The following sites can be used to support and enrich
the civil rights multi-book unit, which features the titles I
Know Why the Caged Bird Sings; Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry; To Kill a Mockingbird;
and The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963.
Exploring Civil Rights
- The
Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Here is the complete text of one of
the nation's most important pieces of legislation. Among other things, the
document secures voting rights for all people and orders an end to discrimination
and segregation in schools, public places, and workplaces.
- Timeline
of the Civil Rights Movement –
This site presents a timeline of major events in the Civil Rights movement
that took place from 1954–1971. Events highlighted include the Montgomery
Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, the march on Washington, and the riots in
Selma.
- We
Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement – This
site allows visitors to view and read about key places and events of the Civil
Rights movement.
Understanding African American History
- The
African American Journey – Created by World Book in honor of
Black History Month, this comprehensive site covers topics such as the slave
trade, the Civil War era, and The Civil Rights era. Visitors will find a slide
show, timelines, and illustrations.
- Black
History: Exploring African American Issues on the Web – Here
is a collection of web activities and links that will help visitors to learn
about important people and events in African American history.
The Great Depression
Related Readings/Other Media Available Online
- "A
Black Man Talks of Reaping" by Arna Bontempts – Read four
poems by author Arna Bontempts, including "A Black Man Talks or Reaping."
His pieces explore the heritage and struggles of African Americans.
- "Dream
Variations" and "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes – Read
two lyric poems dealing with aspects of the African American experience.
- "Lift
Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson – Read the text
of the song by James Weldon Johnson that has come to be called the African
American National Athem.
- Martin
Luther King, Jr. Papers Project – Scan this site for Martin Luther
King, Jr.'s most famous papers, speeches, and sermons.
- Smithsonian
Folkways: An Anthology of African American Poetry for Young People
– Visit this site by Smithsonian Folkways to purchase a cassette
tape ($10.00) of author Arna Bontempts reading selections from his distinguished
anthology, An Anthology of African American Poetry for Young People. Bontempts
reads poetry by Langston Hughes, Sterling Brown, and Claude McKay. Visitors
who install Real Audio version 5.0 or higher can listen to select poems online.
- Southern
Poverty Law Center: Teaching Tolerance
– The Southern Poverty Law Center is a nonprofit organization that fights
hate, intolerance, and discrimination through education and litigation. The
organization's Teaching Tolerance program offers teachers a variety of resources
for fostering equity, respect, and understanding in the classroom. Visit this
site to download ideas and activities for teaching tolerance, to share your
own thoughts on the subject, and to order resources such as A Time for Justice,
the award-winning video on the civil rights movement; and Free at Last, an
illustrated text chronicling the civil rights movement.
Author Information and Teaching Guides
- Dr.
Maya Angelou: The Official Website – Angelou's official site
gives biographical information, details on her latest projects and achievements,
and a list of her works.
- Maya
Angelou Teacher Resource File –
This site by the Internet School Library Media Center presents biographies,
book reviews, lessons plans, articles, and other resources related to Angelou's
work.
- Christopher
Paul Curtis on National Public Radio – Listen to a radio
interview with Christopher Paul Curtis using RealAudio. Curtis discusses The
Watson's Go to Birmingham–1963 as well as his other award-winning
novel, Bud, Not Buddy.
- Christopher
Paul Curtis Teacher Resource Page – This site by the Internet
School Library Media Center presents biographies, book reviews, lessons plans,
articles, and other resources related to Curtis's work.
- Christopher
Paul Curtis: Washington Post.Com
– This Washington Post interview describes Curtis's journey from
working in an auto plant to being an award-winning writer.
- To
Kill a Mockingbird and Harper Lee – This site
presents many links to information on Harper Lee and her famous novel. Visitors
will find answers to frequently asked questions, the publication history of
To Kill a Mockingbird, a discussion of the film, information on the
novel's real-life setting, four essays by Lee, and links to other To Kill
a Mockingbird sites.
- To
Kill a Mockingbird: The Student Survival Guide – This
site supports students' reading of To Kill a Mockingbird without giving
away the novel's plot. It focuses on explaining words, allusions, and idioms
in the novel that may be unfamiliar to students. Students can view complete,
chapter-by-chapter word lists or they can search for a particular word or
phrase.
- To
Kill a Mockingbird Teaching Guide – This teaching
guide provides writing prompts, activities, and other resources.
- To
Kill a Mockingbird: Then and Now – This site
provides educators with activities, historical information, and other teaching
resources.
- Mildred
Taylor (Eric Clearinghouse on Reading, English, and Communication)
– This site provides lesson plans, biographical sites, and reviews
that will help in the teaching of Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry and
other Mildred Taylor books.
- Mildred
Taylor Teacher Resource File – This site by the Internet School
Library Media Center presents a biography, book reviews, lessons plans, articles,
and other resources related to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Mildred
Taylor's other popular works.