The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963

Curtis, C. P. (1995). The watsons go to birmingham-1963. New York, NY: Laurel-Leaf Books.

Kenneth Watson and his family decide to make a trip to visit Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama, with the excuse that they can't handle Byron's mischievous behavior and it's time for him to see what the real world is about. At the time of their trip, the South had passed laws that allowed discrimination and segregation against African Americans. Kenny's life changes as he experiences first-hand the bombing of the Birmingham church near his Grandmother's home. The family is scorned by this cruel event and struggles to get their lives back in order.  

This book could be used in a fifth grade history lesson: This book may be used to introduce the civil rights movement and to show how African Americans suffered due to discrimination and segregation in the 1960's. After reading the book, explain how the bombing of the church in this story links to discrimination and segregation. Have students research the bombing at the Sixteen Street Baptist Church on September 15, 1963 as this was the inspiration to writing this fictional book. Have the students write a summary of their findings. Have students share their summaries either in pairs, groups of three, or one at a time (teacher's choice).

TEKS: 5.5.A (5) History. The student understands important issues, events, and individuals in the United States during the 20th and 21st centuries. The student is expected to:

(A) analyze various issues and events of the 20th century such as industrialization, urbanization, increased use of oil and gas, the Great Depression, the world wars, the civil rights movement, and military actions