CSDE Model Curricula Quick Start GuideThe African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino Course of Studies is a one credit, year-long elective in which students will consider the scope of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/ Latino contributions to U.S. history, society, economy, and culture. It utilizes Connecticut’s Social Studies Framework themes and inquiry-based approach already familiar to social studies teachers to deliver a content rich and personalized learning experience.The course is an opportunity for students to explore accomplishments, struggles, intersections, perspectives, and collaborations of African American/Black and Puerto Rican/Latino people in the U.S. Students will examine how historical movements, legislation, and wars affected the citizenship rights of these groups and how they, both separately and together, worked to build U.S. cultural and economic wealth and create more just societies in local, national, and international contexts.Coursework will provide students with tools to identify historic and contemporary tensions around race and difference; map economic and racial disparities over time; strengthen their own identity development; and address bias in their communities. This course will contribute to the critical consciousness and civic-mindedness competencies of a twenty-first century graduate, and ultimately facilitate students’ interest in pursuing further ethnic, anthropology, or human rights studies in the future.

In this unit, students will:● Explore different perspectives on how the Natives were treated by the Europeans and the voices like Bartolomeo de las Casas, who left a single perspective of this historical encounter behind.● Explore various forms of anti-Latino treatment such as scientific experiments in Puerto Rico and Guatemala, and language suppression.● Become more aware of contributions of Latino people to American history in spite of oppression.Compelling Questions: How has the persisting narrative of the voyages of Columbus held long and short-term consequences for the formation and evolution of the identity of Puerto Ricans and Latinos?Pre-Assessment: Teachers will facilitate review of prior knowledge using multiple True/False statements via Kahoot or Human Line-Up (Note: these are examples. Teacher can use any other APP.)