The Watsons Go to Birmingham: Building Background KnowledgeTraveling While Black

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: Building Background KnowledgeTraveling While Black in the 1960s | Watson Family Road Trip Survival Guide

Build the historical background students need to understand why the Watson family's drive from Michigan to Alabama was more than an ordinary family road trip.

In this No Prep Plans lesson, students investigate what traveling by car could mean for a Black family in 1963. They explore travel restrictions, the Green Book, sundown towns, access to hotels, restaurants and gas stations, and the careful planning families could use to travel more safely.

Students then become social historians and create a Watson Family Road Trip Survival Guide, using historical evidence to determine what a family would need to know and prepare for before traveling south.

Students Will:
- Explore the realities of traveling while Black in the 1960s
- Learn how the Green Book helped Black travelers
- Investigate sundown towns and travel risks
- Consider food, lodging, gas, routes, and personal safety
- Use historical evidence to make travel-planning decisions
- Analyze the human impact of these restrictions
- Connect this history to the Watson family's journey

What's Included
- Teacher Directions & Background Overview
- Mini Research Questions
- Watson Family Road Trip Survival Guide Group Project
- 3 Student Research & Analysis Pages
- Color & Black-and-White Versions
- Research Resources & Credits

Why Teachers Love This
- No prep and ready to use
- Designed for 1–2 class periods
- Builds meaningful historical context for the novel
- Moves students from research to decision-making and deeper analysis
- Encourages thoughtful, respectful discussion of a difficult history
- Integrates ELA and Social Studies
- Flexible for individual, partner, or group work

Perfect For
Grades 6–8 • Novel Studies • Pre-Reading • Building Background Knowledge • Civil Rights History • 1960s America • The Green Book • ELA/Social Studies • Sub Plans

Please Note: This independently created educational resource supports instruction related to The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the author, publisher, or related rights holders. The novel is not included.