Heart and Soul - A Black History Unit

 

I am putting together a Black History Unit (with the help of Mary in Denver and Caroline in Virginia) based on the book Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson. A lovely and moving living book, gorgeously and copiously illustrated, Heart and Soul tells the history of America through the eyes of an African American woman whose grandfather was a slave, and who as a grandmother herself cast her vote for the man who would become the first African-American U.S. President. Be sure to listen to this NPR Author Interview.

Suggested for 4th grade and up. Quotes from famous Americans at the start of each chapter make the perfect copywork/dictation. Three-to-four-page chapters are ideal for narration. This is the perfect spine for a 2-3 month unit on African-American history.

Chapter headings follow:

Prologue
1 - Declarations of Independence
2 - Slavery
3 - Abolition
4 - Lincoln's War
5 - Reconstruction
6 - Cowboys and Indians: Native Americans and Westward Negroes
7 - Turn of the Century and the Great Migration
8 - Harlem and the Vote for Women
9 - Hard Times and World War II
10 - Black Innovation
11 - Jim Crow's A-Dying
12 - Revolution
Epilogue

Also used throughout this unit:

D Is for Drinking Gourd: An African American Alphabet

A Kid's Guide to African American History: More than 70 Activities (A Kid's Guide series)

I, Too, Sing America: Three Centuries of African American Poetry (also available as an audiobook).

If anyone would like to contribute to this collaboration you may do so here.

Next Heart and Soul post: Chapter 1 - Declarations of Independence

Comments

[Ryan Johnson]

I am really excited that you have begun this development! I have just started a unit in African American History in my 4th grade classroom and I am using Kadir's book a guide. I liked you activity suggetstions for chapter 1 and I am looking forward to the rest of the unit.

If you're here looking for a reason to buy the book....you're wasting your time....you should already have the book in your hands! It's a must read!