YES Prep Public Schools
Seeta Estrada, Content Specialist

In honor of Black History Month (BHM), sixth-grade English students from across the district read The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis.

To better understand how this historical fiction novel fit into the timeline of the Civil Rights Movement, sixth graders were tasked with researching a variety of leaders from the Civil Rights Movement.

To summarize their research, students created an infographic and wrote an expository paragraph that shares the impact of their historical figure on the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.

As the unit progresses, students will tie what they've learned to the Black Lives Matter movement and to their own ability to be leaders who fight for equity and justice.

Featured students' work

Prominent figure Student Teacher School
Claudette Colvin Anthony Ha Meredith Tolson Brays Oaks
Marcus Garvey Belen Umanzor Meredith Tolson Brays Oaks
Rosa Parks Marely Villarreal Danielle John Southeast Secondary
Rosa Parks Stephanie Martinez Aerial Kerr Southeast Secondary
Ruby Bridges Juan Chavez David Zinsitz North Central Secondary
Shirley Chisholm Alexa Cinto Meredith Tolson Brays Oak

If you know a current YES Prep sixth-grader, ask to see their hard work!


2021 Black History Month campaign

Make sure to check out our other entries in YES Prep's 2021 Black History Month campaign, by clicking here.


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