Unit 11 K-2: Learning Plan

Teacher Background Knowledge

Arturo Schomburg (1874–1938) was a Puerto Rican historian, writer, and activist of African and German descent. He devoted his life to collecting books, documents, and artifacts that celebrated the achievements of people of African descent. His collection became the foundation for the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, New York. Understanding Schomburg’s dedication to preserving Black history provides critical context for teaching this lesson and inspires students to value their own stories and heritage.

Materials

• Images of Arturo Schomburg and artifacts from the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up: What Is History?
   1. Discussion Prompt:
      1. What do you think history is? Why is it important to learn about the past?
      2. Write their ideas on the board.
   2. Introduce Arturo Schomburg:
      1. Today, we’re going to learn about a man named Arturo Schomburg. He loved history and spent his life collecting stories, books, and items to teach everyone about the amazing things Black people have done.
2. Read-Aloud: Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library
   1. Read Aloud: Highlight Schomburg’s curiosity about history and his dedication to collecting and preserving stories.
   2. Pause to Discuss:
      1. Why did Arturo Schomburg start collecting books and stories?
      2. How did his collection help others learn about Black history?
3. Activity: My Own History Collection
   1. Preparation:
      1. Distribute the History Collection Template.
   2. Instructions:
      1. Ask students to think about a story, object, or person in their family or community that they think is special.
      2. Students will draw this person, story, or object on their template.
      3. Encourage them to share why it is important to remember and preserve this story or object.
4. Sharing and Discussion
   1. Group Share:
      1. Students take turns sharing their history collection with the class.
      2. Highlight connections between their collections and Schomburg’s work.
   2. Discussion Question:
      1. How can we celebrate and share the stories and history of the people we care about?
5. Closing and Exit Ticket (5 minutes)
   1. Reflection Prompt:
      1. “What did you learn about Arturo Schomburg and why his work is important?”
   2. Exit Ticket:
      1. Students complete the sentence: “I can celebrate history by ________.”