Humor
Thank you, Congressman
Congressman John Lewis was a man that I hope every American can look up to. He literally put his life on the line in the fight for civil rights. With everything that he went through, it amazes me how positive his outlook on life was. He did no just embody what it was to be a great politician, he embodied what it was to be a great human being. In the later part of his life, he catapulted himself to celebrity status by using humor as a way to connect with everyday Americans. I hope that students can see Congressman Lewis as a shining example of what it means to get into "good trouble." The resources below focus on difficult topics to talk about, but looking at them critically though the lens of humor will allow students to begin engaging with them.
History
Jabari Asim's Preaching to the Chickens: The story of young John Lewis would be an excellent read aloud book to give students a backstory on the kind of person that John Lewis. Throughout his life, Lewis always advocated for non-violent protest. This book would be a fun way to show students that Lewis cared about every life, including his families chickens. |
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Culture
I personally believe that John Lewis' final words are a must listen for every American. In this piece, Morgan Freeman, one of the most recognizable voices today, reads John Lewis' final words. I would suggest that you have students listen to just the audio so they can focus on every word without any distractions. |
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History
Here is an excellent video that explains what Black Lives Matter is, and why it is important. Many of the topics surrounding Black Lives Matter are very similar to many of the things that John Lewis fought for. I think that this video is excellent for kids because of its animation-style which keeps the weight of the subject, but also makes it more accessible to younger viewers. |
Culture
Throughout John Lewis' life he was arrested numerous times for peacefully protesting. A great activity that students could do to learn about the court system and how it works is through mock trials. This would be a great way for students to understand what happens to someone after they are arrested. Mock trials may seem a little boring to students, so I suggest using tools like the infographic on the right to make it more fun. To incorporate technology, you could have a group of students be a news crew that films and covers the trial for the class. Encourage your students to act their hearts out! Tip: Try having a mock trial on a fictional character from a popular book, movie, or television show! |