Black Panther Protests: Past to Present PSA

5th Grade

Project
5 weeks

Black Panther Protests: Past to Present PSA

Justin Goodman

Purpose

Students will explore the history and impact of the Black Panthers to draw connections between past and present activism. Through reading "One Crazy Summer," analyzing Emory Douglas's art, and engaging with historical resources like the Agnes Varda documentary, students will create a multimedia PSA. This project encourages students to use their voices and creativity to address contemporary community issues, culminating in a presentation to local community members.

Learning goals

Students will analyze the impact of the Black Panthers on social justice movements by exploring the novel "One Crazy Summer" and engaging with historical resources such as Emory Douglas's art and the Agnes Varda Black Panther documentary. They will develop critical thinking and communication skills as they create a multimedia PSA that connects past activism strategies to current community issues. By collaborating with community members, students will gain insights into the relevance of historical activism in addressing today's challenges, guided by the essential question.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1: Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.5.4: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.7: Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Products

Students will create a multimedia Public Service Announcement (PSA) that draws on themes from "One Crazy Summer" and the art of Emory Douglas. They will incorporate insights from the Agnes Varda Black Panther documentary and the provided video link to craft a narrative that connects historical activism to contemporary community issues. The PSA will be shared with community members during a final exhibition, showcasing students' understanding and creative expression.

Launch

Kick off the project with an immersive "Day in the Life of a Black Panther" simulation. Students will rotate through interactive stations that include listening to excerpts from the book "One Crazy Summer," analyzing Emory Douglas's artwork, and watching selected clips from the Agnes Varda Black Panther documentary. Conclude with a class discussion on the essential question, encouraging students to draw connections between historical activism and present-day community challenges. This launch will set the stage for students to explore and create their multimedia PSA.

Exhibition

Students will present their multimedia PSA to community members during a school-hosted exhibition. This event will feature interactive stations where students showcase their understanding of the Black Panthers through art inspired by Emory Douglas and insights from "One Crazy Summer." Attendees will engage with students in discussions about the essential question, exploring how historical activism can inform solutions to current community issues. The exhibition will also include a screening of the Agnès Varda Black Panther documentary to provide historical context and deepen the conversation.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Introduction to Project - Welcome students and introduce the project, discussing the essential question and the project goals (10 min) Immersive Simulation - Participate in 'Day in the Life of a Black Panther' simulation with interactive stations (20 min) Class Discussion - Engage in a discussion on connections between historical activism and modern challenges (15 min)	Novel Exploration - Read and discuss selected excerpts from 'One Crazy Summer,' focusing on character perspectives (20 min) Art Analysis - Examine Emory Douglas's artwork and discuss its impact on social justice messages (15 min) Reflective Journaling - Write reflections on how the novel and artwork relate to the essential question (10 min)	Documentary Viewing - Watch selected clips from the Agnès Varda Black Panther documentary to understand the historical context (20 min) Group Discussion - Discuss insights gained from the documentary and how they relate to the essential question (15 min) Initial PSA Brainstorming - Begin brainstorming ideas for the multimedia PSA project (10 min)	Research Skills Workshop - Conduct a mini-workshop on researching historical and modern activism strategies (15 min) Research Activity - Begin researching modern community challenges and historical activism strategies (20 min) Group Sharing - Share preliminary research findings with peers for feedback (10 min)	PSA Planning - Develop a storyboard for the multimedia PSA, incorporating themes from the week's activities (20 min) Feedback Session - Share storyboards with peers and provide constructive feedback (10 min) Wrap-up and Reflection - Reflect on the week's learning and discuss next steps for the project (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Each student creates a journal entry reflecting on their learning from the 'Day in the Life of a Black Panther' simulation and identifies one community issue they are interested in exploring further.
Preparation	1. Obtain copies of 'One Crazy Summer' for classroom use. 2. Set up interactive stations with necessary materials: audio equipment for book excerpts, prints of Emory Douglas's art, and a projector for documentary clips. 3. Prepare discussion questions to facilitate student reflection on the essential question. 4. Gather materials for students to use in creating their journal entries, such as notebooks or digital devices.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Reading and Discussion - Read a chapter from 'One Crazy Summer' and discuss the characters' perspectives on activism, emphasizing quoting from the text (20 min) Art Analysis - Analyze selected pieces of Emory Douglas's artwork to understand how art can convey powerful messages of social justice (25 min)	Research Skills Workshop - Conduct a mini-research project on a key event in Black Panther history, using multiple sources to gather information (45 min)	Documentary Viewing - Watch a curated clip from the Agnes Varda Black Panther documentary, focusing on the strategies used by the Black Panthers (20 min) Reflective Writing - Write a short reflection about how the Black Panthers' strategies can inform present-day community challenges (25 min)	PSA Storyboarding - Begin creating a storyboard for the multimedia PSA, incorporating themes from 'One Crazy Summer' and insights from the art and documentary (45 min)	Community Connection - Discuss how students' research and PSA ideas can address current community issues, preparing questions for a future community member visit (25 min) Peer Feedback Session - Share PSA storyboards with peers for feedback, encouraging constructive critique and collaboration (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Annotated excerpts from 'One Crazy Summer' with notes on character analysis and themes. 2. Original artwork inspired by Emory Douglas, accompanied by a written explanation of its message. 3. Draft script for the multimedia PSA, outlining the current community issue and historical connections.
Preparation	1. Ensure access to copies of 'One Crazy Summer' for students to read and annotate. 2. Provide digital or printed images of Emory Douglas's artwork for student analysis. 3. Pre-select and prepare relevant clips from the Agnes Varda Black Panther documentary for viewing. 4. Gather art supplies for students to create their own Emory Douglas-inspired artwork (e.g., paper, markers, paints). 5. Provide research resources such as books, articles, and online databases for students to investigate current community issues. 6. Access to multimedia tools (e.g., tablets, software) for students to begin drafting their PSA scripts and planning multimedia elements.

