College of Western Idaho Lesson Plan Template

Name Date
Barbara Blair 02/4/2024

Subject/Grade Topic
U.S. History 11 Black History Month –
African American
Scientists and the
Manhattan Project
The big idea(s) or essential question(s)
Student’s will read about the Manhattan Project to wrap up American involvement in
WWII and research notable African American scientists that assisted in the Manhattan
Project. After reading about these scientists, students will select and research one
scientist they read about and create a social media page dedicated to that scientist on
a provided worksheet.

Why is it important to recognize these scientists today?

What contributions outside of science did these individuals have to the Civil Rights
Movement?

State of Idaho and/or common core standards addressed.

Standard 4: Civics and Government
Students in U.S. History II build an understanding of the organization and formation of the American system
of government, build an understanding that all people in the United States have rights and assume
responsibilities, and build an understanding of the evolution of democracy.

Objectives
Goal 4.3: Build an understanding that all people in the United States have rights and assume responsibilities.
Objective(s): By the end of U.S. History II, the student will be able to:
9-12.USH2.4.4.1 Trace the development and expansion of political, civil, and economic rights

TSWBAT

Analyze how African Americans were treated during the first half of the 1900’s by
comparing and contrasting how they were treated pre-abolition era and post-abolition
era.

TSWBAT

Evaluate how these scientists contributed to the Civil Right Movement that was
beginning to take more action by the 1940’s and 1950’s.

Materials and/or technology Needed:

Chromebook/computer to read the following articles:

African Americans & the Manhattan Project -

https://www.nps.gov/mapr/learn/historyculture/african-americans.htm

AFRICAN AMERICAN SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICIANS OF THE MANHATTAN PROJECT -

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-scientists-and-technicians-of-the-manhattan-
project/

The Unsung African American Scientists of the Manhattan Project -

https://www.history.com/news/black-scientists-manhattan-project-atomic-bomb

Social Media worksheet

Journal for reflection at the end of the lesson

Activities/procedures (include anticipated time for each)

Introduction/activator
Students will be presented the following two images:
https://www.osti.gov/opennet/manhattan-project-history/images/
RadLabStaffLarge.jpg

https://cdn.britannica.com/02/246202-050-04570921/Nuclear-test-Able-
Operations-Crossroads-Bikini-Atoll-July-1-1941.jpg

Students will be asked to analyze the photos and write down their thoughts
about the images and what conclusions they can draw from the images (5
minutes)

Students will be asked to share their thoughts and ideas about the images and
discuss what they might be seeing and how it can be of significance (5 minutes)

After reviewing the images and recalling the events of Pearl Harbor and the
retaliation against Hiroshima and Nagasaki, students will watch an introductory
video (Atomic Bomb History: https://www.history.com/news/black-scientists-
manhattan-project-atomic-bomb )(3 minutes)

Class activities Class activities

(what you/students will do) (why you will do them)

Students will use their computers to read the following Allows students to get
articles (20-30 minutes): a better
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-scientists- understanding of
and-technicians-of-the-manhattan-project/ African American
involvement in the
https://www.history.com/news/black-scientists- development of the
manhattan-project-atomic-bomb atomic bomb.
Students will then be asked to select a scientist that Gather research for
worked on the atomic bomb and research that scientist social media project.
(15-20 minutes).

Students will create a social media page on behalf of This will allow students
that scientist and detail major contributions, quotes, to reflect on African
background, etc. (15-20 minutes) American individuals
https://www.nps.gov/mapr/learn/historyculture/ that contributed to the
african-americans.htm Manhattan Project and
their significant
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-scientists- contributions to a
and-technicians-of-the-manhattan-project/ historical period.

Closure/reminders

Students will be asked to share their social media pages and discuss the
significance of these individuals’ participation in the creating the atomic bomb.
Students will be asked to reflect in their journals why these scientists have
become an important part of history. Students will also compare and contrast
the treatment of these scientists from pre-abolition era to post-abolition era (10
minutes).

Assessment
(how you will know students met the objectives - include rubrics)
Students will be graded on the social media assignment based on effort/research.

Students’ reflections in journals will be graded on the following:

At least 2 examples of compare/contrast
A thorough explanation of the importance to the history of African American contribution to the Manhattan Project

Accommodations/differentiation

Printed packets containing the reading material for students without computers
or who prefer physical print.

Reflection/evaluation
(after lesson is taught put your reflections here)

I will not be able to present this lesson plan to a class as I will not be able to
attend the class the week this unit is presented however, I have discussed the
LP with my observing teacher, and we came up with the following possibilities of
the lesson plan presentation:
This lesson can become time consuming as there is a lot of information provided
and proper research is needed to create the social media page. With only about
42 minutes per class period, this lesson plan may extend over 2 days and
requires the student’s interest to make an efficient lesson. Some students may
not grasp how the scientist are a contributing factor to the Civil Rights
Movement or understand the pre/post abolition analysis. Overall, we think it will
be a more intriguing lesson for students and will easily lead into the Cold War
and Civil Rights chapters in the upcoming weeks.