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Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit's Black Bottom Neighborhood
Welcome!
Welcome to the Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood curriculum guide, a joyful celebration of the people and history of the historical community in Detroit’s Black Bottom! The Michigan State University Museum is delighted to offer this engaging, primary source-based set of learning experiences designed for high school and university students, focused on honoring people in the past and today. This curriculum guide includes ready-to-use lesson plans, resource materials, and more. We hope these materials will help you to provide rich and meaningful learning experiences for your
students. Thank you to everyone who contributed time and resources to this project (see “Acknowledgments”).
WHAT DO WE HOPE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WILL EXPERIENCE?
In today’s world, more than ever, people need to experience connections to what came before them and how truly we “stand on the shoulders of giants.” No one is self made. Learning how others in the past honored people in their communities can be a point of
pride, a source of celebration, and an inspiration for today and the future. While things in the past can make us happy, disappointed, angry, sad, or neutral, there is power in remembering the common human experiences we all share and joy to be found in lifting each other up. This curriculum guide offers students the opportunity to explore examples of honoring Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood and how they can honor loved ones, leaders, and communities today. The lessons invite students to consider “honoring” as a concept that is more complex than colloquially understood. Using museum objects, photographs, poetry, oral histories, and more, students will engage in a variety of activities, including material culture analysis, discussion, and individual and group responses to learning. Objects and material culture aid honoring by supporting collective memory. In these lessons, students will uncover the power of objects to help them build and preserve memory. We provide a quilt fabric reproduction, maps, poetry, photographs, and oral history audio files as part of the curriculum. Everything is designed to help students learn how these things provide tangible evidence of the honoring process. (For educators in the Greater Lansing area, activity kits are available to check out for classroom use. For those not within range of the MSU Museum, digital alternatives are provided). The lessons are designed for active student participation. Students don’t just get “talked at.” They do the investigation, lead the discussion, and create products that show their learning. We hope the activities will provide outcomes that can be used to continue conversations and spark connection. Extension activities are suggested in each lesson.
WHY DID WE CREATE THIS CURRICULUM?
The MSU Museum is an innovative and experimental collaboratory that exists to catalyze creativity. Here, people can openly explore, express, and experiment with ideas across disciplines and interests and indulge their natural curiosity about the world. Since 1857, the Museum has been collecting objects and specimens and creating exhibitions that reflect our shared histories and experiences. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is the state’s first Smithsonian Affiliate. (https://museum.msu.edu). At the MSU Museum, we are deeply committed to using our resources to create
experiences that allow people to explore ideas important to them personally, our communities, and the world. One of the most important things the Museum does is inspire discussion around objects and specimens, by providing conversation starters, helping people find their voices, and supporting self-expression. Developing a curriculum centered on primary sources was very important to us. We also have a strong commitment to engaging our campus and greater community.
WAYS TO USE THIS CURRICULUM
Educators have many options for using Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood. The lessons and resources may be used all together or modularly, according to your instructional needs. We encourage people to be creative.
Options include:
• Integrating lessons into content-area instruction
• Using as special topics instruction
• Using materials for clubs or community organizations
Central Lesson:
The curriculum begins with the central lesson, called “Name By Name: Honoring Community Members with the Detroit Signature Quilt.” Students will explore concepts of “honoring” and examine the 1950s signature quilt created in Black Bottom. They then engage in activities about the history of the community where the quilt was made.
Additional Lessons:
With the background students get in the central lesson, they can move on to exploring the additional lessons. These lessons provide more examples of honoring the Black Bottom community and different primary source materials. Feel free to choose the lesson(s) that will most interest your students and help you meet your educational goals.
1. Place in Poetry: Exploring Marsha Music’s “The Bottom, The Valley and Hastings St. — An Elegy In Rhyme” (poetry)
2. Voices from Black Bottom: Capturing Stories That Honor Community Histories (oral history)
3. Telling Community Stories with Photographs (photographs and public exhibitions)
ACCESSIBILITY
We want all students and teachers to be able to engage with this curriculum guide. Objects often can be accessible to people regardless of language, ability, or skill. We anticipate that teachers will find the curriculum materials and resources adaptable
for their community of learners. In addition, we recommend and/or provide these resources for the lessons:
• Accessible reading experiences: Provide student access to the curriculum PDF for use with a screen reader for student activities and object descriptions.
• Accessible writing/drawing experiences: Provide student access to digital or other tools for writing or drawing according to ability.
• Physical disabilities: Students may need assistance with holding or touching objects.
• Sensory processing: If students are not able to touch objects, provide access to images instead (if appropriate for student needs).
• Tactile images included for some lesson objects.
• Videos: Use closed captioning.
VOCABULARY
Most vocabulary words are defined using the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Used according to the “Terms of Use” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/i/terms-of-use) and in accordance with laws for educational use.
Thank you!
Thank you again for using the Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood curriculum guide. We hope it helps you create wonderful learning experiences for your students.
MICHIGAN ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Michigan Department of Education. (2010). Michigan K-12 Standards - English Language Arts. https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Literacy/Content-Standards/ELA_Standards.pdf
Michigan Department of Education. (2019). Michigan K-12 Standards - Social Studies.
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Academic-Standards/Social_Studies_Standards.pdf
Michigan Department of Education. (2011).
Benchmarks, and Grade Level Content Expectations - Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theater.
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Year/2014/06/06/Complete_VPAA_Expectations_June_2011_356110_7.pdf
Click here for the PDF of the lesson plan.
Welcome to the Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood curriculum guide, a joyful celebration of the people and history of the historical community in Detroit’s Black Bottom! The Michigan State University Museum is delighted to offer this engaging, primary source-based set of learning experiences designed for high school and university students, focused on honoring people in the past and today. This curriculum guide includes ready-to-use lesson plans, resource materials, and more. We hope these materials will help you to provide rich and meaningful learning experiences for your
students. Thank you to everyone who contributed time and resources to this project (see “Acknowledgments”).
WHAT DO WE HOPE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS WILL EXPERIENCE?
In today’s world, more than ever, people need to experience connections to what came before them and how truly we “stand on the shoulders of giants.” No one is self made. Learning how others in the past honored people in their communities can be a point of
pride, a source of celebration, and an inspiration for today and the future. While things in the past can make us happy, disappointed, angry, sad, or neutral, there is power in remembering the common human experiences we all share and joy to be found in lifting each other up. This curriculum guide offers students the opportunity to explore examples of honoring Detroit’s Black Bottom neighborhood and how they can honor loved ones, leaders, and communities today. The lessons invite students to consider “honoring” as a concept that is more complex than colloquially understood. Using museum objects, photographs, poetry, oral histories, and more, students will engage in a variety of activities, including material culture analysis, discussion, and individual and group responses to learning. Objects and material culture aid honoring by supporting collective memory. In these lessons, students will uncover the power of objects to help them build and preserve memory. We provide a quilt fabric reproduction, maps, poetry, photographs, and oral history audio files as part of the curriculum. Everything is designed to help students learn how these things provide tangible evidence of the honoring process. (For educators in the Greater Lansing area, activity kits are available to check out for classroom use. For those not within range of the MSU Museum, digital alternatives are provided). The lessons are designed for active student participation. Students don’t just get “talked at.” They do the investigation, lead the discussion, and create products that show their learning. We hope the activities will provide outcomes that can be used to continue conversations and spark connection. Extension activities are suggested in each lesson.
WHY DID WE CREATE THIS CURRICULUM?
The MSU Museum is an innovative and experimental collaboratory that exists to catalyze creativity. Here, people can openly explore, express, and experiment with ideas across disciplines and interests and indulge their natural curiosity about the world. Since 1857, the Museum has been collecting objects and specimens and creating exhibitions that reflect our shared histories and experiences. It is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and is the state’s first Smithsonian Affiliate. (https://museum.msu.edu). At the MSU Museum, we are deeply committed to using our resources to create
experiences that allow people to explore ideas important to them personally, our communities, and the world. One of the most important things the Museum does is inspire discussion around objects and specimens, by providing conversation starters, helping people find their voices, and supporting self-expression. Developing a curriculum centered on primary sources was very important to us. We also have a strong commitment to engaging our campus and greater community.
WAYS TO USE THIS CURRICULUM
Educators have many options for using Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood. The lessons and resources may be used all together or modularly, according to your instructional needs. We encourage people to be creative.
Options include:
• Integrating lessons into content-area instruction
• Using as special topics instruction
• Using materials for clubs or community organizations
Central Lesson:
The curriculum begins with the central lesson, called “Name By Name: Honoring Community Members with the Detroit Signature Quilt.” Students will explore concepts of “honoring” and examine the 1950s signature quilt created in Black Bottom. They then engage in activities about the history of the community where the quilt was made.
Additional Lessons:
With the background students get in the central lesson, they can move on to exploring the additional lessons. These lessons provide more examples of honoring the Black Bottom community and different primary source materials. Feel free to choose the lesson(s) that will most interest your students and help you meet your educational goals.
1. Place in Poetry: Exploring Marsha Music’s “The Bottom, The Valley and Hastings St. — An Elegy In Rhyme” (poetry)
2. Voices from Black Bottom: Capturing Stories That Honor Community Histories (oral history)
3. Telling Community Stories with Photographs (photographs and public exhibitions)
ACCESSIBILITY
We want all students and teachers to be able to engage with this curriculum guide. Objects often can be accessible to people regardless of language, ability, or skill. We anticipate that teachers will find the curriculum materials and resources adaptable
for their community of learners. In addition, we recommend and/or provide these resources for the lessons:
• Accessible reading experiences: Provide student access to the curriculum PDF for use with a screen reader for student activities and object descriptions.
• Accessible writing/drawing experiences: Provide student access to digital or other tools for writing or drawing according to ability.
• Physical disabilities: Students may need assistance with holding or touching objects.
• Sensory processing: If students are not able to touch objects, provide access to images instead (if appropriate for student needs).
• Tactile images included for some lesson objects.
• Videos: Use closed captioning.
VOCABULARY
Most vocabulary words are defined using the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary). Used according to the “Terms of Use” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/i/terms-of-use) and in accordance with laws for educational use.
Thank you!
Thank you again for using the Honor in Action: Celebrating the Community History of Detroit’s Black Bottom Neighborhood curriculum guide. We hope it helps you create wonderful learning experiences for your students.
MICHIGAN ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Michigan Department of Education. (2010). Michigan K-12 Standards - English Language Arts. https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Literacy/Content-Standards/ELA_Standards.pdf
Michigan Department of Education. (2019). Michigan K-12 Standards - Social Studies.
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Academic-Standards/Social_Studies_Standards.pdf
Michigan Department of Education. (2011).
Benchmarks, and Grade Level Content Expectations - Visual Arts, Music, Dance, and Theater.
https://www.michigan.gov/mde/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Year/2014/06/06/Complete_VPAA_Expectations_June_2011_356110_7.pdf
Click here for the PDF of the lesson plan.
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Documentation Project
Black Diaspora Quilt History Project -
Quiltmaker
Furman, Liv Black Diaspora Quilt History Project
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Author; Interviewer; Owner; Quiltmaker
MacDowell, Marsha Michigan State University Museum
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1960s
Detroit Signature... Rogers, Sister Matt...
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