No Prep Plans: People Who Shaped America Alaska: Elizabeth Peratrovich

Elizabeth Peratrovich | No Prep Plans: People Who Shaped America – Alaska
Research + Monument Design Project
Grades 4–8
Introduce your students to the remarkable life and legacy of Elizabeth Peratrovich, the Tlingit civil rights leader whose courageous advocacy helped secure the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945—the first anti-discrimination law of its kind in the United States. Through research, discussion, collaboration, and creative design, students explore how one determined individual helped bring lasting change.

Instead of simply memorizing historical facts, students investigate Elizabeth Peratrovich's leadership, examine the importance of civil rights, and explore how monuments preserve history by designing a meaningful memorial that communicates her lasting impact.
This ready-to-use lesson requires minimal teacher preparation and combines history, research, critical thinking, art, and collaborative learning into one engaging classroom experience.

What's Included
- Full Teacher Direction Page (45–60 minute lesson)
- Student Overview with background reading
- Mini Research Questions
- Group Activity Directions
- Online Research Resources
- Student Research & Design Inspiration Worksheet
- Monument Planning Worksheet
- Reflection & Personal Connections Worksheet
- Color and Black & White student pages
- Print-ready PDF format

Students Will Learn About
- Elizabeth Peratrovich's life and leadership
- Alaska Native history and culture
- The Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945
- Civil rights and peaceful advocacy
- How monuments preserve history
- Leadership, courage, and civic responsibility
- Historical symbolism in public art

Skills Developed
- Historical research
- Reading informational text
- Critical thinking
- Evidence-based reasoning
- Collaboration
- Creative design
- Public speaking
- Reflection and self-assessment

Perfect For
- Alaska History
- U.S. History
- State History Units
- Civics
- Social Studies
- Indigenous History
- Civil Rights Studies
- Project-Based Learning
- Substitute Plans
- Independent Learning
- Upper Elementary and Middle School (Grades 4–8)

This lesson is part of the People Who Shaped America series, which introduces students to influential individuals from every state through engaging research activities and creative projects that help learners connect historical figures with the lasting impact they have had on their communities, states, and the nation.