Mrs. Johnson’s Classroom Edit display name

About my class

Having a classroom sets of the novel "The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963" by Christopher Paul Curtis will allow my students to become engaged in a chapter book while collaborating with each other. The novel is a story of a loving African-American family living in the town of Flint, Michigan, in 1963. When the oldest son, Byran, begins to get into a bit of trouble, the parents decide he should spend the summer and possibly the next school year with Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama. The book takes place during the Civil Rights Movement. Approaching the civil rights movement through this novel will capture the attention of my students while also allowing them to experience the importance of this movement in history. I want to help my students understand that history does not simply happen to strangers, but to people just like them. I want my students to feel fortunate to live in a country where everyone has the opportunity and ability to succeed, regardless of their race, culture, or background. Help my 5th graders develop a passion for reading and learn to reflect on and discuss thought-provoking literature. After completing the novel, my students will be given the opportunity to travel to Birmingham, AL and experience The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.