Creative Teaching Resources for
by Mildred D. Taylor (1976)
LitWits Activities, Takeaway Topics, Learning Links, and Prop Ideas
Set during the Depression in Mississippi, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is about the Logan family’s struggle against racism and social injustice. This strong, loving family isn’t just trying to hang on to their land, but to their integrity and dignity. Told from young Cassie’s perspective over the course of a year, it’s a story that has us sharing her outrage but cheering her courage in the face of hatred and violence. Through her family's experiences and responses, Cassie learns (and teaches us) the importance of standing up for what’s right. Heads up: Because of its subject matter, this book has some language and violence our chosen books don't usually include.
ACTIVITIES ON THIS PAGE:
Meet the author
Plant seeds of beauty and power
Get your bearings
Get into another's shoes
Develop resilience in red
Learn some terms of the time
Follow clues to find a theme
Have a feast from the field
Get into another's head
Review plot points on the narrative arc
Talk about racism and history
ON THIS PAGE:
Printables: preview of worksheets and activity printables for sale
Takeaway Topics: teaching points made meaningful through activities
Prop Ideas: story objects that make abstract ideas more memorable
Learning Links: curated external links for lesson prep or tangential learning
Shareables: graphics of key ideas
Great Quotes: some favorite lines to discuss
Terms of Use: how you may use LitWits® resources
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Creative Teaching Idea #1
Without the author and her life experiences, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry would never have been written! Introduce your kids to Mildred D. Taylor through the short video below, which shares kid-friendly, interesting aspects of her life.
You’ll find a worksheet for author note-taking and conversation-starting in our printables set.
Creative Teaching Idea #2
This project gets kids' hands on the idea that by planting the right seeds, we can overcome intolerance and hate— that effective change begins at ground level, and can grow to replace ugliness and lies with beauty and truth.
We shall overcome because the Bible is right, “You shall reap what you sow.”
We shall overcome.
Deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome.
– Martin Luther King, “We Shall Overcome” speech, March 31, 1968
Discrimination of any kind wounds and scars, but those who suffer its effects can overcome. In this project, values-infused butter beans “rise above” from burlap soil to overcome the marks of indignity. The seedlings demonstrate the power of self-reliance, hope, family, dignity, equality and love. And the seeds also represent the farming Logans and their love of butter beans!
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SUPPLIES
a re-creation (on white cardstock) of the chart from the book (we're awaiting permission to include this in our printables).
glue and markers
for matting, black construction paper OR glue project to pocket folders to store worksheets.
4-6″ high pieces of burlap
folded light green paper cut heart-shaped leaves on fold). One 3"x6" strip per child is plenty.
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We suggest making a model ahead of time, so it’s easier to demonstrate and explain to the kids. It’s also a good time to make any preparations that will save time later.
DIRECTIONS
First, have the kids glue the offensive “hand-me-down” chart to a folder (for worksheets) or cardstock. (We took this opportunity to share Mildred D. Taylor’s reasoning for her use of the n-word, though we still chose not to repeat it.)
Next, poke strips of green raffia or twine into pieces of burlap, tape them to the back side, then glue the burlap to the left and right edges of the template — be sure to cover the offending line!
Have the kids label the butter (lima) beans with values the Logans instilled, and attach them to the paper and stems with glue. Then adorn the stems with “heart” leaves cut from folded tissue paper.
If desired, have them add the title of the book — a folded edge for gluing keeps the “BOE” heading visible.
While the kids work, you might want to go through some of our Learning Links for information to share about slavery and post-slavery conditions in America. The history worksheet is included in our printables. (We're awaiting permission from the publisher to include the chart for this project, but meanwhile, it's easy to recreate.)
Creative Teaching Idea #3
This story takes place in 1933, after Reconstruction—a big topic worth talking about. The Logans live near the fictional town of Strawberry, which is someplace between Jackson, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee.
Have kids "pick a Strawberry" location and trace Papa's journey on the map worksheet included in our printables set.
