As a class we watched the movie Akeelah and the Bee.
Not only was it a great movie, it also contained some very important lessons and themes. Many of the ideas from the movie are found in the real world, and the events in Akeelah and the Bee connected with people and events in history— People like Amelia Earhardt, Harriet Tubman, Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson, Marian Anderson, Harriet Quimby, Wilma Rudolph, Rev. Martin Luther King, and Booker T. Washington. Students read and studied picture books on these famous people. What are the connections between the movie and these real people’s lives? What central themes do these books hold? Keep reading to find out. But first, a poem from the movie.
Our Greatest Fear ~Marianne Williamson
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others. http://explorersfoundation.org/glyphery/122.html
Amelia wanted to build a roller coaster from her roof to her yard. All her cousins told her that she couldn't do it, but Amelia still did. When she finished her roller coaster it worked! In Akeelah and the bee kids at her school made fun of her and told her she couldn't win the spelling bee, but Akeelah didn't listen to them and she won the spelling bee! This shows that Amelia and Akeelah didn't let anything get in their way. In the end they accomplished their goals because they both were determined and worked hard. It tells us that they showed a lot of confidence and determination when people didn't believe in them. This can encourage other people to be confident about their dreams.
Amelia had a dream that she would fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She would be the first female pilot to fly across the ocean. Like Akeelah, she was the first student to represent her school in the district, regnal, and national spelling bee. She too dreamed to do something big like Amelia did. It helped us understand that Akeelah and Amelia didn't give up on their dreams and pushed through things even thought it's hard.
Amelia finally accomplished her dream and flew across the Atlantic Ocean. She landed on a farm in Northern Ireland. Also, Akeelah won the national spelling bee after a lot of practice with the help of her family and friends. They both had big dreams and hopes that they accomplished even though some people didn't believe in them. It helps us understand why it's important to be determined and if you aren't determined you won't accomplish your dreams. It also tells us to not give up and keep pushing forward.
We think the central theme is you should have confidence in yourself or you will never accomplish your dreams. It shows this in the story where
Amelia had a lot of confidence to be the first woman to fly a plane. She never gave up and she wasn't afraid to try new and dangerous things. She even became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. It
affects our life because now you will have lots of confidence to achieve your goals and believe in yourself when things aren't going your way and people don't believe in you.
ameliaearhart.com
http://www.biography.com/people/amelia-earhart
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In "When Marian Sang" Marian's father died when she was only 5 or 6. In addition, in "Akeelah And the Bee" Akeelah's father died when she was 6. The central idea for both of these stories is fitting in because in "Akeelah And the Bee" Akeelah was trying to fit in with the cool kids but also with the spellers. I think the central idea for "When Marian Sang" also because Marian was trying to fit in with all the singers (trying to be great like all the other singers).
In "Akeelah And the Bee" Akeelah was feeling rejected because all those people that weren't spellers were making fun of her. In "When Marian Sang" Marian was feeling pressured and rejected also because every singing place that she went to the people would say "no we can't help you because you're not our color". I think the central idea of both of these stories is prejudice because in "Akeelah And the Bee" Dylan's dad was saying that Dylan had to win and that he wasn't about to lose to a black girl. I think the central idea of both of these stories is prejudice also because in "When Marian Sang" Marian wasn't allowed to go to some of the music places because she was black.
In "Akeelah And the Bee" Akeelah got help from Dr.Larabee on helping her get ready for the big spelling bees and get an audition for the spelling bees. Also in "When Marian Sang" Marian got help from Mr.Boghetti to help her get an audition to sing. I think the central idea for these stories is not giving up because in "Akeelah And the Bee" Akeelah never gave up and she got the most help she needed and she wouldn't stop practicing for the spelling bees. I think the central idea for these stories is not giving up also because in "When Marian Sang" Marian never gave up either because she really wanted to be able to sing and be accepted for that even though she was black.
