Units on African-American Culture

Title by Linda Gauer

Math The Kilometer Challenge

Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials: paper, pencil, measuring utensils

Objective: The students will be able to learn about distance and African Americans by participating in the kilometer challenge.

Pre-lesson: Have the students all share a black athlete they have heard of with the rest of the class, or have them explore someone. After they have all picked an athlete, have them make name tags and put them on. Tell the students they are going to be that athlete for the activity to follow.

Lesson: Talk about some famous black track runners, and what it would have been like to win, or do as well as they have in the Olympics, or professionally. For example: Jackie Joyner-Kersee(track), Michael Jordan(basketball), Carl Lewis(track), Emitt Smith(Football), Magic Johnson(basketball). Then, talk about what it would be like to run in a trackmeet, and ask how far they think that they could run, or walk. Proceed to ask what a kilometer was, and ask them to give examples of how long they think it is. Have the students measure the perimeter of their school, or school grounds until they reach the distance of a kilometer. Then, ask the class to calculate how many trips around the area would equal one kilometer. As a finale to the measurement feat, ask the class to do a one kilometer walk.

Post-lesson: Have the students pretend they are going to be the athlete that they have chosen, and to pretend they are in a race. At the end of the race present measurement awards and serve refreshments.

Assessment: The students will be observed by the teacher on how well they participate in discussion, and participate in the challenge.

Math A Hodgepodge of Heights



Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials: cutouts of stars, measuring utensils

Objective: The students will be able to learn about African American athletes, and measurement by participating in a measurement activity.

Pre-lesson: Have each student talk about their favorite black athlete. Have them draw and decorate a star cutout. Some examples of athletes are: Michael Irvin (football), Shaquel O’Neil(basketball), Dennis Rodman(basketball), Jackie Joyner-Kersee(track).

Lesson: Enlist the students help in finding out the heights of a variety of famous athletes. Write each person=s name and height on their star cutout; then mount each star on a designated classroom wall at the height listed. As much as possible, involve your students in the measurement process, keeping safety your most concern. Next, have each student personalize a star. Pair the students by height so that each student can measure the height of his /her partner. After the students have listed their heights on their star cutouts, have them mount the stars on the display at the appropriate heights.

Post-Lesson: Have the students write in their journals about what they have learned, and have a class discussion.

Assessment: The students will be observed by the teacher in their participation and capabilities in the activity.





Calendar Companions

Social Studies/Research

Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials: Calendar materials, pictures, research materials

Objective: The students will be able to learn more about famous black people by participating in the daily calendar activities.

Pre-Lesson: Have each student participate in helping make a calendar for the month of February celebrating African American month. Have them brainstorm ideas on how they want to create it, and agree on a plan. Create the calendar, and tell the students they are going to use this calendar everyday.

Lesson: Introduce the students to a variety of famous African-Americans with the pictoral plan. After the daily calendar activity, present a picture of a famous African-American. You can clip pictures from resources like newspapers and discarded magazines. As a class discuss the featured African American and how he or she has influenced the growth and development of our nation. Then showcase the picture near your calendar display. On each day display before introducing that day’s featured African-American. By the end of the month, your students will know a wealth of information about famous African-Americans.

Post-Lesson: Have the students write in their journals about what they have learned about the featured famous African-American.

Assessment: The students will be observed by the teacher on how they participate in discussions, and reflection in their journal.






Drama
Something to Talk About
Grade: 3
Time: Two days

Materials Needed: Paper, pen/pencil, clothing, videotape/recorder

Pre-Lesson: Have a class discussion with the class on how an interview takes place. Talk about the different steps that may need to be taken in order to do an interview. Brainstorm ideas, and as a class decide which format or steps they are going to use to do an interview. Write the process on the board for each to follow to do the activity they are about to do.

Lesson: Pair the students and have each twosome research a different famous African-American. The following famous African-Americans can be used:Ed Bradley, Mae C. Jemison, Rosa Parks, George Washington Carver, Neal Loving, Oprah Winfrey, and others they can find. Then ask each pair of students to present their information in the format of an interview. To do this process, one student will role-play as the interviewer, and the other student will role-play as the famous African-American who has been researched. You could encourage the students to dress for their parts. Have each pair practice their interview, and then have them present them to the rest of the class, or to other classes. It would also be fun to videotape the interviews to let each pair see how they did. After every group has finished the interview, have a class discussion about what they thought of the whole process, asking how they think they did, what they could do better next time, and what they have learned. This activity will probably take more than one period, so two days will be sufficient.

