Emily's+Lesson

Class: 8th Grade Enrichment for the PSSA. I get to use American History to help students with their writing and reading skills. I've found that planning my own lessons engages the students more than the PSSA workbooks. My principal has given me permission to use outside resources.

Duration: Two 45 minute classes.


 * E**ssential Question: What role did the Little Rock Nine play in sparking the 1960s Civil Rights Movement?

2. Show students the "We Shall Overcome" poster. [] Ask what they think the poster is about?
 * A**ctivating Strategy: 1. Tell the students "Instead of ER (Enrichment) this morning we are going to play with puzzles. They will be split into two groups and will have 5 minutes to match the pieces of 3 different triangles correctly. The group that completes the assignment first will recieve 2 bonus points towards their next quiz." Without them knowing I'll separate them by hair and eye color; dark hair and dark eyes vs. light hair and light eyes. During the activity I will ignore the light hair/eye group and constantly monitor/help the dark hair/eye group. Also, this group will be given written directions (in addition to me verbally telling them to the class) as well as patterns to show them where the shapes to the 3 different triangles go. Eventually the light hair/eye group will catch on to the inequality, thus leading us into a discussion on why it wasn't fair and how each group felt during the activity. This activity is designed to promote empathy.

1. Students will complete the K section of their KWL on what they know about the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. They will have a little prior knowledge from a video titled "The Shadow of Hate" from []. This video and materials are no longer available, but there are many more AWESOME teaching tools you can get from this website FOR FREE!!!! CHECK IT OUT!!! 2. Students will have an opportunity to share what they wrote. 3. Students will each recieve a copy of the photograph of Elizabeth Eckford on her way to school. They will use this picture to fill out the W on what they want to know about this picture as well as the Civil Rights Movement. [] 4. Next, working with a partner, students will complete the NARA worksheet for analyzing a photograph. 5. If the laptop cart is up and running, students will access the above website which has a personal recollection of that day by Ms. Eckford and some students from the High School. Also, students will read [] which explains the events of 9/23/57. If there is no computer access, I will print these articles for the students to read. 6. As students read the above information, they will complete the L on their KWL. We will then discuss what they learned.
 * T**eaching Strategy:


 * S**ummary: Students will use their KWL chart to write a 3 paragraph summary of the Little Rock Nine. Afterwards, students will get to know what became of the Little Rock Nine by reading this information at the Central High School's website. []