Grade 5 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 20, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
America Will Be

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 20, Lesson 1: Struggle for Freedom (pp. 510-513)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Conflict and Rights Although the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution said everyone had basic civil rights, many were denied these rights.

Read the excerpt from Chief Joseph's speech aloud to students. Discuss with students the basic rights that citizens in the United States have according to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Then talk about minority groups, such as black Americans and American Indians from 1868 to 1915 and ask students if they think these groups had the same legal rights as other people.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Divide students into several small groups. Tell each group that they will be creating a "Struggle for Freedom" ad campaign to promote awareness of the challenges facing certain groups, such as the physically challenged, black Americans, and American Indians. Encourage them to think of ways to challenge the stereotypes people may have about these groups. Remind them to consider what forms of media they would use and what their audience would be.
Have students write various newspaper headlines depicting the 1915 NAACP Supreme Court victory.

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