Reading Activities compiled by Amanda Martin |During Reading | After Reading | 10 “Before” Connections 1. Lee, Gretchen. Homepage. “Mrs. Lee’s Literary Compendium.” Online Units > The Watson’s Go to Birmingham- 1963 > “Pre-Reading Projects” 28 Feb 2006. < http://www.gretchenle.com/online_units/watsons/watson1.html > This website gives a list of various classroom activities to be done prior to reading The Watson’s Go to Birmingham - 1963, many of which center around establishing a historical background for the students concerning the Civil Rights Movement and Birmingham. 2. Kaufman, Scott. “Brief Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement (1954 – 1965)” Departments of English and Comparative Literature. The University of California, Irvine. 28 Feb 2006. < http://www.ags.uci.edu/~skaufman/teaching/win2001ch4.htm> This is a brief, but annotated time line of important events in the American Civil Rights Movements, which would allow students to put the novel into its historical context. 3. John Archibald and Jeff Hansen. “The 1960's: An inside look - KKK used terror with political power.” Sept. 21, 1997. 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.useekufind.com/peace/1960kkk.htm> A website describing the operations of the KKK in the 1960's, this article also references the 16th street bombing and its suspects, giving students a better understanding of the nature of the KKK and its involvement with the events in the novel. 4. Prepared and Compiled by Cary Nelson. “About the 1963 Birmingham Bombing.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/m_r/randall/birmingham.htm> This website provides a description of the 16th street bombing, as well as news articles from the period. It also provides links to the sources from which the information and articles were retrieved, thereby increasing its credibility. As a result, students could view primary sources form the time of the bombing. 5. Teachers@Random Catalog : The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. “Teachers Guide.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780385321754&view=tg> A Teacher’s Guide for the novel, this website provides a note from the author, a suggested pre-reading activity, and other ideas/resources for teaching the novel in the classroom. 6. George, Marshall and Melissa Comer. “Bringing The Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 to the Middle School Classroom.” The ALAN Review. 26: 2. Winter 1999. 28 Feb 2006. < http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter99/george.html> This resource is a 1999 article on the educational merits and possibilities of the novel, including suggestions concerning teaching it and connections to other areas of learning. 7. King, Martin Luther Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail: Birmingham in the 1960's.” The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. Clayborne Carson, ed. (New York: Warner Book, 1998.) 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/liberation_curriculum/pdfs/birminghaminthe60s.pdf> Taken from The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr., “Birmingham in the 1960's” is actually provided here as a resource for King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” but can provide a good description of life in Birmingham in light of the Civil Rights Movement. It would also allow students the opportunity to better understand the severity and impact of segregation in Birmingham in the 1960's. 8. “America’s Most Livable: Birmingham, AL.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.mostlivable.org/cities/birmingham/home.html> This website gives a brief overview of the history of Birmingham, thereby giving students a resource for the physical context of the latter part of the novel. 9. “Online Resource Gallery.” Birmingham Civil Right Institute. 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.bcri.org/tracks/research_resources/online_resource_gallery.htm#> This website, provided by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, gives brief descriptions of key figures in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as links to more detailed information (sometimes including interviews) concerning each individual. As a result, students could become more familiar with the people and ideas that shaped the Civil Rights Movement. 10. “Christopher Paul Curtis.” Random House. 2004. 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.randomhouse.com/features/christopherpaulcurtis/christophercurtis.htm> This source provides brief biographical introduction to the novel’s author, Christopher Paul Curtis, which information could provide certain insights or connections to the scenes and characters presented in The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. 10 “During” Connections 11. P, AW. According to note on site, based on a Webquest by Christine S. Dewey Available at http://library.thinkquest.org/50104/watsons.htm. “The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.tesd.k12.pa.us/tems/library/Watson's.htm > This site contains various activities towards the creation of a Travel Journal for the Watsons’ trip to Birmingham. Covering different aspects of the journey, this page gives students assignments and research ideas for better understanding the context in which the Watsons found themselves. 12. Lamb, Annette. “Literature Learning Ladders - The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.” 1 Oct 1998. Updated Oct 2001. 28 Feb 2006. <http://eduscapes.com/newbery/96c.html> This is just a good, basic website that outlines various links that can give historical background, as well as ways to order learning activities associated with the novel. 13. Enotes.com. “Themes and Characters.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.enotes.com/watsons-go-qn/54868> Enotes.com provides outlines and discussions of the novel similar to the way in which books are presented through Sparknotes. There is a fee, however, to access the full information for a novel. You can pay a one-time fee just to access the info for this book, or pay more to access other books on Enotes as well. 14. Multnomah County Library. Homepage. Readers > Talk it Up! > Discussion Guides > “The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963." 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-watsons.html> This page lists possible discussion questions to spark student involvement and interaction concerning the issues and ideas presented in the novel. 15. PlanetBookClub.com. 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.planetbookclub.com/kids/archive/watsons2.00/watsonsintro.html> This website provides a summary, theme analysis, and collection of lesson plans for teaching the novel, as well as other resources such as a list of suggested books that deal with similar issues like racism, friendship, and discrimination. 