The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series) [Paperback]

Mary C. Turck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2000 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: For Kids series

Surprisingly, kids were some of the key instigators in the Civil Rights Movement, like Barbara Johns, who held a rally in her elementary school gym that eventually led to the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court school desegregation decision, and six-year-old Ruby Bridges, who was the first black student to desegregate elementary schools in New Orleans. In The Civil Rights Movement for Kids, children will discover how students and religious leaders worked together to demand the protection of civil rights for black Americans. They will relive the fear and uncertainty of Freedom Summer and learn how northern white college students helped bring national attention to atrocities committed in the name of segregation, and they’ll be inspired by the speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, and Malcolm X. Activities include: reenacting a lunch counter sit-in; organizing a workshop on nonviolence; holding a freedom film festival followed by a discussion; and organizing a choral group to sing the songs that motivated the foot soldiers in this war for rights.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-A comprehensive history and guide to one of the defining movements of the 20th century. Beginning with the early days of segregation and ending with civil rights today, readers discover not only the work and speeches of the notable leaders, but also how children participated in the struggle. A balanced discussion notes tactical differences between the different groups and their actions. The text is tightly written with a strong voice that rings out in its recounting of past injustices. The ultimate message is that while the movement witnessed extraordinary accomplishments in the past 50 years, new challenges await young people of the new century; knowledge of the past is the foundation of future action. Activities include reenacting a lunch-counter sit-in, organizing a workshop on nonviolence, and holding a freedom film festival. The entire Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are appended. Black-and-white photos from newspapers, magazines, and the National Archives and a few drawings enhance the text. Although independent students will find a wealth of information here, this enormous effort begs for sensitive, knowledgeable adults to use it as a tool in guiding young people in the study of human rights for all.
Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Well-written and detailed book." -- OC Family

A wonderfully unique installment in the recent spate of Civil Rights books for young people. -- Blackberry Express

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Chicago Review Press; 1st edition (June 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155652370X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556523700
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 11 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Children's Books > History > United States > 1900s

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great History/Inane Activities, February 3, 2007

By 

Patricia R. Morris "Master Teacher" (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

Buy this book if you want a good basic history of the Civil Rights Movement.

The chapters are well written and broken down by topic and time period.

The book begins with a Chapter, "Let The Children Lead Them". This would be an excellent hook to introduce todays kids to actual kids and teens like Ruby Bridges,Barbara Johns and Linda Brown (Brown Vs. Board of Ed)that led the struggle against inequality in education.Other chapters include such topics as The Montgomery Bus Boycott, Student Sit-Ins, The Freedom Riders, March On Washington and the March from Montgomery to Selma. The book introduces us to both the leaders and ordinary people who took part in the movement. It contains excellent photographs of the era that are a teaching tool in themselves. The book brings the reader up to the present time and shows how the struggle for civil rights continues through the work of people like Marian Wright Edelman and The Children's Defense Fund.

However, many of the activities are inane. Making hippie love beads, having a "freedom feast" by cooking gumbo trivializes the people who risked their lives to change America.

On the other hand, one of the activities is a play about the Lunch Counter Sit Ins where part of the dialogue uses the N WORD. In my opinion using that word is just too explosive an issue to use with school age kids.

Great book for history, it is too bad that more time and thought was not taken with how to engage kids with meaningful activities that would celebrate and continue that history.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource for Teachers, March 20, 2007

By 

R. Yaeger (California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series) (Paperback)

I really like this book, and am planning to use it for lessons in my classroom.