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Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal tells the story of the Deputy U.S. Marshal and former slave, Bass Reeves. Before reading, students will confront stereotypes they may have about the Old West. As they read the text, students will be encouraged to make text-to-text connections on how the Old West may be portrayed in other sources. A graphic organizer paired with a discussion will highlight student connections, understandings, questions, and reactions to the text. Lastly, students will create and share obituaries, honoring Bass Reeves’ accomplishments as an active citizen and his dedication to justice and equality.

After reading Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave, students will discuss the life of Dave and the issues he faced growing up as a slave and an artist. Students will practice using descriptive language to create their own interpretation of the illustrations of Dave’s experiences. Discussion of Dave’s powerful poetry and his active citizenship during a time of struggle allows students to dig deeper into the life of this inspiring individual. To conclude the lesson, students are encouraged to design and create an arts-based service-learning project based on the question, “How can we use our artistic talents to take action and help our community?”