6th Grade Lessons and Materials

LP1.Poems.pdf

Poetry & Music (Grade 6)

Topic: Poetry and Music

Learning Activities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Teacher will review genres of writing: poetry, songs, fiction prose and nonfiction prose

Student will participate in class reading/discussion of The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963

Students will listen to the poem “Ballad of Birmingham”, and the song “Birmingham Sunday” noting words that create sensory impressions

Student will read two newspaper articles with differing slants about the bombing, noting the use of language and how it differs from modern language

Divide students into two groups, one which will compare the song and poem and one which will compare the newspaper articles

LP2.Journaling.pdf

Journaling with Oral Histories #1 (Grade 6)

Topic: Journaling with Oral Histories #1

Learning Activities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Teacher will introduce the concept of journaling in which someone writes down his or her life experiences, thoughts or emotions, usually with no plans for sharing

Teacher will discuss the concept of empathy and using our own experiences to relate to other’s struggles

Teacher will discuss how the expression of the journaled experience might differ from one that is published

Students will choose one or two events from Marian Caudle’s oral interview to write a one page (two paragraph) journal entry, focusing on the feelings and thought she may have been having that she didn’t necessarily share in the interview

Student will create an illustration for the journal entry

LP3.Songs.pdf

Protest Songs (Grade 6)

Topic: Protest Songs

Learning Activities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Students will choose a song from the suggested list, look up the lyrics and write a response

Students’ response will include the following information: (Title; Lyrics; Artist’s name (if more than one, choose one or list them all); and, Is the song tied to a specific event? Name it.)

Student will create an illustration of a line or a stanza of the song.

Students will write a 2-3 sentence personal response that includes whether s/he had

ever heard the song, what it makes them feel and how it compares to songs used in present day protests.

LP4.Timelines.pdf

Timelines (Grade 6)

Topic: Timelines

Learning Activities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Teacher will introduce how to create a timeline (choose period, create a vertical or horizontal line with the time periods equidistant apart)

Students will choose five to seven events from the suggested list of events and research the event, making special note of the date.

Students will put the events in the correct order and placement on their timeline.

Student will create an illustration for three of the events they have listed.

Students will write a 2-3 sentence summary of their chosen events.

LP5.Journaling.pdf

Journaling with Oral Histories #2 (Grade 6)

Topic: Journaling with Oral Histories #2

Learning Actitivities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Teacher will introduce the concept of journaling in which someone writes down his or her life experiences, thoughts or emotions, usually with no plans for sharing

Teacher will discuss the concept of empathy and using our own experiences to relate to other’s struggles

Teacher will discuss how the expression of the journaled experience might differ from one that is published

Students will choose one or two events from Marian Caudle’s oral interview to write a one page (two paragraph) journal entry, focusing on the feelings and thought she may have been having that she didn’t necessarily share in the interview

Student will create an illustration for the journal entry

LP6.Protest.pdf

Protest Then and Now (Grade 6)

Topic: Protest Then and Now

Learning Actitivities:

Teacher will introduce time period of major civil rights events in the Unites States and in North Alabama.

Teacher will introduce the concept of protest and how it has been used historically to drive change

Students will engage in discussion about the controversial nature of protest (those that decry change often feel any type of protest is a problem)

Students will choose one modern and one historical protest and prepare an oral presentation giving background and analysis as follows: (Date or duration of protest; Immediate cause of protest; Historical cause of protest; Main players for change; Inclusion of allies; Description of protest and aftermath; Outcomes/results of protest; and, Provide music, videos, or pictures of protest)

6th Grade Resources