Post-Lesson: Have each student write in their journals about what they learned from the activity on interviews. Have them reflect on what they have learned, and tell about what it would be like to be an interviewer on a talk show.

Assessment: The students will be observed by the teacher on how well they present information about their famous African-American, and how the interview is displayed. They will also be assessed by how well they cooperate with each other and their participation.







Writing
What a Great Photo


Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials Needed: Books, magazines, newspapers, construction paper, glue, markers

Objectives: The students will be able to write different types of sentences by doing a sentence writing activity.

Pre-Lesson: Talk about the different types of sentences that the students are going to write about in their writing assignment. The main types they are going to concentrate on are questions, statements, commands, and exclamatory sentences. Discuss each one in detail, because they are going to need to know how to write these sentences for the activity.

Lesson: Ask each student to find a picture in the newspaper, magazine, or book of a famous African-American person. They can be sports figures, actors, actresses etc.. Encourage them to find a picture of someone they really like, and then have them cut it out and pasted them on construction paper. After each student has found and pasted their famous person, challenge each student to write a question, a statement, a command, and an exclamatory sentence about their picture they have chosen. After the activity is completed check the students writing capabilities. Have each student present their famous person to the rest of the class, and read their sentences they have written. After everyone has presented, later showcase the pictures at a creative writing center that will have already been created.

Post-Lesson: Have the students reflect in their journals about what they have learned, and how they could have done better with the assignment. Have each of them for homework write four more sentences discussed about any African-American person, and bring it to class to hand in the next day.
Assessment: The students will be assessed by how well they write their sentences, and present to the class.





Science
A Celebration of Differences

Grade: 3
Time: Two days

Materials Needed: Cookie cutters, cooking ingredients for cookies, cooking utensils, napkins, oven.

Objectives: The students will be able to recognized differences in people by doing a baking activity, and participating in class discussions.

Pre-Lesson: Have a class discussion on what it means to be unique. Have each student give one example to the rest of the class on why they think they are unique. Talk about different cultures, and what makes each culture different, centering on the African-American culture.

Lesson: To celebrate the differences among people, tell the students they are going to be involved in a baking project. With the help of each student, prepare a batch of their favorite cookie dough. Assign a different task to each student if possible. Then, using a cookie cutter have each student cut out a body shape from the rolled dough. As the cookies bake, talk about how the cookies were made. Guide the students to conclude that while the shapes of the cookies may vary, the cookies are all the same on the inside. When the cookies have cooled, ask each student to decorate a cookie to his liking. To encourage creativity, provide several different colors of frosting and a wide variety of edible cookie decorations. Have each student display his/her work of art on a napkin at their desks. Provide time for each to talk about why they decorate their cookie the way they did, and for each to admire other classmates work. Lead the students to conclude that the differences among the cookies make them unique and special. Then, as the students consume their creations, help them apply this important concept to the world around them.
Post-Lesson: Have the students talk about Bill Cosby, and tell them to give examples of why they think Bill Cosby is so unique. Then, have them write in their journals about what they have learned about the activity.

Assessment: The students will be assessed on how well they cooperate with each other while mixing the ingredients for the cookies, class discussion and participation, and their creations.



Literature/Reading

A Literature Link

Grade: 3

Time: 30 minutes/day=3 days

Materials Needed: Required literature books

Objectives: The students will be able to recognize African-Americans in literature books by being read several books about them.

Pre-Lesson: Discuss as a class about how different cultures are displayed in books, and invite the students to share some books that have displayed pictures of African-Americans.

