New Resource: Marcus Garvey Lesson Plans for Teachers (Grades 6–8)

I spent twenty years studying Marcus Garvey. Six years teaching middle school English. Twenty-seven years at Miami Dade College. All of that work now lives in one place.

Today, I published a complete resource guide for teachers who want to bring Garvey into their classrooms beyond Black History Month. The page covers the full-year curriculum I built through The Garvey Classroom: four quarters, 27 to 30 Pan-African historical figures, story-driven instruction grounded in primary sources, and social-emotional learning embedded in every lesson.

The curriculum is organized around the Garvey Blueprint: clarity of mind, purpose, and perseverance. Students read Garvey’s own writings. They study Frederick Douglass, Ella Baker, Nelson Mandela, Harriet Tubman, Kwame Nkrumah, Bob Marley, Langston Hughes, and Wangari Maathai alongside Garvey. They write, reflect, and build the confidence that comes from knowing who they are and where they come from.

Dr. Julius W. Garvey endorsed this work. Professor Rupert Lewis endorsed this work. That validation means everything to me, because the standard is Garvey’s own.

If you are a teacher, a parent, a homeschooler, or a community educator looking for rigorous, culturally grounded lesson plans rooted in Marcus Garvey’s philosophy, start here:

Marcus Garvey Lesson Plans for Teachers: Grades 6–8 ELA + SEL (Year-Round)

Lesson plans are also available individually on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Confidence is our birthright. Education is the medium.

Frequently Asked Questions

What grade levels do The Garvey Classroom lesson plans cover?

The core curriculum serves grades 6 through 8 with ELA and social-emotional learning integration. Elementary resources, including The Marcus Garvey Coloring Book with 78 scripted lesson plans, cover pre-K through grade 2. High school materials include speech analysis and the Black Star Line mini-unit for grades 9 through 12. The flagship course, The Power of the Mind, Purpose, and Perseverance, serves teens and adults.

Are these lesson plans aligned to Common Core standards?

Yes. Every lesson aligns to Common Core State Standards for ELA, including Reading Informational Text, Reading Literature, Writing, and Speaking and Listening strands. Lessons also align with CASEL social-emotional learning competencies. International alignment notes cover UK Key Stage 3 and Jamaica's national curriculum.

Who endorsed The Garvey Classroom curriculum?

Dr. Julius W. Garvey, son of Marcus Garvey and founder of the Marcus Garvey Institute for Human Development, endorsed the curriculum. Professor Rupert Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Political Thought at the University of the West Indies, Mona, also endorsed the work.

How is this different from other Marcus Garvey lesson plans?

The Garvey Classroom is a year-round Pan-African curriculum, not a February worksheet packet. Every lesson uses verified quotes and primary sources. Historical figures are taught as strategists whose methods transfer to student life. SEL is embedded in academic practice rather than delivered as standalone activities. The curriculum draws from scholarship by Robert Hill, Rupert Lewis, Tony Martin, Carter G. Woodson, and Frantz Fanon.

Where can I access the lesson plans?

Individual lessons are available on Teachers Pay Teachers. The complete resource guide is at The Garvey Classroom. Schools seeking full-year partnerships can email info@thegarveyclassroom.com.