College of Education Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading

Lesson Plans & Curricular Resources

The online lesson plan exemplars below are designed for educators, preservice teachers, leaders and community partners to use as tools for developing their own culturally responsive coursework.

Users are welcome to implement these lessons directly in their classrooms or adapt them to meet the unique needs of students and the learning environment. The exemplars vary by topic and grade level, and many are intentionally flexible and can be used across multiple content areas.

Review each lesson carefully before implementing it, and make any necessary adjustments to align with the needs of your students and learning goals.

Grades 6-12

Coalitions Between AAPI and Black Community

Identity and Intersectionality Lesson Exemplar

Grades 8-12

Latine Desegregation Lesson Exemplar

Lavender Scare Lesson Exemplar

This Story Matters: Text Rationales for Culturally Responsive Classrooms

A collection of text rationales was developed to support Illinois educators in advancing the Illinois Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading (CRTL) Standards, which call on teachers to provide students with learning experiences that honor multiple perspectives, histories, and identities. Each rationale follows a consistent structure adapted from the National Council of Teachers of English model and is tailored to the context in Illinois. Learn more.

College of Education Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading