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.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

By Eric Carle and Bill Martin Jr.



Genre: Poetry and Rhymes
Grade Level: 2nd grade
Summary: This is a great pattern story with vivid illustrations. The children would be asked to identify the various animals that they see. However, in the conclusion of the story, the teacher is comparing each of the students to a different animal.
Theme/Skill: Have students think of an animal they could be compared to. They could pick their favorite animal and share with the rest of the class. I would also like them to pick out the rhyming words.
Pre-reading activities: Ask the students how and why they could be compared to an animal? I would picture read to give them ideas of the different animals included in the book.
Post-reading activities: After the students read the story, they would be divided into pairs or groups of three and they would role play by making their animals' sounds. They could share how they are similar to that animal.
Assessment: I would walk around and listen to the students interacting with their peers to make sure the students remained on task. I would ask them to look up 2-3 facts on their animal either from a book, article, or on the internet. The website would already be on the computer for the students to research.

Skin Again

Skin Again By Chris Raschka



Summary: In this story, a white and black child are experiencing their cultural differences. In this case, the author stresses the importance that skin color shouldn't make a difference to anyone. Wehter one is white, black, or any other color; what is important are their beliefs. Their feelings and compassion for others is what is truly significant. Skin color shouldn't be looked at, instead the individual itself should be considered.
Genre: Multicultural
Grade Level: 1-3
Focusing Event: The teacher could identify their own differences and qualities, and compare and contrast them to others, while being comfortable and respectful.
Initiating Questions: What are some of your personal characteristics? How are you different from others? Do you recognize and accept others qualities that may be different from your own qualities?
Initiating Activity: With a partner, write down three characteristics of your partner that are different from you. Then discuss and compare each others different qualities.
Extending Questions: How would you react to someone who made a big deal of the color of your skin? Would you say something to them or not?

The Hatchet

The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

             


Genre: Non-fiction
Grade Level: 5
Summary: The Hatchet is a non-fiction book about a boy who was stranded in Northern Canada after a deathly plane crash. He needed to come up with survival skills in order to stay alive. He spent 56 days in the wilderness before getting rescued. The students who read the story were very intrigued in how Brian, the main character, surpassed obstacles and made it through the hard times.
Theme/Skill: Learn about obstacles in wilderness and strategies to survive.
Pre-reading activities: Role play characters and get in the mind-set that the end is near  but to stay positive and push through for a miracle to happen.
Post-reading activities: Comprehension questions, added vocabulary to the word wall, and went on a nature walk outside to collect items for the shoebox dioramas.
Assessment: Participation points when answering the online comprehension questions. Students made dioramas and came up in front of the classroom to share what scene their diorama was from.
Reflection: This was an excellent book to read to my students. One of my students can't read so it helps to have me read it aloud. The students would draw as I read and they could instill what information was being read into their minds throughout each chapter read daily.

Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night

By Joyce Sidman
Illustrated by Rick Allen
About the Author: Joyce Sidman is the author of Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night. The book was published in 2010 and honored as a Newbery Award Honor Book in 2011. Born on June 4, 1956, in Hartford, Connecticut, Sidman grew up with her parents and two sisters. She began writing at an early age and gives credit to her teachers for igniting her joy for writing. Sidman stated, that she was "Blessed with a top-notch education" that exposed her to all kinds of literature and "teachers who expected first-rate writing "out of her". She attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut.


Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night is a picture book about poetry featuring the natural elements of the nighttime. This book was a Newbery Award winning book.
Summary: On the left side of the page displays the poem about night life and other nocturnal creatures. On the right side, displays a more in-depth description of the poem.  The right side included more details and vocabulary descrining how night creatures use their senses to move through their world.
Genre: Poetry
Grade Level: Grade 5
Theme/Skill: Learning about poetry and having the students write down or say the words that rhyme. They can learn new vocabulary from the glossary in the back of the book. Students can also learn about efts and other creatures that roam around the woods during the nighttime.
Pre-Reading Activities: Before the students would begin reading the story, I would ask them what they know about poetry.
Post-Reading Activities: The students would be asked to write down a paragraph using at least three new vocabulary words from a poem in the book. They would read their paragraphs aloud to the class.
Assessment: Their presentations would be the assessment. They would also need to include the definitions of the vocabulary words used in their writing.
Reflection: Dark Emperor and Other Poems of the Night would be an excellent book to use in the classroom. Students enjoy poetry and learning about creatures creeping through the dark woods. I enjoyed reading the poems aloud to my students. Each day, I chose a new poem to read and then I would ask them questions about the vocabulary, rhyming words, and other more in-depth questions about senses.

Green Eggs and Ham

By Dr. Seuss

This is a classic Dr. Seuss book dealing with "Sam-I-Am" trying to get his buddy to eat some green eggs and ham. They go on all sorts of adventures and meet all types of animals and obstacles. All the while Sam-I-Am tries to get him to eat the green eggs and ham. The one trying to be persuaded into eating the food finally eats it, and loves them and will eat them now anywhere he wants to.

Dirt on My Shirt

Dirt on My Shirt by Jeff Foxworthy.

Jeff Foxworthy is a well respected and successful comedian. He is the largest-selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee, and bestselling author of more than twenty-two books.

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