Lesson 14 - I Have A Dream

Date: April 1, 2010
Teacher: Mr. West
Subject: 6th Language Arts
Lesson 14 – I Have a Dream

Standards:
Explore expressive materials that are read, heard, or viewed.
Interpret and synthesize information from a variety of sources.
Use critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate text and multimedia.

What we will learn (objectives):
To analyze persuasive language in literature
To explore new vocabulary words
To display their understanding of the symbolism and references that Dr. King used to enrich his famous speech on August 28, 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial by constructing a “jackdaw,” a collection of documents and objects.
To understand that Dr. King’s personal experiences affected the words and references he made in his speech.
To understand that the Civil Rights movement had an impact on this speech.
To understand that American history influenced his speech and affected the literary references he made.
To interpret his use of metaphor and simile.


What we will read or study (content):
“I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How we will study it (process):
Students will be introduced to Dr. King and the era when he was alive. As we have recently finished reading “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” students will have some background knowledge regarding discrimination in the 30s.
Students will watch Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. give his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. Copies of the speech will be made available for those who would like to read along.

After listening to the speech, we will have a class discussion using the following questions:
*What issues did MLK, Jr. talk about in this speech?
*Consider the sentence, “We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now.” What does King mean by the phrase “this hallowed spot?” What does he mean by the phrase “the fierce urgency of now?”
*What perspectives did people have on those issues in the 1960s? What is your evidence?
*How have those perspectives changed since the 1960s?

Explain that the word “jackdaw” is an old-fashioned word for a crow, and crows are known to steal things and put them in caches. A jackdaw is a collection based on a historical event, historical figure or period, often includes facsimile copies of diaries, letters, newspaper articles, advertisements, or other evidence from the time. The gifted ed teacher will bring a previously constructed jackdaw on the poem “The Road Not Taken,” a poem we read at the beginning of the year.

Display the documents and objects in the model jackdaw and explain how they relate to the subject (you might have the kids guess the subject of the jackdaw). Tell the students that the container must also relate to the subject matter.

Go over the rubric used to evaluate their jackdaw. Remind them that the subject of the jackdaw is the speech, not Martin Luther King, Jr., although items about him will definitely be appropriate to use in this project.

Explain that they will have to create some items, others they include as is. Remind students that weapons are not appropriate for inclusion. Encourage neatness and creativity in completion of their projects.

Next, working in teams/partners, the students will highlight/underline metaphors (pink) and similes (yellow) in the speech.
Brainstorm information the students know about MKL, Jr.’s life. How might that have impacted his speech?
What documents did he refer and why did he include them?

Students will begin to create a list of 10 documents and 10 objects to include in their jackdaw (with a final list of 5). What type of documents/objects could be used to illustrate important points of the speech? What type of documents/objects connect the speech to you? What can be included as examples of similes/metaphors from the speech?

Students will have available to them paper bags and small boxes. Can they think of any other containers? How will these containers be made to relate to the speech?

Students will use their list of objects and documents to choose items for their jackdaw. They will need to use art supplies, reference materials and possibly the computer to create some items. Some may need to be labeled. Some reference material will be made available on our e-chalk class page.

Students will construct their jackdaw container by decorating and modifying the shape/size of the box/bag.

Students will present their jackdaws in class.

How we will know we learned something (product):
Jackdaw

Who will score/grade what?:
To be determined

How will we differentiate content/process/product (if applicable):
Content: MLK, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech

Process: Student interpretation

Product: Jackdaw



Homework:
As needed to complete the project

What will we do at our next meeting?
Discuss how the lesson went, ways to modify for next year, next steps for the rest of the year.

Retrieved and modified March 30, 2010 from:
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/3085
http://cosee-central-gom.org/seascholars/lesson_plans/lesson1web/car4a1.html



I Have A Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now that you have heard and read Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech, you will now create a jackdaw. Remember a jackdaw is an old-fashioned word for a crow, and crows are known to steal things and put them in caches. A jackdaw is a collection based on a historical event, historical figure or period, and often includes facsimile copies of diaries, letters, newspaper articles, advertisements, or other evidence from the time.

The rubric on the back shows how you will be graded.

You will need to include at least 5 items in your jackdaw. Your container must relate to the speech as well. You may use items to represent actual items in the speech, or symbolic items. Some may need labels. You may create some of the items or gather them from home.

Our class e-chalk page will have some additional resources for you!

Did you include:

o Container design that represents the speech?
o Documents (copies of real documents, or ones that you created?)
o Objects
o Figurative Language (something that represents similes or metaphors found in the speech?)
o Historical coverage (Civil Rights movement, Dr. King’s life, slavery, U.S. documents, songs)


I Have A Dream Jackdaw Rubric

Your project will be graded as follows:
Strongly Weakly
1. Container design (20%) 5 4 3 2 1 0
Reflects something connected to the speech
Neatness
Originality
Comment:


2. Documents (20%) 5 4 3 2 1 0
Reflect ideas connected to the speech
Neatness
Completeness
Originality
Required number present
Comment:


3. Objects (20%) 5 4 3 2 1 0
Reflect ideas connected to the speech
Neatness
Completeness
Originality
Required number present
Comment:


4. Figurative Language (20%) 5 4 3 2 1 0
Inclusion of metaphors
Inclusion of similes
Comment:


5. Historical Coverage (20%) 5 4 3 2 1 0
Civil Rights movement
Dr. King’s life
Slavery
U. S. documents
Songs
Comment: