Lesson plan; Race to Glory: The Jesse Owens Story

Learning Objectives:

• Students will analyze the life and achievements of Jesse Owens.
• Students will examine the historical and social context of the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
• Students will explore themes of racism, discrimination, and perseverance.
  

Materials: The movie Race (2016)

Introduction

• Brainstorming: Begin by asking students what they know about Jesse Owens, the 1936 Olympics, and Nazi Germany. Record their responses on the board or a chart paper.
• Context Setting: Briefly introduce the historical context of the 1936 Olympics, highlighting Nazi Germany’s ideology of Aryan supremacy and their use of the games for propaganda purposes. 

• Watch the movie “Race” together.
• Pause for discussion: Pause at key moments throughout the film to facilitate discussions based on the chosen pre-viewing activity, film guide questions, or other prompts related to the learning objectives. Encourage students to share their thoughts, feelings, and interpretations
• Distribute the Race Film Guide from Into Film, which contains activities and questions to help the students engage with the movie. You can also use the Race – Jesse Owens and the 1936 OlympicsPowerPoint presentation from TES, which has more information and images about the historical background and the main characters.

• • Watch the movie together, pausing at key moments to discuss the questions from the film guide or the presentation. Encourage the students to share their opinions, feelings, and reflections on the movie.
  • After watching the movie, divide the students into small groups and assign them one of the following tasks:
    • Write a biography of Jesse Owens, using the internet to research more details about his life and achievements.
    • Write a review of the movie, expressing your likes and dislikes, and comparing it to other biographical movies or documentaries you have seen.
    • Write a letter to Jesse Owens, thanking him for his inspiration and asking him questions about his experiences and challenges.
    • Create a poster or a collage that illustrates the main themes and messages of the movie, using images, words, and symbols.
  • Have each group present their work to the rest of the class, and give feedback and comments to each other.
  • Conclude the lesson by summarizing the main points and asking the students to reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply it to their own lives. You can also show them this video from TPT, which features interviews with Jesse Owens’ daughters and the actors from the movie

Essay questions

1. Analyze the significance of Jesse Owens’ achievements at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. How did he challenge the Nazi ideology of racial supremacy and the Jim Crow laws of his own country? What were the personal and professional challenges he faced before, during, and after the Games? How did his victories inspire other athletes and civil rights activists around the world?
2. Compare and contrast the portrayal of Jesse Owens in the movie “Race” with historical accounts of his life and experiences. How does the film depict his relationship with his coach, his family, his rivals, and the Nazi officials? What are the main differences and similarities between the film and the reality? How does the film use cinematic techniques to convey the themes of racism, discrimination, and perseverance?
3. Imagine you are a journalist interviewing Jesse Owens today. What questions would you ask him about his life, his experiences with racism, and his advice for future generations in overcoming challenges and promoting equality?

• Race Film Guide: https://www.intofilm.org/resources/346
• Race – Jesse Owens and the 1936 Olympics PowerPoint presentation:https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/race-jesse-owens-and-the-1936-olympics-11287429