Realistic Fiction
Markle, S. (2008). Finding home. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-58089-122-6
Grade level: K-2
Synopsis: In New South Wales, Australia a mother koala goes to extreme measures to protect her joey after their home was burned down in a brush fire. The mother koala travels a long the way encountering animals, humans, bright lights and noises to fins a new safe home that is filled with food.
Classroom activity: As a post-reading activity the students will complete a jigsaw puzzle in small groups. Each student will have their own section of the jigsaw puzzle. The first student will have the top row of the puzzle and will be responsible for chronologically putting each event in the story in each puzzle piece. Anther student will have the second row of the puzzle piece and will be responsible for placing character traits on each puzzle piece. The third student will have the next row in the puzzle and will be responsible for make text to self, text to world connections in each puzzle piece. The fourth student will have the last row of the puzzle and will write key words in each piece and why it is a key word. As a group, the students must put the puzzle together while they share each part of their puzzle.
Readwritethink. (n.d.). Classroom resources. Retrieved from http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_&theme=6&learning_objective=55
ISBN: 978-1-58089-122-6
Grade level: K-2
Synopsis: In New South Wales, Australia a mother koala goes to extreme measures to protect her joey after their home was burned down in a brush fire. The mother koala travels a long the way encountering animals, humans, bright lights and noises to fins a new safe home that is filled with food.
Classroom activity: As a post-reading activity the students will complete a jigsaw puzzle in small groups. Each student will have their own section of the jigsaw puzzle. The first student will have the top row of the puzzle and will be responsible for chronologically putting each event in the story in each puzzle piece. Anther student will have the second row of the puzzle piece and will be responsible for placing character traits on each puzzle piece. The third student will have the next row in the puzzle and will be responsible for make text to self, text to world connections in each puzzle piece. The fourth student will have the last row of the puzzle and will write key words in each piece and why it is a key word. As a group, the students must put the puzzle together while they share each part of their puzzle.
Readwritethink. (n.d.). Classroom resources. Retrieved from http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_&theme=6&learning_objective=55
Sachar, L. (1998). Holes. New York, NY: Yearling Books
ISBN: 978-0440414803
Grade levels: 3-6
Synopsis: Stanley is unjustly sent to a boy’s detention center, Camp Green Lake. At this detention center the boys dig five feet wide and five feet deep holes all day. Stanley figures out there is a reason that they are digging these holes and that the warden is looking for something in particular. Believing that Stanley’s family is under a curse, Stanley goes on a wild adventure as he finds redemption for himself and others around him.
Classroom activity: In this post-reading activity the students will pack the suitcase. As the students read assigned portions of the text they will be given ten pieces of small paper. On each piece of paper they will write key events, or main ideas and pack them in their envelope, known as their suitcase. After completing their suitcase the student will find a partner and unpack their suitcase sharing their main ideas, and key events with one another any why they choose that particular event or idea. One example would be Stanley’s relationship with his grandfather and how Stanley believes this is where the curse began.
Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-based reading activities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Page: 90
ISBN: 978-0440414803
Grade levels: 3-6
Synopsis: Stanley is unjustly sent to a boy’s detention center, Camp Green Lake. At this detention center the boys dig five feet wide and five feet deep holes all day. Stanley figures out there is a reason that they are digging these holes and that the warden is looking for something in particular. Believing that Stanley’s family is under a curse, Stanley goes on a wild adventure as he finds redemption for himself and others around him.
Classroom activity: In this post-reading activity the students will pack the suitcase. As the students read assigned portions of the text they will be given ten pieces of small paper. On each piece of paper they will write key events, or main ideas and pack them in their envelope, known as their suitcase. After completing their suitcase the student will find a partner and unpack their suitcase sharing their main ideas, and key events with one another any why they choose that particular event or idea. One example would be Stanley’s relationship with his grandfather and how Stanley believes this is where the curse began.
Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-based reading activities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Page: 90
Ackerman, K. (1992). Song and dance man. Decorah, IA: Dragonfly Books
ISBN: 978-0679819950
Grade levels: K-2
Synopsis: Grandpa once danced on the vaudeville stage and takes his three grandchildren up to the attic to put on a show for them. The children get to see what it is like to be a song and dance man and learn that no matter how old you are you can still do anything you set your heart to.
Classroom activity: The students will be given a short writing prompt. The students will be ask to write a short paragraph about someone in their life that has inspired them and why. The student will also be asked to comment on how the Grandfather inspired his grandkids. After the students complete their writing prompt they will get into small groups to share their answers.
Daily Teaching Tools. (n.d.). These journal writing prompts will encourage kids to develop their composition skills. Retrieved from: http://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html
ISBN: 978-0679819950
Grade levels: K-2
Synopsis: Grandpa once danced on the vaudeville stage and takes his three grandchildren up to the attic to put on a show for them. The children get to see what it is like to be a song and dance man and learn that no matter how old you are you can still do anything you set your heart to.
Classroom activity: The students will be given a short writing prompt. The students will be ask to write a short paragraph about someone in their life that has inspired them and why. The student will also be asked to comment on how the Grandfather inspired his grandkids. After the students complete their writing prompt they will get into small groups to share their answers.
Daily Teaching Tools. (n.d.). These journal writing prompts will encourage kids to develop their composition skills. Retrieved from: http://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html
Kessler, C. (2006). The best beekeeper of Lalibela. New York, NY: Holiday House
ISBN: 0-8234-1858-8
Grade level: 1-3
Multicultural Literatue*
Synopsis: Set in modern day Lalibela, a village in Africa Almaz wants nothing more than to be a beekeeper. The other beekeepers tell Almaz that beekeeping is not women's work, and she should go home and learn how to cook and clean. Father Haile Kirros had faith in Almaz and told her to not let anything stop her from becoming a beekeeper. He also tells her it doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl that Almaz can do and be anything she wants. Almaz becomes a beekeeper and overcomes many obstacles on her own to produce the best honey.
Classroom activity: The students will fill out an anticipation guide as a pre-reading activity. