Exploring Resilience Through Memoir

Curriculum Standards

• Grade Level: 7th Grade
• Subject Area: English Language Arts
• Standards Alignment:
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.1: Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.7.3: Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.7.1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.7.1: Engage effectively in collaborative discussions, building on others’ ideas and expressing one’s own clearly.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this 90-minute lesson, students will be able to:

1. Analyze the experiences of Elizabeth Keckley in Chapter 1 of Behind the Scenes and connect her resilience to a broader historical and personal context.
2. Identify and interpret key themes in the text, supported by textual evidence.
3. Engage in collaborative group discussions to explore how challenges help shape individuals.
4. Create a reflective journal response considering their own experiences with resilience.

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Materials Needed

1. Personal copies of Behind the Scenes Chapter 1 by Elizabeth Keckley (digital or print).
2. Whiteboard/Smartboard and markers.
3. Index cards (1 per student).
4. A large sheet of butcher paper or chart paper for group work.
5. Colored markers or post-it notes for brainstorming activities.
6. Student notebooks or tablets for reflective writing.

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up (10 Minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and pique interest in memoirs and historical context.

1. Bell-Ringer Question: Display the question on the board—“Think about a time you faced a challenge or hardship. How did you overcome it? Write 3-4 sentences about it in your notebook.”
   • Allow students 3-4 minutes to reflect and write silently.
2. Quick Pair-Share: Have students turn to a partner and briefly share one challenge they wrote about. (1 minute each).
3. Transition with Context: Briefly explain that Behind the Scenes is the memoir of Elizabeth Keckley, an African-American dressmaker, who lived through the brutal realities of slavery and later became a confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln. Highlight that today’s focus will be understanding her resilience.

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2. Text Analysis & Group Discussion (40 Minutes)

2.1 Reading & Annotation (15 Minutes)

Objective: Students will critically read and annotate the text for key details.

1. Distribute copies of Chapter 1.
2. Model close reading techniques (e.g., identifying unfamiliar words, phrases that show emotion, or moments defining the author’s challenges).
3. Read aloud the first few paragraphs as a class. Let students continue reading individually, annotating key passages about Keckley’s experiences, particularly those showcasing her resilience. (e.g., her determination, the challenges she faced).

2.2 Small Group Discussion (15 Minutes)

Objective: Facilitate collaborative analysis of themes and connections.

1. Divide the class of 76 students into groups of 8-10 (use numbers, colors, or pre-arranged groups for ease).
2. Each group is assigned one theme related to Chapter 1 (e.g., "resilience," "relationships," "overcoming injustice").
3. Instructions for each group:
   • Summarize the key takeaways from the assigned theme.
   • Cite at least two pieces of evidence from the text to support their theme.
   • Brainstorm a connection with a historical or modern example (e.g., another historical figure, public figure, or personal example).

2.3 Collaborative Activity: Poster Creation (10 Minutes)

Objective: Synthesize key group ideas creatively.

1. Groups will use butcher paper or chart paper to create a poster summarizing their theme, textual evidence, and real-world connections. Encourage colorful, creative designs.
2. Hang completed posters around the classroom for a gallery walk during the next activity.

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3. Whole-Class Review & Gallery Walk (15 Minutes)

Objective: Consolidate learning and deepen understanding.

1. Conduct a Gallery Walk: Allow students to walk around and review other groups' posters.
2. For accountability, students will write down two things they learned from another group on their index cards.

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4. Reflective Writing (15 Minutes)

Objective: Students make personal connections with the theme of resilience.

1. Pose the question: "How can Elizabeth Keckley’s story inspire us to face our own challenges with resilience?"
2. Students will write a one-paragraph personal reflection in their notebooks. Encourage them to refer to specific details in the text and think about connections to their own lives.

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5. Wrap-Up & Exit Ticket (10 Minutes)

1. Ask for 2-3 students to voluntarily share their reflections with the class.
2. Collect Exit Tickets: On their index cards, students will complete the sentence: “One thing I admire about Elizabeth Keckley is __ because __.”

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Assessment

• Formative: Annotated copies of the text and participation in group discussions.
• Summative: Group posters, reflective journals, and exit tickets.

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Teacher Notes & Extensions

1. History Connection: Encourage history teachers to collaborate on a lesson about slavery or the Civil War era to deepen cross-curricular connections.
2. Extension Project: Assign a creative writing piece where students write a short memoir about an important moment in their lives.
3. Diverse Voices Discussion: Reflect on how Elizabeth Keckley’s memoir contributes to the understanding of African-American history during the Civil War period.

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By engaging students in analytical, collaborative, and reflective exercises, this lesson promotes empathy, critical thinking, and personal growth, grounding their literary analysis within broader social and historical contexts.