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Creative Teaching Idea #4
Charades are a memorable way to “get into the shoes” of the characters in this story. Ask pairs of volunteers to silently act out a scene from the story, following a prompt that you hand (or privately explain) to them.
Kids love pretending to be someone else, especially someone doing something sneaky, show-offy, awesome, snarky, or scary! For example:
You are T.J., putting on Stacey’s new coat and admiring yourself in it. Swagger around to make sure everyone sees how good you look – especially Stacey. Stacey is so mad at himself for giving away that beautiful coat!
Creative Teaching Idea #5
Red dust, dirt, and mud are streaked all through this story, emphasizing the importance of owning land. This project gets kids’ hands “dirty” in constructive, creative ways, and lets them discover the foundational meaning of this book.
In the opening to Chapter 3, the dust is said to be “rejoicing in its own resiliency,” a phrase that applies to the Logan family too:
At first the rain had merely splotched the dust, which seemed to be rejoicing in its own resiliency and laughing at the heavy drops thudding against it; but eventually the dust was forced to surrender to the mastery of the rain and it churned into a fine red mud that oozed between our toes and slopped against our ankles as we marched miserably to and from school.
In this metaphor the red dust must surrender to greater forces of the moment—yet it survives; it just changes form. It's not a pleasant form, at least not in this paragraph, but in time it will harden into something strong and tough.
Your kids can take the land itself—red clay—and sculpt it into something strong and tough yet resilient and soft at its heart, something that keeps coming back, even after a storm or a fire, to provide support: a cotton stalk.
Remove the glass from inexpensive 5x7 (or 4×6) picture frames (we got ours at a dollar store; they're also on Amazon), and distribute the cardboard backing.
Have the kids spread a very thin layer of red clay over the cardboard. Dipping their fingers in a little bit of water will make this easier.
While they're working, talk about the meaning of resilience, and how it applies to the Logans and others who have had to overcome intolerance.
When finished, put the clay-covered cardboard back into the frame.
To create the cotton stalk, have them roll the clay into thin strips and balls, then press into stems, leaves, blades, pebbles, or whatever they like.
Add a cotton boll. (A regular cotton ball will do as well.)
After a while the clay will crack, just as it would in a Mississippi summer.
For discussion points, see Takeaway Topics (lower on this page), and Learning Links for more info and audiovisuals to share.
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Creative Teaching Idea #6
There are many words and phrases in Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry that were used more often during the time period of the story. Kids will see these terms again in history books, scholarly articles, journalism, other novels, and conversations, all through life—so it's important to understand what they mean.
There's a vocabulary worksheet in our printables for helping them do that; it also covers the author's use of the "n" word.
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Creative Teaching Idea #7
A theme is a book's hidden treasure, found by looking for clues. You’ll know they’re clues because they’ll turn up more than once—authors don't repeat things by accident!—and they’ll have more than one meaning. Like all the RED in this book!
Our theme-finding worksheet is in our printables worksheet.
Creative Teaching Idea #8
BookBites
Serve the “feast” that Cassie, Mama, and Big Ma prepared for the “menfolk” after they’d been working in the cottonfield. You can make cornbread the night before, and heat the butter beans in a slow cooker. (Set aside some of the dried beans for the "Planting Power" project.)
Read the inspiration for this “taste” from Chapter 9 and, while the kids are feasting, share audiovisuals from our curated Learning Links.
Creative Teaching Idea #9
This story is written from Cassie's point of view, but it's pretty easy for kids to imagine Lillian Jean's thoughts and feelings after Cassie teaches her a lesson in the woods! This activity helps kids grasp that you can understand someone else's point of view without liking it or agreeing with them—as Martin Luther King believed and modeled.
The creative writing worksheet is in our printables set.
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Creative Teaching Idea #10
Help kids learn the important concept of story order (useful for all communications!) and see how Mildred D. Taylor arranged Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. You can discuss and/or do our narrative arc worksheet in any of these three ways:
At the end of your activities, introduce the concept of the narrative arc, then help kids figure out where the different parts of this story fit on it.
