In their study of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., fifth grade students in Joanna Zalewski’s class at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School contemplated how to do better in the world.

The class first participated in a read-aloud of Dr. Angela Farris Watkins’ “My Uncle Martin’s Big Heart” and then read Linda Lowry’s “Martin Luther King Day” with a partner before contemplating and discussing the books’ themes and how they adopt Dr. King’s teachings.

The class also collectively read and acted out a Storyworks original play by Mack Lewis called “Sitting Down,” which fictionally recounted the 1960 lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina. While acting out the play, the students were asked to think about what they felt was the most powerful line in the play, the conjured feelings people must have experienced at that event and connections to prior readings.

In their writer’s notebooks, the students then answered three questions about how they felt participating in the play, what they felt was the most important line and how the play relates to Dr. King’s teachings. The students also verbally shared their thoughts with peers.

To the students, Ms. Zalewski said, “The overarching question here is how I will live differently and how each of us can do better in this world.”

Ms. Zalewski explained that the activity and assignment was designed to teach students to use contextual clues to draw conclusions and to connect similar texts, a part of critical thinking. The activity also promoted listening and speaking in front of others.

Date Added: 2/1/2022