Category: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Three lesson plans tools that teachers and students will find helpful in assessing historical materials are described in this document. Teachers can easily adapt one, two, or all three of these tools into a class activity or three class unit by having students complete the tasks as a class or in groups.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

Grade Level: 5-8 Middle School;

Students will utilize various sources, including electronic technologies, to gain an understanding of Japanese Relocation Camps (especially the ones at Rohwer and Jerome, Arkansas) established during World War II by Executive Order 9066 signed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Students will also participate in class discussions after reading Camp Nine and/or studying the time period. They will also conduct research and design a product based on the information gathered.

Explore the challenges and victories of Elijah Pitts, Willie Davis, and Travis Williams and how their lives impacted the NFL we see today.

Taken from: African-American athletes in Arkansas: Muhammad Ali’s tour, black Razorbacks, & other forgotten stories by Evin Demirel (ISBN: 978-0-9990083-1-7)

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School
Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Lesson Goal(s):

• Engage students in lively analysis and discussion of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as it applies to freedom of speech and religion
• Challenge students to understand another person’s point of view

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School;

Lesson Goal(s):

• Engage students in lively analysis and discussion of current civil rights issues and ongoing First Amendment freedom of speech rights of student athletes
• Challenge students to understand another person’s point of view

Taken from: African-American athletes in Arkansas : Muhammad Ali’s tour, black Razorbacks, & other forgotten stories by Evin Demirel (ISBN: 978-0-9990083-1-7)

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School;

Lesson Goals:

• Engage students in lively analysis and discussion of ongoing issues with accurate record keeping
• Challenge students to develop a possible solution for accurately recording history
• Conduct an oral history project with a family member or surviving member of Arkansas athletics prior to 1966

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Dustin Seaton,

This lesson focuses on reading and writing skills related to arguments and their support through evidence. Students will refer to Chapter 14 of African American Athletes in Arkansas, by Evin Demirel (2017) (ISBN: 978-0-9990083-1-7).

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School
Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education.

While NLRHS has returned to basketball prominence, it will be hard-pressed to match what the Dragons of national power Scipio Jones High achieved. This lesson focuses on reading and writing skills related to arguments and their support through evidence. Students will refer to African American Athletes in Arkansas, by Evin Demirel (2017) (ISBN: 978-0-9990083-1-7) pp.71-75.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School
Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education.

Students will write definitions in everyday language to explain the meanings of words as used in the context of the reading. This lesson focuses on reading and writing skills related to arguments and their support through evidence. Students will refer to chapter 5-6 of African American Athletes in Arkansas, by Evin Demirel (2017) (ISBN: 978-0-9990083-1-7) pp.49-60.

Lesson Plan

Courtesy of Evin Demirel

Grade Level:5-8 Middle School
Time period: Modern Era 1968 to Present

Arkansas Academic Standards are subject to revision every six years by the Arkansas Department of Education.