Exploring Black and Hispanic Excellence: Stories and Origins

This unit was created by Laverne Mickens, an elementary educator in Springfleld, MA as part of the 2023-2024 Pulitzer Center Teacher Fellowship program. It is designed for facilitation across four weeks.

For more units created by Pulitzer Center Teacher Fellows in this cohort, click here.

Unit Overview

In this unit, fourth-grade students will explore underreported news articles highlighting achievements of Black and Hispanic individuals. They will delve into the origins of Black and Hispanic students, uncovering the rich history and contributions of these communities. The unit integrates art and music to enhance understanding and celebrate diversity.

Objectives & Outcomes:

Students will…

• Analyze underreported news articles to identify the achievements of Black and Hispanic individuals (in particular, Puerto Rican and Dominican)
• Explore the historical origins and contributions of Black and Hispanic students
• Develop an appreciation for diversity and cultural contributions
• Describe the importance of acknowledging under-represented excellence

By the end of the unit, students will…

• Understand the achievements of Black and Hispanic individuals
• Identify historical contributions of Black and Hispanic students
• Express appreciation for diversity through art and music

Performance Task:

Students will use Pulitzer reporting on Black joy, Black history,  Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic to create artwork, poems, and write songs that celebrate their home countries/islands and cultures. Students will showcase their creations along with their research findings, in a multicultural fair for parents and the school community. “Family Culture Night” celebrates diversity and encourages understanding among students and families.

Assessment(s):

Formative Assessment:

Pulitzer Exit Ticket (example) [.docx][.pdf]

Pulitzer Reading/Writing Rubric [.docx][.pdf]

Summative Assessment:

4th Grade Black & Hispanic Culture Research Project Evaluation Sheet [.docx][.pdf]

Four-week unit plan for teachers, includes pacing, multimedia resources, performance task instructions, and grading rubrics. This unit was written to be taught over the course of four weeks or 17, 60-minute lessons.

Massachusetts State Standards:

• History and Social Science:
  • 4.G2: Explain the contributions of diverse groups and individuals to Massachusetts and the United States.
• English Language Arts:
  • 4.RN.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly.
  • 4.W.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Ms. Mickens' fourth grade class engaged with a series of stories, reporting, multimedia media resources, activities and discussions to cultivate an understanding of cultural diversity in their classroom, focusing primarily on Latinx and Black identities.

Multicultural Fair

Students created artwork, poems, and write songs that celebrate their home countries/islands and cultures. Students will showcase their creations along with their research findings, in a multicultural fair for parents and the school community. “Family Culture Night” celebrates diversity and encourages understanding among students and families.