Helen Keller: Her Life in pictures by George Sullivan (Non-Fiction)

           

          Helen Keller is a lady who became famous throughout the world for simply being herself and helping others all while being blind and deaf. At a young age Helen became very frustrated because she knew she was different than others. In hopes of controlling Helen her parents hired Annie Sullivan to be Helen’s teacher; each day they would work together learning how to communicate with each other through sign language.  After years of schooling Helen graduated with honors from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Once Helen completed college she decided to make it her goal to bring peace to humanity by traveling around the world by speaking to crowds. While traveling she focused on people who were hurt or blinded from the wars that were going on. Throughout Helen’s journey she touched and changed many people’s lives making her a heroic figure to all. Even though today, Helen Keller is no longer with us, she is still changing lives through the organizations that were created in her memory to help stop blindness and malnutrition.  

            After reading this book to the class, I would have them write a descriptive poem that explains Helen Keller. After they were done writing their poem I would have them come together as a class and share. We would then discuss the positive characteristics posed which made her such a role model to people of her time. 

Brooklyn Bridge by Lynn Curlee (Non-Fiction)

      

Glogster

         After reading this book with the class, I would have them work in small groups to build the tallest bridge possible (without falling). There supplies would be toothpicks and marshmallows. Once they have had time to build we will come together as a class and see which group was able to build the tallest bridge. Next, I will have each group share the strategy they used and explain how and why there strategies worked and didn’t work. Finally, I will have them discuss how their thought process compared to the John A. Roebling and his son Washington Roebling.

Little Red Riding Hood by Jerry Pinkney (Traditional/Folk Literature)

            Little Red Riding Hood is a sweet, caring little girl who lives with her mother in a small cottage. One day, Little Red Riding Hood’s mother made some soup and muffins for her to take to her grandmother, who was feeling under the weather. As Little Red Riding Hood was walking to her grandmother’s house, she came across a wolf. This wolf was always hungry but didn’t want to eat Little Red Riding Hood with a woodcutter working nearby. So the wolf decided to find out where Little Red Riding Hood is headed to, in hopes of eating her there. As Little Red Riding Hood tried to get on her way, the wolf suggested that she collect some sticks for a fire to help warm her grandmother’s house. Little Red Riding Hood thought this was a wonderful idea and gathered as many sticks as she could. When Little Red Riding Hood got to the house, she was shocked to see her grandmother, because she looked so different. Little Red Riding Hood began to ask her “grandmother” questions because she is worried about her health. Quickly Little Red Riding Hood realized that the wolf did something terrible to her grandmother, but it was too late: the wolf jumped on Little Red Riding Hood and swallowed her whole. Fortunately, the woodcutter happened to be traveling by grandmother’s house and found it odd that there were fresh animal tracks leading to the front door. The woodcutter helped himself inside the house and came across a sleeping wolf with a LARGE belly. Knowing something was not right, the woodcutter killed the wolf with his ax and cut open his belly, allowing Little Red Hood and her grandmother to safely come out. From that day on Little Red Riding never talked to strangers again.

            After reading this book to the class, I would have them imagine that they were Little Red Riding Hood. Next, I would have them write a diary entry about that specific day. In their writing they will be expected to include discriptive details about what happened, what they felt and thought, and what they learned. After they completed their diary entries, I would have the class come together and discuss what they wrote. At this point we would be able to see how and what each student was able to take and learn from the story. 

Tiger Soup by Frances Temple (Traditional Folk Literature)

            While Tiger was minding his own business cooking down by the Blue Hole, a spider named Anansi smelled the fresh coconut, mango and nutmeg simmering in Tiger’s soup. Anansi really wanted some of the soup but he didn’t want Tiger to see him eat it. Tiger doesn’t swim a lot, but Anansi convinced Tiger that he should go for a swim while the soup cools. Tiger assumed that Anansi would be swimming with him, but Anansi had another idea: to quickly eat the soup. As soon as he finished all of the soup, Anasi ran away to Little Monkey Town, hoping that Tiger wouldn’t find him there.  While Anansi is in there, he taught the monkeys a new song. Before Anansi knew it, all the monkeys were singing and dancing to the song.  Eventually, Tiger showed up looking for Anansi. When Tiger heard the song that the monkeys were singing, he began to get angry. Tiger told the monkeys “you ate the tiger soup, and now, the tiger going to eat-you”. As Tiger prepared to roar, the monkeys got scared and quickly swung up into the treetop; and this is the reason that monkeys live in trees to this day.  

            Throughout most of the book, Anansi could be considered a main character. At the end of the book we don’t know what happened to him, we just have to make assumptions. So, after reading this book to the class, I would have them write an explanation of what happened to Anansi which they would then share with the rest of the class. The students can be creative and make up their own reasons as to why a spider might not be best friends with a monkey or tiger.

Once Upon a Time By Niki Daly (Multicultural/International Literature)

            Sarie walks a long, straight road every day to school. She doesn’t mind it because it is a time when she can dream. At school, she gets scared about having to read aloud in class because to Sarie, all of the words run together. When it is Sarie's turn to read aloud, some of the kids laugh at her, but her teacher, Mr. Adonis, encourages her and tells her to take her time. When Sarie gets home, she discusses her problem with her Auntie Anna who listens to Sarie and understands struggles with reading.  Sarie and her auntie usually just drive around and talk about what is on their minds, but one Sunday, they got tired of driving, Sarie found a book in the back seat of the car. Auntie Anna and Sarie read it together and by the time they finished reading the book, Sarie was proud of herself for finally being able to read. After that Sunday, Auntie Anna and Sarie read a book together every Sunday. As the Sundays pass, Sarie becomes less afraid to read to others and more assured of her ability. Finally, one day at school Sarie’s turn to read to the calss arrives again.  But this is a particularly bad day for Sarie to have to read aloud, because on this day the school principal come for a visit. Even though she is nervous, as Sarie reads, she silences the classroom with her flawless reading abilities leaving her classmates nothing to laugh at.

