Curated OER
Faith Ringgold and Tar Beach
Students read the book, "Tar Beach," and examine the artist's use of fabric as an art medium. They each create a building and a picture of themselves flying, and a section of the fabric border to develop a class quilt.
Curated OER
Look for Patterns: Quilts in Two Faith Ringgold Stories
Author Faith Ringgold uses quilts to illustrate her books Tar Beach and Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad. For this integrated trio of activities, young scholars read stories, identify and create patterns, and design quilt squares of...
Curated OER
If I Could Fly
Students listen to an oral reading of the book Tar Beach, start and exit the Kid Pix program, use the mouse and the keyboard as input devices, and use the software to create a painting to express their ideas generated by the reading of...
Curated OER
Memoir Writing Based on Jerry Spinelli's Milkweed
Using chapter 1 of Jerry Spinelli's Milkweed, middle schoolers write a personal memoir based on Spinelli's style and a Six Trait writing activity. The lesson suggests several ways to activate prior knowledge, including a picture book and...
Curated OER
American Quilts
Third graders are introduced to new vocabulary associated with slavery and the Underground Railroad. In groups, they use the vocabulary to identify the various ranges of freedom and create their own vocabulary webs. To end the lesson,...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Discussion Guide: Tar Beach
Scholastic presents this discussion guide of "Tar Beach" by Faith Ringgold. The guide includes discussion questions, extension activities, and more.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Flying to Freedom: Tar Beach & the People Could Fly
Comparing and contrasting works and looking for underlying themes and messages are at the heart of this multicultural lesson plan. Provides links to several background resources, and suggestions for assessment.