Lesson 14 | The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 | 6th Grade English

Lesson Overview

Objective

Analyze the impact of literary devices and how they help develop mood and meaning in the poem "Mother to Son."

Readings and Materials

Poem: “Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes

Lesson Notes

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Lesson Map

Describe how author Christopher Paul Curtis reveals the narrator's perspective in the first chapter of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 1–7 — Chapter 1, end at "...cold can kill you!"

Standards

RL.6.6

Lesson

Explain how author Christopher Paul Curtis develops the narrator's unique point of view in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 7–19 — Chapter 1, start at "I didn't hear any sound. . ."

Standards

RL.6.6

Lesson

Explain how Christopher Paul Curtis develops Kenny's point of view of himself and other characters.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 20–31 — Chapter 2

Standards

RL.6.6

Lesson

Explain how Kenny's perspective of himself and other characters develops and changes throughout the novel.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 32–46 — Chapter 3

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.6

Lesson

Writing

Unpack a prompt, study a mentor text, and gather evidence in preparation for writing a paragraph response.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 20–46 — Chapters 2 and 3

Standards

RL.6.3W.6.1W.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Synthesize annotations and create a strong outline for a paragraph response.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 20–46 — Chapters 2 and 3

Standards

RL.6.3W.6.1W.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Draft a paragraph response and revise for analysis.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 20–46 — Chapters 2 and 3

Standards

RL.6.3W.6.1.aW.6.1.bW.6.1.cW.6.5

Lesson

Explain how and why characters respond and change in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 47–63

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.6

Lesson

Explain how author Christopher Paul Curtis develops the perspective of his narrator and other characters in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 64–85 — Chapters 5 and 6

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.6

Lesson

Provide an objective summary of a nonfiction text.

Materials

“Siblings...”

Standards

RI.6.2

Lesson

Craft an objective summary of a section of text in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 86–99 — Chapter 7

Standards

RL.6.2

Lesson

Explain how Kenny develops and changes to drive the plot forward.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 100–120 — Chapter 8

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.4

Lesson

Write an objective summary of a section of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 121–137 — Chapter 9

Standards

RL.6.2

Lesson

Analyze the impact of literary devices and how they help develop mood and meaning in the poem "Mother to Son."

Materials

“Mother...”

Standards

RL.6.4

Lesson

Writing

Gather evidence and create an outline in response to a writing prompt.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 122–125
“Mother...”

Standards

RL.6.9W.6.1W.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Draft and revise a paragraph response, focusing on writing strong claims, analysis, and introducing evidence effectively.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 122–125
“Mother...”

Standards

RL.6.9W.6.1W.6.1.aW.6.1.bW.6.1.c

Lesson

Explain the purpose and impact of "The Green Book" using text, audio, and visual resources.

Materials

The Negro Motorist...
“Green Book...”

Standards

RI.6.7

Lesson

Analyze how the author develops and contrasts characters' perspectives in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 138–161 — Chapters 10 and 11

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.6

Lesson

Explain how characters respond and change as the plot of The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 progresses.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 162–179 — Chapters 12 and 13

Standards

RL.6.3

Lesson

Writing

Unpack a prompt, study a Mentor Text, and begin a plan for rewriting a scene from The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 from a new perspective.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 12–13
TWGTB pp. 178–179

Standards

W.6.3W.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Outline and draft narratives.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 178–179

Standards

W.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.3.bW.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Revise narratives for descriptive language and sensory details, and identify the cases of pronouns in writing.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 178–179

Standards

L.6.1L.6.1.aW.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.3.bW.6.3.d

Lesson

Analyze how Christopher Paul Curtis develops the mood in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 180–190

Standards

RL.6.4

Lesson

Identify how Kenny's point of view changes throughout the novel.

Materials

TWGTB pp. 191–206 — Chapter 15

Standards

RL.6.3RL.6.6

Lesson

Integrate information from the article and photos to understand the impact of segregation on African Americans in Alabama.

Materials

“'Segregation Forever'”
At Segregated...
Department Store
Segregated Laundry...
Outside Looking In

Standards

RI.6.7

Lesson

Explain how Randall develops voice and perspective in the poem "The Ballad of Birmingham."

Materials

“The Ballad...”
TWGTB pp. 180–190

Standards

RL.6.6RL.6.9

Lesson

Socratic Seminar

Take a clear position on a question and share evidence to support that point of view in a Socratic dialogue.

Materials

TWGTB

Standards

SL.6.1SL.6.1.aSL.6.1.bSL.6.4

Lesson

Writing

Unpack the expectations of a writing task, study a mentor text, and begin to plan a personal narrative.

Materials

“The Drive-In Movies”

Standards

W.6.3W.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Outline and begin to draft narratives.

Materials

“The Drive-In Movies”

Standards

W.6.3W.6.3.aW.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Write strong conclusions and revise drafts for descriptive language.

Materials

“The Drive-In Movies”

Standards

W.6.3W.6.3.bW.6.3.dW.6.3.eW.6.5

Lesson

Writing

Provide peer feedback and self-assess using a rubric.

Materials

“The Drive-In Movies”
Narrative Writing: Memoir (Essay) Rubric (6–8)

Standards

W.6.3W.6.5

Lesson

Assessment

2 days

Gauge student understanding of unit content and skills with one of Fishtank's unit assessments.

Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

Lesson Overview

Objective

Readings and Materials

Lesson Map

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School Information

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Math

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Finding Your Way: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963

Lesson Overview

Are You Sure?

Objective

Readings and Materials

Are You Sure?

Request a Demo

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students