The document provides instructions for students to analyze and discuss Chapter 1 of the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Students are assigned to groups to research topics related to the 1930s such as the Great Depression, the Ku Klux Klan, sharecropping, and Jim Crow laws. They conduct a library hunt to research and answer questions about their assigned topic. The groups then create a poster to teach their topic and discuss what they've learned. Students also analyze Chapter 1 by taking on roles such as reader, responder, and connector to make connections between the text and historical content.

1. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

2. Learning Goal
You will be able to engage effectively in a
range of collaborative discussions (one-onone, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse
partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues,
building on each others’ ideas and expressing
your own clearly. SL.7.1

3. What do you know?
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is centered
around issues that occurred in the 1930s.
What do you know about the 1930s?
You have two minutes to create a Word
Splash on the 1930s.

4. 1930s/Important Vocab
Sharecropping
Klu Klux Klan (KKK)
Great Depression
Jim Crow Laws

5. Objective
You will come to discussions prepared, having
read or researched material under study;
explicitly draw on that preparation by referring
to evidence on the topic, text, or issue to probe
and reflect on ideas under discussion. SL.7.1a

6. Preparation
1. Get into groups:
Great Depression
KKK
Sharecropping
Jim Crow Laws
2. Library hunt for research questions

7. Research Questions
To better understand the vocabulary in Chapter 1, your groups will
do a library hunt on your topic. Each person must have 1 set of
questions to answer independently to bring back to the group for
discussion. You may use ANY resource available in the library.
1. What is it? Why did it come about?
2. When did it happen? How were others affected?
3. Where did it happen? Any important people who contributed?
4. An illustration. Related book.

8. Objective
You will follow rules for collegial
discussions, track progress toward specific
goals and deadlines, and define
individual roles as needed. SL.7.2b

9. Discussion
1. Discuss research exchanging answers to questions.
Everyone in the group is responsible for knowing all the
information.
2. Understand roles in the group. Roles will change every 3
pages of Ch. 1.
 Leader: Checklist
 Writer: Writes answers to Say Something
 Reader: Reads 3 pages
 Responder: Responds using Say Something

10. Objective
You will pose questions that elicit elaboration
and respond to others’ questions and
comments with relevant observations and
ideas that bring the discussion back on topic
as needed. SL.7.1c

11. Say Something
1. Kagan Round Table of roles in group. Every 3 pages, roles will
rotate.
2. Say Something steps- Every 3 pages responder will:
Make a prediction
Ask a question
Clarify something you misunderstood
Make a comment
Make a connection
Make an argument
3. Make sure everyone completes their assigned jobs.

12. Project
Choose answers from the Say Something of
Chapter 1 to add to your Library Hunt
information.
Create a poster that answers the research
questions and adds information from Ch. 1 of
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.

13. Objective
You will acknowledge new information
expressed by others and, when
warranted, modify your own views.
SL.7.1d

14. Carousel
1. One person from each group will go to each poster. The
remaining person from the group who made the poster will
present the poster to the classmates.
2. One person from the group will stay and everyone else
rotates. That person will teach the poster to the group adding
or questioning his or her own information.
3. One person stays, and repeat.

15. Connections
The land that Cassie’s family lives on
belongs to the Harlan Granger. Cassie’s
family sharecrops with the Harlan
Granger so that they can own the land
they live on.
What is sharecropping and why is it important?

16. Connections
TJ brings up the burning that took place
the night before. White men burned their
neighbor and two of his nephews.
What does the KKK have to do with this? How
are they different than law enforcement?

17. Connections
The Logans walked Jeremy to the White
school. Jeremy gets beaten for being
with the Black children.
How is this an example of the Jim Crow Laws?

18. Connections
Many instances in the book, the families in
the book are seen struggling and being
poor.
How has the Great Depression affected the
families in the Chapter 1?

19. Chapter 2
Read Chapter 2 with group.
1. Reader: reads 3 pages.
2. Vocabulary Hunter: writes down unknown or interesting
vocabulary (at least 5)
3. Responder: responds using Say Something.
4. Connector: connects to one of the four topics.
Round Table every 3 pages switching roles. Be ready to
discuss.