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.

Semester 1: Unit 2 At-A-Glance: How African Americans Persisted: Slavery and Freedom Stories of Resistance and AgencyIn this unit, students will:• Analyze how Africans, African Americans, and their descendants have struggled to gain freedom, equality, and social justice.• Explore the ways in which slavery was embedded in legislation.• Investigate how multiple racial and cultural perspectives influence the interpretation of slavery.Compelling Question: How were some Africans from the global diaspora able to assert their agency to resist slavery; why were other Africans unable to do this?Pre-Assessment: Before beginning this unit, students complete a poll to survey understanding of local and global slavery that existed, the prevalence of slavery in Connecticut and the Caribbean, and the importance of slavery to the U.S. and local economies

Semester 1: Unit 1 At-A-Glance: Where We Come From: Introduction to African Origins and Contributions of Ancient African Empires to World Civilizations and the African DiasporaIn this unit, students will:•Examine the impact of various aspects of African culture world civilizations in the past and present.•Analyze the factors that have contributed to racialized global conflict and change in the modern world; and•Develop a positive and accurate identity, including an awareness of and comfort with ones’ membership inmultiple groups in society.Compelling Questions: What impact did the people of Ancient Africa have on early and modern civilizations, and why has this impact been largely ignored through much of history? How has the concept of race been socially constructed over time?Pre-Assessment: Students complete a course self-assessment to gauge interest, comfort level, and current knowledge.