Lesson: Throughout the month of February, read the following books to the class:
*Our People-Written by Angela Shelf Medearis & Illustrated by Michael Bryant-Antheneum, 1994
As a young girl and her father playfully explore great moments of African-American history, she learns that her people have had a glorious past and that she can have a glorious future.
*Boundless Grace-Written by Mary Hoffman & Illustrated by Caroline Binch-Dial Books For Young Readers, 1995
The spunky heroine of Amazing Grace is back. Grace is reunited with her father-a man who left home when Grace was very small and who now lives in Africa. Grace discovers that even though she and her father live on different continents, the two are connected at the heart
*Joshua’s Masai Mask-Written by Dakari Hru & Illustrated by Anna Rich-Lee & Low Books Inc., 1993
In this modern African-American fable, a young boy realizes that he is proud of his talents and happy to be himself.
*Tanya’s Reunion-Written by Valerie Flournoy & Illustrated by Jerry Pinkeny-Dial Books For Young Readers, 1995
This is a heartwarming new tale about the beloved characters from The Patchwork Quilt. When Tanya and her grandma go to help with preparations for a big family reunion, Tanya learns about he history of the farm where Grandma grew up.
*Uncle Jed’s Barbershop-Written by Margaree King Mitchell & Illustrated by James Ransome-Siman & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1993
Uncle Jed was a man with a dream. Sarah Jean-his niece and now a grown lady-tells the poignant story of her Uncle Jed, his dream, and what he taught her.

Post-Lesson: After each of these stories is read to the class, have a discussion about what the stories were about, and what they learned from them. Have the students write in their journals and reflect about the stories.

Assessment: The students will be assessed on how well they participate in discussions, and their writings in their journals.

Art

Creating the Bulletin Board

Grade: 3
Time: Two days

Materials Needed: Construction paper, letter cut-outs, background paper, pictures, stapler.

Objectives: The students will be able to apply cooperative learning in making a bulletin board in celebration of African-American month.

Pre-Lesson: This will be an introduction to the whole unit on African-Americans. Discuss with the students that the whole month of February will be celebrated in honor of the African Americans, and that as a class they are going to focus on the famous African-Americans.

Lesson: Introduce the students to a variety of famous african-americans. Some examples will be:Thurgood Marshall(became the first Black American to serve on the Supreme Court), Jackie-Joyner-Kersee(won several Olympic gold medals-top athlete of the world in track), Bill Cosby(one of America’s most cherished comedians and actors. Became the first black actor to star in a weekly TV series, Arthur Ashe, Jr(in 1975, he became the first Black American to win the prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament, and Maya Angelou(chosen by President Clinton to write and recite a poem for his presidential inauguration). They can use others if they choose. Have a discussion why these certain people are special, and how they became famous. Then, tell them as a class they are going to create a bulletin board that will be put up throughout the whole month of February.

Post-Lesson: After the bulletin board is put up, have the students summarize how and why they chose the design, pictures, saying, and people they chose.
Assessment: The students will be assessed by how well they cooperate with each other, their creativity, neatness, and the overall final analysis of the bulletin board.

Social Studies/Technology

Computerized Timeline


Grade: 3
Time: Two days

Materials: Computer, research materials

Objectives: The students will be able to learn more about he history of Martin Luther King by developing a computerized timeline of his life.

Pre-Lesson: Introduce to the students a well-known Black American, Martin Luther King, and have a brief discussion about him. Have the students each research his life, using research materials.

Lesson: After the students have research Martin Luther King, have them pair up on a computer and introduce them to the program that makes timelines on the Macintosh. Have them type in all of their findings in order by year. They can create the timeline in any format of their choice. After everyone has finished their timeline, make a print-out of each. Each pair of students can share with the rest of the class what they put in their timeline.

Post-Lesson: Have a discussion over aspects of Martin Luther King’s life. Have each student write in their journals what they have learned about the featured Black American.

Assessment: Each student will be assessed by the information given on their timelines, and how well they work with each pair of students.






Writing

Creating Journals


Time: One day
Materials Needed: Markers, crayons, pencils, notebook(journal), photos, pictures.

Objectives: The students will be able to use their art and writing skillls by creating and decorating a journal only for the month of February.

Pre-Lesson: Have a discussion about what they are expected to do throughout the month of February with their journals. They will be writing in them everyday after each lesson about Black Americans.

Lesson: Have the students decorate their journal however they chose, while listening to music about Black Americans. After they have finished decorating their journals, have each of the students share with the rest of the class their covers, and why what they decorated is special to them. Next, have them start on their first page by writing everything they already know about famous Black Americans, and everything want to learn throughout the month of February.

