SLIS 5970.001, Mini Mester
Multicultural Literature
Activity
About
the Book: The
Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan embark on a trip to see Grandma in Birmingham,
Alabama. Momma, Dad, little sister
Joetta, big brother Byron and Kenny head South not knowing that they are about
to experience one of the most horrific acts of violence against
African-Americans in American history.
Christopher Paul Curtis takes a difficult subject,
adds humor and the perspective of a young boy (Kenny) to explain what life was
like in the 1960’s for African-Americans. At first we identify with the Watsons
because our family antics closely resembles theirs, but as we ride with them
through the South our belief system is rocked.
We find ourselves shaken about like snowflakes in a snowglobe and when
it stops we are not standing where we thought we were. The Watsons are not a family one forgets
after finishing the novel; their struggles stay with us long after.
About
the Author: Christopher
Paul Curtis grew up in Flint, Michigan.
After high school he began working on the assembly line at the Fisher
Body Plant No. 1 while attending the Flint branch of the University of
Michigan. He found himself unhappy and
his wife told him to take a year off and write since that was where his heart
was. After a year’s hiatus from the
assembly line he published The Watsons go
to Birmingham which won him the Coretta Scott King Honor and Newbery
Honor. His second book Bud, not Buddy won him the Newbery Award and the Corretta Scott King
Award. He and his wife, Kay, have two
children, Steven and Cydney, and live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Before
Reading Activity: The following would be done in centers with each group doing a different
activity.
· Group 1: Students list what they know about the early 1960’s – how people dressed, who was in the news, popular music and the mood of the country; students would use online and print resources for research.
· Group 2: Students would create a time line of the events that took place from 1960-1970 so a historical connection can be made to the time the novel takes place.
· Group 3: Students will plot a road trip from Flint, Michigan to Birmingham, Alabama.
· Group 4: Students will compile records, tapes, CDs or mp3 files of music reminiscent of the 1960’s, especially African-American music.
After
Reading Activity:
· Activity 1: As a class we discuss the work of all the groups done prior to starting the novel. We compare the student research with the events, details and music from the novel.
· Activity 2: The students will choose one of the following activities and choose to share their work with the class:
-
Use
a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast your family with the Weird Watsons.
- Write a funny scene to insert in the novel.
- Write and perform a book talk encouraging others to read the book.