Write a Letter to Jesse Owens
Grade Levels: 5 - 7
Objectives
- Student will learn about the accomplishments of Jesse Owens.
- Students will learn about the views of the Nazi Party and the state of the Civil Rights movement in America in 1936.
- Students will practice their letter writing skills.
Materials
- Copies of the Jesse Owens: Olympic Champion handout.
- Copies of the 1936 Summer Olympics Background handout.
- References about civil rights and world politics in 1936
- Paper
- Pens
Procedures
-
Explain to students that they will be learning about runner Jesse Owens and
what his accomplishments symbolized to the world.
- Distribute the two handouts and go over them with the students.
- Discuss world events and the state of civil rights in 1936.
- Ask students to generate a list of different types of people who may have been watching the 1936 Olympics. (Nazi supporters, Hitler, members of various
ethnic groups, a black American, other athletes, etc.). Write the roles Nazi Supporter, Fellow Athlete, and African
American as headings at the top of the board.
- Ask students to generate a list of emotions each group of people may have felt watching Jesse Owens'
victories during the track and field events.
- Direct students to select one of the roles on the board, disregarding their personal
feelings. Explain that they will be pretending to be a Nazi, an athlete, or an African American.
- Give students time to research the Nazi Party's views and the state of the Civil
Rights Movement in America in 1936.
- From the point of view of their selected role, instruct students to write a letter
to Jesse Owens describing their political beliefs and their feelings about his
accomplishments in specific detail.
- Once the letters have been edited by either a teacher or a peer, break the class
into small groups, and have students read their letters aloud to one another.
July Events
Find educational resources for every day in July. Fill your July lessons with activities for the Summer, Independence Day (July 4), First World Cup Soccer Tournament (July 13), Ice Cream Day (July 19), First Moon Landing (July 20), Parents Day (July 26), and Beatrix Potter's Birthday (July 28).
Make Learning Fun with Sylvan
Introducing all-new Sylvan Workbooks and Learning Kits. Help children catch up, keep up, and get ahead! Click here to learn more about Sylvan Learning Products.
Free Summer Learning Guides – Gr. K-6
Make sure that your incoming students are prepared for the new school year with these packets of fun activities and skill-builders — perfect summer activities to prepare for back-to-school.
What Can Dominican U. Do for You?
Classroom Teachers: Regionally Accredited Dominican University can help keep your career on course with a MAEd in ESL, Elementary Ed, or Reading—100% online. Earn your MAEd in as little as 18 months! Find out more.
Dealing with Germs in the Classroom
Communicable diseases spread quickly among students in the classroom. We've gathered printables and advice for germ prevention in school. Find tips on how to keep your classroom clean and educate students on preventing diseases, from Swine flu to the common cold.
Educational Clip Art
TeacherVision and DK have teamed up to offer you DK's widely-recognized photographs as downloadable clip art. Find images for the human body, space, holidays, ancient Rome, and more. Feel free to use this clip art for school projects, reports, to create holiday cards, or just for fun!
Top-Ranked Educational Program—100% Online
Equip your faculty with today's best practices through an MS in Curriculum and Instruction or an MS in Educational Administration—100% online from The University of Scranton. Find out more!
