No Prep Plans: People Who Shaped America – Alabama | Percy Julian

No Prep Plans: People Who Shaped America – Alabama | Percy Julian
Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit | Grades 4–8

Introduce your students to Percy Julian, one of America's most influential chemists and innovators whose groundbreaking discoveries transformed medicine and industry. Through guided research, historical thinking, and a creative Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit Project, students will explore how Julian overcame barriers to become a pioneering scientist whose work continues to improve lives around the world.

Designed for Grades 4–8, this engaging no-prep lesson combines U.S. history, science, literacy, and project-based learning into an easy-to-use classroom resource.

What's Included
- Complete Teacher Direction Page with options for one or two 45–60 minute class periods
- Student Research & Investigation Worksheet
- Student Hall of Fame Museum Exhibit Planning Page
- Student Reflection & Historical Thinking Worksheet
- Online research recommendations using free educational resources
- Full-color printable version
- Black-and-white printer-friendly version

Students Will
- Learn about the life and accomplishments of Percy Julian
- Investigate how his research with soybeans led to affordable medicines and life-changing scientific advances
- Explore his invention of a fire-fighting foam that protected sailors during World War II
- Examine the barriers he overcame as a Black scientist in the early twentieth century
- Design a creative Hall of Fame museum exhibit celebrating his discoveries and lasting contributions
- Reflect on perseverance, innovation, problem-solving, and the importance of scientific research

Perfect For
- U.S. History
- Social Studies
- Science Integration
- STEM Enrichment
- Alabama History
- Black History Month
- Project-Based Learning (PBL)
- Independent Research
- Homeschool
- Emergency Substitute Plans

This lesson is part of the People Who Shaped America series, a growing collection of engaging history resources that highlights influential individuals from every U.S. state. Each state features ten remarkable people whose leadership, discoveries, creativity, courage, or achievements helped shape the history of America.
The series is designed to move beyond memorizing names and dates by encouraging students to investigate the people behind major historical events while strengthening research, critical thinking, writing, creativity, and project-based learning skills.

This resource is intended to complement your existing U.S. history or social studies curriculum and provide students with meaningful opportunities to explore the lives and lasting impact of influential Americans.