Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021

Sometimes, 12-year-old Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at
Middlefield Prep, most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbing
him "Black Brother," Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more
like his lighter-skinned brother, Trey.

When he's bullied and framed by the captain of the fencing team, "King" Alan, he's suspended
from school and arrested for something he didn't do.

Terrified, searching for a place where he belongs, Donte joins a local youth center and meets
former Olympic fencer Arden Jones. With Arden's help, he begins training as a competitive
fencer, setting his sights on taking down the fencing team captain, no matter what.

As Donte hones his fencing skills and grows closer to achieving his goal, he learns the fight for
justice is far from over. Now Donte must confront his bullies, racism, and the corrupt systems
of power that led to his arrest.

Powerful and emotionally gripping, Black Brother, Black Brother is a careful examination of the
school-to-prison pipeline and follows one boy's fight against racism and his empowering path to
finding his voice.

UNIT OBJECTIVES
Racial Literacy Objective Examine how race and racial inequalities play a role in how we experience the world.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.2 Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text; provide an
objective summary of the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.6 Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and explain how it is conveyed in the text.
 Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond
or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.C Pose and respond to specific questions with elaboration and detail by making comments that contribute to the topic,
text, or issue under discussion.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.1.D Review the key ideas expressed and demonstrate understanding of multiple perspectives through reflection and
paraphrasing.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.6.2 Interpret information presented in diverse media and formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) and explain how it
contributes to a topic, text, or issue under study.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with
others;

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the
selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.

UNIT ESSENTIAL + GUIDING QUESTIONS

Essential Question How can we combat racial inequalities?

Guiding Question What are racial inequalities?

Guiding Question What resources, tools, and platforms are out there that can help us raise our voices?

Guiding Question What role do stereotypes play in forming our implicit biases and our interactions with others?

Guiding Question What is the difference between equity and equality?

Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021
 Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021
UNIT RESOURCES
Before We Start #1: Before We Start #2: Before We Start #3: Before We Start #4:
Finding Your Voice School to Prison Pipeline Fighting Racism Together Becoming an Ally

Final Project Handout Anchor Activity #1: Research Anchor Activity #2: Compare Anchor Activity #3: Guest
Skills & Contrast Speaker

Research Support: Research Resource Outline Infographic Instructions Public Speaking Tips & Tricks
Annotation Guide

Unit Calendar - April 2021

WK 1 April 3 Agenda 4 5 6 7
- Introduction to our - “Before We - “Before We Start” - “Before We Start” - “Before We Start”
 Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021
unit Start” Activity Activity #2 Activity #3 Activity #4
- Watch book trailer #1
- Introduction to
anchor activities

WK 2 10 11 12 13 14
- Begin reading - Begin working - Continue working - Continue reading - Turn in Anchor
Black Brother, on Anchor #1 on Anchor #1 (in groups) Activity #1
Black Brother - Mini-lesson on - Second half of class: - Finish up Anchor - Continue reading
independently research skills half-way book #1 for homework if - Discuss anchor
- Introduce Anchor discussion. not finished. activity and
#1 readings this week

WK 3 17 18 19 20 21
- Continue reading - Begin working - Continue working - Continue reading - Turn in Anchor
independently on Anchor #2 on Anchor #2 (in groups) Activity #2
- Introduce Anchor - Mini-lesson on - Finish up Anchor - Continue reading
#2 public speaking #2 for homework if - Discuss anchor
not finished. activity and
readings this week.

WK 4 24 25 26 27 28
- Continue reading - Begin working - Continue working - Continue reading - Interview day!
independently on Anchor #3 on Anchor #3 (in groups) - Discussion after
- Introduce Anchor - Mini-lesson on - Second half of class: - Finalize questions interview
#3 interview skills read in groups for interview

WK 5 31 1 2 3 4
- Discuss interview - Finish up - Introduce final - Resource - Resource cover/title
with Kelly infographic project cover/title page page art contest
- Begin working on - Post to Google - Find partners art contest
infographic Classroom
 Black Brother, Black Brother Whole Class Unit Guide TCH 238_Spring 2021
WK 6 7 8 9 10 11
- Begin working on - Continue - Conference day - Continue working - Turn in outline to
final project looking for - Finalize source on project Google Classroom
- Find source to sources - Begin working on - Fill out outline - Continue working
evaluate - Sign up for project on project (start on
conference infographic)

WK 7 14 15 16 17 18
- Continue working - Continue - Continue working - Read feedback - Revisions turned in
on infographic working on on infographic - Make revisions by the end of class
infographic - Turn in rough draft
to Google
Classroom by the
end of class

WK 8 21 22 23 24 25
- Present - Present - Compile final - Assembly - Assembly day
infographic to class infographic to resource book presentation
class - Talk about assembly practice
presentation