Writing Unit Plan for 9th-12th Grade
The Write In Extended Curriculum: Dark Testament explores Black history & writing with engaging, flexible, dynamic, and meaningful instructional materials and learning experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their identities, learn with and from their peers, and use the beauty and power of Black writers to inspire their own creative stories.
Please note: This curriculum provides teachers with the flexibility to apply ONE or more lessons as the teachers can deem fit. Teachers that sign up for the curriculum can select any number of lessons to implement in their classrooms.
Apply to Participate
Curriculum Goals
The unit is shaped by the four themes of the Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice exhibit: Belonging, Violence, Justice, and Joy. The primary goals of the unit are as follows:
- Deepen knowledge of Black history and racial injustice by exploring texts composed by Black Writers
- Build understanding of racial injustice in the past and present, and to build empathy for those impacted by racial injustice
- Use writing as a means of building empathy, enhancing collaboration and creativity, and working towards social justice
This unit is aligned to the following learning standards: Common Core Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking & Listening, and Language: Social-emotional Learning Competencies; Illinois State Board of Education Social Science Standards.
The Write In Extended Curriculum: Dark Testament provides:
- A recording of the first orientation session for educators to get a better idea of what the curriculum entails and how you can implement it.
- Diagnostic (a rubric is provided) and Summative Assessments
- Curriculum Guide
- Flexible lesson plans that can be adapted to fit the needs of a variety of high school courses, including but not limited to English, Creative Writing, Humanities, US History, Black Studies, and Ethnic Studies
- Student Workbook
- Text, media, and museum resources
- Optional In-Person Field Trip or Virtual Field Trip
- Museum Staff Support
What to Expect
- A flexible plan that can be adapted to fit the needs of a variety of high school courses, including but not limited to: English, Creative Writing, Humanities, US History, Black Studies, and Ethnic Studies. (An abridged version is made available for shortened timeframes.)
- 26 lessons that provide students with opportunities to engage in reading, writing, speaking, listening, collaboration, and reflection.
- Variety of media, texts, and resources, including online materials from Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers on Justice.
- A culminating activity that honors students’ final writing projects in the form of a community celebration
