Below are six journal prompt suggestions. Journal prompts should be displayed on the board- either written or on a projector- before the students come to class every day. Students should receive approximately 10 minutes to respond to the prompt. The following 5 minutes will be used for class discussion time regarding the prompt. The goal of these prompts is to have students frequently free writing. This will help familiarize them with the process (thinking, organzing thoughts, and getting them down on paper), but will not be graded. The journals also give students the chance to settle down and focus after the transition between classes.
On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island opened. Put yourself in the shoes of those first immigrants to the United States. What do you think were some of their feelings, their hopes, and their fears?
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist. This means that she worked to get rid of slavery. She helped many slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. If you had been alive when slavery was legal, would you have done what Harriet did? Why or why not?
Anne Frank died in 1945. This brave young woman is well known for the diary she kept, capturing her time in hiding from the Nazi soldiers. Do you keep diary or journal of your own? Do you think it was good for her diary to be published? Why or why not?
In 1820, Susan B. Anthony was born. Anthony was known for her work with the women’s civil rights movement in the mid-1800s. Why do think it was so important for the women of that time to have the same rights as men?
In 1847, inventor Alexander Graham Bell was born. Bell is probably best known for his development of the telephone. What do you think our telephones will be like in 20 years?
In 1913, Rosa Parks was born. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for not giving up her seat on the bus to a white passenger. Many people admired her for her confidence and bravery. If you had been Rosa Parks in this situation, would have done the same thing? Why or why not?
On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island opened. Put yourself in the shoes of those first immigrants to the United States. What do you think were some of their feelings, their hopes, and their fears?
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist. This means that she worked to get rid of slavery. She helped many slaves escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. If you had been alive when slavery was legal, would you have done what Harriet did? Why or why not?
Anne Frank died in 1945. This brave young woman is well known for the diary she kept, capturing her time in hiding from the Nazi soldiers. Do you keep diary or journal of your own? Do you think it was good for her diary to be published? Why or why not?
In 1820, Susan B. Anthony was born. Anthony was known for her work with the women’s civil rights movement in the mid-1800s. Why do think it was so important for the women of that time to have the same rights as men?
In 1847, inventor Alexander Graham Bell was born. Bell is probably best known for his development of the telephone. What do you think our telephones will be like in 20 years?
In 1913, Rosa Parks was born. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for not giving up her seat on the bus to a white passenger. Many people admired her for her confidence and bravery. If you had been Rosa Parks in this situation, would have done the same thing? Why or why not?