I think the central theme of "When Marian Sang", is racism, discrimination, and prejudice. I think that because everywhere Marian went she was rejected because she was black and she could not perform at her home state
because she was colored. This central theme aects my life because people who are racist need to think before they speak. They need to understand that just because someone's a dierent color or race from you, they're not any dierent.
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Summer banks. !!!! Helina garra !!!! Kamil osagie
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Joe Louis and Akeelah have a connection because they were the first black people to be successful in life. They were both awesome at what they did, no matter how many problems they had they never gave up even if people told them that they aren't going to make it they didn't listen to them and they just kept on going on with what they were doing.
This page connects with Akeelah because on the radio then everybody was calling to depending on her so they can prove that people that live in the hood can make it to be successful in life. They are similar because everyone in their neighborhood supported them and depended on them to win for their whole community. Akeelah and Joe Louis both did their competitions not only for themselves but for the people around them and what they believed in.
I think the central theme of the book is that you should stay persistent and never give up. Even after Joe lost against the Nazi boxer, he didn't just give up boxing. He went ahead and called a rematch to fight him again and ended up winning. He wanted to be good at what he loves. He didn't let anything get in his way. Even if black people weren't treated with respect, he didn't let that stop him either. If he won, then he won. If he lost, he would try again.
John G, Michael T, Haidar A
Jackie complained because he was kept off the army basketball team because he was black. He also complained because the restaurants had separate sections for black
and white soldiers. The connections with "Akeelah And The Bee" is that Akeelah was complaining because she did not want to do the spelling bee.This is important because they did not want to do it at first.
Jerry Robinson complained to the owner of the plantation because he was no longer paid wages. Jerry said he wanted to leave for better work in July 1919, he traveled by train to Florida. The connection in the story can relate Because Akeelah traveled to a lot of places and so did Jackie
Robinson.This is important because they Both traveled a lot to get to there games.
Jackie Robinson played for the dodgers. The team won six national league pennants. The dodgers won in 1955 and were major-league baseball world champion for his
team.The connection is that they both won all the games that they played. And this is important because they both won at the end of the story or in the movie.
The central theme of the book is that Jackie Robinson went all over the world to play baseball and to win the
championship. The certain theme effects my life because I want to be a great soccer player and win the World Cup.
Alexis Thaler, Tasfia Hoque, Maham Abbas!
The first connection between the movie Akeelah and the bee and Wilma unlimited is that Wilma hurt her leg when she was younger and so she didn't really fit in. In the movie, Akeelah didn't fit in much either. Akeelah was only good at spelling and didn't fit in. That is why they both had some obstacles to beat.
The second connection from the movie and the book is that in the book Wilma had a coach that helped her realize that she wanted to do track Instead of basketball. In the movie Akeelah had Dr. Larabee as a coach. Dr. Larabee made Akeelah realize she should do the spelling bee. That is why they both had a coach that influenced them.
The last connection between the book and the movie was that people made fun of Wilma because she had a leg brace. In the movie Akeelah was made fun of when she Was in the spelling bee. That is why they both got made fun of.
I think the central theme is that Wilma was brave and she was strong. She was Brave because she ignored people who made fun of her. She was strong because even though she had a leg brace on, when she fractured her leg, she still played basketball. This shows that she preserved. This central theme affects our life because it tells us to be brave and strong like Wilma who fought her illness.
We found a link to a YouTube video which is a digital story about Wilma's life.
http://m.youtube.com/ watch?v=Uhu_wuYsmcA
Name:Cameron K.
Alaiaa B.
The people kept going because Martin's BIG words. This inspired the people to keep going. So in Akeelah and the bee the teacher inspired with the poem he showed her. This is important because both Martin and Akeelah had struggle in life and they both had to overcome them.
Martin wanted to learn BIG words because his father used big words in his career. Akeelah also wanted to learn big words because her father passed away and her father loved big words. Both Martin and Akeelah loved big words and wanted to use them. This is important because Martin used big words in his future and changed peoples lives with his words. Akeelah used big words too in her spelling bee where people were depending on her to win.
