Lesson Plan - Heroes in Flight

Watch a Video
Watch the video “Flying Into History.” Discuss: How did the skill and bravery of the Tuskegee Airmen help the U.S. and its allies win World War II?

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

• segregated 
• enlisted 
• integrated
• discrimination

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them Identify challenges that the Tuskegee Airmen faced while fighting the war and at home.

1. How does the author show that the Tuskegee Airmen played an important role in World War II?
The author shows that the Tuskegee Airmen played an important role in World War II by describing how they fought against America’s enemies. The author writes, “The Tuskegee Airmen shot down 112 enemy planes, helping the U.S. win the war.”
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2. Describe examples of unfair treatment Harry Stewart Jr. experienced before and after the war. 
The article notes that before the war, Harry Stewart Jr. faced segregation in the military and while traveling to training camp. After the war, he tried to get a job flying a plane, but no company would hire a Black pilot.
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3. Why does Stewart tell his story today?
Stewart tells his story today to inspire future generations. He hopes kids will hear his story and go after their own dreams.
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FEATURED SKILL: Text Features
Use the skill builder “Use Text Features” to have students explore the subheadings, photos, and other nonfiction text features.
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