Have students step into Reconstruction and tell the story of freedom through the voice of someone living it.
 
In this multimedia project, students create a short TikTok-style video or mini-podcast episode from the perspective of a fictional but historically grounded individual navigating life after emancipation.

Instead of summarizing Reconstruction, students interpret it through lived experience—building empathy, accuracy, and a strong narrative while grounding their work in historical evidence.

 
What’s Included
Step-by-step project instructions 
Character planning guide
Script/storyboard planning sheets
Reflection prompt
Grading rubric
Teacher guide
 
What Students Will Learn
Identify major challenges faced by freed African Americans after emancipation
Explain the role of the Freedmen’s Bureau, Black Codes, and racial violence
Apply historical evidence to a fictional but accurate narrative
Develop empathy through perspective-based storytelling
Communicate historical understanding using digital media
 
Grades: 8–12
Duration: 2–3 Class Periods
DOK Level: 3
Format: Digital Multimedia Project