Mississippi Freedom Summer 50 Years Later
Ken Abrams
Lesson Plan Overview
Middle/High Social Studies
Introduction:
One of the key lessons learned in the “Most Southern Place on Earth” Landmarks workshop concerns
the events of “Freedom Summer” that occurred in Mississippi 50 years ago. Many students today are
shocked to learn about what happened there and have a difficult time understanding why an action as
simple as voter registration could be so problematic. Although circumstances are different today, the
threats to voting rights still exist.
The Civil Rights Movement can be a difficult topic for students to fully comprehend. The extent of
discrimination is a foreign concept for many. In addition, students can be overwhelmed in the face of
the constant violence displayed in the photos and videos of the period. A lesson that incorporates a
project with a positive outcome can be useful for students to better appreciate the Civil Rights
movement. This “rough draft” lesson can stand on its own or be used as part of a unit on Civil Rights. It
aligns well with national and state Social Studies standards.
Objectives:
1) Students will gain an understanding of the factors which caused low voter turnout among
African Americans in Mississippi and the rest of the South during the Civil Rights period.
2) Students will study the methods utilized that prevented African Americans from registering to
vote. They will also study strategies of protest and political action to challenge the status quo.
3) Students will study modern barriers to voter registration and voting – restrictive laws, voter
apathy etc.
Learning Activities:
Several activities make up this unit, with the goal of making a difference in the real world.
1) Develop Primary and Secondary sources to understand the background of the Civil Rights
Movement. Use primary sources from the period – examples are voter registration forms,
Literacy Tests, excerpts from Voting Rights Act, etc.
2) Show videos such as “Eyes on the Prize” or the American Experience “Freedom Summer” to
dramatize the events.
3) Use graphic organizers, timelines, etc. to study events in the Civil Rights Movement.
4) After studying the background of Freedom Summer, students will design voter education
posters, with the main message of registering to vote and actually voting on Election Day. If
computers are available, they could also develop video PSA’s with the same message. These
posters could use common propaganda techniques to push the message to encourage people to
vote.
5) An extention of the lesson would involve actually helping to register people to vote. In
coordination with town/city officials and state officers, students could conduct a voter
registration drive in the school and/or community. A drive could also occur at the local high
school. This would give students a modern understanding of the issues, and would hopefully
increase the likelihood that they will vote in future elections.