The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963, By Christopher Paul Curtis
Final Project guidlines & Rubric are at bottom of page...
Alternate Book Covers:
Amazon Book Review:
The year is 1963, and self-important Byron Watson is the bane of his younger brother Kenny's existence. Constantly in trouble for one thing or another, from straightening his hair into a "conk" to lighting fires to freezing his lips to the mirror of the new family car, Byron finally pushes his family too far. Before this "official juvenile delinquent" can cut school or steal change one more time, Momma and Dad finally make good on their threat to send him to the deep south to spend the summer with his tiny, strict grandmother...
Christopher Paul Curtis's hilarious and deeply moving novel, winner of the Newbery Honor and the Coretta Scott King Honor, blends the fictional account of an African American family with the factual events of the violent summer of 1963...
Getting to Know the 1960's
American Cultural History - 1960's
1960's Flashback
I Love the 1960's
Class Notes
Author Notes - Watsons.Author.ppt
Authors use of Imagery: watsons.images.ppt
Watsons.Introduction.ppt
Lesson includes historical background notes, book interview and Literary Elements review.
Story & Plot Recap - WGTB Recap.ppt
GUIDED QUESTIONS
Chapter 1
What interesting language does the author use to describe how cold it is in Flint?
How does Hambone Henderson try to discourage Wilona from marrying Mr. Watson?
What do you think Mr. Watson thinks of Hambone? How can you tell?
What kind of relationship does Kenny have with his brother, Byron?
How would you describe Byron?
Why does Kenny feel he “won this time” against Byron by the end of the chapter?
Chapter 2
Why do you think Kenny is afraid when he realizes that the reading he has been chosen to do will be for Byron’s class?
What happens after the reading that surprises Kenny in the school yard?
Why is Byron telling Kenny when he says “Give my regards to Clark, Poindexter”?
Why does Kenny see Rufus, the new boy on the bus, as his “personal saver”?
Describe Rufus & Cody.
Chapter 3
Why is Kenny hesitant to spend time with Rufus?
How was Rufus’s life in Arkansas different than it is in Flint?
Why do you think Kenny is friends with LJ, even though LJ isn’t nice to him?
Why does LJ really want to have the “Greatest Dinosaur battle”?
Why is Rufus mad at Kenny?
What does he mean when Kenny says he didn’t automatically look at Rufus & Cody sideways?
How do they end up talking again?
Chapter 4
What kind of relationship does Kenny have with Joetta? Give Examples.
Why do you think Byron stops Larry Dunn from giving Kenny a “Super Maytag” when Byron often plays similar tricks on Kenny himself?
How does the author make the reader sympathize with Larry Dunn?
Have you ever had a problem with a bully at your school? How did you work it out?
Chapter 5
Why do you think Mrs. Watson speaks “Southern-style” when she gets angry?
If you were Mrs. Watson, how would you punish Byron when he plays with fire?
Why do you think Joetta protects Byron so much?
Do you agree with Mrs. Watson’s way of punishing him? Why?
Chapter 6
Why do you think Byron shares the cookies with Kenny?
Why does Kenny continue to take them?
Why do you think Byron gets sick after he kills the mourning dove?
Why does he get angry at Kenny so suddenly?
How does the author show Byron isn’t so “tough” as he thinks he is?
Chapter 7
What is your first clue about Byron’s latest misdeed?Why do you think Byron keeps doing things that his parents have forbidden?
Why is Kenny so eager to tease Byron?
When Byron misbehaves, who handles the situation better, Mr. or Mrs. Watson? Why?
How does Mr. Watson solve the "problem"?
Chapter 8
Why do you think Kenny is so eager to have a real mustache like his dad’s?
Why is Byron acting like nothing big is happening?
Why do the Watsons think Byron will behave better in Alabama (119-123)
Do you think this plan will work?
Chapter 9
Besides not wanting to get hooked on country music, why do you think Daddy decides to install the TT-700 in the Brown Bomber?
Why do you think Joetta wants to keep the angel from Mrs. Davidson in a drawer?
Why do you think Mrs. Watson is so careful with her planning of the trip, such as where the family is going to stay?
FINAL PROJECT
Project Rubric: ABC Rubric.doc
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
1) POWERPOINT 2) ABC Journal
•*1 letter per slide *Be Creative
•*Use Spell Check *Use a “Notebook”
•*Don’t over animate *Spread work out
•*Copyright free images *Be Creative!
