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5th Grade Diversity Lesson Plan

Teacher:​Miss Mariana Montes

Date:​February 23, 2018
Book:​The Watsons Go To Birmingham
1963
By:​Christopher Curtis
Published:​1995
Grade Level:​5th-7th Grade
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Multicultural Themes
1. Racial segregation and discrimination - The prevalence of discrimination of African
Americans in the US.
2. Socioeconomic inequality - Economics within African American and suburban
community
3. Family bonds - Familial love can overcome the greatest obstacles

Education Standards
CCSS.ELA Literacy.RL.5.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more
individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on
specific information in the text.

CCSS.ELA Literacy.RL.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to
write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

Objective
❏ Students will be able to ​compare and contrast​ characters, settings, and major events
in a story using key details in a story map with 95% accuracy.
❏ Students will be able to ​identify​ ​and ​summarize​ the moral/themes of the story
through peer/group discussion with 95% accuracy.
Materials Needed
➔ The book ​The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963 ​(TWGTB)
➔ Writing utensils (pencils, pens, crayons, markers)
➔ TWGTB question worksheet
➔ TWGTB Story Map
➔ Construction Paper (create your own book)
➔ Safety scissors (to cut construction paper)
➔ Glue/Tape

Procedures
1. Introduction​:​ Review- ask class what happened in chapter 14. Let students make
predictions about the final chapter with their table group. Cold call on one student from
each group and write predictions on the whiteboard.
2. Read​:​ Teacher reads chapter 15 aloud to entire class.
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3. Discuss​:​ (Think, Pair, Share) Students will be addressed the five questions and given time
to reflect on them. Then, students will pair with their shoulder partner and compare
their answers.​ ​After 10 minutes of exchanging opinions, students will share with the
class their answers to the questions. As a class we will discuss the plot of the story and
the author’s message.
a. Why does Kenny decide to hide behind the couch?
b. Why do Momma and Dad start saying nice things about Kenny?
c. What was the “World-Famous Watson Pet Hospital”? Why would Kenny go hide
there?
d. Why do you think Byron called Kenny into the bathroom to show him his facial
hair?
e. How do you think that the Watsons life changed after spending their summer in
Birmingham 1963? Name 3 ways.

Activities
1. Students actively work on TWGTB-1963 story map. They will work in their table group.
Once completed they check in with the teacher and they will receive their next
assignment.
2. Students will grab construction paper and choose their favorite chapter in the book and
summarize it. Students will draw pictures and are required to write 5-6 sentences.
3. Last students will write about a time they ever felt stereotyped or discriminated against.

Evaluation
Objective 1:
Formative assessment of objective 1:
1. Students will have the choice to compare and contrast either two specific characters,
settings, or major events.
Compare and contrast one of the following: you must only pick one:
● Compare and contrast the Kenny and Joey’s response to the bombing (2
similarities and 2 differences).
● Compare and contrast the setting at the start of chapter 15 and the setting at
the end of chapter 15 using at least 5 complete sentences and making at least 3
comparisons.
● Compare and contrast the role that the couch plays during the major event that
occured in chapter 15 and another major event that happened at another point
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in the book.

Objective 2
1. Teacher will check student’s story map for accuracy.