Austin Road Elementary School fifth graders embarked on an exciting interdisciplinary project in honor of Black History Month. The students researched influential Black Americans, created detailed pop-up biographies and reflected on the impact these individuals made on history.
“This activity gave students a unique opportunity to explore history in a hands-on way, helping them connect to the stories of remarkable individuals whose legacies continue to inspire,” teacher Lisa Coen said. “It not only deepened students’ understanding of Black history, but also fostered a sense of pride and respect for the individuals who have shaped our world.”
Combining language arts and social studies, the students applied their skills from the “Tackling the Complexity of Nonfiction” unit while exploring the Civil Rights Movement. They honed their research, note-taking, paraphrasing and writing abilities as they became experts on their chosen figures, gathering information from books, articles and videos. Each student then wrote a biography of a famous Black American in their own words.
The next step was to bring their research to life with a creative pop-up display. The students designed backgrounds, added illustrations of their subject and included meaningful quotes that resonated with them. The addition of 3D elements, speech bubbles and symbolic representations of each person’s legacy made the final product unique and engaging. Biographies featured prominent figures, such as Hank Aaron, Maya Angelou, Louis Armstrong, Ruby Bridges, George Washington Carver and Alice Coachman.
To culminate the project, the students shared their knowledge with their peers when they presented their biographies. As they discussed their subjects, they uncovered shared themes as many of these trailblazers overcame significant challenges, broke down racial barriers and paved the way for future generations.