OR introduce the concept and complete the worksheet before the activities, so kids have a review of the story fresh in their heads first, and you can remind them "where we are" on the arc as you go.
OR introduce the concept up front, but save the story's scenes to discuss as you go, pausing to "do what the characters did" in fun hands-on ways, while weaving in discussions and other worksheets.
Creative Teaching Idea #11
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry makes us ache for the Logans and for all experiencing hatefulness, then and now. Seeing this history through little Cassie's eyes put its effects in our hearts, not just our minds. And as all great books do, it raises our awareness of the past and how it affects the present.
There are many chances in this story to stop and talk about the roots of racism, and how it survived (and still does) long after the Civil War. Some conversation starters are below, and we also have a history worksheet you might find helpful..
Racism was overtly rampant in the early 1900s, and though the Ku Klux Klan were past their peak by the 1930s, vigilantes, the "night men," were not. Mildred D. Taylor clearly shows us in this book that changing racist beliefs is much harder than changing laws.
Here are some conversation starters straight from the story:
What did Papa tell Cassie about taking on Lillian Jean?
What were some of the costs of allowing abuse, and what were the costs of resisting it?
Why did Papa caution Stacey about Jeremy's desire to be friends?
Why doesn’t Mama stop teaching her slavery lesson when the white men walk into her class?
What do the Logan kids learn from their visit to the Berrys?
When Uncle Hammer crosses the bridge ahead of the Wallaces, why does Mama tell him “one day we’ll pay”?
How did you feel when you read the description of the night men attacking T.J. and his family?
Do you think what the night men did was legal or not?
When Cassie thinks the sheriff should be called about the attack on Papa, Mama tells her things don’t work that way. What does she mean by that?
Is violence is ever acceptable, and if so, what makes one motive a good excuse, and not another?
You may want to check out our Learning Links on this page, as these discussion points and questions will certainly raise more.
Our vocabulary worksheet defines some terms used in the book, and our history handout summarizes major events in the history of civil rights, between 1865 and 1964. Both are in our printables set.
You're off to share the best of this great book in fun, hands-on ways!
This book is an empathy-builder and awareness-raiser that's packed with big, important ideas. That's why we teach it, even though it has some language and violence "our" books don't usually include.
It's helpful to know this book's big teaching points ahead of time, and explore some contextual information to add to your lessons. Read through these Takeaway Topics, then explore the supportive Prop Ideas and Learning Links below them. Make notes as you go, so you’ll remember what you want to share, and when.
Our worksheets and activity printables connect to these key ideas.
Takeaway 1
Racism was at a peak in the early 1900s, when former slaves and their descendants were starting to make social progress. Changing the law had taken a war, but changing minds was (always is) even harder. Plantation owners resented the lost profits of free labor, and most southern whites had never seen Blacks as fully human. These egregious attitudes and beliefs were passed on for generations, and show up today, though often in less overt ways. As author Mildred D. Taylor intended, this story shows us that it takes time and awareness in order to change, build trust, forgive, and move past fear and wrong ideas.
Takeaway 2
The Logans are as resilient as the Mississippi dust, but they don’t allow racists to walk all over them. Doing the right thing, standing strong without asking for trouble, hanging on to who you are and what you’ve got—these are values the Logan parents emphasize. Every cost, however, must first be weighed. There are important lessons here about choosing your battles, and then holding your ground—literally, in the Logans' case. From such ground comes truth, beauty, and strength.
Takeaway 3
The social and economic rise of Blacks was strongly resisted by most southern whites after slavery was abolished. During this “Reconstruction” period (1865-1877), southern states quickly passed “Black Codes” meant to restrict and suppress the newly freed slaves. As happens to the Logans, white vigilantes—the "night men" in this book—attacked Blacks to intimidate them into not exercising their constitutional and civil rights. Mildred D. Taylor makes it clear, through Cassie, that the Reconstruction Era had destructive consequences. And it still does today, an important topic for older kids to discuss, research, and write about.
