The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Introduction: This is a very special book. It starts with humor and ends with tragedy. The Watsons: Mother, Father, older son Byron, next son Kenny and daughter Joetta live in Flint, Michigan. Most of the first part of the book is devoted to the high-jinks, many of them hilarious, of Byron who walks on the edge of delinquency. Often it's the tears and protests of the little sister that keeps Byron from being severely punished. Although his parents are loving and have great senses of humor, they are finally pushed into doing something drastic about Byron. The decision is made to drive to Birmingham, where Mrs. Watsons' mother lives and leave Byron with her for the summer, maybe even for the next school year. The trip to Birmingham brings the children to their first experience with segregation. After a warm welcome at their Grandmother Sands' house, it is Kenny, not Byron, who gets in trouble. He nearly drowns and it is Byron who saves him. The real climax comes when the church Sunday school that Joetta is attending is bombed. Fortunately, she escaped injury but it is some time before the family realizes this. The horror of it all is too much for Kenny, however. The family, including Byron, come back to Michigan and, again, it is Byron who saves the day by helping Kenny accept the unfairness of the tragedy.
Essential Questions:
What are the drawbacks of prejudice and the positive aspects of diversity?
How does reading about the past help us understand the present?
What are the drawbacks of prejudice and the positive aspects of diversity?
How does reading about the past help us understand the present?
Introduction Slideshow
the_watsons_go_to_birmingham_newest.pptx | |
File Size: | 529 kb |
File Type: | pptx |
Interactive Reading Response Journal--open the document below and save it to your H:drive. We will be using this document to record our responses after each chapter from our novel. This will be used as an assessment grade.
journal_cover_(1).doc | |
File Size: | 74 kb |
File Type: | doc |