Summer of Soul

Curriculum Guide

• Lesson 1: Putting the Festival in Context: The History of Harlem

  Subject: History, Social Studies, U.S. History

  Lesson Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, College

• Lesson 2: The Music of the Harlem Cultural Festival

  Subject: Music

  Lesson Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

• Lesson 3: 1969, A Unique Year

  Subject: History, Social Studies, U.S. History

  Lesson Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12

• Lesson 4: Spending Priorities

  Subject: Civics, Economics, English Language Arts, Government, History, Social Studies, Social Work, U.S. History

• Lesson 5: Film and History

  Subject: Film Literacy

• Lesson 6: Harlem Today

  Subject: Current Events, Economics, Social Studies, Sociology

  Lesson Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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Related Resources

Professional Development: Learn more about teaching with this film for PD credit with our free, on-demand, teacher training webinar: Celebrating Black History through Music and Film.

Summer of Soul is one of several Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated films in our collection. Learn more about teaching with Academy Award-winning films.

Teaching about Activism and Civil Disobedience? This film combines well with Crip Camp, Rebel Hearts, Resisterhood and The Crisis Scientists.

Teaching about Black History? Get more resources in our Black History Collection.

Teaching about the Civil Rights Movement? We also recommend Hidden Figures, Rebel Hearts (about nuns who, among other things, marched at Selma), and the Margaret Morrison section of Resisterhood.

Teaching Music Education with film? Get more classroom-ready lessons in our Music Education Collection.

Our Windows and Mirrors Media Literacy Activity gives students a way to consider if the perspectives of underrepresented and marginalized people are included in their media diets in what they read and watch.