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One Big Topic; Many, Many Benchmarks. Combining a favorite novel, argument writing, lots of types of texts, and a research paper to study history deeply By the way, I teach Social Studies, too. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry By Mildred Taylor Background Knowledge.
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One Big Topic; Many, Many Benchmarks Combining a favorite novel, argument writing, lots of types of texts, and a research paper to study history deeply By the way, I teach Social Studies, too.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My CryBy Mildred TaylorBackground Knowledge • What I know/think I know about: • Great Depression • Segregation • Short videos about depression, segregation • “Brother Can You Spare A Dime?” by Bing Crosby
More Background Knowledge • Tenant Farming Role-Playing Demonstration • 1 kid is the landowner (Mr. Granger) • 1 kid runs the store (the Wallaces) • Everyone else is a sharecropper • Show how lack of property leads to perpetual cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement • Economic vulnerability = inability to speak out • Sure glad THAT’S all over with now . . . Wait a minute . . .
While We’re Reading • 1 or 2 question “reading checks” • Class discussion • Questions for close reading/inference/reflection (answered in paragraphs) • 1. a) What do we learn about Mr. Morrison from his story told on Christmas Eve? b) How does this affect your opinion of Mr. Morrison? • 2. a) Why does Papa think that Jeremy and Stacey shouldn’t be friends? b) Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
Writing Assignments • Persuasive Letter • Write as Mrs. Logan trying to persuade her neighbors to shop in Vicksburg instead of at the Wallace store. • Use details from the book to support argument • Follow standard business letter format
ANOTHER WRITING ASSIGNMENT • Argument: Were the Logan children right to turn away from TJ on the night of the revival/store robbery? Should they have forgiven him one last time, or had he crossed the line? • Use details from book • Address opposing viewpoint • Use solid essay structure • Writing conventions (use present tense, book name, author name, etc.)
And then We get Real • Show connection between fiction and history Erik Sass, mentalfloss.com, 2015
Billie Holiday— “Strange Fruit” • Listen to song, read, understand lyrics • Compare to events referred to in Roll of Thunder • Discussion of how art can speak to current and historical events . . . Hamilton, anyone????
Langston Hughes— “song For a Dark Girl” • Close Read/Understand poem • Examine key phrases (“I asked the white Lord Jesus / What was the use of prayer.” • Compare to “Strange Fruit” • Continue discussion of how art interacts with and reflects (and AFFECTS) real life
Provide Context for Current Issues • Understanding this part of history provides a much more nuanced backdrop for discussing things like • #BlackLivesMatter • Confederate flag
And also, pretty much any excuse to Read Langston Hughes, ever. • Lots of other poems/songs could also work
Political Cartoon • “Read” an image • Metacognition: How do you know what the artist is trying to say?
Segregation Ordinances from Birmingham, Alabama • Decode legal language • Understand how pervasive the laws were • Understand motivations behind laws—actual motive v. claimed motive
Let’s Talk Citizenship • Use of non-political talents to make political statements (reach a wider audience) • Discuss right/responsibility to address current and ongoing injustice
Maybe use this chance to get your Thoreau on • Civil Disobedience, anyone??
Research Paper • Desegregation topics: • Jackie Robinson (some less advanced students) • Montgomery Bus Boycott (middle difficulty) • Brown v. Board of Education (advanced students) • Work in groups • Other possibilities: Freedom Riders, March on Washington, etc.
Groups Together • Find Sources • Write works cited pages • Figure out parenthetical citations • Peer Review*
Alone • Take notes • Write outline • Write paper
Research Process • Use State Library online resources/databases • Use notecards • Write draft, then type • Hand in 1st typed draft, conference with me, make revisions
Presentations • Groups create presentations to teach their topic to the rest of the class • By the end, they have a deeper understanding because they spent their time diving into a single topic.