Lesson Plans for the Entire School Year
Summer vacations are never vacations for committed educators. Sure, they may take two weeks to decompress, but many teachers, especially those in the UK, are already preparing for Black History Month, which this year focuses on the theme of “Standing Firm.” Homeschooling parents scan resources for materials that honor our legacy with dignity. Both search for lessons that will matter. Meanwhile, families wonder how to extend these conversations beyond a single month. All face the same challenge: How do we teach Black history as a living, breathing force rather than a seasonal obligation?
I built the Garvey Classroom to answer that question. I’ve created lesson plans that focus on Garvey because it is my area of specialization. These lesson plans work effectively during Black History Month, yet they refuse to be confined to that month. Throughout the school year, during the transition weeks in March, when curricula shift elsewhere, these units continue to build the confidence our children deserve.
The Foundation of Story
Most educational resources mention Marcus Garvey in passing, reducing him to a name for memorization or dates for recall. Rather than engaging students meaningfully, existing lesson plans about Garvey concentrate on the lowest level of Bloom’s taxonomy: remembering dates, memorizing facts, and identifying basic information. My approach differs fundamentally. Beginning with either informational texts or stories, every Garvey Classroom lesson invites students to encounter authentic material first and then explore its deeper meaning.
This approach transforms learning. When a lesson opens with a story rather than a textbook summary, students connect with the man behind the movement. They hear his passion, sense his urgency, and feel his hope. From this authentic foundation, they explore questions that matter: Who am I in this world? What is my purpose? How do I cultivate a free mind?
Consider how this works in practice. Instead of reading about Garvey’s belief in Black excellence, students examine his speeches about self-determination. Rather than memorizing facts about the Universal Negro Improvement Association, they grapple with his vision of global unity and compare it to that of equally committed Pan-Africanists, such as W.E.B. Du Bois. They don’t just learn what happened. They discover what remains possible.
Principles That Guide Every Lesson Plan
Each resource in The Garvey Classroom operates from core principles that distinguish it from conventional materials. These principles shape every activity, every question, and every moment of learning.
Story anchors understanding. Narrative and informational passages ground each lesson in real experience.
Essential questions spark reflection. Rather than surface-level queries, students wrestle with profound challenges: “How do I stand firm in who I am?” “What does freedom look like in my daily life?” These questions connect historical understanding to personal growth.
Heart and mind work together. I refuse to separate emotional development from academic achievement. The lesson plans incorporate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) to engage students emotionally in Garvey’s story and Black history. Students need both intellectual understanding and emotional connection to thrive; therefore, every lesson integrates social-emotional learning with rigorous academic content.
Creativity completes the circle. Students express their understanding through art, reflection, discussion, and creation. Worksheets serve as a means to learn when needed, but they never become the endpoint.
Lesson Plans for Educators
The lesson plans of Teachers Pay Teachers are drawn from decades of educational expertise. My six years as a middle school teacher, combined with thirty years as a professor at Miami Dade College, including thirteen years as chairperson of developmental education, taught me how to create developmentally appropriate materials that meet students where they are.
As an English teacher, through training and practice, I have developed the ability to use stories and texts to engage students meaningfully and effectively. Twenty years of researching and writing about Marcus Garvey as an author, blogger, and activist have given me a deep understanding of his philosophy and its relevance to today’s students. My blog, Geoffrey Philp’s Blog Spot, which has been in existence for over 25 years, contains extensive posts and insights that inform these lesson plans.
Each lesson plan reflects this foundation. Drawing on Piaget’s developmental stages, I recognize how kindergarten students learn differently from middle school students. By building effective scaffolding, my materials support student growth at every level. Through applying Bloom’s taxonomy, questions move students from basic recall to critical analysis. Years of reviewing countless syllabi at Miami Dade College and creating my own curricula revealed what makes instruction both educationally and psychologically sound.
Yet practicality never compromises purpose. Each lesson remains student-centered, focused on reflection and expression. Historical accuracy underpins every activity, drawing on primary sources and rigorous research. Students encounter what happened so they can envision what might become possible.
Every unit offers:
- Substitute-ready structure: Clear directions, printable materials, easy implementation
- Classroom-tested design: Built from six years of middle school teaching and thirty years of college-level instruction, refined through real classroom experience
- Developmentally appropriate content: Designed with an understanding of how students learn at each grade level
- Student-centered approach: Focused on reflection, expression, and confidence-building
- Historical accuracy: Sourced from primary texts, decades of Garvey research, and scholarly foundations
Your Next Steps
The Garvey Classroom exists for educators, parents, and advocates who build rather than wait. Those who understand that our future depends on how we teach our past and how we claim our present.
Begin by sharing these resources with your network. Download a free lesson plan and experience it in your own space. Engage students with the essential questions that spark real growth. Discuss Garvey’s ideas as living wisdom that speaks to today’s challenges.
Most importantly, use these tools as foundations for something larger. Let them become starting points for growth, clarity, and cultural strength that extends far beyond any single month or designated celebration.
Our children deserve an education that honors their brilliance throughout the year. The Garvey Classroom helps bring that vision to life.
Explore the full collection: Visit The Garvey Classroom on TPT.
Related Resources: Marcus Garvey FAQ Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey
Coming Soon: Lesson Plans for Standing Firm During Black History Month in the UK
In the next post, I’ll focus on the specific types of lesson plans we’re offering for Black History Month in the UK. Each one is designed to align with the theme of Standing Firm while honoring developmental needs and cultural context. From early years to secondary classrooms, these resources provide tools for confidence-building, critical thinking, and meaningful reflection.
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