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is chock-full of topics to explore, from slavery and the Civil War to segregation and the Civil Rights movement. See our curated Learning Links below for more tangential teaching opportunities
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A table of props pulled “straight from the story” can lead to all sorts of wonderful discussions! When choosing props for our live workshops, we always try to focus on two important categories: props that are unique to the setting, because they help kids understand “what that was like,” and props that are symbolic of themes, because they make big ideas visual and tangible. Both kinds of props generate those wide-eyed, “aha!” moments.
As you read, keep an eye out for items from the book you might like to collect and share, and ask your kids to do the same. You’d be surprised how many things might be hiding in plain sight. Grandparents, garages, attics, and junk drawers sometimes yield the greatest treasures.
Here are a few prop ideas for this book.
Explore these links to supplement your reading experience, research points of interest, and prompt tangential learning opportunities.
About the Book & Author
Read reviews/buy (Amazon)*
On the 40th anniversary in 2016 (Children's Book Council)
Author interview (The Brown Bookshelf)
"Talking with Mildred D. Taylor" (American Library Association)
About the author's service in the Peace Corps, and an interview with her (Peace Corps Worldwide)
Short biography (Mississippi Writers and Musicians)
Video bio by student, with book description - some graphic images (YouTube)
Reviews (Goodreads)
Mildred D. Taylor's 1997 Alan Award acceptance speech - on censorship and her use of the n-word (Virginia Tech)
Story Supplements
Info about slavery (Kiddle)
Video: Sharecropping in the Mississippi Delta (teachertube)
Info about sharecropping (Kiddle)
Info about the Rise and Fall of Reconstruction: Slavery by Another Name (PBS)
About Reconstruction (Ducksters)
"How Reconstruction Still Shapes American Racism" (Time)
“Why Was Cotton King?” – role of cotton in the 1800s American economy (Dr. Louis Gates via PBS)
History of Mississippi (History.com)
Mississippi History (Kiddle)
Video about the Great Depression (History.com)
Info and video clips about Roosevelt's New Deal
"101 African American Firsts" (BlackPast)
Primary documents contributing to Black American history (BlackPast)
A former slave's narratives about encounters with the KKK (part of WPA Slave Narrative Project)
Ku Klux Klan (History.com)
Vigilantism – overview and history (Encyclopedia.com)
Video: History of slavery in America (History.com)
About the Civil Rights movement (Kiddle)
Martin Luther King Jr. (Biography.com)
PDF: Tips for teaching kids about the history of segregation and racism (Bringing History Home)
10 Tips on Talking to Kids about Race and Racism (PBS)
PDF: The significance of berries in folklore (Cornell University) (did you notice all the berry references? Berrys, Strawberry, Logan)
PDF: "The Three Rs—Reading, 'Riting, and Race: The Evolution of Race in MississippivHistory Textbooks, 1900-1995" by Rebecca Davis Miller, U of Kansas (Mississippi Dept. of Archives & History)
PDF: "Slavery by Another Name" - The history of chain gangs (PBS)
Beyond the Book
"My grandfather's brave exit from 1930s Mississippi" by James Ingram (The St Louis Amerian)
History of the KKK in American Politics (JSTOR Daily, 2017)
VIDEO: Resurgence of the KKK in the 1920s (Voices of the Civil Rights Movement)
PBS-recommended books for children about slavery in America:*
Frederick Douglas: The Last Day of Slavery (William Hill)
Many Thousands Gone: African Americans from Slavery to freedom (Virginia Hamilton)
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters (Patricia McKissack)
Amistad: A Long Road to Freedom (Walter Dean Myers)
See our Pinterest board for more
*We're Amazon affiliates, so we make a small commission if you buy anything through our links to Amazon.
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LitWits teaching ideas and materials for Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
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