The book Elijah of Buxton transports you to the free settlement of Buxton, Canada, an end destination on the Underground Railroad for people escaping the horrors of slavery in America. Buxton is real and is on the list of National Historic places in Canada. Started in 1849, it grew to a population of about 2,000 with comfortable homes, farms, and even its own sawmill, brickyard, post office, hotel, and school.
This activity will allow students to imagine what it would be like to live in Buxton. Students will re-tell some of the events that occurred in the book. They could pick events like the Carnival coming, the gift of the Liberty Bell from Pittsburg, the arrival of the Taylor family, or even the treacherous swindle of Mr. Leroy by the Preacher. Students could also make up a story that they think might occur in Buxton and write about that.
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Due Date:
Objective: Create the front page of a newspaper called The Buxton News! Describe an event from Elijah of Buxton. You may also write about an event you imagine might happen in Buxton.
Student Instructions:
Requirements:
Begin the lesson by introducing the author Christopher Paul Curtis to the students and explaining to them the meaning and objectives of an author study. As a part of this introduction, teachers can also introduce some famous works of Curtis to the students and ask them if they have previously come across his works such as Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go To Birmingham.
An important aspect of conducting an author study is to find out more about the life and upbringing of the author to understand the influences in their lives. Ask the students to utilize online and physical resources to find out more about the background of Curtis. Students can consider questions such as where was he born and brought up, discuss his education and professional background, and find out more about the major events in his life.
Before conducting an author study, ask the students to get more familiar with the works of that author. If possible, students can read a few other books written by Curtis. However, summarized texts can also be used for the analysis so that students can save up some time on the reading. Once students are more familiar with his work, ask them to identify any particular themes that are consistent throughout his books. For instance, mention of historical events related to discrimination and racism, the idea of identity the concept of freedom and equality, etc.
Examine the influence of Curtis's writings on literature, teaching, and conversations around racial identification and identity. Take into account how his writing advances larger social discussions.
Assign students creative projects to produce artifacts that are connected to Curtis's writings, including illustrations, character diaries, or alternate book covers. These assignments let them demonstrate their originality and get a deeper comprehension of the literature.
Students may use pictures or drawings to illustrate the historical context of Buxton, a Canadian community founded by runaway slaves. Articles and headlines may discuss the Underground Railroad, the historical setting, and the experiences of the characters. To make it look more realistic and accurate, students can add other headlines from the same time period.
A headline, the primary narrative, character quotations, an editorial or opinion article, and pictures or illustrations pertaining to the events being reported are typical portions that can be added. It is possible to customize each segment to emphasize different elements of the book.