Celebrating Modie and Delaris Johnson Risher
Students will explore ways they can work to make their community and learn more about the life, impact, and contributions of Modie and Delaris Johnson Risher.
Essential Question
In what ways can you contribute to your community becoming a better place?
Grade(s):
- 4
- 5
- 6
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Laptop or Chromebook
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
AEIOU graphic organizer
Pencils/Pens
Notebook paper
Articles, photos, websites, or other artifacts
Lesson Progression
- As students enter the room, have the following question/prompt on the board or on chart paper: Can one person make a difference? What is something you can do to make your classroom/community a better place?
- Allow students time to ponder this question and respond in journals or on notebook paper. Once everyone has had an opportunity to reflect, students will have time to share their response with a partner.
- After a few minutes call the group back together and allow some students to share their responses aloud. Remind students that we all have the power to make a difference in our classroom and communities. In fact, when we devote time and resources to matters that we consider to be important, we are often able to make a huge impact or be an agent for change.
- Display a photo of Modie and Delaris Johnson Risher. Inform students that these individuals are excellent examples of "change" agents and how we all can do our part to make a difference. In fact, they played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and in advocating for the rights of others. For this reason, they are being honored as the October nominees of the SC African American History calendar.
- Share the introductory video highlighting the life, impact, and accomplishments of Modie and Delaris Risher. Encourage students to pay close attention so they are able to have a discussion about what they learned throughout the rest of the lesson. Discuss any words that come to mind so far after hearing about some of the things they were able to accomplish. If necessary, lead students toward words such as committed, resilient, and leadership.
- Introduce the AEIOU strategy. Tell students this is a strategy to help us organize our reflections, wonderings, new learning, and thoughts as we study a topic. Each vowel has a particular meaning or purpose:
- A-Adjective: List a word or two that describes something you saw, heard, or learned.
- E-Emotion: Describe how a particular part made you feel
- I-Interesting: Share at least one interesting thing you heard or learned.
- O-Oh!: Describe something that caused you to say "Oh."
- U-Uh?...Write a question you have or something you want to know more about.
- Distribute copies of the AEIOU organizer, share electronically, or have students create their own. Allow time for students to go through the resources and videos provided. It may be helpful to go through some of the resources with them, stopping to point out or highlight particular parts to ensure they get a deeper understanding.
Once activity is finished, students will share the information from their organizer with a partner; It might also be helpful to create a class list of questions and wonderings shared aloud from the AEIOU strategy to be able to refer back to later.
Teacher Notes
Feel free to make adjustments and modifications to the lesson as needed to meet the needs of your students.
Create a class list of questions or wonderings as students share aloud
Possible writing topic: One person can make a BIG difference. What is something you can do to make your community a better place?
Modie & Delaris Risher | SC African American History Calendar 2024
Modie & Delaris Risher | SC African American History Calendar 2024
View AssetCivil Rights Spotlight: Modie Risher and DeLaris Johnson Rischer
In recognition of October's Honorees for the 2024 South Carolina African American History Calendar, Modie Risher and DeLaris Johnson Rischer, students will discover the contributions and impact the couple made to the Civil Rights Movement and how they can advocate for their rights as a child/student.
View Lesson2024 South Carolina African American History Calendar
Meet the 2024 honorees of the South Carolina African American History Calendar
View ResourceCelebrating Modie and Delaris Johnson Risher
Video tribute in celebration of Modie and Delaris Johnson Risher
View ResourceCharleston woman receives honor from former Tennessee college
Delaris Johnson Risher is honored by a former Tennessee college for integrating the school
View ResourceClaflin Alumna Recognized for helping integrate colleges
In celebration of Delaris Johnson Risher's recognition for her work during the Civil Rights Movement
View ResourceFormer Charleston educators featured in calendar
Celebrating Modie and Delaris Risher as they are honored for being featured in the 2024 SC African American History calendar.
View ResourceStandards
- 4.5.CC Identify and evaluate the impact of economic, political, and social events on the African American experience throughout Reconstruction.
- 5.4.CC Analyze the continuities and changes of race relations in the United States and South Carolina following the Supreme Court decisions of Briggs v. Elliott and Brown v. Board of Education.
- 5.4.E Analyze multiple perspectives on the economic, political, and social effects of the Cold War, Space Race, and Civil Rights Movement using primary and secondary sources.
- 6.5.CO Compare the global movements that resulted in the advancement or limitation of human rights during the 20th and 21st centuries.
- ELA.4.OE.2 Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
- ELA.5.OE.2 Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
- ELA.6.OE.2 Acquire, refine, and share knowledge through a variety of multimedia literacies to include written, oral, visual, digital, and interactive texts.
Assessments
Students AEIOU reflection should be completed in its entirety according to the directions that have been outlined. Students will also be graded on their participation in group and partner share activities.
AEIOU Strategy Graphic Organizer
