Brand New Day
Black Lives that Made History
This free collection of classroom resources and lesson plans centers five different children’s books, exploring the historic accomplishments and contributions of dozens of Black individuals.
In collaboration with local educators, OCT’s Education Team is excited to offer a free collection of classroom resources and lesson plans to celebrate Black History Month. Centering five different children’s books, these comprehensive lessons explore the historic accomplishments and contributions of dozens of Black individuals. These resources have been designed for maximum flexibility, and can be used for distance or in-class situations, as well as synchronous or asynchronous learning.
The Inspiration: “A Brand New Day”
This program was inspired by the song “Brand New Day” from the award-winning musical The Wiz, which was performed by Portland-area BIPOC artists. We recommend watching this representation of Black joy before exploring the lesson plans with your students or children.
What’s Included
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Robust Facilitation Guides
With this guide you'll be completely prepared to lead your class through the lessons and activities. Learn more about the fundamentals of teaching Black History, align with your grade-related common core standards, and encourage discussion of the materials with your students.
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Student-Facing Google Slides
These accompanying slides are designed to use during synchronous learning time with your students. These presentations align seamlessly with the guide and are editable for classroom customization, allowing educators to thoughtfully lead students through the curriculum.
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Read-Aloud Videos
These videos, created by talented teaching artists, bring these children's books to life in a fun and uplifting way. Designed to be used for either synchronous or asynchronous time, the teaching artists will lead students through the text as well as an extension activity to help deepen learning and understanding.
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Interactive Slide Show for Deeper Connection
Each lesson plan contains an interactive slide show, connecting the book with real, historical figures and events. Perfect for asynchronous learning time, students can explore different topics from Black History on their own through videos, photo slideshows, and more.
Download the Lesson Plans
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Dream Big, Little One and Dad, Who Will I Be?
Recommended for grades K-2.
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The Undefeated
Recommended for grades 3-5.
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Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race
Recommended for grades 3-5.
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The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist
Recommended for grades 3-5.
Meet Gabie, Educator & Collaborator
Gabie Mbenza-Ngoma is an imagination enthusiast who has passions for equity, social justice, and education. She has been teaching fourth grade in the Forest Grove School District for the past two years and constantly finds herself in awe of her student's openness to difficult conversations. Her students remind her every day of why equity work is so important. Gabie attended Pacific University where she majored in Education and Learning and minored in Theatre. When not in the classroom, Gabie can be found acting, reading, playing her ukulele, or binge-watching the latest Netflix show.