Lesson Plan: Unpacking the Symbolism of Monuments and Memorials
Posted by Pulitzer Center on April 5, 2022
Following the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, a wave of contrasting monuments and memorials arose in the United States: those dedicated to the Confederacy, and those honoring civil rights leaders. Today, Americans continue to question these symbols’ implications for national memory and racial justice.
In this lesson plan, students will reflect on the meaning and history of statues, monuments, street names, and other symbols, as well as how altering or removing them can reflect national dialogue around issues like racial justice. They will explore debates over specific symbols through photo and audio news stories. Ultimately, students will research symbols in their own community and craft arguments on how they believe historical figures should be remembered.
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