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 You Could Fly, Where Would You Go?
Students explore story quilts. In this cross curriculum literacy and art instructional activity, students listen to the story Tar Beachand discuss the art form of story quilts as used by Faith Ringgold. Students sketch their own "Where...
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
Introduce Vocabulary: Tar Beach
Students explore language arts by reading a children's book in class. In this story vocabulary lesson, students read the book Tar Beach and discuss the setting and plot with their classmates. Students define a list of vocabulary terms...
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Dreams, Stars, and Beaches
Compare and contrast ideas, hopes and dreams with those of Cassie in Faith Ringgold's, Tar Beach. your students can entries in their journals expressing their ideas.
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Tar Beach Quilt
Students cut and design a pretend beach after reading Faith Ringold's "Tar Beach" book.
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
Sample Lesson Plan, 3rd-5th grade, Interpretation
Students become acquainted with the art and literature of artist/author Faith Ringgold.
Curated OER
Visual Arts
Third graders explore The Banjo Lesson by Henry Ossawa Tanner, The Bath by Mary Cassatt, and Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold.
Curated OER
Willie and Friends: Overcomers in the Land Stories by Faith Ringgold
Young scholars use puppets and plays to examine the role of African Americans throughout history. After being read a story by a puppet, they respond to each one in writing. Individually, they write a story about a place they have wanted...
Curated OER
Diverse Voices -African American Ventures
Students explore acts of kindness through the eyes of the black community. In this philanthropy lesson, students understand that even under inhumane circumstances, people can perform for the common good. Students relate to their good...
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Pollution Solution
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson, students investigate the effects of oil spills and brainstorm ideas to help companies avoid them as they create models to demonstrate their attributes and...
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Acceptance Through Patchwork
Students are asked to look at differences in people and accept those differences but to examine that people are more alike than different. The lesson has the central focus of investigating diversity.
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,...
Curated OER
Mindful Murals
Second graders depict the illusion of depth in an artwork, using overlapping shapes, relative size and placement of fabric on a mural. They identify with the elements of art in objects in nature, the environment, and Ringgold's mural.
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.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Masterpiece Lesson Faith Ringgold
This resource features a look at Faith Ringgold's work "Tar Beach." It provides information on how this author/artist created this story quilt. Find out how you can have your students develop their own autobiographical story quilt.
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.
California State University
California State University: Mindful Murals
A lesson plan that introduces overlapping to 2nd graders as they learn how to construct a mural. Focus is given to artist Faith Ringgold and her children's book, Tar Beach.