Lesson Plan - Heroes in Flight

Watch a Video: Flying Into History

Discuss: The video says that the Tuskegee Airmen are known for their courage. What are some ways they showed courage?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• enlisted
• integrated

Set a Purpose for Reading

As students read, have them think about the challenges the Tuskegee Airmen faced.

1. The article states that the Tuskegee Airmen “faced two enemies.” What does this mean?
When they were at war, the Airmen fought against countries that were enemies of the U.S. At home, they faced the enemy of racial discrimination.
^{(RI.4.2 KEY DETAILS)}

2. How did Harry Stewart Jr. feel when he returned from the war and looked for a job as a pilot? Use evidence from the article.
Stewart felt discouraged when he looked for a job as a pilot and found that airlines wouldn’t hire a Black pilot. He says, “It was discouraging to return home to find that little had changed.”
^{(RI.4.1 TEXT EVIDENCE)}

3. Why does Stewart tell his story today?
Stewart says that he tells his story today because he wants to inspire future generations to go after what they want.
^{(RI.4.3 CAUSE/EFFECT)}

FEATURED SKILL: Chronology

Use the Skill Builder “Dates to Remember” to have students read a timeline of important events about the Tuskegee Airmen. 

^{(RI.4.5 CHRONOLOGY)}