.
5
Closure
2 MINS
Recap the key points discussed and learned during the lesson.
Encourage students to continue exploring and learning about diverse historical figures.
Prep Checklist
Test the video link and slide projection.
Print the Trailblazer Tribute worksheets (1 per student).
Gather drawing supplies (crayons, markers, colored pencils).
Print Discussion Guide for reference.
Key Concepts
Perseverance
Continuing to try even when things are difficult or hard.
Contribution
Giving or doing something to help make things better for others.
Diversity
Including people from many different backgrounds and experiences.
Trailblazer Tales Slides Trailblazer Tales
Celebrating the impact and contributions of famous Black Americans
Our Journey Today
Discover
Learn about famous Black Americans who changed history.
Persevere
Understand how "grit" and hard work lead to success.
Create
Honor a hero through your own words and art.
🌍
"Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work."
Story Time: Ronnie and His Grit
Watch closely for themes of perseverance and respect.
Embedded media
Key Words to Know
Perseverance
Keeping your head up and moving forward even when things get tough.
"I won't give up!"
Respect
Valuing yourself and others for who they are and what they contribute.
"Everyone matters!"
Trailblazer Tribute
Pick a person you learned about today or someone who inspires you. Draw their picture and write one reason why they are a hero.
✏️
Sketch
💡
Reflect
📢
Share
Trailblazer Tales Discussion Guide Discussion Guide
Trailblazer Tales: Exploring Famous Black Americans
Use these questions to facilitate a meaningful conversation after watching the story of Ronnie. These prompts are designed to help students connect the themes of perseverance and diversity to their own lives.
1
What did you learn about perseverance from the video?
Teacher Prompt: Encourage students to think about how perseverance was shown in the video and relate it to real-life examples.
2
Why is it important to learn about diverse historical figures?
Teacher Prompt: Guide students to understand the value of diversity and inclusion in history.
3
Can you think of a famous Black American who inspires you? Why?
Teacher Prompt: Help students connect personally with historical figures and share their inspirations.
Inclusive Sharing
Ensure all students have a chance to speak. Use "Think-Pair-Share" to allow quieter students time to process before speaking to the whole group.
Deeper Thinking
Ask follow-up questions like "How do you think they felt?" or "What would you do in that situation?" to build empathy and critical thinking.
Trailblazer Tribute Worksheet Trailblazer Tribute
Honoring a hero through art and words
Name:
Date:
Draw Your Trailblazer Here
This is a portrait of:
They are a hero because:
Small steps lead to big changes