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Novel Discussion - Dive into a critical chapter of 'One Crazy Summer' to explore characters' evolving perspectives on activism and connect to the essential question (20 min) PSA Theme Development - Identify key themes from the novel and previous research to guide the multimedia PSA messaging (25 min)	Art Creation Workshop - Use Emory Douglas's art as inspiration to create visuals that will accompany the PSA, focusing on conveying powerful social justice messages (45 min)	Video Clip Analysis - Watch and analyze the provided video clip, discussing its relevance to the Black Panthers' activism strategies and how it can enhance the PSA (20 min) PSA Script Drafting - Begin drafting the script for the multimedia PSA, ensuring it integrates insights from all resources (25 min)	Community Research Presentation - Share findings from previous research on modern community challenges with peers to incorporate into the PSA (20 min) Feedback and Refinement - Peer review and refine PSA script drafts based on feedback received, focusing on clarity and impact (25 min)	Draft PSA Presentation - Combine visual and script components into a cohesive draft of the multimedia PSA, ready for initial review (30 min) Reflection and Planning - Reflect on the week's progress and outline next steps for finalizing and rehearsing the PSA (15 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed PSA outline, including key messages and visual elements drawn from historical resources. 2. Storyboard draft for the multimedia PSA.
Preparation	1. Prepare copies of selected excerpts from 'One Crazy Summer' for class discussion. 2. Curate a collection of Emory Douglas's artworks and provide context for students. 3. Set up AV equipment to screen the video and documentary clips. 4. Provide storyboard templates and art supplies for students to use in their PSA planning. 5. Develop guiding questions for group discussions to help students connect historical activism to present-day issues.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Final PSA Script Review - Conduct a thorough review of the PSA script, ensuring all historical insights and modern challenges are clearly addressed (25 min) Visual and Audio Enhancement - Refine visual elements and finalize any audio components for the PSA, drawing inspiration from Emory Douglas's art (20 min)	Rehearsal Session - Practice the delivery of the multimedia PSA, focusing on clear communication and engagement with the audience (30 min) Peer Feedback - Perform a peer review session, providing constructive feedback to enhance the PSA's impact and clarity (15 min)	Incorporate Feedback - Integrate peer feedback into the PSA, making necessary adjustments to improve overall presentation quality (25 min) Technical Setup - Prepare the technical setup for recording or presenting the PSA, ensuring all equipment is functioning (20 min)	Community Member Interaction - Engage with a visiting community member to discuss insights and potential improvements for the PSA (20 min) Final Refinements - Apply any additional insights gained from the community interaction to refine the PSA content and delivery (25 min)	Final Rehearsal - Conduct a complete run-through of the multimedia PSA with all elements integrated (20 min) Self-Reflection - Reflect on personal contributions and learning throughout the project, preparing for next week's exhibition (25 min)
Deliverables	1. A detailed storyboard for their multimedia PSA, including visual and narrative elements. 2. A compilation of research notes on current community issues and parallels to Black Panther activism. 3. Draft version of the multimedia PSA with initial video clips and art integrated.
Preparation	1. Ensure access to digital devices and software needed for multimedia creation, such as video editing tools. 2. Provide copies of 'One Crazy Summer' and resources for Emory Douglas's art and Agnes Varda documentary. 3. Organize digital and print resources for researching current community issues. 4. Set up collaborative workspaces for students to share and discuss their research findings.

Week 5	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Final PSA Review - Conduct a thorough review of the multimedia PSA draft, ensuring all components are cohesive and impactful (20 min) Rehearsal Workshop - Practice presenting the PSA, focusing on clear communication and engaging delivery (25 min)	Community Engagement Preparation - Prepare questions and discussion points for the upcoming exhibition with community members (20 min) Feedback Integration - Incorporate rehearsal feedback into the final PSA, refining content and presentation style (25 min)	Exhibition Setup - Organize the exhibition space, ensuring all interactive stations and presentation materials are ready (20 min) Final Presentation Rehearsal - Conduct a full run-through of the PSA presentation, focusing on timing and audience engagement (25 min)	Exhibition Day - Present the multimedia PSA to community members, facilitating discussions on the essential question and historical activism (45 min)	Reflective Debrief - Participate in a class debrief to reflect on the exhibition experience and the project's impact (20 min) Celebration and Acknowledgment - Celebrate project completion and acknowledge contributions from peers and community members (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed and refined multimedia PSA 2. Presentation of the multimedia PSA to community members during the exhibition
Preparation	1. Ensure access to all necessary multimedia equipment (computers, projectors, speakers) for PSA creation and exhibition. 2. Prepare feedback rubrics for peer review sessions. 3. Coordinate logistics for the exhibition, including inviting community members, setting up the venue, and ensuring all technology is ready for presentations. 4. Gather and organize student-created art inspired by Emory Douglas for display at the exhibition. 5. Prepare a schedule and roles for students to manage during the exhibition, such as guiding visitors, presenting PSAs, and facilitating discussions.