Lesson Plan - History Makers: Louis Armstrong

Watch a Video
Watch the video “Listen to Louis” and the slideshow “The Amazing Life of Louis Armstrong.” Ask: Why do you think Armstrong is considered one of the most influential musicians in U.S. history?

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

• influential 
• improvise

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify some challenges that Armstrong had to overcome.

1. What evidence does the article give to show that Armstrong had a difficult childhood?
To show that Armstrong had a difficult childhood, the author writes that Armstrong lived in a dangerous neighborhood and was very poor. She also writes, “To help support his family, Armstrong took jobs selling newspapers and collecting junk. He left school in the fifth grade.”
^{R.8 Text Evidence}

2. In the article, Ricky Riccardi states that “the seeds were planted that music might be [Armstrong’s] way out.” What does Riccardi mean?
Riccardi means that Armstrong began to see that his musical talent might someday help him escape his tough situation. It could help him make a living.
^{R.1 Inference}

3. How did Armstrong’s life change after he got in trouble on New Year’s Eve in 1912?
After getting into trouble on New Year’s Eve in 1912, Armstrong was sent to a home for troubled boys. His life changed because it was there that he got his first real musical training. He learned how to properly play the cornet and later built his career around it.
^{R.5 Cause and Effect}

Featured Skill: Paired Texts
Use the skill builder “Creative Legends” to have students learn about some other key figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Compare their contributions with those of Armstrong.
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