In Honor of John Lewis, Congressman and Civil Rights Leader, 1940-2020
Preaching to the chickens : the story of young John Lewis by Asim, Jabari — Nancy Paulsen Books, 2016 328.73; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.9. Gives readers a...glimpse into the boyhood of Civil Rights leader John Lewis. John wants to be a preacher when he grows up--a leader whose words stir hearts to change, minds to think, and bodies to take action. But why wait? When John is put in charge of the family farm's flock of chickens, he discovers that they make a wonderful congregation! So he preaches to his flock, and they listen, content under his watchful care, riveted by the rhythm of his voice. Includes an author's note about John Lewis, who grew up to be a member of the Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and demonstrator on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, and was a Georgia congressman. CCBC
Rationale: Originally, I planned to feature Voice of Freedom : the Story of Fannie Lou Hamer (Candlewick, 2018) this week, but with the death of Congressman John Lewis this weekend, I rearranged my plans. Although Peaching to the Chickens was not selected as a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, it did receive a number of accolades : Junior Library Guild Selection, Notable Children's Book, CCBC Choice, Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Books, and Best Illustrated Children’s Book. It also does not fit the time frame I have arbitrarily set for this year’s My Books Alive criteria, but it definitely fits the theme of the summer. John Lewis’ death puts him front and center as a person of color who used methods unlike those being promoted in 2020. His modus operandi needs to be examined.
I first became aware of John Lewis, not through his work, but through a fellow civil rights worker who was a colleague--named Jim Zwerg. Mr. Zwerg was born and raised in Appleton, Wisconsin, near where I have spent my entire librarian and teaching life. It was through newspaper articles about Mr. Zwerg that I first learned about John Lewis and have followed Lewis’ and Zwerg’s lives since. Both men had the same mission and values in life, but one was black and one is white.
Much of the lesson developed to pay tribute to Lewis is based on the Lesson Plan from Lee & Low for the book John Lewis in the Lead : A Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Haskins and Benson https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/LeeandLow/John_Lewis_tg.pdf
Grades 5-8--A Tribute to John Lewis, Civil Rights Leader
Background: Students in small cities and rural America have little knowledge about the Civil Rights Movement and the lives of people of color and the struggles they have had to be fully equal in American society. That is one of the reasons began the summer series. John Lewis was one of the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement
Preparation: Write the following questions on different pages of chart paper or on sentence strips.
- How would you define injustice? What examples of injustice in today’s news can you name?
- What is courage? Give some examples.
- How do you expect to be treated by others? How do you try to treat other people? How do you feel if people don’t treat you well or fairly?
- What do you know about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States? Who were some of the movement’s leaders?
- What are some laws you know about? How do they affect your life? How can laws be changed in the United States?
Gather any newspaper headlines or articles about John Lewis’ death.
Introduction: We’re going to think about some tough topics today. I need you to think hard and maybe outside the box. I need you to be honest and not laugh or ridicule somebody’s ideas and thoughts. Everyone’s ideas need to be heard. (Now pose one of the above questions, and allow as much time as needed or productive discussion is occurring.)
An important advocate and worker for Civil Rights died on Friday, July 17th, 2020. Does anybody know his name? (Hopefully you will get an answer that is correct.) Even when he was a young boy, he had a lot to say about important topics. His young life is described in the book, Preaching to the Chickens.
Read aloud: Preaching to the chickens : the story of young John Lewis by Asim, Jabari — Nancy Paulsen Books, 2016 328.73; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.9.
How did Mr. Lewis’s childhood impact his outlook on life?
(Ask several of the above questions again. Were there any new ideas? Any changed ideas?)
Optional Extension: Spend a day reading around the classroom or family table. Read one of books in the related list below as you pay tribute to Mr. Lewis. The procedure of reading around the classroom or table involves passing a copy of the book being read randomly around the table. When the book is passed, each student or family member, or the person to the right or left of the new reader asks a question about the previous reading. This is a simple way to keep people focused rather than daydreaming. The first time this method is used there may need to be coaching to help keep participants on tack.
Related Titles and their Resources:
Freedom riders : John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Bausum, Ann — National Geographic, 2006 323; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.0. Black America -- White America -- Common ground -- Early rides -- Blood brothers -- Rolling on -- Separate paths -- Toward one America -- Partial roster of Riders -- Chronology. Recounts the freedom ride of John Lewis and Jim Zwerg into the South in 1961 as part of the Civil Rights Movement.
Lesson Plan from Ann Bausum http://www.annbausum.com/freedom-riders.html#top
Audiobook Excerpt narrated by Cecelia Riddett (3:40 min.) https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=2996
Video Book Trailer from Read On Wisconsin https://readon.education.wisc.edu/?page_id=2255
John Lewis, civil rights leader and congressman (Freedom's Promise) by Harris, Duchess — Core Library, an imprint of Abdo Publishing, 2020 323; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.1. John Lewis was an influential African American politician who played a key role in the civil rights movement. He raised awareness of racial discrimination and violence in the 1960s. 'John Lewis: Civil Rights Leader and Congressman' explores Lewis's activism and political career. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
John Lewis in the lead : a story of the Civil Rights Movement by Haskins, James — Lee & Low Books, 2006 323; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.3. An illustrated biography of Georgia congressman John Lewis, focusing on his activities on behalf of civil rights, specifically his leadership in the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, in an effort to secure voting rights for African-Americans. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
Teacher Resources:
For Peaching to the Chickens
Support Materials from Reading is Fundamental (membership may be required to access) https://www.rif.org/literacy-central/book/preaching-chickens-story-young-john-lewis
Read Aloud Tips from New Balanced Literacy Schools https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs.roosevelt.edu/dist/5/293/files/2019/07/Information-Sheet-Preaching-to-the-Chickens-1.pdf
Discussion Questions from Unleashing Readers
Audiobook Excerpt narrated by Kevin R. Free (.44 min.) https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=18808
Little legends : exceptional men in black history by Harrison, Vashti — Little, Brown and Company, 2019
305.38; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.5. . . . this . . . volume brings to life true stories of black men in history. Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and artists, politicians and pop stars, athletes and activists. The exceptional men featured include artist Aaron Douglas, civil rights leader John Lewis, dancer Alvin Ailey, filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, musician Prince, photographer Gordon Parks, tennis champion Arthur Ashe, and writer James Baldwin.
