Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction
Grade Level: 3rd grade to 6th grade
Link to Purchase (Sparta Books)
Element 4: Social Movements and Social Change
Summary: Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson gives a look into the Children's Crusade of 1963 through the eyes of a young African American girl. Dr. Martin Luther King speaks at her church, empowering African Americans, and he motivates this young girl to stand up against segregation. When the parents can't risk losing their jobs, the children decide to march for them and against social injustice. Day after day, firefighters would hose the children down and attempt to scare them with dogs. Many children were arrested and kept under terrible conditions in jail cells where they could barely move. They continued to march for 7 days, as their efforts became known around the world. Thanks to the children's bravery in marching and the violence they underwent, President Kennedy would advocate for desegregation.
Element 4 Representation: This book, about the movement, the Children's Crusade of 1963, represents the fourth element: social movement and social change, because it shows the children working together for the greater good, to put an end to segregation and racism. Their peaceful efforts and bravery combined impacted the world and President Kennedy, resulting in social change.
Using This Book inside the Classroom: I would use this book in a 3rd-grade classroom, and after reading it aloud to the children, I would make it accessible for them to look back on and read in our own classroom library. I would pair this book with a writing activity, as well as provide an open discussion about the unfair treatment the children experienced as well as fostering any thoughts or questions my class may have after reading the story. The writing activity will have them look back on key components of the story and tie them into how children can still create change today.
Additional Thoughts: This book is a great representation of key historical events that are not often as widely known, such as The Underground Railroad, Dr.King's I Have A Dream speech, or Rosa Parks sitting on the bus. It shows the children that there were also children like them fighting for change and many other people contributing to movements that were underrepresented.
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