            After reading this book to the class, I would have them write an epilogue in which they will come up with he story Sarie tells at the end of the story when they drive into the sunset. I would have them start the story off with “once upon a time…” and then let the students take it from there. I would then have the students share with the class and explain how and why they wrote what they did. 

What’s Cooking Jamela? By Niki Daly (Multicultural/International Literature)

           

            Christmas is sneaking up on Jamela’s family and Jamela is in charge of helping her mom start planning and fixing the big meal. In order to prepare for the meal Jamela and her mom must buy a chicken so they can plump it up the way they like it and Jamela makes it her duty to care for this chicken.  However, the more time she spends with the chicken she has named christmans, she she begins to think of it as a friend rather than as a meal. Can she convince her mom to let her keep her new friend before Christmas day rolls around and the family will be expecting a chicken to eat?

            Many students do not understand the importance of planning before writing a story. In order to help my students see the importance, I will have them create a circular story map of “What’s Cooking Jamela?”. Once the students have had a chance to complete the map, we will discuss how they organized their map. At the end of the lesson I will explain to them that not planning properly can make a story confusing and hard to follow. By creating a circular story map of a well written book, they will be able to direct their attention to the story structure and seevhow planning properly plays an important role in creating a good story.

How the Rooster Got His Crown By Amy Lowry Poole (Traditional/Folk Literature)

                               

            Long ago, at one point in time there were six suns. The suns were wonderful because it brought light to the day and helped things grow along with the rain. One year, the rain never came as expected and everything died. The emperor of the time ask for his wise elders to come together to discuss how to fix this problem.  The ten elders decided the best option would be to shoot suns down with bow and arrows. The emperor found the best archers around to help him go about shooting the sun down. The archers shoot the best they could but the arrows just came down braking on contact with the ground. Next the emperor asked the very clever and skilled Prince from a near by village to help. The prince came to the conclusion that the suns were to far away to shoot with a bow and arrow but he could shoot them in a near by pond. As he shoots the suns reflections in the pond the suns one by one sink away into darkness. While the prince is shooting the suns the sixth sun realizes what is happening and hinds into a cave. The next morning when the village woke up they were shocked to see it was still dark. Once again the emperor met with his wise elders to find a resolution to this problem.  One of the elders suggested they use a tiger to beg the sun out of the cave. Eventually they have a rooster crow who manages to bring the sun out with his beautiful sound. The sun loved the sound so much that he brought light to all the land and gave the rooster a small red crown.

            Once I have read this book with the class, I would have the students record themselves on flip cameras reenacting a short scene from the book.  The students student’s will be encouraged to be as creative as possible by creating mask,  and/or props if they feel the need. Once each group has created their scene we would come together as a class and watch them; at this time we would guess what scene was reenacted and then we would discuss how each group interpreted the scene differently.   

             

Insects Are My Life By: Megan McDonald (Modern Fantasy &Science Fiction)

             

            Amanda Frankenstein is crazy about insects. When her brother catches them, she sets them free. It doesn’t matter what color, shape, size, or type the insect is; she loves them all. She even loves it when she gets mosquito bites and looks for them wherever she goes.  She even turns on her lights and opens the window at night to welcome the insects into her room. On the first day of school, she wore a shirt that said “Amanda Frankenstein: Friend of Bugs”. Unfortunately, when Amanda got to school she realized people in her class didn’t enjoy bugs quite as much as she did. Her classmates laughed at her and she was always getting in trouble. With the rest of the school year left, will Amanda be able to connect with at least one of her classmates?  

            After reading this book to the class, I would have them draw a picture and write an informational paragraph that explains one of their hobbies. Once the students have completed this, I would have them share their assignments and teach the rest of the class about their hobby and why they enjoy it.

My Dad, John McCain By Meghan McCain (Non-Fiction)

       

            John McCain is navy admiral who almost became the president of the United States in 2008. From a young age, John McCain knew he wanted to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps; therefore, he knew he was going to join the Navy.  After high school, John McCain joined the Navy, where learned to fly planes. His military life was not an easy one. When a bomb hit the plane he was flying, he had to parachute out, breaking both of his arms and one of his legs.  Once he landed, he was captured as a prisoner of war for five and a half years. When the war ended, John McCain returned to America where he was presented with five awards that honored him for his bravery. Soon after, John McCain met his future wife, Cindy, with whom he has four children.  At this time in his life John McCain decided to enter politics.  He soon ran for and was elected as a congressman for Arizona. After a few years in congress, John McCain ran for president in 2000, but did not win the nomination from the Republican Party. Never one for giving up, eight years later John McCain ran for president again and this time, he won the Republican Party nomination. While he lost to Barack Obama he came close and knew he gave his best.

            After reading this book to my class I would take the students to the computer lab to have them research three of our thirteen of our North Carolina Congress men/woman. My students would then have to find specific information on the congress man/woman they were researching. Some of this information might be “What is the purpose of the congress and how are they different than the senate?”, “Do you have to have a military background to be in congress?”, “How can you contact/get in touch with your congressman/woman if you have a concern?” Once the students have had a chance to complete their research we could come back together and they would explain what they found and learned.

Talking Walls by Margy Burns Knight ( Non-Fiction)

Wordle

           

            After reading this book to the class, I would have them imagine that they are an artist who is creating a wall that explains who they are as a person. I would allow them to use whatever supplies they brought from home or found in the classroom to create their "wall". I would encourage them to use their imagination so we could really learn about them. Once everybody was done I would have them share with the rest of the class so we can learn how and why they created their wall the way they did.