Chapter 14 Lesson Plan: The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963
Grade Level:
Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
Subject:
Literacy and Language Arts,Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
Essential Question
How does making art help you to process hard feelings?
Objective
Drawing on historical newspaper articles and contemporary scholarship, students will collaborate to create works that honor the lives of the 4 little girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
Background
Kenny witnesses a horrific scene at the Birmingham church: people are screaming as
the lifeless bodies of young girls are pulled from the rubble. While Kenny doesn’t
learn the details of the Birmingham church bombing until chapter 15, he knows that
girls similar in age to Joey were killed. In this activity, students will research the four
youth who lost their lives in the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing: Addie Mae
Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. Drawing on historical
newspaper articles and contemporary scholarship, students will collaborate to create
works that honor their lives.
The following offers some background on each of the four girls:
* Addie Mae Collins: Addie Mae was a student at Ullman High School in Birmingham. She was known for her love of singing and often sang in her church choir. She had a twin sister named Sarah, who survived the bombing. Addie Mae's family had moved to Birmingham from rural Alabama in search of better opportunities.
* Denise McNair: Denise was also a student at Ullman High School. She was a talented musician and played piano and violin. She was known for her outgoing personality and love of life. Her family had deep roots in Birmingham and was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement.
* Carole Robertson: Carole was a student at Parker High School in Birmingham. She was an honor student and a talented athlete. She was also involved in her church and was known for her kindness and generosity. Carole's father was a prominent businessman in Birmingham and was active in the Civil Rights Movement.
* Cynthia Wesley: Cynthia was a student at the segregated Miles College in Birmingham. She was a talented artist and had a passion for drawing and painting. She was also active in her church and had a deep faith. Cynthia's father was a minister and had been a leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham.
Preparation
Gather materials:
* Class copies of The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963
* Tablets or similar devices with internet access
* Art supplies such as craft paper, watercolors, markers, glue sticks, rulers, etc.
* Printer (optional)
Procedure
* Lead the class in a short recap of the chapter (what happened to Joey and what Kenny witnessed).
* Ask students to turn to the book’s dedication page, explaining that those four young people were victims of the 1963 bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Church. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 was written in honor of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley.
* Christopher Paul Curtis’s novel is one of many ways to memorialize these lives.
* Create another in any genre (e.g., collage, song, sculpture, poem).
* To shorten this activity: Reduce the amount of time for creating a memorial.
* To lengthen this activity: Have groups share their work with the rest of the class via a classroom “gallery" or discussion
Contact Information
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Tags: civil rights lesson plans 16th street baptist church birmingham civil rights national monument art lesson plan social studies lesson plan language arts lesson plan the watsons go to birmingham christopher paul curtis
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service