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Summary and Objective
Students will understand that people in this region were thoughtful about the civil rights issues in our country by examining an editorial and article published in the Greenfield Recorder in 1963.
Teaching Plan
Step 1.
Students will be guided to the 2 primary sources associated with this lesson. They will be asked to read the articles.
Step 2.
They will need to answer questions about the articles. When were they written? What was going on in the country relating to civil rights during that immediate time period? (Use the additional website link to help answer this). What was the name of the newspaper? Note that one is an article and the other is an editorial. What do you think are the differences? (Look up editorial in a dictionary if you need help)
Step 3.
Students will be asked to explore the additional website about civil rights. They will be asked to click on “Leaders Route”, then on JFK (John F, Kennedy). Read all about President Kennedy’s involvement in the civil rights movement. After that, students need to click on Martin Luther King, Jr. By reading both these biographies, students will understand that Martin Luther King, Jr. was on one of the main organizers and leaders of this movement from the beginning, whereas President Kennedy’s role was more limited (but very important). These reading will help students understand the importance of the articles and make them more meaningful.
Step 4.
In groups of 3, students will really discuss and fully comprehend the two articles. On a separate piece of paper, students will write a summary sentence for each paragraph. They will then reread their version and make sure that they fully comprehend both articles.
Step 5.
Based on the information you’ve gotten from the articles and additional website, you and your group need to make a poster that could have been displayed at a civil rights rally here in western Massachusetts in 1963. What will your poster say? Are you supportive of President Kennedy? Are you supportive of integration and civil rights for people of color? Remember, you need to use these articles to help you come up with authentic-like posters!
Step 6.
Students will demonstrate the learning goal by being able to make posters that show support for President Kennedy and civil rights. Students can demonstrate even more learning and understanding by adding more details to their posters based on the September 1963 editorial.
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