16. Mary Chesney, Caterina Delia and Katherine Matuzak. “Educational Resources.” Thinkquest Project. Updated 16 Dec 2002. 28 Feb 2006. <http://t3.preservice.org/~T0300750/edresources.htm> Part of a larger, in-depth project covering the novel in an educational environment, this page provides links to other helpful sites, as well as several suggested activities for teaching the novel. 17. Mary Chesney. “Reader’s Theatre Scripts: The Watsons Go to Birmingham- 1963." Western Michigan University. 28 Feb 2006. <http://t3.preservice.org/~T0300750/rtwatsons.htm> Accessed through the website listed for #16, this is a script presented (as said on the page for #16) not only as a resource for reading the first chapter, but more as an example to teach educators how to create such scripts themselves. 18. Website to Order Book on Tape - Curtis, Christopher Paul. Read by LeVar Burton. The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. Random House: 1996. 28 Feb 2006 <http://library.booksontape.com/bookdetail.cfm/YA166CX> You can order the book on tape from this website in order to use it in the classroom as you read through the novel together. 19. “Battle of the Books Book Links - The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963.” 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.daily-tangents.com/BOB/BookLink/L/L_watso.shtml> This “Battle of the Books” Book Links website provides a number of links to possible activities for the novel. 20. Comprehension Quiz - The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963. 28 Feb 2006. <http://www.tomatotreedesigns.com/teacher/novels/watsons/watsons.html> This is a comprehension quiz for the novel that could be used both during the discussion of the novel, or as a closing activity. 10 “After” Connections 21. “Maine Samplers Part 1: Watsons Go to Birmingham, 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis.” Maine Association of School Libraries. 13 Feb 2006. 2006. <http://www.maslibraries.org/infolit/samplers/watsons.html> This site is a guide for various activities to be used with the novel, based on learning objectives “Maine Learning Results Standards,” which are outlined under each activity. Some of the activities include teaching the students to write a book review, as well as doing guided research for different aspects of the novel. The site also provides links to help students/teachers in their research. 22. Lee, Gretchen. Homepage. “Mrs. Lee’s Literary Compendium.” Online Units > The Watson’s Go to Birmingham- 1963 > “Post-Reading Activities.” 28 Feb 2006 <http://www.gretchenle.com/online_units/watsons/watson1.html> Listed also as a “Before” connection, this website also provides a list of activities meant as “Post-Reading Activities.” These are some unique activities that go beyond the usual essay-writing or test-taking post-reading methods. They include everything from writing diary entries to acting out newscasts, thereby providing a variety of methods so as to best accommodate different learning styles. 23. Peeples, Melanie reports.“16th Street Bombing: Forty Years Later, Birmingham Still Struggles with Violent Past.” National Public Radio. All Things Considered - 15 Sep. 2003. 13 Feb 2006. < http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1431932> A news broadcast discussing Birmingham and the 16th Street Church on the fortieth anniversary of the bombing in the novel, this story focuses on the long-lasting effects of former violence in the area. The story can be read or played from the site and includes personal interviews with 16th Street Church patrons, including one who witnessed the aftermath of the bombing. 24. “The 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing” AfricanAmericans.com. 13 Feb 2006. <http://www.africanamericans.com/BirminghamBombing.htm> This site includes a timeline of the bombing and its related investigations, as well as an article on the 2001 conviction of 62 year-old Thomas Blanton for the crime. Also, the site provides a link for the eulogy given by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for the four girls killed in the blast. 25. “In the Memory of Four Little Girls.” History > 1977 Trial. 13 Feb. 2006. <http://www.useekufind.com/peace/trial.htm> Found on a tribute website for those killed in the bombing, this page provides a number of news articles related to the 1977 trial in the bombing investigation. People can also access the site’s pages on the later trials related to the investigation. This information could be used to help students research the investigation and evaluate the speed or fulfillment of justice in the case. 26. 4 Little Girls: an HBO documentary film in association with 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks production. Dir. Spike Lee. Prods. Spike Lee and Sam Pollard. 1997. According to information from the HBLL website at BYU, this documentary covers the bombing and its place in the Civil Rights movement. Teachers could show all or part of the video depending on what focus they are looking for or whether they are trying to illustrate a certain aspect of the story for their students. 27. “The 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing.” 13 Feb 2006. < http://www.4littlegirls.com/> This homepage gives a timeline of the bombing, as well as links to information about the investigation of the crime. There are also links to purchase books and Spike Lee’s documentary as related to the crime, thus making it a good resource for finding more background information about the bombing. 28. Reno, Janet. “Speech of United States Attorney General Janet Reno.” Rptd. By Eleanor S. Pickett, Certified Shorthand Reporter. 15 Jan. 1997. 13 Feb. 2006. <http://www.4littlegirls.com/renospch.htm> In a transcription found on the website listed for #7, this speech given in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday can be used for students to appreciate the Civil Rights movement. 29.Boyd, Leslie. “A Civil Rights Pilgrimage Takes Participants Back in Time.” Published 18 Apr. 2005. Citizen-Times. 13 Feb. 2006 <http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050418/NEWS01/50418002/1001> This article follows people on a pilgrimage of important sites from the Civil Rights Movement, including the 16th Street Church. It could be used to help students analyze the modern impact of events from the movement, particularly the 1963 Birmingham bombing. 30. Social Stratification in the American South. Course Home Page > Journals. Summer 2003. Dept. of Sociology, Wake Forest University. 13 Feb 2006 <http://www.wfu.edu/academics/sociology/south/journals/7.30.htm> This site provides journal entries from those visiting the bombing site, including observations of life in Birmingham, such as the unusual slowness of the police force. Students could use the observations in proxy of actually visiting Birmingham, and better experience or understand modern Birmingham with a focus on its historical background.