Black History Month Talkativity

Re-Engagement Activity with Black History Month Theme

Quick Talk or Quick Write Activity for Engagement or Re-Engagement1. Post one of these 10 Images of Famous African Americans in your live lesson in any order you wish2. Ask the questions provided to start a conversation OR make your own questions3. Just let the conversation go where it may. If no reaction at the beginning of the lesson, try in the middle or at the end.4. Even the little ELs will have thoughts about these images. I have given you information on why each is famous so you can enlighten your ELs.

Answers about these famous people are on the next slide so you can copy and paste the image and questions separately. Have fun and see where the talk/write goes. Please let me know if you and your class engage a bit more.

This is a famous basketball player from Philadelphia. How tall do you think he is? Why was he special?

Wilt Chamberlain was the first NBA player to score more than 30,000 cumulative points over his career, and the first and only player to score 100 points in a single game.

What is his profession?Where is he in this photo?Why do you think he is famous?

Cameron Jibril Thomaz, also known as Wiz Khalifa, moved to Pittsburgh in High School. Khalifa burst on the national scene in 2010 with the breakout No. 1 single “Black and Yellow,” which became an anthem for the Steelers.

In what sport did he win these trophies? Why do you think he became worldwide famous in 1948?

Henry Ewell was born in Harrisburg, attended J.P. McCaskey High School in Lancaster and graduated from Penn State University. The sprinter won a gold medal and two silver medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics. In 1986, he was inducted into the National Track and Field Hall of Fame.

What is this man wearing and why? What is his profession? Why is he famous and important?

Robert Nix served as chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court from 1984 to 1996. He was the first black chief justice of any state's highest court. He was born in Philadelphia.

Why is this astronaut a famous Pennsylvanian? Do you think it is difficult to become an astronuat? Why or why not?

Guion S. Bluford was the first African-American astronaut in space. He was born in Philadelphia.

What job did these men do? When do you think they did this? Why are they special?

Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military pilot team or squadron. They are known for their wartime achievements during World War II.

Where is this woman in Photo 1? Where is she in Photo 2?What happened and why?

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. This small act triggered civil rights protests across America and earned Rosa Parks the title "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement."

These photos show the real women (Photo 1) and the movie actresses of these women (Photo 2). Why was a movie made about them do you think?What profession were they in and why is that special?

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

These women were the first black managers at Langley and it was their brilliant work that propelled the first American, John Glenn, into orbit in 1962. "Hidden Figures" focuses on three brilliant mathematicians and engineers: Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan.

What is happening in this picture?Why is the musician so famous?What kind of music is he playing?What kind of music do you like?

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

Louis Armstrong nicknamed was an American trumpeter and vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and several eras in the history of jazz.

What is her profession? Where is she in this photo? Her profession helped her create a toy. What kind of toy do you think she created?

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

Jackie Ormes: The First African-American Woman Cartoonist, Ormes was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in Monongahela. In the mid-1930s, her single-panel cartoon, 'Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger,' was so popular that Ormes developed Patty-Jo character dolls. Unfortunately, Ormes' success was limited because her cartoons were printed only in black-owned newspapers."

Hopefully these got your class talking or writing for fun and to improve their skills.