The Watson’s Go to
Birmingham
Chapters 1-4

Essential Question: What are the
drawbacks of prejudice and the positive
aspects of diversity?

Journal Writing Topic - What does being
prejudiced mean to you?
Chapter 1 Writing Time
If you were Kenny Watson, how would you feel
about your brother Byron’s behavior? If you were
Joetta, what would it mean to have your big
brother be called a juvenile delinquent?
 Have you ever been in an uncomfortable
situation where you felt pressured to act a
certain way? Tell about a time that you went
along with the crowd, despite feelings that you
shouldn’t.
 In just a few sentences, pretend you are Kenny
and summarize what happened in Chapter 1.
Focus on the main parts of this chapter.

Journaling Topics- Choose 1
Details How does Byron earn the nickname “The Lipless
Wonder?”
Characters’ Perspectives How does Momma feel about living in Flint,
Michigan?
 When Momma tells Dad that the people in
Birmingham are friendlier than they are in Flint,
Dad laughs and says, “Oh yeah, they’re a laugh a
minute down there. Let’s see, where was that
‘Coloreds Only’ bathroom downtown?” What does
Dad mean by this? What is the point he is trying
to make?
Chapter 1 Check
Make Inferences Hambone scared Momma into thinking there
were no black people in Michigan. Why would
this bother Momma?
 In Chapter 1, Kenny plays along with Byron
and Buphead’s Surviving the Blizzard test. On
page 11 he says, “I made up my mind that
no matter how hard they threw me in that
snow I was going to get up laughing.” Why
would Kenny do this? Do you agree with his
choice?
Chapter 1 Check
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1. List the names of the members of the Watson
family.
2. 4 or 5 people in the family were born in Flint,
Michigan. Which one was not and where was he/she
born and raised?
3. Who is the narrator of the story?
4. Why did mom cover her mouth when she
laughed?
5. Where were the Watson family going since it was
so cold at their house?
6. Why were Byron and Kenny scraping ice from the
Brown Bomber?
7. What happened to By and why?
8. What did Byron and Buphead do to Kenny when
they were outside?
Chapter 1 Questions
Short Version of Martin Luther King’s
“I Have a Dream” speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFcbp
GK9_aw

Write one thing you learned from today’s
vocabulary, video clip, or reading.
Context

Essential Questions: What are the
drawbacks of prejudice and the positive
aspects of diversity?

Journal Writing Topic - Are you prejudiced
and whom are you prejudiced against?
Chapter 2 Writing Time
Cause and Effect
 What caused teachers to treat Kenny
differently than other kids in the school?
 What effect did this special treatment have
on Kenny?
Make Inferences
 Why would Kenny’s smartness make him
enemies of other students?
 Why did Byron show Kenny how to squint
and look at people sideways, but then
sometimes called him Cockeye Kenny
himself?
Chapter 2 Check
Characters’ Perspectives
 How does Kenny feel when people call him
Poindexter, egghead, or Cockeye Kenny?
Explain.
Evidence
 What does the bus driver think of the way
Larry Dunn treats the new boy on the
bus?
Chapter 2 Check
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1. Who was the school bully in the story?
2. What happened to the bully on the
school bus?
3. What did Kenny do that made him
proud of himself, ashamed of himself, and
afraid of By all at the same time?
4. What was Kenny’s nickname?
5. What was Kenny’s savior that came on
the bus in raggedy clothes?
Chapter 2 Questions


On page 28, Kenny says a “miracle”
happened: He was sent a savior. Why does
Kenny view the new Southern boy as his
savior? Do you agree with Kenny’s judgment?
Unlike Kenny, many people would not choose
to ignore the teasing, but would instead stop
the reading, studying, etc. so that the
teasing might stop. Have you ever ignored
being teased by your peers in order to do the
right thing? Explain your situation and how it
made you feel about yourself.
Journaling- Choose 1

Essential Question: What are the
drawbacks of prejudice and the positive
aspects of diversity?
Journal Writing Topics  Who would you consider to be your
personal savior?
 How does he/she save you in your time of
need?

Chapter 3-4 Writing Time
On the playground Kenny and Rufus have
an interesting conversation about a
squirrel. What does Rufus say to Kenny
that is so surprising?
 In this chapter, Kenny figures out that
there are two things wrong with Rufus.
What are those two things?
 Why did Rufus save half of the sandwich
Kenny gave him for later? Why would he?

Chapter 3 Check
1. Most people want their savior very close to
them. Why did Kenny want his personal savior as
far away from him as he could be?
 2. Why did Rufus take part of Kenny’s lunch?
 3. What games did Kenny and Rufus play at
lunch?
 4. Why did Kenny not play with LJ anymore?
 5. People made fun of Kenny because of his
cross-eyes. Why did they make fun of Rufus?
(list at least 2)
 6. What caused Rufus to get mad at Kenny?
 7. Kenny thought he and Rufus were secret
friends. How did Kenny feel when Rufus got mad
at him?
 8. How did Rufus and Kenny get back together
as friends?
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Chapter 3 Questions
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When Rufus tells Kenny that he thought Kenny
was different, what did he mean by this? In what
ways was Kenny “different” from others? Why
was this important to Rufus?
When Kenny laughed at Rufus on the bus, he did
not have the courage to stand up to Larry Dunn.
Can you think of a time when you needed
courage in order to make a good decision?
Explain what happened and talk about how
courage helped you.
Can you think of ways in which your family
practices and beliefs are different from those in
other neighborhoods, towns, or even countries?
Journaling- Choose 1
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1. Why did Momma dress her children in so
many layers of clothing?
2. How did Byron get Joey to quit whining
and crying about having to wear so many
winter clothes?
3. Kenny gave Rufus his first pair of gloves.
Then, Kenny’s second pair was stolen. Who
stole them? What happened to the stolen
gloves while the thief had them?
4. What happened to the thief?
Chapter 4 Questions
In Chapter 4, we learn that Momma is
overly concerned about how cold it can be
in Flint.
 Average Weather for Birmingham:
 http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclim
atology/monthly/graph/USAL0054
 Average Weather for Flint, Michigan:
 http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclim
atology/monthly/graph/USMI0295
Weather Update!
Evidence
 Rufus figures out that Larry Dunn stole
Kenny’s gloves. What evidence does he
have to prove it?
 How does Kenny react when he realizes
he only has one glove?
 In this Chapter we learn that Larry Dunn
is poor. What evidence supports this
inference?
Chapter 4 Check

Journal Writing Topic: Pretend you are
Kenny and summarize what happened in
Chapter 5.
Chapter 5 – Writing Time
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Sometimes people can laugh at things other
people think are very serious. For instance
Byron makes fun of Momma’s story of the fire
she experienced when she was a young child.
Write about why you think that is. Explain how
people can tell the difference between something
that is funny and something that is serious.
In this Chapter, Kenny knows that Byron is
playing a dangerous game, but he chooses not to
snitch on his big brother. Think of a time that
you know a friend or sibling was doing something
dangerous. How did you react? How did the
situation unfold? I you could go back, what
would you do differently?
Journaling Topic – Choose 1
Do You Think Byron will ever play with fire
again? Why?
 Kenny notes that “Momma’s horrible
snake woman voice came out again…”
Why does this alarm Kenny? And why
would Momma have such a voice?

Chapter 5 - Check
Do You Think Byron will ever play with
fire again? Why?
2. What is Kenny’s perspective on the
punishment that Byron is to receive from
Momma?
3. Why is Kenny terrified when Momma
tells him to go get the matches?
4. What was Momma’s reaction when she
caught Byron playing with fire in the
bathroom?
1.
Chapter 5 - Questions
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Why did Joetta Keep blowing out the
matches when Momma was trying to burn
Byron’s finger?
Why did Joetta keep blowing out the
matches when Momma was trying to burn
Byron’s finger?
Momma know first hand how dangerous fire
can be. What happened when she was a
little girl?
What kind of reaction did this story get out
of the different Watson family members?
What evidence do we have that Byron did
not take Momma’s fire warnings very
seriously?
Chapter 5 - Questions
Discuss:
 What caused the mourning dove to die?
 What effect did the bird’s death have on
Byron?
 What lesson, if any, do you believe Byron
learned from the dove’s death?

