MARCH Book One, Part 1 (pages 1-36) Activities

Visual Glossary:

Directions: Go online and find the definition for each of the words (I recommend the Longman
Dictionary of Contemporary English). Then, click insert, then image, and search for an image to
match the DEFINITION of the word.
Word Definition Image

Unlawful not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized

by law or rules.

Assembly a group of people gathered together in one

place for a common purpose.

Disperse distribute or spread over a wide area.

Reaffirm state again as a fact; assert again strongly.

Sharecroppe a tenant farmer who gives a part of each crop
r as rent.

Incubator an enclosed apparatus providing a controlled

environment for the care and protection of
premature or unusually small babies.

Eulogy a speech or piece of writing that praises

someone or something highly, typically
someone who has just died.

Comprehension Questions

1. What animal did John (Bob) Lewis bond with on his family farm? Give an example of this
bond.

John Lewis (Bob) befriended a chicken on his farm, talking to it and practicing speeches.
2. What was Lewis’ involvement in the March on Washington?

John Lewis helped organize the March on Washington in 1963, speaking about civil rights.
3. Give an example of the role religion played in Lewis’ early life?
Religion was important; he preached to chickens, influenced by Christianity.

Analysis Questions

1. The book opens with a moment from the March to Selma. The speech bubbles of the
troopers are surrounded by jagged lines. Why do you think the illustrator made this
artistic choice?
 Jagged lines around troopers' speech bubbles show tension during the Selma march.

2. The trilogy is framed around January 20, 2009, Barack Obama’s inauguration day. Why do
you suppose the author chose this event as the backdrop to the novel? 3. In what way does
John’s reaction to the chicken’s being killed foreshadow his future as a civil rights activist?

The trilogy starts at Obama's inauguration to highlight progress in civil rights.

Writing an Objective Summary

An objective summary gives the central ideas of a text and details to support it. It is objective,
meaning it does not include your opinions. You are simply pulling out the most important
details to help the reader understand the author’s main point.

In part 1, Lewis mentions that his father had been a sharecropper, until he scraped together
enough money to buy their land in 1940. This article gives a brief explanation of sharecropping
in the United States. Write an objective summary of the article, following the template below.
http://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/themes/

sharecropping/ Sentence Type Sentence Starter

Topic Sentence: include the name of In the article, “_Sharecropping in the United
the article and the author’s central States_,” the central idea is _about how
idea. sharecropping started after the Civil War._.

Supporting detail: a detail that goes For example, ...Sharecropping began because
along with the central idea. It can be an there was a need for labor, and there was no
example, a statistic, or a fact. money or independent credit system.

Supporting detail: a detail that goes In fact, ….Sharecropping means tenants use
along with the central idea. It can be an the landlord's land and share the crops,
example, a statistic, or a fact. keeping them connected to the land.

Supporting detail: a detail that goes Furthermore, ...Families who were

along with the central idea. It can be an sharecroppers faced problems like high
example, a statistic, or a fact. interest rates, uncertain harvests, and rules
that made it hard to sell crops on their own.

Concluding sentence: Restate the main This is significant because...This is important

idea OR say why it is because it shows the challenges faced by
important/significant. sharecroppers and how they worked together
 for better rights. The decline of sharecropping
in the 1940s, influenced by things like the
Great Depression, is a big change in history.

Write your summary below.

In the article, “Sharecropping in the United States,” the central idea is about how sharecropping
started after the Civil War. For example, Sharecropping began because there was a need for
labor, and there was no money or independent credit system. In fact, Sharecropping means
tenants use the landlord's land and share the crops, keeping them connected to the land.
Furthermore, Families who were sharecroppers faced problems like high interest rates,
uncertain harvests, and rules that made it hard to sell crops on their own. This is significant
because. This is important because it shows the challenges faced by sharecroppers and how
they worked together for better rights. The decline of sharecropping in the 1940s, influenced by
things like the Great Depression, is a big change in history.