Our Home is the Sea

Our Home is the Sea by Riki Levinson

      

Genre: Fiction
Grade Level: 2-4
Summary: A boy thinks that the Sea is his home, because his father goes out to the Sea everyday to fish. The little boy wishes he didn't have to go to school. He is extremely anxious and observable to his surroundings. His grandpa and father fish together. He hopes that someday he will get to go out at Sea. Then suddenly, their home is the Sea.
Theme/Skill: When I smell cookies or see a quilt, I always think of home because my mom is always cooking and sewing.
Pre-reading activities: I would read aloud and have the students follow along with their books.
Post-reading activities: Inform the students that their place that they like to call home does not have to be a local place. It could be a dream spot in another city or country.
Assessment: I would have the students make a poster or a diagram of a place where they feel most comfortable and why. I would have them share their poster/diagram and then hang them up on the wall.
Reflection: Students love hands-on activities and enjoy sharing their personal work.

Clever Beatrice

Clever Beatrice by Margaret Willey

Genre: Fiction, Charlotte Zolotow Award Winner
Grade Level: K-2
Summary: A young girl living in the Great Lakes has proposed to defeat a giant in order to receive money. She needed the money so her mother could buy porridge. When approaching the giant, she tells him she wants to test him. The giant confusingly agrees, and Beatrice cleverly takes the giant for granted. She took advantage of him. In the end, Beatrice's cleverness defeats the giant and is able to eat her porridge.
Theme/Skill: I want the students to gain confidence while reading about Beatrice's adventure. No matter what size you are, you can achieve a number of goals. Have students list characteristics of a giant on the easel.
Pre-reading activities: Have you ever seen a giant? What do giants eat? Where do giants live? Do they really exist? Read the story with a lot of expression and intonation to actively engage the students. Have students ask encouraging questions and give responses to the story.
Post-reading activities: Were you afraid of Beatrice? Why was she able to beat the giant? What would you do if you encountered a giant? Change the ending of the story by adding a twist into the final outcome.
Assessment: Have students role play the story. One can be Beatrice and the other can be the giant, each coming up with their own ending.
Reflection: Make sure that students were paired up appropriately so the students remained on-task. Have each of the students share their endings by writing them in their journals or saying them aloud.

The Giving Tree

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein





Genre: Fictional
Grade Level: K-6
Summary: This story depicts the relationship between a young boy and an apple tree. Everyday the young boy would visit the tree. He would swing on the branches and slide down the trunk. As the boy grew older, he continued to visit the tree which continued to give back to him. He even cut it down to use for a boat in order to sail away and they were both happy.
Theme/Skill: Generosity
Pre-reading activities: Have students tell a partner about someone or something that means a lot to them. Compare the Walt Disney Pocahontas movie with the grandmother willow tree. Ask: "Why does this person/thing mean so much to you?" Do you spend a lot of time with him/her? Reverse it by saying: "What could you do to help this person/thing?"
Post-reading activities: Write a letter to the person whom you have a close relationship with and include why they mean so much to you. Describe various qualities they may have.
Extended question: What would you do if you had your own giving tree?
Assessment: Students create their own giving tree, and on each branch they will identify a quality possessed by the tree or young boy. They can also add characteristics of the individual/thing who is closest to them.