Dear Educators,
As the 2026–2027 academic year begins, the staff at the Robert Russa Moton Museum is pleased to offer a variety of no-cost learning opportunities for you and your students. Our programs are designed to enrich classroom instruction while encouraging students to explore the evolving story of American democracy and civic engagement. For the new school year, Moton’s K–12 educational programming has been updated to align with Virginia’s 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning (SOLs). Whether you’re planning a field trip, preparing a lesson, or looking for resources to help students engage more deeply with history, we hope you’ll make Moton part of your school year.
Why Moton?
At the core of our educational approach are primary sources—documents, photographs, oral histories, images, and artifacts that challenge students to investigate history through multiple perspectives. Our custom-made graphic organizers guide student analysis and reflection, while contextual materials help students better understand the people, events, and decisions they encounter. Students who visit or participate in Moton programs experience the story preserved in our six-gallery permanent exhibition, The Moton School Story: Children of Courage.
They learn how 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns and her fellow students organized the April 23, 1951 strike at Robert Russa Moton High School to protest unequal school conditions. Their actions led to Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County, one of the five cases ultimately decided together in Brown v. Board of Education.
Through a balanced presentation of voices—those advocating for change and those resisting it—we encourage students to examine evidence, consider perspective, and think critically about the choices people made.
Learning at Every Grade Level
Moton offers experiences for students from early elementary through high school. Our current programs are organized by grade level and subject area so educators can easily find an experience that complements what they are teaching.
Grades K–2
Our youngest learners are introduced to the Moton story through familiar ideas such as schools, community helpers, helping classmates, and the choices people make.
Grades 4–6 | Virginia Studies and U.S. History
Students explore Jim Crow school conditions, the Moton student strike, segregation in public education, and the court cases that shaped the long fight to desegregate and preserve public schools.
Grades 7–9 | Civics
Students consider different historical perspectives while examining the 1951 strike, Brown v. Board of Education, and how local and state governments responded to desegregation decisions.
Grades 10–12 | Virginia & U.S. History and U.S. Government
High school students take a deeper look at Moton history alongside national school desegregation cases, constitutional questions, the role of the Supreme Court, and the relationship between government and individual rights.
Flexible Ways to Experience Moton
Educators can choose the format that works best for their students:
- On-site programs at the Robert Russa Moton Museum
- Off-site programs brought directly to your classroom or school
- Virtual programs accessible from wherever you are
A Moton experience can complement a field trip, classroom unit, research assignment, or a larger conversation about history, citizenship, and democracy.
Start Exploring
You don’t have to wait for a field trip to bring Moton into your classroom.
Visit our Educator Resources to explore available programs and access links to primary and secondary sources, classroom materials, and additional resources connected to the Moton story. Use them to prepare students for a visit, build a lesson, support research, or continue the conversation after a Moton program.
We look forward to working with you throughout the 2026–2027 school year—through student visits, classroom programs, virtual experiences, and professional development. And most importantly, all Moton educational programs are offered at no cost.
Ready to plan your Moton experience? Submit a School Group Tour Request.
Regards,
Moton Education Department