Concluding Activities
Use any or all
of these acitivities.
CULMINATING
UNIT ACTIVITY--Art Production
1. Use the following questions to guide students in a discussion of Tar
Beach and the other Faith Ringgold books used in this unit.
What if you were free to change something in the world? What would you wish
for? For herself, Cassie wished for all the ice cream she wanted. For her
father and grandfather, she wished for a world in which they were not discriminated
against. She flew over everything she wanted to change. She wanted to fly
to freedom.
What would happen if I told you that you have the power to change the world?
Think about how things are now and what you would want to change for yourself,
your family, your school, your community, for a certain group of people or
for everyone. What would you do? How would you accomplish this change?
You have learned about courageous African-American leaders such as Harriet
Tubman, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, and all
the other women at Aunt Connie’s dinner table. Each of these individuals
was determined to follow a dream to make the world a better place for everyone.
Close your eyes and use your imagination to picture your dream for changing
the world.
2. Distribute drawing paper and have students use pencils to sketch a detailed
picture of what they would “fly over” and change in the world.
To make their pictures even more dramatic (and similar to Faith Ringgold’s
quilts), students can add a 2-3 sentence caption explaining what is being
changed in their pictures.
3. Students use their drawings as a plan for creating a quilt square. This
square can be made of paper or fabric and can be as simple or elaborate as
you like. Students can paint pictures on canvas squares, use felt to cut out
objects and backgrounds then sew them on fabric squares, use fabric markers
to draw on material, etc. The squares can be sewn together to make a large
classroom quilt. Borders can be designed and added. It would be great to contact
quilters in the community to sew the top quilt stitching on the final piece
and share this process with the kids. The final project is displayed in the
classroom.
CULMINATING UNIT ACTIVITY
-- Math
Poll students and make a bar graph illustrating their favorite book.
CULMINATING UNIT ACTIVITY
-- Writing
Write a letter to the author expressing class opinions and ideas about the
books they have read.
CULMINATING
UNIT ACTIVITY-- Choral Reading
Students perform
"Let Freedom Ring" for the school, PTA, or at a "Dreams" luncheon.
CULMINATING UNIT ACTIVITY
-- Read In
Set up the classroom to look like
a tar beach by bringing beach towels, and/or chairs. Students can read
any of Faith Ringgold's books or any biographies or articles on famous
civil rights leaders.