THUG Mini Research Project provides the historical blueprint for the novel. Angie Thomas sprinkles references to real-world activism throughout the story, and this lesson ensures students don’t miss the significance of those Windows and Mirrors. By investigating the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement and its historical predecessors, students gain a deeper appreciation for Starr’s journey and the systemic issues at play in Garden Heights.
Designed for two extended 100-minute blocks, the lesson utilizes a high-accountability Mini-Jigsaw strategy. Students are assigned specific roles—Reader, Vocabulary Collector, Idea Coach, and Presenter—to ensure equitable participation. Groups first craft original research questions before diving into curated digital links to gather facts. The project culminates in a formal presentation where each group teaches the rest of the class, while peers take structured notes to build a collective history of resistance database.
What’s Included
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Detailed 2-day lesson plan with a focus on collaborative research and public speaking.
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L7. Mini-Research Project Worksheets featuring pre-vetted links for topics like Emmett Till, the Black Panther Party, and the Ten-Point Program.
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L7. Mini-Jigsaw Roles Guide to scaffold group management and define student responsibilities.
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L7. Mini-Research Project Presentation Notes to ensure active listening and accountability during student presentations.
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Instructional Slides that guide students through the process of writing rigorous research questions.
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Alignment with WAESN Elements of Liberation (Injustice & Resistance) and CCSS ELA standards for research, digital literacy, and oral presentation.
Why Educators Use This Lesson
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Contextualizes the Novel: Bridges the gap between fiction and reality, helping students understand the “why” behind the characters’ actions and political stances.
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Develops Research Stamina: Teaches students how to move from a general topic to a specific research question and then to a summarized finding.
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Empowers Student Voice: Shifts the expert role from the teacher to the students, building confidence and community authority.
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Integrated Jigsaw Strategy: Ensures that every student is responsible for a piece of the puzzle, preventing social loafing in group work.
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Efficiency: Covers a massive amount of historical and social context in just two days by dividing and conquering the content.
This is the lesson that proves that history isn’t just in the past—it’s on every page of the book they’re reading.