Lesson 6: Day 3 - History of ICY

Google Doc for this Lesson

Activity 1: Introducing the ICY Graduation

Overview: In this activity, students will be introduced to the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY) through the idea of a graduation ceremony. 

Time: 15 minutes

Format: Whole Group

Objective: SWBAT identify key elements of past Institute for Colored Youth graduation ceremonies and compare them to contemporary educational activities in Philadelphia.

• Project the ICY Grad site.

• Read about the ICY graduation aloud and watch the short video. 

• Explain to students that they will write essays that connect historical moments and figures with present day moments.  

• Invite students to share their initial thoughts and questions about the upcoming ICY Graduation. 

Activity 2: Exploring ICY Graduates

Time: 35 minutes

Format: Small Groups

Overview: In this activity, students will step into history by exploring a digital archive of Institute for Colored Youth graduates. The website highlights graduates of the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY) — one of the most important schools for Black education in the 19th century. Each graduate’s story shows how ICY prepared young people to become leaders in the world.

Objective: SWBAT investigate the stories of ICY graduates by exploring a digital archive, identifying key details about their accomplishments, and connecting their lives to broader themes of Black education and leadership.

• Introduce the idea: “Imagine you are attending an ICY graduation — today we’ll meet the graduates through a digital archive.”

• Read ahead of time, and provide a brief overview of the history  History of the Institute for Colored Youth 

• Show the Institute for Colored Youth Faculty, 1852-1866 page and review the list of Faculty members.

• Project ICY Textbooks and Graduates and read the bio on John Smythe.

• Show the Biographical Sketches by Fanny Jackson Coppin and review how to find details.

• Divide students into small groups of three to four students.

• • Explain that each group will choose a graduate to investigate.

• Share the ICY Graduate Research Organizer and invite students to work on the ICY Grad activity in small groups. 

• • Invite students to make their own copies: ICY Graduate Research Organizer- Make a Copy