The Watsons Go to The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963Birmingham—1963

Christopher Paul CurtisChristopher Paul Curtis

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: IntroductionIntroduction

Kenny knows why his family is Kenny knows why his family is called “The Weird Watsons”….called “The Weird Watsons”….

But Kenny has his own But Kenny has his own problems……problems……

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: IntroductionIntroduction

- His friend stole his toys.- His friend stole his toys.

He thinks his lazy eye makes him look funny.He thinks his lazy eye makes him look funny.

- His older brother, Byron, is mean to him.- His older brother, Byron, is mean to him.- -

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: PLOTPLOT

One day Kenny’s family decides to take a cross-One day Kenny’s family decides to take a cross-country trip from Michigan to Alabama.country trip from Michigan to Alabama.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: PLOTPLOT

Kenny’s parents have decided that Byron needs to Kenny’s parents have decided that Byron needs to spend a summer in Birmingham with his spend a summer in Birmingham with his grandmother, who’ll teach him how to behave.grandmother, who’ll teach him how to behave.

Kenny thinks this sounds too good to be true. Will one of his problems really go away?

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: CONFLICTCONFLICT

But in Birmingham, Kenny’s problems collide with But in Birmingham, Kenny’s problems collide with America’s problems.America’s problems.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: CONFLICTCONFLICT

On Sunday, September 15, 1963, at 10:22 On Sunday, September 15, 1963, at 10:22 A.M.,A.M., a bomb a bomb exploded in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in exploded in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.Birmingham, Alabama.

Four African American Four African American girlsgirls were killed.were killed.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: ResolutionResolution

Kenny matures…Kenny matures…He learns about the world…He learns about the world…He gets a real, “big brother”…He gets a real, “big brother”…

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: PROJECTPROJECT

ABC’s of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963ABC’s of The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963Your project will illustrate how well you not only remember the events of the story, but how well you understand the literary elements we learned.

Your project may be completed by:1. Using a presentation software (PowerPoint,

Keynote, etc.)2. Journal Notebook

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: Project GuidelinesProject Guidelines

Rubric & Guidelines:

Essential to learning & comprehension Letters A – Z must be used Words, Phrases & Names can be used ONLY ONE TIME Minimum of 10 images must be used Images may be literal or symbolic.

Use The website to review guidelines : NYLEARNSVIEW THE RUBRIC HANDOUT. QUESTIONS?