
Reflecting on George Floyd’s Death and Police Violence Towards Black Americans
At a Glance
Language
English — USSubject
- Civics & Citizenship
- History
- Social Studies
Grade
6–12- Democracy & Civic Engagement
- Racism
Overview
About This Mini-Lesson
On May 25, 2020, George Floyd was suffocated by a police officer in Minneapolis, while three other officers looked on. George Floyd has joined a long list of black men, women, and children who have been killed in recent years by police officers. Here is a list of some of the names of black people killed by the police between Eric Garner's murder in 2014 and George Floyd's murder this year. Protests have erupted across the United States—and even across the world—in response to these deaths.
This mini-lesson is a guide for teachers to begin conversations with their students about George Floyd’s death and the events that surround it. Such conversations are always difficult for teachers to facilitate, and distance learning presents added challenges to teaching sensitive material. Despite these challenges, it’s critical to make space for students to process the difficult and deeply painful events of the past week.
Preparing to Teach
A Note to Teachers
Before teaching this mini-lesson, please review the following information to help guide your preparation process.
Activities
Activities
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