The author describes teaching eighth-grade students about the civil rights movement. Teachers used photographs of students in the 1950s as a central theme of their unit about the U.S. civil rights movement. Using these photographs as a learning tool inspired the students to be engaged in history. At the end of the unit, students were able to compare and contrast the state of civil rights and racism in the 1950s and today. Teachers also used local history as a context to teach the national civil rights movement. The author provides a sample lesson plan, classroom resources, and rubrics. The following are appended: (1) Teaching Methodology; (2) Anticipation Guide; (3) Question Helper; and (4) Scoring Rubric for the Photo Project Persuasive Essay. (Contains 1 table.)