Lesson Plan

Januarys Sparrow
Theme: Literature and Slavery
Standard: Iowa Standard Core R1 6.2 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event
or idea is introduced illustrated and elaborated in a text.
Objective:
Students can explain why the characters want to escape Kentucky to go to
Michigan.
Students will predict what will happen to the characters before they escape.
Students can explain the different perspectives in the book.
Students will be able to answer questions about why the characters act a
certain way throughout the story.
Students will create a KWL chart about Januarys Sparrow.
Students will relate Januarys Sparrow and slavery to make an advertisement
or wanted ad.
Materials:
Notebook
Pencil
Whiteboard
White Printer paper
Crayons/Colored Pencils/Markers
Januarys Sparrow book

Procedure:
Introduction:
1. Introduce Januarys Sparrow.
Read the prologue and read the inside cover of the book.
Activity:
1. Make a KWL chart and explain the different categories.
Talk aloud with class about what they put in the K and W parts.
2. Read Januarys Sparrow aloud to class and show pictures of all the
pages.
3. Ask questions throughout the book such as:
Why was January beat?
Why did they make the rest of the slaves watch?
Why did the boat lady not look at the Crosswhite family or
ask their names?
Are they really safe in Michigan?

Talk about if the baby should be free because it was born in a

free place.
Talk about how blacks didnt have rights in the free states.
Why did Adam Crosswhite keep the secret about January
being alive?
Who really wrote the letter saying I found you?

Closing/Transition:
Have the students fill out the L column of the KWL chart. Then talk as a
class about different things they have learned.
Evaluation:
Explain to students about the RAFT activity. (See attached.)
Pass out computer paper and have students make their own. Make
sure they write their own sentence that follows the RAFT format.
** This will show if the students understand the details about
slavery and the difference of perspectives and opinions of the
people in book.