Creative Writing While Learning About Important African Americans
Come and learn about the literature and lives of prominent African Americans. Fun and relevant creative writing exercises will bookcase the historic information. Great way to practice writing skills in a fun and nonthreatening way.
Cheryl Carter Creative Classroom
Average rating:
4.7
Number of reviews:(181)
What's included
1 live meeting
40 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
Creative Writing While Learning About Important African Americans
Differences are not intended to separate, to alienate. We are different precisely in order to realize our need for one another.” These words penned by the late Bishop Desmond Tutu are the foundation of this on-going class. All learners are invited to come and learn about the literature and/or writings of prominent African Americans.
All learners will read and discuss literature by and about historic, literary and popular culture African Americans. This class is fun and meant to acquaint learners with the individual through books by or about the individual. Learners are not required to read the books but may read the suggested books, it they like. The class is meant to familiarize the students with the individual and is not an in-depth dive into the individual’s lives.
Each week a prominent African American individual will be highlighted and discussed. Literature by and about the individual will be shared with the class. There will be a brief time of Socratic questioning, followed by a creative writing assignment that students may share with one another.
The class will be light-hearted and fun, since the goal is to simply familiarize learners with the individuals while getting learners to activate their creativity. Creative writing genres to be explored include poetry, plays, fiction, nonfiction, articles, music, etc.
It is important to reiterate learners will get a cursory view of the individuals, as much of this class focuses on writing. o prior learning is needed of the individuals from class -to-class; each weekly class is distinct from the other so learners may join at any week.
Teacher PowerPoints and Youtube videos may be used in the class.
Example of first weekly class schedule:
Individual-Rudy Bridges:
• Brief biography of the person including a picture so student will recognize the leader- Teacher PowerPoint presentation
• Brief selected reading from books by and about Rudy Bridges
• Open-ended Socratic questions such as ; Why do you think Rudy Bridges was so important to history? How do you think Rudy Bridges was able to ignore the hostile crowd? Why should we know about Rudy Bridges?
• Creative Writing exercise; Write a letter to Rudy Bridges encouraging her to go back to school after she was yelled at by the crowds. Share your letter with the class.
Books used- not to be purchased as indicated in the class description but the books referred to are:
Books used: Black Voices (Signet Classics) Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2001
by Abraham Chapman (Editor),
Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. (People and Events in History) by Dr. Arlisha Norwood - Random House
The weekly schedule will be posted every three months. The entire yearly schedule is below.
Individuals that will be discussed include:
February
• Ruby Bridges
• Robert Abbott
• Alvin Ailey
• Muhammad Ali
March
• Richard Allen
• Maya Angelou
• Ella Baker
• James Baldwin
April
• Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Mary McLeod Bethune
• Shirley Chisholm
• Benjamin O. Davis Sr.
• Frederick Douglass
May
• Dr. Charles Drew
• W.E.B. Du Bois
• Duke Ellington
• Aretha Franklin
• Jimi Hendrix
June
• Zora Neale Hurston
• Jesse Jackson
• Michael Jackson
• Katherine Johnson
• Quincy Jones
July
• Michael Jordan
• Martin Luther King Jr.
• Henrietta Lacks
• Malcolm X
• Thurgood Marshall
August
• Toni Morrison
• Barack Obama
• Jesse Owens
• Gordon Parks
• Sidney Poitier
September
• Richard Pryor
• Jackie Robinson
• Sojourner Truth
• Harriet Tubman
• Madam C.J. Walker
October
• Booker T. Washington
• Ida B. Wells
• Serena Williams
• August Wilson
• Oprah Winfrey
November
• Stevie Wonder
• Shirley Chisholm
• Bishop Desmond Tutu
• Nelson Mandela
December
• Frederick Douglas
• Marion Anderson
• Mary McLeod Bethune
• Althea Gibson
• Martin Luther King Jr.
January
• Dorothy Height
• Rosa Parks
• Augusta Savage
• Malcolm X
• Harriet Tubman
February
• Phillis Wheatley
• Charlotte Ray
• Charles Drew
• Madame CJ Walker
March
• August Wilson
• Fannie Lou Hamer
• Septima Poinsette Clark
• Ralph e. Bunch
As an African American mother teacher and avid reader with a heart to help others love and appreciate some of the most beautiful literature in the world. Carter shares with heart and scholastic grit some of the finer points of great literature as it relates to African Americans She has also served on a racial reconciliation committee and an anti-racist committee at two nonprofits. She also has recently obtained a graduate certificate in Diversity, Equity and inclusive from Southern Florida State University.
Learners will not be required to read any of the books.
Books used- not to be purchased as indicated in the class description but the books referred to are:
Books used: Black Voices (Signet Classics) Mass Market Paperback – April 1, 2001
by Abraham Chapman (Editor),
Black Heroes: A Black History Book for Kids: 51 Inspiring People from Ancient Africa to Modern-Day U.S.A. (People and Events in History) by Dr. Arlisha Norwood - Random HouseLearning Goals
Students will improve their writing skills while learning about prominent African Americans.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
All topics are age-appropriate for young learners. Reading materials will all be on or the learner's reading level. For instance, when studying Rudy Bridges a children's chapter book will be used. The focus of this class is the writing aspect.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined January, 2018
4.7
181reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
As an African American mother teacher and avid reader with a heart to help others love and appreciate some of the most beautiful literature in the world. Carter shares with heart and scholastic grit some of the finer points of great literature as it relates to African Americans, She has also served on a racial reconciliation committee and an anti-racist committee at two nonprofits. She also has recently obtained a certificate in Diversity, Equity and inclusive from Southern Florida State University.
My professional bio:
Carter is a busy homeschooling mother (of five), author, speaker and a college professor with a passion to help others. Besides teaching, she has written broadly on spiritual growth, education, and special needs She is the author of several books including Organize Your Life, Essential Writing Skills for the College Bound Student, Inspire the Writer in Your Child and Organize Your AD/HD Child. In addition to writing fiction and poetry in her spare time, she blogs regularly on issues of clarity in written communication, college admissions and the family. She has a BA in English, a MFA in Writing and has done graduate study in Special Education and College Admission. More recently, she has obtained a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Active in her local homeschool group, she has taught writing, cultural and college-prep coop classes for several years. She has also written numerous literary guides and won academic awards for her writing. Her books have been translated into Japanese, Hebrew, German, Czech and Polish. Carter's curriculum and writing classes focus on equipping students with the vital skills for lifetime communication success. Her curriculum and classes are marked by a sense of depth, yet simplicity that nurture a love of writing in students.
Reviews
Live Group Class
$21
weekly1x per week
40 min
Completed by 1 learner
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-15
5-14 learners per class
