Reconstruction Era - Videos & Lessons from Facing History
History teachers that have not checked out the site "Facing History and Ourselves" really should spend a few minutes exploring it. There are great resources which range from full unit plans, to videos and primary source materials that may be pulled out and used to support existing lessons.
Their stated mission - "Our mission is to engage students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice, and antisemitism in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed citizenry." Their work began with the holocaust, but has expanded to include a wide range of topics/events designed to make a "connection between history and the moral choices [students] confront in their own lives."
Below is information about their materials that are about the Reconstruction Era after the American Civil war.
From Big House Media:
"Facing History and Ourselves has produced a series of free videos and accompanyinglessons that introduce a rigorous study of the Reconstruction era into American history classrooms. The video series presents interviews with scholars who offer insight into this complex history and address questions of freedom, justice, equality, and citizenship that are at the heart of the Reconstruction era.
Facing History has also developed a complete unit with 16 lessons and many primary source documents from the era. The unit, available in print, ebook, and downloadable PDF, guides students through a deep exploration of the Reconstruction era while enhancing their ethical decision making and capacity for emotional growth. The writing strategies that supplement the unit will help teachers to guide students through the process of organizing their ideas and crafting a thesis in response to the writing prompts; writing and editing drafts; sharing their essays; and reflecting on the writing process."
