Stacey Hembree
Fifth Grade

NC Standard Course of Study Curriculum Goals for Fifth Grade Social Studies

Objective 1.2 : Describe similarities and differences among the people of the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
Objective 1.3 :  Assess the role and status of individuals and groups in the United States, Canada, and Latin America past and present.

Overall Objective: Students will learn more about Dr. King’s life and what he accomplished as a civil rights leader. Students will understand the connection of the book to Dr. King’s role in having a Civil Rights Movement.
 

Materials:  novel, The Friendship
                  envelopes and colored pencils
                  paper
                  picture of Dr. Martin Luther King
                  Books about Dr. King (listed below)
                  poem

Focus and Review: Show the picture of Dr. King and ask the students who this man is and why he is important.  Review with students about the Jim Crow laws and how they effected the black community.

Anticipatory Set:  Today we are going to work together to find out how Dr. King fought against the Jim Crow laws.  First I would like to read a story to you that will show the word prejudice and how people during the 1930's struggled with seeing eye to eye.  This book to was written by the author, Mildred Taylor.  The book is called The Friendship, I would like for you to listen carefully to this story because it is a true story.  As I read think about what the main problem is in the story.   I would like for you to brainstorm and think about how the African-Americans were treated by the white people in this story.

Guided Practice:  Divide students into groups.  Have each group research a specific time period in Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.  For example, childhood, college, years in seminary etc.  Provide each group with books, such as the ones listed as resources.  Have the school librarian help direct students to additional, helpful information.  In their research have the students answer the following questions.
-What most impressed you about Dr. King?
-What event(s) stand out most in your mind?
Each group should present their information to the class by making a poster or other visual.
 

Independent Practice:  Think about what we have learned today from each group about Dr. King.  From what you have learned how do you think Dr. King would have reacted to hearing the story of The Friendship?  From the research you completed today on Dr. King choose a character  in the story to write to.  In your letter tell the character about Dr. King and his life.  If you choose to write Tom Bee you could tell him that he was a lot like Dr. King because he did not use violence and he was brave when white people persecuted him.  If you chose to write John Wallace you could let him know that one day in the
future white people would not be able to treat black people in the way he did because Martin Luther King lay the ground for blacks rights. Students will be given an envelope, colored pencils, and paper.  Students will need to illustrate their character on their envelope and this will cover the postage and the address.
 

Closure: The students will share their letters and envelopes to the whole class.  The class and the teacher will make a Venn diagram comparing the prejudice of the 1930's (using The Friendship book as a reference) and the prejudices found during Martin Luther King Junior's life (1950's and 60's).

References:

Adler, D. (1986). Martin Luther King, Jr. :Free at Last. New York: Holiday House.
 
Fox, M.V. (1989). About Martin Luther King Day. Hillside, NJ: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
 
Haskins, J. (1992). I Have a Dream. Brookfield, CT: The Milbrook Press.
 
Lambert, K.K. (1993). Martin Luther King, Jr. :Civil Rights Leader. New York: Chelsea House Publishers.
 
Livingston, M.C. (1985). Celebrations. New York: Scholastic Inc.
 
Lowery, L. (1987). Martin Luther King Day. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books.
 
McKissack, P.C. (1986). Our Martin Luther King Book. Chicago, IL: Childrens Press.
 
Sorensen, L. (1994). Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Vero Beach, FL: The Rourke Press, Inc.