Scrabble Schools Curriculum Design Project
PROJECT SUMMARY: An outstanding example of the historic “Rosenwald” schools, Scrabble School was built in Rappahannock County, Virginia, during the Jim Crow era of segregation to provide an elementary education to African-American children. Replacing substandard schools African-American children living in Woodville, Sperryville, Slate Mills, Peola Mills, and surrounding areas of the county attended Scrabble between 1921 and 1968, when the public schools were integrated.
Abandoned and nearly forgotten after it was closed, Scrabble School re-opened in 2009 after an extensive restoration. The building is now the home of the Rappahannock Senior Center at Scrabble School. It also houses the Rappahannock African-American Heritage Center, which features an exhibit that tells the story of the school, the community it once served, and its place in local, state, and national history.
Mink’ED worked closely with the Scrabble Schools Foundation to create interactive activities that utilize the best approaches of history education. This curriculum is used to support on-site visits as well as virtual learning: http://www.scrabbleschool.org.
FUNDING & SUPPORT: Funding was provided by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.