Activity 1: Introduction to Vernon Jarrett Teacher Instructions

The History Makers

Description

Students are introduced to Vernon Jarrett's biography on The History Makers website.  Students then work in teams to answer specific questions about Jarrett's life.  This assignment tests students' reading comprehension and helps them become comfortable finding information on the web.

Objectives

Students should:

• Begin to feel comfortable using the internet to gather information
• Use critical thinking skills to analyze why Vernon Jarrett is a key figure in African-American history and the history of Chicago

• Students read the biography of Vernon Jarrett on The History Makers website.
• Group students into teams.
• Each team must answer the following questions about Jarrett:

 

 

1.    What is Jarrett's occupation?
2.    Where did he begin his career?
3.    What is the "Chicago Defender" and why is it important in the lives of African-Americans?
4.    What was the "Negro Newsfront"?
5.    What does syndication mean?  CHECK THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE DICTIONARY
6.    What is the ACT-SO program?
7.    What does NAACP stand for?
8.    Why do you believe Jarrett is an important figure in African-American history?
 

• Students will develop their own questions about Jarrett and other African-Americans in Chicago during the 1940s.
• Each team should take turns leading a discussion about Jarrett and the questions they developed.

• Includes a link to The History Makers website