Lesson Plan
Echoes of Emmett
I can analyze John Lewis's emotional response to Emmett Till's death and write a personal letter to Emmett expressing my own feelings and connections.
Understanding historical events through personal narratives helps students develop empathy and connect with the past, making history more relevant and impactful.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
50 minutes
Approach
Through guided analysis and reflective writing.
Materials
Whiteboard or projector, Markers or pens, Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett, Reading: John Lewis on Emmett Till, and Letter to Emmett Till Worksheet
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett and familiarize yourself with the content.
* Print copies of the Reading: John Lewis on Emmett Till for each student.
* Print copies of the Letter to Emmett Till Worksheet for each student.
* Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for presentation.
* Review the generated materials as needed.
Step 1
Engage: Historical Image & Quote
10 minutes
- Display the first slide of the Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett which features a compelling image related to Emmett Till and a powerful quote from John Lewis.
* Ask students to observe the image silently for 30 seconds.
* Prompt a brief class discussion: "What do you notice? What questions come to mind? How does this quote make you feel?"
* Introduce Emmett Till and John Lewis briefly, explaining the historical context.
Step 2
Analyze: John Lewis's Response
20 minutes
- Distribute the Reading: John Lewis on Emmett Till.
* Instruct students to read the text silently, highlighting or underlining any phrases that show John Lewis's emotional response to Emmett Till's death.
* Facilitate a small group or partner discussion: "What emotions did John Lewis experience? How do you know? What impact did Emmett Till's death have on him?"
* Bring the class back together to share key findings and discuss the concept of empathy in historical context. Use slides 2-4 of the Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett to guide this discussion.
Step 3
Draft: Personal Letter
15 minutes
- Distribute the Letter to Emmett Till Worksheet.
* Explain the task: Students will write a personal letter to Emmett Till, expressing their own feelings and connections to his story, drawing inspiration from John Lewis's response and their own understanding.
* Provide sentence starters or guiding questions as needed (e.g., "Dear Emmett, when I learned about your story..."; "John Lewis felt..., and I feel...").
* Allow students time to begin drafting their letters independently.
Step 4
Share & Reflect: Emotional Impact
5 minutes
- Invite students to share a sentence or two from their letters, or their general feelings about the activity.
* Conclude by emphasizing the lasting impact of historical events and the importance of empathy. Use the final slide of the Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett for a powerful closing thought.
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Slide Deck
Echoes of Emmett
“I thought about Emmett Till, and I thought about all of those people who died and whose lives were lost and whose sacrifice helped changed this country.” - John Lewis
Image: A somber historical photograph related to the Civil Rights Movement or Emmett Till (e.g., a protest sign, a newspaper clipping, or a depiction of the era without showing graphic content).
Display this slide to start the lesson. Give students time to observe the image and read the quote. Prompt a discussion using guiding questions like: 'What do you notice? What questions come to mind? How does this quote make you feel?'
A Young Activist's Heart
John Lewis, a young boy at the time of Emmett Till's murder, was deeply affected by the injustice.
His emotional response fueled his passion for civil rights.
Think about how one person's story can impact many.
Transition to discussing John Lewis's personal connection. Ask students: 'Why do you think John Lewis connected so deeply with Emmett Till's story?'
The Weight of Injustice
Emmett Till's brutal death sparked outrage and grief across the nation.
For John Lewis, it was a moment of awakening.
The pain and unfairness of it all moved him to action, even as a young person.
Guide students to identify specific emotions and their impact. Ask: 'What words or phrases show how John Lewis felt?'
Empathy in Action
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
John Lewis felt deep empathy for Emmett Till and his family.
This empathy became a powerful force for change in his life and in America.
Encourage students to make a personal connection to empathy. Ask: 'How can understanding someone else's pain help us grow and make a difference?'
Remembering Their Voices
Emmett Till's story lives on, reminding us of the fight for justice.
John Lewis's journey shows us the power of a single voice, moved by empathy.
Your voice matters too.
Use this slide to bring the lesson to a close. Ask students for final reflections: 'What is one thing you will remember from Emmett Till's story or John Lewis's response?'
Reading
John Lewis Remembers Emmett Till
When John Lewis was a young boy growing up in rural Alabama, he heard a story that would stay with him forever. It was the story of Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old boy from Chicago who was brutally murdered in Mississippi in 1955.
"I was only 15 years old," Lewis recalled years later. "I heard my mother and daddy talking about it, my grandparents. I heard the teachers talking about it, and the students." The details of Emmett Till's death were horrific, and the injustice of it all deeply disturbed young John Lewis.
He remembered feeling a profound sense of sadness and anger. "It had a major impact on me," Lewis said. "I felt that Emmett Till was my brother. He was about the same age, and I just couldn't understand why someone would do something like that to another human being."
Emmett Till's open-casket funeral, and the brave decision by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, to show the world what they had done to her son, made an even deeper impression. The images in the newspapers shocked the nation and filled John Lewis with a powerful conviction that something had to change.
"Emmett Till was, in a sense, my first teacher," Lewis often reflected. "He taught me that you cannot be silent when you see injustice. You have to speak up, and you have to do something." The pain and sorrow that John Lewis felt for Emmett Till ignited a fire within him, pushing him onto the path of activism and becoming a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. His heart ached for Emmett, and that ache fueled his lifelong fight for justice and equality for all.
Worksheet
A Letter to Emmett Till
Objective: To express your personal feelings and connections to Emmett Till's story, inspired by John Lewis's emotional response.
Instructions:
- Reflect: Think about what you've learned about Emmett Till and how John Lewis reacted to his story. What emotions did you hear about or read? What emotions do you feel?
- Imagine: Imagine you could write a letter to Emmett Till today. What would you want to say to him?
- Write Your Letter: Use the space below to write a personal letter to Emmett Till. You might want to include:
- Your initial reaction to his story.
- How his story makes you feel.
- Any connections you make between his story and the world today.
- Words of comfort, sadness, or determination.
- How John Lewis's feelings inspire your own.
Dear Emmett,
* Review the Slide Deck: Echoes of Emmett and familiarize yourself with the content.
* Print copies of the Reading: John Lewis on Emmett Till for each student.
* Print copies of the Letter to Emmett Till Worksheet for each student.
- Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for presentation.
- Review the generated materials as needed.