Spotlight on South Carolina History with Wilhelmina P. Johnson
In celebration of the December nominee of the 2024 South Carolina African American History Calendar, this lesson focuses on her role as an educator and community leader.
Essential Question
What are some ways that individuals can make a lasting impact in their community?
Grade(s):
- 4
- 5
- 6
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Chromebooks or Laptops
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Notebook or Journal
Pencils or Pens
AEIOU strategy sheet
Articles, websites, and other artifacts
Lesson Progression
- As students enter the room, have the following question or similar question on the board or on chart paper: What is something you can do to make your classroom/community a better place?
- Allow students time to think 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 short time, call the class back together and allow students to share their responses to the question 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 Wilhelmina P. Johnson, telling students that she worked hard in her career as an educator and community activist to make a difference and an impact in her community. Remind students that we all can do this same thing regardless of our age.
- This is just one of the reasons she is being honored as the December nominee of the 2024 SC African American History calendar.
- Share the video highlighting her life, accomplishments, and contributions to her community. Following the video, allow time for students to share questions, reflections, or thoughts they have after viewing the clip. Discuss words or phrases that come to mind as they were watching the video.
- 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
The teacher should make modifications and adjustments as needed to meet the needs of the students.
Extension: As a class, brainstorm ways you can all work together to make the community around them a better place. Outline some steps that would need to take place to make this a reality.
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Students will learn more about Lt. General Arthur J. Gregg, the August nominee of the 2024 South Carolina African American History calendar.
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View Lesson2024 South Carolina African American History Calendar
The South Carolina African American History calendar celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of African American leaders in the state of South Carolina.
View ResourceWilhelmina P. Johnson
Learn more about Wilhelmina P. Johnson, a native of Darlington, South Carolina and the December honoree of the 2024 SC African American History calendar.
View ResourceWomen of Achievement: Wilhelmina P. Johnson
This article from the Darlington County News & Press celebrates Wilhelmina P. Johnson's recognition and nomination as a Women of Achievement.
View ResourceLearn more about the Darlington County Cultural Realism Center, founded by Wilhelmina P. Johnson in 1973.
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.CE Analyze the causes and impacts of social movements in the U.S. and South Carolina.
- 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 complete the AEOIU strategy resource sheet in its entirety. Students will also be graded on individual participation and partner activities.
AEIOU STRATEGY/GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
