Breaking Bias: Lessons from the Amistad
Thank you for your interest in the Breaking Bias: Lessons from the Amistad curriculum. By taking a deeper look at the overt and covert impact of racism and empathy, equity and equality, class and justice, educators and students will come to understand the systemic themes which arise from African American history in this country. The Foundation’s six-unit curriculum specifically focuses on how African Americans have not only been victims but agents of their own change throughout history, how racial oppression has transformed over time in the U.S. and what our responsibilities are, both individually and collectively, to respond to racism.
Each unit works to answer essential questions and is broken into themes. Each theme provides an elementary, middle and high school lesson on that topic. Handouts for each lesson are available to download for students. The handouts are fillable PDFs and can be used virtually with students. Before working with students, please read the background information on the theme you will teach, which can be found in the full Unit PDF’s. We also recommend reading the Creating Brave Spaces document.
African Civilizations Background Unit
Access Background Unit
Grades 3-5 Lesson Plans
Grades 6-8 Lesson Plans
Unit One – What is Race? What is a Social Construct?
Unit One
Grades 3-5 Lesson Plans
Grades 6-8 Lesson Plans
Mapping Our Roots
- Map of Human Migration Handout
- Australia: Connect the Dots Handout
- Americas: Connect the Dots Handout
- Western Europe: Connect the Dots Handout
- East and Southeast Asia: Connect the Dots Handout
How Would You Identify? The Social Construction of Race
- U.S. Census Bureau – About Race Handout
- Determine My Identity Handout
- Determine My Identity Answer Key
Suppressing the Black Vote
Grades 9-12 Lesson Plans
Global Perception, Humanity’s Connection
- Africa or Not? Handout
- Africa or Not? Google Slideshow
- Africa or Not? Image Descriptions Handout
- Discovering Human Origins in Africa Handout
The Social Construction of Race: Why is it an Illusion?
Race and Public Policy: “Constructing Whiteness” with Segregated Housing Policy
Unit Two – Dehumanization—Enslaved People
Unit Two
Grades 3-5 Lesson Plans
The Worth of a Slave
La Amistad: A Child’s Journey Lesson Plan
- Journey on the Amistad -A Child’s Perspective Handout
- Amistad Knowledge Cards Handout
- Gallery Cards Handout
Slavery in New Jersey Lesson Plan
- On Track or Off the Rails? Handout
- On Track or Off the Rails? Cards Handout
- Underground Railroad Routes in New Jersey Handout
- New Jersey Stops on the Underground Railroad Handout
Slavery Built American Lesson Plan
Grades 6-8 Lesson Plans
La Amistad: Global Incident. Personal Perspectives Lesson Plan
- Transatlantic Slave Trade: The Amistad Handout
- Primary Sources: La Amistad Handout
- Entry in the American Anti-Slavery Almanac 1841 Handout
- Editorial from The Democrat (Huntsville, Alabama) Handout
- Letter from Cinque to Lewis Tappan Handout
- Cinque Portrait by Nathaniel Jocelyn Handout
Slavery in New Jersey Lesson Plan
- Slavery in New Jersey: A Troubled History
- 15 Dollars Reward Handout
- Notes: Slavery in New Jersey Handout
- Scavenger Hunt Handout
- Scavenger Hunt Answer Key Handout
- Running Away Handout
- Choice Board: The Forces of Abolition Handout
The Worth of a Slave Lesson Plan
Grades 9-12 Lesson Plans
Slavery’s Enduring Myths and Misconceptions Lesson Plans
- Slavery in the United States: Stubborn Myths in Brief Handout
- Myth: They Didn’t Know Better Handout
- Myth: They Were Powerless to Resist Handout
- Myth: The Civil War Was About States’ Rights Handout
La Amistad: In Their Own Words Lesson Plan
- Slavery in the U.S. at the Time of the Amistad: A Snapshot Handout
- In Their Own Words Handout
- Report of Cinque’s Testimony Handout
- Letter from Kale Handout
Slavery Built America: How Implicated Was Our Region? Lesson Plan
Unit Three -The Reconstruction Era
