Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award

Teacher’s Guide for Talkin’ About Bessie
by Nikki Grimes
Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Pre-reading:

Brainstorm what life was like in the 1890’s as far as technology, transportation, daily life and social climate. Discuss the Jim Crow laws of the south and hypothesize what an African American girl of that time could be expected to accomplish with her life.

Comprehension Guide/ Quiz Questions

Knowledge:

Describe Bessie Coleman’s childhood.
Identify the traits that made Bessie unique.

3. Find a quote that describes Bessie in the first five poems. Discuss why you picked it to represent her character.

Comprehension:

Give examples of Bessie’s determination to “make something out of herself.”
Explain why the laundry customer describes Bessie as odd.
Predict what Bessie might choose to do today if she were young. Can you imagine what organizations she might belong to? Do you think she would still choose to fly airplanes?

Application:

What did you learn about determination from Bessie Coleman’s story? How does it apply to your own life?
Pretend you could interview Bessie Coleman. Write three questions you would like to have answered by this legend.
How did Bessie Coleman create hope for others?

Analyze:

How does the author get the reader to know the whole truth about Bessie?
Create a timeline of Bessie Coleman’s life.
What did you learn by examining and creating a time line of her life? Is there anything that surprised you by putting the information into a different format? What?

Synthesize:

Write a journal entry as if you are Bessie at three different ages.
Create a scene between Bessie and a character from the book. Write the dialogue staying true to Bessie and the character you choose. Use correct punctuation!
Exchange scenes with a classmate, conduct a peer edit, and then revise the piece.

Evaluate:

Predict what Bessie would say about life in America as it is today.
Evaluate the illustrations for the book. Which one is your favorite? Why?
Choose which poem is your favorite and discuss why.

Multiple Intelligence Projects for

Talkin’ About Bessie

by Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by E.B. Lewis

Verbal/ Linguistic

Glean information from the text to write a newspaper article, obituary, elegy, or opinion piece based on the life of Bessie Coleman. Be sure all material is accurate and reflects the time period it portrays.

Logical/ Mathematical

Using the text for examples, fill out the character map on the next page about Bessie Coleman.

Visual/ Spatial

Create a piece of art inspired by the life of Bessie Coleman. Any media or form is valid, as long as you explain your choice in the brief journal that must be turned in with the art. Impress.

Body/Kinesthetic

Talkin’ About Bessie is ideal for a reader’s theater presentation! Be sure to practice before your performance and be respectful to the characters you represent. Costumes are optional, but memorization is not.

Musical/ Rhythmic

Listen to the music that was popular in Chicago during the time Bessie moved there. Explore the history of early jazz on this website, too. Then, write a brief journal about how you think music changes over time, and why each generation seems to define itself by the music they listen to. How will your generation be remembered?

http://www2.worldbook.com/features/aamusic/html/listen.htm

Interpersonal: Group Project

In groups of no more than four, assign the following topics to students:

Jim Crow laws

Early aviation

Ida B. Wells

Madame C.J. Walker

Mary Church Terrell

Booker T. Washington

Paul Lawrence Dunbar

Chicago Defender

Barnstormers

Students must create: a pamphlet describing the information about the topic, divided into sub-headings that are specific to, and pertinent to their subject. Also, a poster highlighting the main ideas of the pamphlet and featuring full color illustrations or pictures must be completed.

Intrapersonal:

After the group assignment, each member must turn in a short journal about what they contributed to the project, and what they learned about working in a group. Also, a brief summary of what they learned about perseverance through reading about Ms. Coleman.

Teacher’s guide provided by www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com

Visit and learn more!