Collaborative Poster Project | Primary Source Analysis | Presentations | Printable + Digital Resources
Bring the fight for justice during the Gilded Age to life with this student-centered, standards-aligned activity!
In this highly engaging U.S. History lesson, students explore the voices and impact of African American leaders and the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision through collaborative learning, close reading, poster creation, and class presentations. Each expert group analyzes a different historical text with guiding questions, then presents their findings while classmates complete a graphic organizer to connect ideas across the era.
What’s Included:
Full Lesson Plan with timing, procedures, and materials
Four Expert Group Text Sets (PDF) with primary sources + guiding questions:
Ida B. Wells – Lynch Law (1893)
Booker T. Washington – The Atlanta Exposition Address (1895)
W.E.B. DuBois – The Talented Tenth (1903)
Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case Dissent (1896)
Editable Student Graphic Organizer to track key points and connections
Color-Coded Group Roles & Expectations (Writer, Presenter, Designer, Question Leader)
Collaborative Poster Instructions with a poster printing & student cutting guide
Presentation Rubric (0–20 points) for easy grading
Optional Summative Quiz (Multiple Choice, Drag & Drop, Quote Analysis)
Answer Key for quiz included
Learning Objectives:
Students will:
Analyze and interpret historical primary sources from key African American leaders and court cases.
Collaborate in expert groups to synthesize ideas and present historical content to their peers.
Evaluate differing viewpoints on civil rights strategies during the Gilded Age and early 20th century.
Make connections between individual leaders, their ideologies, and the broader Jim Crow era.
Standards-Aligned:
This resource is aligned to U.S. History Social Studies Standard US.2.8:
Identify the goals of Progressivism; describe the influence of the Muckrakers, political leaders, and intellectuals; and evaluate the movement’s successes and failures:
Explain the goals and tactics of the African American civil rights activists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Analyze differing viewpoints of prominent leaders (W.E.B. DuBois and the Niagara Movement, Booker T. Washington, Mary Church Terrell).
Conduct research on a civil rights activist from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century and evaluate their impact.
Focus figures may include: Ida B. Wells, Monroe Trotter, Robert Abbott, Mary McLeod Bethune, Madame C.J. Walker, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois.
Skills Developed:
Primary Source Analysis
Group Collaboration & Presentation
Historical Comparison & Critical Thinking
Visual Communication
Standards-Based Assessment
Perfect For:
Gilded Age Unit or Jim Crow Era Introduction
Civil Rights Movement Foundations
Black History Month Activities
APUSH or U.S. History Honors Enrichment
Sub Plans with Structure and Depth
End-of-Unit Summative Assessment with Student Choice
Why Teachers Love It:
“Students were so engaged with the poster rotations! Everyone had a role and understood how each leader’s ideas connected to the time period.”
“A powerful way to teach Plessy v. Ferguson and introduce African American civil rights strategies in the Gilded Age. Loved the guiding questions!”
Print & Prep Details:
Color-coded materials and roles keep everything organized
Poster printing & cutting guide included for easy setup
Digital-ready PDFs for readings + editable organizer and quiz
Everything you need to run the lesson with minimal prep
Collaborative Poster Project | Primary Source Analysis | Presentations | Printable + Digital Resources
Bring the fight for justice during the Gilded Age to life with this student-centered, standards-aligned activity!
In this highly engaging U.S. History lesson, students explore the voices and impact of African American leaders and the landmark Plessy v. Ferguson decision through collaborative learning, close reading, poster creation, and class presentations. Each expert group analyzes a different historical text with guiding questions, then presents their findings while classmates complete a graphic organizer to connect ideas across the era.
What’s Included:
Full Lesson Plan with timing, procedures, and materials
Four Expert Group Text Sets (PDF) with primary sources + guiding questions:
Ida B. Wells – Lynch Law (1893)
Booker T. Washington – The Atlanta Exposition Address (1895)
W.E.B. DuBois – The Talented Tenth (1903)
Plessy v. Ferguson Supreme Court Case Dissent (1896)
Editable Student Graphic Organizer to track key points and connections
Color-Coded Group Roles & Expectations (Writer, Presenter, Designer, Question Leader)
Collaborative Poster Instructions with a poster printing & student cutting guide
Presentation Rubric (0–20 points) for easy grading
Optional Summative Quiz (Multiple Choice, Drag & Drop, Quote Analysis)
Answer Key for quiz included
Learning Objectives:
Students will:
Analyze and interpret historical primary sources from key African American leaders and court cases.
Collaborate in expert groups to synthesize ideas and present historical content to their peers.
Evaluate differing viewpoints on civil rights strategies during the Gilded Age and early 20th century.
Make connections between individual leaders, their ideologies, and the broader Jim Crow era.
Standards-Aligned:
This resource is aligned to U.S. History Social Studies Standard US.2.8:
Identify the goals of Progressivism; describe the influence of the Muckrakers, political leaders, and intellectuals; and evaluate the movement’s successes and failures:
Explain the goals and tactics of the African American civil rights activists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Analyze differing viewpoints of prominent leaders (W.E.B. DuBois and the Niagara Movement, Booker T. Washington, Mary Church Terrell).
Conduct research on a civil rights activist from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century and evaluate their impact.
Focus figures may include: Ida B. Wells, Monroe Trotter, Robert Abbott, Mary McLeod Bethune, Madame C.J. Walker, Booker T. Washington, and W.E.B. DuBois.
Skills Developed:
Primary Source Analysis
Group Collaboration & Presentation
Historical Comparison & Critical Thinking
Visual Communication
Standards-Based Assessment
Perfect For:
Gilded Age Unit or Jim Crow Era Introduction
Civil Rights Movement Foundations
Black History Month Activities
APUSH or U.S. History Honors Enrichment
Sub Plans with Structure and Depth
End-of-Unit Summative Assessment with Student Choice
Why Teachers Love It:
“Students were so engaged with the poster rotations! Everyone had a role and understood how each leader’s ideas connected to the time period.”
“A powerful way to teach Plessy v. Ferguson and introduce African American civil rights strategies in the Gilded Age. Loved the guiding questions!”
Print & Prep Details:
Color-coded materials and roles keep everything organized
Poster printing & cutting guide included for easy setup
Digital-ready PDFs for readings + editable organizer and quiz
Everything you need to run the lesson with minimal prep
