Daily Activities – Ralph McGill
The daily activities created for each of the Today in Georgia History segments are designed to meet the Georgia Performance Standards for Reading Across the Curriculum, and Grade Eight: Georgia Studies. For each date, educators can choose from three optional activities differentiated for various levels of student ability. Each activity focuses on engaging the student in context specific vocabulary and improving the student’s ability to communicate about historical topics.
One suggestion is to use the Today in Georgia History video segments and daily activities as a “bell ringer” at the beginning of each class period. Using the same activity daily provides consistency and structure for the students and may help teachers utilize the first 15-20 minutes of class more effectively.
Optional Activities:
Level 1: Provide the students with the vocabulary list and have them use their textbook, a dictionary, or other teacher provided materials to define each term. After watching the video have the students write a complete sentence for each of the vocabulary terms. Student created sentences should reflect the meaning of the word based on the context of the video segment. Have students share a sampling of sentences as a way to check for understanding.
Level 2: Provide the students with the vocabulary list for that day’s segment before watching the video and have them guess the meaning of each word based on their previous knowledge. The teacher may choose to let the students work alone or in groups. After watching the video, have the students revise their definitions to better reflect the meaning of the words based on the context of the video. As a final step, have the students compare and contrast their definitions to their textbook, dictionary or other teacher provided materials definitions.
Level 3: Provide the students with the vocabulary list and have them use their textbook, a dictionary, or other teacher provided materials to define each term. After watching the video, have the students write a five sentence paragraph based on the provided writing prompts.
Vocabulary/Writing Prompts:
Moderation
Divisive
Editor
Die-Hard
Segregationist
Integration
Writing Prompts
1. What does it mean to show moderation? In a five-sentence paragraph define the term
moderation in your own words and then explain how Ralph McGill is an example of
someone who showed moderation.
2. Use your knowledge of the Civil Rights era to write a five-sentence paragraph explaining
why die-hard segregationists were upset with Ralph McGill for urging them to follow
federal law.
3. Do you think the editor of a newspaper like the Atlanta Constitution has a lot of power
and influence? Has the power and influence of newspapers changed since the time
Ralph McGill was in the business? In a five-sentence paragraph give your opinion on
these two questions.
Related Georgia Performance Standards:
Reading Across the Curriculum (Grades 6-12)
SSRC1 Students will enhance reading in all curriculum areas by:
c. Building vocabulary knowledge
• Demonstrate an understanding of contextual vocabulary in various subjects.
• Use content vocabulary in writing and speaking.
• Explore understanding of new words found in subject area texts.
d. Establishing context
• Explore life experiences related to subject area content.
• Discuss in both writing and speaking how certain words are subject area
related.
• Determine strategies for finding content and contextual meaning for unknown
words.
Common Core, College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards for Writing
Text Types and Purposes
1. Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using
valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and
information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and
analysis of content.
3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.
National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies
Theme 1: Culture; Theme 2: Time, Continuity, and Change; Theme 5: Individuals, Groups, and
Institutions
Grade 8 Georgia Studies
SS8H8 The student will analyze the important events that occurred after World War I and
their impact on Georgia.
a. Describe the impact of the boll weevil and drought on Georgia.
b. Explain economic factors that resulted in the Great Depression.
c. Discuss the impact of the political career of Eugene Talmadge.
d. Discuss the effect of the New Deal in terms of the impact of the Civilian Conservation
Corps, Agricultural Adjustment Act, rural electrification, and Social Security.
SS8H11 The student will evaluate the role of Georgia in the modern civil rights movement.
a. Describe major developments in civil rights and Georgia’s role during the 1940s and
1950s; include the roles of Herman Talmadge, Benjamin Mays, the 1946 governor’s race
and the end of the white primary, Brown v. Board of Education, Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and the 1956 state flag.
b. Analyze the role Georgia and prominent Georgians played in the Civil Rights
Movement of the 1960s and 1970s; include such events as the founding of the Student
Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Sibley Commission, admission of Hamilton
Holmes and Charlayne Hunter to the University of Georgia, Albany Movement, March
on Washington, Civil Rights Act, the election of Maynard Jackson as mayor of Atlanta,
and the role of Lester Maddox.
c. Discuss the impact of Andrew Young on Georgia.