Designed to be used with the sound-color filmstrip "Reconstruction: The Promise and Betrayal of Democracy," these learning activities are intended to help students in grades 5-9 develop critical thinking about how their textbook presents the Reconstruction Era. The activities focus on many ideas. Some of the focusing ideas presented are that racism and white supremacy conflict with the principles of the Declaration of Independence; that black people and some whites worked to end slavery and make the principles of the United States come true; and that land was a crucial need of the freedpeople and the lack of land redistribution was a fundamental failure of Reconstruction. Students read and discuss short reading selections provided and analyze the filmstrip. Each activity provides a focusing idea, objectives, information on time required, materials needed, teacher preparation, and classroom procedure. Bibliographies of additional student readings are also supplied. (RM)