Anti-Racism Lesson Plan for 8th Grade Students

Topic: Anti-Racism

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify and understand the concept of racism and its various forms.
• Students will be able to identify and explain strategies for countering racism.

Materials

• Handouts defining racism and its various forms (e.g. institutional racism, internalized racism, etc.)
• Examples of racism in modern society (e.g. news stories, social media posts, etc.)
• Whiteboard and markers

Warm-Up

• Ask students to share any personal experiences they have had with racism. Allow them to share freely and without judgement.
• As a class, brainstorm a list of ways that people may express racist attitudes and behaviors (e.g. using racist slurs, making disparaging remarks about certain ethnic groups, etc.).

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the concept of racism and define it as the belief that one race is superior to another and that racial differences justify discrimination.
• Discuss the history of racism, including examples of how it has been institutionalized in laws and practices such as slavery and segregation.
• Emphasize the importance of recognizing and challenging racist attitudes and behaviors.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and give each group an anti-racist article or resource to read.
• Have the groups discuss the material and identify any misconceptions or misunderstandings they have.
• Have the groups share their insights with the class.

Independent Practice

• Ask students to choose a specific area or topic of race and racism (for example, "colorblindness" or "affirmative action").
• Have them conduct research on the chosen topic, using a variety of sources.
• Have students create a presentation (e.g. a PowerPoint, a poster, or a skit) to share their findings with the class.

Closure:

• Review the main points of the lesson and discuss any lingering questions or issues.
• Ask students to reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply this knowledge to their own lives and communities.

Assessment:

• Use the students' presentations and participation in the discussions as a form of assessment.
• Also consider having students complete a written or oral quiz covering the key points of the lesson.