Martin and Akeelah both had their neighborhoods and cities and towns depending on them to do what they think is right, Martin with blacks being equal to whites and Akeelah to win the bee and represent her school and town. This is important because otherwise, Martin and Akeelah probably would've gotten distressed and broken down without their towns support.
We think the central theme of Akeelah and the Bee and Martins Big words is to do what is right because they both had to stand up and do what is right throughout their life journey. Martin had to stand up for blacks and Akeelah had to stand up for herself so she could spell in the bee. Both of them had to work to get what they thought they should do in life and what they thought was right in society.
Additional Resources:
http:// www.nobel prize.org/ nobel_prize s/peace/ laureates/ 1964/kingbio.html
Connections to Akeelah and the bee
Harriet was worried she would get to tired to concentrate and crash the plane into the ocean. Akeelah was worried she would get made fun of in the bee. They were both afraid of themselves, and they had to overcome it to reach their goals.
Harriet wanted to do it all by herself. She wasn't afraid of failing. She didn't let the guy do most of it for her. Akeelah didn't want help from dr. Larabee in the beginning of the movie. She wanted o prove that she was not weak.
Harriet wouldn't give up. Gustav thought she was weak and couldn't make the flight. She didn't give up and she made it. Akeelah's mom didn't have confidence in her in the beginning. Harriet and Akeelah grew more confident in themselves. It was important Akeelah and Harriet didn't give up so they could reach their goals.
Akeelah didn't give up on the spelling bee when her mom was telling her to quit and when Dr.Larabee didn't want to teach her anymore. She didn't give up and she made it.
The best connection (central theme) in Brave Harriet is that they didn't give up.
Harriet didn't give up when Gustav said she couldn't do it. He thought it would be too hard for Harriet. Harriet's friends also thought she was crazy. Harriet didn't give up when everyone told her to. She kept going and she made it.
We learned not to give up on ourselves. We need to try hard even when things are hard. We can make it if we believe in ourselves.
Tessa G.
Tasnia H.
In the movie Akeelah and the Bee, Akeelah's family was poor and in the book Fifty Cents and a Dream Booker and his family were poor too. The book also explained that they were very poor but in the movie they explained that they were a little poor. We think Akeelah and Booker would be in another stage if they weren't poor.
In the movie Akeelah goes to an "all black school" and in the book Booker goes to a school made special for "negroes" called Hampton Institute. So in the book there was only one school that was for a "negro" and in the movie we saw that there Akeelah went to an "all black people" school. Booker and Akeelah could've been bolder if they were in a all race school.
In the movie Akeelah wants to learn how to spell to win the spelling bee, and in the book Booker wants to learn how to spell so he can read.
In the book Booker's mom got him a spelling book to help him spell more and in the movie Dr. Larabee got Akeelah the spelling books to help her spell more nicely. We think both Akeelah and Booker could've been unknown brainiacs without the spelling books.
We think the central theme of the book Fifty Cents and a Dream is to chase your dream no matter where it takes you and to never give up on your dreams. In the book Booker follows his dream by walking most of the five hundred miles to Hampton Institute for an education. He didn't give up and earned money to receive an education by working as a janitor at the institute. The central theme could help us achieve our dreams.
Additional Resources
http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/washington/bio.html
Booker had a memorial made just for him.
This scene in the book is similar to the movie "Akeelah and the bee" because Harriet has to lead her people to safety from slavery. Akeelah also has to be the leader of her school to raise money for the school.
Harriet is leading her people to safety from slavery, and Akeelah is leading her school to victory to raise money.
Harriet has led her people to safety and Akeelah has won the bee to raise money for her school.
The central theme of the book is that Harriet has to lead her people to freedom and she does that by people through the escape and it eects my life because Harriet makes the people come out of slavery and Dr. Larabee was coaching Akeelah to win the bee.