This lesson plan focuses on issues related to race. Because the topic of race is often incendiary, teachers should be particularly mindful in guiding the lesson. Additionally, teachers should be prepared for students coming across extremely derogatory racial terms in the article that may be upsetting or confusing. In the left column, list political topics or issues that often involve discussions of race or ethnicity, skipping a few lines between topics. In the right column, explain how you feel race or ethnic background is involved in the discussion of this issue.
Students then share their answers.
Create a list on the board of student responses for use in a later class activity. The article details Sims' presentation to a group of middle school students. Divide students into pairs or small groups of three, and assign each group one of the topics on the list from the warm-up activity. Groups complete their research. Each student then develops a brief campaign speech voicing his or her stance on the topic that includes all of the information gained through research.