Teacher Resources

Empower Your Students to Champion Justice

The National Civil Rights Museum isn’t just a place to learn about the past; it’s a springboard to propel students forward in their pursuit of a more just future. We are committed to providing educators with the resources and materials to bring the powerful legacy of the Civil Rights Movement to life in your classroom.

Engage Your Students in Meaningful Exploration

Our comprehensive educator resources offer:

Tools for Museum Visits: Enhance your students’ museum experience with tips on navigating exhibits and sparking discussion around key themes.
Bringing History to Life: Extend the learning beyond the museum walls with classroom activities that connect the Civil Rights Movement to contemporary issues.
Enduring Ideas and Essential Questions: Each resource delves into a central theme, prompting students to grapple with big questions about the human experience and the ongoing struggle for equality.
Civil Rights Movement Archive
Voices of Civil Rights Movement
SNCC Digital Gateway
Eyes on the Prize Interviews by American Archive of Public Broadcasting

Aligned for Success

We’ve carefully crafted these resources to meet the state standards of Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Common Core.

Building Strong Characters

By exploring and critiquing the actions of historical figures, students learn to identify character traits essential for justice advocacy. They can then connect these lessons to their own lives and develop their own sense of agency.

Join the Movement

Start your journey today and help your students become the next generation of changemakers. Explore our rich collection of educator resources and let history move us forward together!

Empower your students and become a catalyst for social justice.

The National Civil Rights Museum offers enriching Teacher Workshops designed to equip educators with the knowledge and tools to effectively teach the Civil Rights Movement. Gain in-depth understanding of sensitive themes and innovative strategies for engaging students in critical thinking and discussions that bridge the gap between historical events and contemporary social issues.

Choose from virtual or in-person workshops, some of which include museum exhibit tours. Deepen your impact and browse upcoming workshops here on our dedicated Teacher Workshop page. Attending Memphis Shelby County School teachers will receive credits in PLZ.

Stay informed by signing up for our email list.

Contact Education Manager, Dory Lerner at dlerner@civilrightsmuseum.org for any questions.

Upcoming Workshops

By exploring the material objects found in personal archives, we gain a unique window into an individual’s life and legacy. In this session, we will delve into the stories of Bayard Rustin, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, and Frances Thompson—examining the significance of the objects they left behind and what these artifacts reveal about their experiences and impact. We will also reflect on how to engage with lives and legacies when the archival record is marked by gaps, silences, or fragmentation.

We are honored to be joined via Zoom by Walter Naegle, long-time partner of Bayard Rustin and steward of his archive, who will be available to answer attendees’ questions and share stories about Rustin’s legacy. Participants will also have the opportunity to view the current exhibition, Speaking Truth to Power: The Life of Bayard Rustin, and hear from the exhibition curator, Gay Feldman about the practice of preserving and sharing people’s stories through primary sources. We will share resources that can inspire students to connect with changemakers of the past and encourage them to consider building their own legacy today.

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