Gallery Walk: Redlining and the HOLC Maps
A station-based gallery walk for 9th graders that traces redlining through 1930s HOLC maps of Chicago and related primary sources, building historical analysis, evidence-based discussion, and written reasoning about how housing policy shaped segregation. It includes guiding questions at each station and works well as a 50-minute opening activity before a unit on systemic racism.
“starting a rasin in the sun. looking for some good opening activites. starting with redlineing or the 5 levels of racism.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as an opening activity for your unit: have students rotate through stations in small groups, spending about 5 to 7 minutes per station, then debrief as a whole class for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Discussion question: Why might a bank's "risk" rating of a neighborhood have depended on who lived there rather than on the property itself?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a copy of the map legend and a simple graphic organizer that pairs each color with its rating and a plain-language definition before students begin the walk.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare a Chicago HOLC map with present-day home ownership or lending data and write a short argument about whether the effects of redlining persist.
- Estimated time: Roughly 50 minutes total, including the gallery walk and a brief reflection exit ticket.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free“starting a rasin in the sun. looking for some good opening activites. starting with redlineing or the 5 levels of racism.”
Teacher Guide & Tips
- Use this as an opening activity for your unit: have students rotate through stations in small groups, spending about 5 to 7 minutes per station, then debrief as a whole class for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Discussion question: Why might a bank's "risk" rating of a neighborhood have depended on who lived there rather than on the property itself?
- Scaffold for struggling readers: Provide a copy of the map legend and a simple graphic organizer that pairs each color with its rating and a plain-language definition before students begin the walk.
- Extension for advanced students: Ask them to compare a Chicago HOLC map with present-day home ownership or lending data and write a short argument about whether the effects of redlining persist.
- Estimated time: Roughly 50 minutes total, including the gallery walk and a brief reflection exit ticket.
Gallery Walk: Redlining and the HOLC Maps
A station-based gallery walk for 9th graders that traces redlining through 1930s HOLC maps of Chicago and related primary sources, building historical analysis, evidence-based discussion, and written reasoning about how housing policy shaped segregation. It includes guiding questions at each station and works well as a 50-minute opening activity before a unit on systemic racism.
What is Diffit?
Teachers use Diffit to get quality materials for their unique classrooms. Adjust difficulty, add scaffolds, or change the topic to get started.
Try Diffit for free