In this activity, learners examine the lives and contributions of lesser-known Black American innovators—past and present—through close reading, discussion, and synthesis. Each week introduces a new theme that highlights a different way people shape communities and history. Learners create Innovator Trading Cards that capture key details about each innovator and prepare those cards for use in a collaborative, challenge-based game later in the playlist. This activity supports historical understanding, literacy skills, and critical thinking by asking learners to connect individual contributions to broader themes of innovation, culture, and community impact.

This is the first of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection: 

• Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards. 

• Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.

In this culminating activity, learners use their completed Innovator Trading Cards to solve community-based challenges. Each challenge requires a balanced team of innovators, with one innovator from each theme. Learners must justify their team choices and explain how different kinds of contributions work together to address complex problems.

This is the second of two activities in the Innovator Trading Card Collection: 

• Activity 1 focuses on the theme of the week, learning about the innovators and their influence, and designing the innovator trading cards. 

• Activity 2 focuses on facilitating the associated game to reinforce learning.