A tall Black man wearing a suit and tie smiles wide while standing next to a shorter Black woman wearing a suit jacket and blue blouse.

Lesson Plan

Mayoral Firsts: Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin

This lesson introduces students to the impactful lives of Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin, highlighting their early backgrounds, significant accomplishments, and lasting contributions to the city’s history.

About this lesson

Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin, two iconic figures in Atlanta’s political history, played pivotal roles in advancing black political progress. Maynard Jackson, as Atlanta’s first black mayor, blazed a trail by implementing groundbreaking policies to ensure greater participation of minority businesses in city contracts, thereby promoting economic empowerment within the black community. His legacy was carried forward by Shirley Franklin, Atlanta’s first female mayor, who emphasized ethics, transparency, and fiscal responsibility in governance. Their combined efforts not only reshaped Atlanta into a more inclusive and equitable city but also served as a beacon of inspiration for the broader black political movement in the United States. Their historic tenures symbolize the enduring importance of representation and leadership in the ongoing journey toward political equity and social justice.

Grade Level

  • Grade Level

    Kindergarten, First, Second

  • Subject

    Civics, Social Studies

  • Duration

    45 minutes

  • Class Period Structure

    One 45-minute class period

  • Activity, Background Essay, Biographies, Glossary, Primary Sources, Secondary Sources, Timeline

  • At the end of this lesson students will be able to:

    • Identify and describe the role and responsibilities of a mayor.
    • Locate Atlanta, Georgia on a map and understand that it is a city where Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin served as mayors.
    • Compare and contrast the experiences and contributions of Maynard Jackson and Shirley Franklin as they relate to their roles as mayors.

  • It will be helpful for students to be familiar with:

    • Basic understanding of what a mayor is.
    • Awareness that cities have leaders who make important decisions.
    • Recognition of the concept of “firsts” or pioneers who do something important for the first time.

  • Georgia

    SSKCG1: Demonstrate an understanding of good citizenship.

    SSKCG2: Describe examples of positive character traits exhibited by good citizens such as honesty, patriotism, courtesy, respect, pride, and self-control.

    SS2CG1: Define the concept of government and the need for rules and laws.

    SS2CG2: Identify the following elected officials of the executive branch and where they work.

    1. Mayor (leader of a city) and city hall

    ELAGSE2RI7: Explain how specific images (e.g., a diagram showing how a machine works) contribute to and clarify a text.

    ELAGSE2W8: Recall information from experiences or gather information from provided sources to answer a question.

    ELAGSE2SL1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 2 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

    ELAGSE2SL2: Recount or describe key ideas or details from written texts read aloud or information presented orally or through other media.

Supporting Materials

Primary Source

Glossary

  • Capital –

    The location of a government.

  • Capitol –

    The building where a state legislature meets.

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