Civil Rights Movement Inquiry Circles

This lesson reinforced the importance of giving students meaningful autonomy in their historical research. Allowing groups to investigate different aspects of the Civil Rights Movement encouraged ownership and resulted in thoughtful, well-supported analyses. I was especially impressed by how students used a range of primary and secondary sources to piece together multiple perspectives and connect their topic to larger themes of justice and social change. The activity also highlighted the need for clear expectations when students are working in collaborative inquiry groups. In the future, I would like to provide more structured checkpoints to help guide their research process and ensure that each group member remains fully engaged throughout the project.