Are We There Yet!?

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 - Christopher Paul Curtis

In this book, the Watsons head to Birmingham (1963) to visit Grandma Sands. Their visit happens during the Civil Rights Movement. The book shows how the racism and the violence in the South at this time changed many families forever. The narrator, Kenny, witnessed a church bombing and became depressed as a result, believing only magic can heal him. Depending on grade level, I would use selected passages (lower grades) or the entire book (upper grades). Students can write a letter explaining why the Civil Rights Movement is important to the United States. Math can also be integrated with this book. Students will be assigned a certain amount of money and must plan a trip to Birmingham. 

 

Reading Level: Lexile 920L

 

Grades: 5-8th