Open

From “Woke: A Young Person’s Call to Justice”

“We Make a Fist” by Mahogany L. Browne

The girl up the block is good at coloring in the lines

The kid next door is great at popping wheelies

My cousin across the street is a magician when it comes to making song:

And my brother is good at baking cookies

When we want to have a picnic We bring our greatest talents

Put them all on the blanket And share with each other

The laughter and songs

The artwork and baked goods

Created by our hands

Check-in: Introduce a “one word check-in” where the class is invited to take turns and say one word (or color) that describes how they are feeling right now.

Read

“Something Happened in Our Town” (YouTube 8:50)

Watch

A brief history of the Black Lives Matter movement (YouTube, 7:00) | CBC Kids News

Do

Work together to brainstorm some phrases to put on signs like we saw in the video. Create your signs with art and craft supplies and invite everyone to share theirs. If time allows, hold your own mini-march through your sanctuary or RE space. Refer to Make Protest Signs With Kids.

Close

Activism, Everywhere, By Mahogany L. Browne

Our voice

Is our greatest power

When we stand together

We can speak up against mistreatment

We are saying that we will not be silent about the mistreatment of people

We are saying we will not be silent

We are standing tall and firm because we believe in equity and equality

We are standing tall and firm

We are not yielding or bending because the conversation is uncomfortable

We are not yielding or bending

We understand activism happens online and offline

In the streets picketing

And in the classroom teaching

On the blogs writing

On the internet sharing information

It happens everywhere

It is active

It is energy

It is resisting to be comfortable

When we all have yet to feel safe and free

Extinguish the chalice and read the closing words. Invite students to check out with one word.

Take Home

Ask your grownups about Black Lives Matter—what do they know about it? How did your communities respond to it? Look up news articles from your city related to the movement and explore ongoing opportunities to get involved.