Post-Lesson: Have each student write down on a piece of paper one thing they want to learn throughout the whole month. Share some of the questions in class.















Poetry/Speaking
Creating Poetry


Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials Needed: Research materials, paper, pencil, markers, construction paper, scissors

Objectives: The students will be able to become familiar with poetry by creating a poem about a famous Black American.

Pre-Lesson: Have a class discussion about what the students think a poem is and ask them to recite a type of poem that they may know. Tell them that poems can be a series of lines that don’t necessarily have to rhyme, and can be as many lines as they choose. Talk about the famous poet Maya Angelou. Tell the students how she was chosen by President Clinton to write and recite a poem for his presidential inauguration.

Lesson: Discuss some of Maya Angelou’s work, and tell the students that they are going to create a poem of their choice about a famous Black American. They can choose any person of their choice, but give them some examples to choose from. For example, Denzel Washington, Bill Cosby, Carl Lewis, Dieon Sanders, and many more. Break the students up into groups of two. Have each group begin writing their poem about the famous person they chose. Have them include their famous person’s name, what made them famous, and some details of their life. After all of the students have finished their poem, have them copy it on to a piece of construction paper, and cut them out in the form of a star. Put the poems on a wall in the classroom so that everyone can see what they have written.

Post-Lesson: Have each pair of students go to the wall where the poems are and tell the rest of the class who they have chosen to write their poem about, and why. Have them read the poem to the rest of the class. Have the students write in their journals about what they have learned about creating poetry.

Assessment: The students will be assessed by how well they have written their poems, using correct grammar, and form.





Technology


Encarta 96
Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials Needed: Computer, Encarta CD, journals

Objectives: The students will learn more about famous Black Americans by viewing a program called Encarta 96’ on the computer.

Pre-Lesson: Have a discussion about some of the great things that have happened in history involving famous Black Americans. Include some names that have already been viewed on the Encarta 96’ CD, such as Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Magic Johnson etc..

Lesson: Have each student view the Encarta 96’CD at the computer. Take them into the Black history setting where they can find out about many famous Black Americans. Have them pick out one in particular, and jot down some notes about them. They will be able to see pictures, and
listen to various music, and see write ups about the various Black Americans. Some of the Black Americans include James Baldwin, Alex Haley, August Wilson, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Wynton Marsalis, Thurogood Marshall, and Martin Luther King. There are others they can look at along with these. After they have written all they have wanted, tell them they can search other categories on the Encarta dealing with Black Americans. Such categories include: Blacks in America, History, Reconsruction, New York City, Religion, Migration, Abolitionists, Slavery, American Art, Folk Art, and Caribbean.

Post-Lesson: After everyone has surfed throught the Encarta CD, come back as a class and have a discussion about what everyone had found. Go around the room and let each student share who they read and wrote about, and what they found out. Have them put their information on construction paper, and post them up on the wall by the bulletin board. Have the students write in their journals about what they have learned and found on the Encarta.

Assessment: The students will be assessed by how well they put their information they found on the Encarta and present it to the class.





Writing
Final Evaluation

Grade: 3
Time: One day

Materials Needed: Tape/CD player, various tapes/cd’s, journals

Objectives: The students will be able to summarize the whole month of February by writing out everything they have learned.

Pre-Lesson: Talk about some of the different types of music that we listen to today. For example, pop rock, country, alternative, rap, jazz, blues, heavy metal, soft rock, etc..Center on the type of music that some of the historical Black Americans have listened to or written. Have a class discussion about the differences in the types of songs.

Lesson: For the students final evaluation over the African-American month, have them write down everything that they have learned throughout all of the lessons. Tell them to write everything in detail, complete sentences, and proper English. Then, ask them to pick out one thing they liked best about the months activities, and why they liked it. While the students are doing their writings, play some songs about Black Americans, or some songs that have been written by them. Examples of songs might be: "The World of Duke Ellington", "Jo", "Hear America Singing", "The Black Composer", "Big Bill Blues".

Post-Lesson: After every student has finished their writing, have each of them share the one thing they liked best about African-American month.

Assessment: The students will be assessed by how well they write their summary of the month. Their English, complete sentences, content, and spelling will be observed.