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File this Minute under "bet you didn't know!" Roxie always has something new for her readers, with the bonus of her fantastic art to bring her stories to visual life. |
English/Language Arts
Explore themes in writing - overcoming adversity
While students may not be familiar with the story of Bessie Coleman prior to reading this Minute, they should recognize the theme of someone beating the odds and overcoming an obstacle or obstacles in his/her life. See if your students can identify a similar theme in a book or program they’ve read or seen. What are the common elements? Now that they recognize the theme, send them off to their writing journals to write to a prompt: How have you (or someone close to you) overcome adversity in your life?
Explore themes in writing - inspiration
Though not a theme in this Minute, Author Munro does share that Bessie Coleman and her exploits served as an inspiration for many young African Americans, including astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison. Have your students think about who may be an inspiration in their lives, and how and who they hope to inspire in the future.
Social Studies
Explore international cultural elements - ethnic discrimination
Students may be surprised by Author Munro’s revelation that the discrimination so widely practiced against those of African heritage in the US was not a similar cultural characteristic of France. Have your students take a global look at the roots of ethnic discrimination in the US and compare it against ethnic discrimination in other countries and cultures. Are there common elements that emerge? If we can determine the reasons for discrimination, can we brainstorm solutions to change and eventually eliminate it? What evidence can your students find and cite to support their arguments?
Explore Geography
Trace Bessie’s journey from birth in Texas, to youth in Chicago, to aviation school in France and back to New York, Memphis, Chicago and Los Angeles. Find her path to Ohio, Texas, and Florida, and challenge students to estimate how many miles she travelled in her explorations. Make sure you have students look up the word “barnstormer” so they can picture exactly what kind of aircraft Bessie was flying!
STEM
Explore Aviation through model airplanes
Can your students build a model of a plane that does tricks? Share some video footage of the aviation gymnastics performed by barnstorming troops in the early twentieth century. How do you design to defy gravity? Give your students some aviation basics and some simple materials - paper, string, balsa, glue - and see what they can do! Make sure they track their process and progress as they work. When one thing does not perform as expected, how do they make decisions about what to change? How do they test it?
Explore themes in writing - overcoming adversity
While students may not be familiar with the story of Bessie Coleman prior to reading this Minute, they should recognize the theme of someone beating the odds and overcoming an obstacle or obstacles in his/her life. See if your students can identify a similar theme in a book or program they’ve read or seen. What are the common elements? Now that they recognize the theme, send them off to their writing journals to write to a prompt: How have you (or someone close to you) overcome adversity in your life?
Explore themes in writing - inspiration
Though not a theme in this Minute, Author Munro does share that Bessie Coleman and her exploits served as an inspiration for many young African Americans, including astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison. Have your students think about who may be an inspiration in their lives, and how and who they hope to inspire in the future.
Social Studies
Explore international cultural elements - ethnic discrimination
Students may be surprised by Author Munro’s revelation that the discrimination so widely practiced against those of African heritage in the US was not a similar cultural characteristic of France. Have your students take a global look at the roots of ethnic discrimination in the US and compare it against ethnic discrimination in other countries and cultures. Are there common elements that emerge? If we can determine the reasons for discrimination, can we brainstorm solutions to change and eventually eliminate it? What evidence can your students find and cite to support their arguments?
Explore Geography
Trace Bessie’s journey from birth in Texas, to youth in Chicago, to aviation school in France and back to New York, Memphis, Chicago and Los Angeles. Find her path to Ohio, Texas, and Florida, and challenge students to estimate how many miles she travelled in her explorations. Make sure you have students look up the word “barnstormer” so they can picture exactly what kind of aircraft Bessie was flying!
STEM
Explore Aviation through model airplanes
Can your students build a model of a plane that does tricks? Share some video footage of the aviation gymnastics performed by barnstorming troops in the early twentieth century. How do you design to defy gravity? Give your students some aviation basics and some simple materials - paper, string, balsa, glue - and see what they can do! Make sure they track their process and progress as they work. When one thing does not perform as expected, how do they make decisions about what to change? How do they test it?
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission
