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How did the Watsons end up in Detroit, Michigan? Why did they decide to return home to Birmingham, Alabama? Build background knowledge for this unit by introducing your students to the Great Migration. The Great Migration took place between 1915-1940 (between World War I and World War II). It was a mass movement of people that were living in the South who traveled to the North. Most people in the Great Migration were African Americans looking for a better life. After the "Separate but Equal" rule was ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court, life was very difficult for African Americans that lived in the South. They had trouble voting, and they had to use separate and often unequal schools, water fountains, and cars. They had to ride in the backs of buses as well. Many African Americans decided to leave their homes in the South and start over in Northern cities like New York City, Chicago, and Detroit. There were more factory jobs in the North because the North was industrialized. Explain that this means the North had factories where machines were produced for the wars, whereas the South was mostly farm country. The South focused on production from the earth. Also, the opportunities for political participation, access to the arts, and access to education were much greater in the North at that time.

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  Student Packet

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  Student Packet Answer Key

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  Unit Assessment

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  Unit Assessment Answer Key

Pacing Guide for The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963

Day 1

Genre Lesson

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Day 2

Begin reading Chapters 1–5

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Day 3

Finish reading Chapters 1–5

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Day 4

Begin Lesson 1

Day 5

Lesson 1 (continued)

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Day 6

Begin reading Chapters 6–8

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Day 7

Finish reading Chapters 6–8

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Day 8

Begin reading Chapters 9–12

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Day 9

Finish reading Chapters 9–12

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Day 10

Begin Lesson 2

Day 11

Lesson 2 (continued)

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Day 12

Begin reading Chapter 13–Epilogue

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Day 13

Finish reading Chapter 13–Epilogue

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Day 14

Begin Lesson 3

Day 15

Lesson 3 (continued)

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Day 16

Begin Lesson 4

Day 17

Lesson 4 (continued)

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Day 18

Review

Day 19

Unit Assessment