Chapter 6 - Check
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Characters’ Perspective
Kenny says, “I really wished I was as smart as
people thought I was, ‘cause some of the time it
was real hard to understand what was going on
with Byron.” What made Kenny feel this way?
Kenny tries to comfort Byron after he gets sick,
and in response Byron throws green apples at
Kenny, calls him a “punk,” and tells him to leave.
Why would Byron behave like this?
Do you know of someone who has made an
unkind decision that you felt was wrong? Did the
person apologize or try to make things right
again? What is an example of a time that you
have needed to forgive someone for something
you thought was wrong?
Journal Prompt – Choose 1
How do you think Byron’s parents will
react when they find out that he signed
for “free food” in the form of cookies at
the grocery store?
2. Byron and Kenny are both bothered by
the idea of being on welfare. What parts
of the book let us know this?
3. Do you thin Byron is a good person?
Explain your reasoning.
1.
Chapter 6 - Questions
In
just one sentence,
pretend you are Kenny
and summarize what
happened in Chapter 7.
Focus on the main parts
of this chapter.
Chapter 7 – Check
Conk
 http://newlynatural.com/blog/2009/08/its
-just-hair-the-conk/
 http://www.jazma.com/black-hair-history
Chapter 7 – Informational
 Consider
the following passage from
Chapter 7: Byron had gotten a conk! A
process! A do! A butter! A ton of trouble!
His hair was reddish brown, straight, stiff and
slick-looking. Kenny uses several terms
to describe the same thing. Given
the context of the sentences, what is
Kenny talking about?
 Why Would Byron straighten his
hair? What do you think motivated
him to do this?
Journal Prompt – Choose 1
Momma and Joetta are both upset by
Byron’s new hairstyle, but for different
reasons. What are the different
reasons?
2. Dad ends up shaving Byron’s head.
Considering the fact that the story takes
place in 1963, how do you think Byron
felt about being bald-headed?
3. What do you think might have been
discussed during the “adult-only” talk
between Momma and Dad?
1.
Chapter 7 - Questions
4.
5.
6.
4. What do you thin that Dad might
have to get back to Grandma Sands
about?
5. Do you think it was fair of Dad to
shave Byron’s head? Explain
6. What does it mean to be fair and
just? When troublesome situations
happen, how can we be sure to
treat all people fairly?
Chapter 7 - Questions
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What is Kenny’s favorite song to play on the
Ultra Glide?
Momma and Dad had threatened to send
Byron to Grandma Sands’ house many times,
but the kids never believed it would really
happen. Kenny lists three good reasons to
believe that his parents were bluffing? What
are the reasons?
What are the reasons that Momma gives why
Byron had to stay with Grandma Sands?
Chapter 8 - Check
Favorite Song of Momma and Kenny
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=iyzCccndc2w
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=PtTC3pGBjs4
Objects from the 1960’s
 http://thebrownbombergoestobir
mingham.wikispaces.com/Object
s+from+the+1960’s
Chapter 8 - Informational
When Dad first surprised the family with
the new Ultra-Glide, what was Momma’s
reaction? And why did she react this
way?
2. Eventually, Momma changes her attitude
and joins the family fun outside with the
Ultra-Glide. What made her change her
tune?
3. Grandma Sands tells Momma that stuff
on TV isn’t happening near her and that
it’s safe and quiet in her neighborhood.
Why would Grandma say this?
1.
Chapter 8 - Questions
4. Why
would this matter
so much to Momma?
5. How do you think the
Watson children will like
Birmingham?
Chapter 8 - Questions
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Given what we know is happening in Alabama during the
time that the Watson’s decide to visit Birmingham, do you
recommend that the family go? What advice would you
give them about the trip?
Imagine you are Grandma Sands. Write a letter to Byron
explaining how he will be expected to behave at her house
in Birmingham. Describe how Birmingham will be different
from Fling.
When you are faced with problems in your life, how does it
make you feel? What do you do when you feel that you
can’t change your situation? Do you feel that there is
anything that you are able to do to change your situation,
even if it is something small? Do you believe that there is
any way that you, one person, could work to change some
of the problems in your life? How?
Journal Prompt – Choose 1
Why did Momma and Dad make Byron
sleep in their room the night before the
big trip?
 What would have given Momma and Dad
the impression that Byron may try to run
away?
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Chapter 9 - Check
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
How does Kenny really feel about
sending Byron to Grandma Sands’ house
for the summer?
Why doesn’t Joetta like the angel that
Mrs. Davidson gives her?
Why would the color of the angel’s face
be a problem for Joetta?
Why did Momma have the whole trip to
Birmingham planned?
Why would Momma and Dad decide that
sending Byron to Birmingham for the
summer is a good idea?
Chapter 9 - Questions
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Pretend that you are Kenny and Byron and
respond to what Dad said. What questions
would you have about the south? How would
you react to Dad’s joke?
Joetta put the angel that Mrs. Davidson gave her
as a gift in her sock drawer because she didn’t
like it. Have you ever received a gift that you
didn’t like? How did you react and what did you
do?
How would you feel if you were separated from
your peers or denied certain rights because of
the way you looked or because of a set of beliefs
you had? What are ways that diversity actually
makes our lives better? Can you think of
examples of how differences among people have
improved a situation?
Journal Prompt – Choose 1
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Kenny knows that once Momma falls asleep
Dad plans to drive much further than her
schedule would allow. How does Kenny
figure this out?
Why are the Watson children frightened when
the family stops in Tennessee?
Momma takes out her notebook and
announces: This is the Appalachia Mountains.
We’re over six thousand feet above sea lever,
this is higher than we’ve ever been before.
What does “sea level” mean and how is it
relevant to Momma’s point?
Chapter 10 - Check
Map of the Appalachian Mountains:
 http://media.web.britannica.com/ebmedia/3/89843-004-DBECEB58.gif
Chapter 10 - Information
1.
2.
3.
Why doesn’t Dad want to stick with
Momma’s plan to take several days
to drive to Birmingham?
Why is Momma angry that Dad has
not followed the driving schedule?
Why do you think that Byron was
so nervous about being near the
Appalachian Mountains, especially
in the dark?
Chapter 10 - Questions
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At this point in the story, with which character do
you most closely identify? Why? What makes
you similar to that character?
Write about a time that you were someplace that
gave you a “creepy” feeling and you just couldn’t
wait to get away.
What are some unfair stereotypes that you can
think of? Have you ever been stereotyped? How
did that make you feel? How do stereotypes
affect others? What are ways that we can avoid
making stereotypes?
Journal Prompt – Choose 1