This is a great Wonder to learn about how an African American, George Crum accidentally invented the potato chip in 1853 because of a complaint made by a customer. I am going to use this Wonder as a spring board during an upcoming opinion/persuasive writing unit. After reading the Wonder, I’m going to encourage kids to write about their favorite potato chip and give reasons as to why it’s the best chip.
Some of Motown’s popular acts are included in this Wonder. Have students get into groups and do some research on these famous African-American musicians, and share with the class.
The ‘Try it out!’ section has a link to an online photo gallery of Tuskegee Airmen. Print some of these pictures and do a See, Think, Wonder.
These two Wonders go hand-in-hand for Black History month. They are perfect to pair together or to pair with one of the following picture books, The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson, Child of the Civil Rights Movement by Paula Young Shelton, Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles, Freedom on the Menu, Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down by Andrea Pinkney, or The Bus Ride that Changed History by Pamela Duncan Edwards.
I’m going to use this Wonder for reviewing main idea and supporting details. There are lots of supporting details in the Wonder about why George Washington Carver was an African-American hero.
This is a great Wonder to build background knowledge and initiate a discussion about the Underground Railroad. It also discusses one of the most important “conductors”, Harriet Tubman. This Wonder would be great paired with Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, Secret Signs: An Escape Through the Underground Railroad by Anita Riggio, and Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson.
There are many dates given in the this Wonder that would be useful in creating a timeline of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. You could assign groups of students a time or event in Dr. King’s life, have them research it, and share out to the class.
Other Black History Month Resources:
- Black History Month from Thinkfinity
- Black History Month & Science Teaching Resources from Science NetLinks
- Black History Resources from Read Write Think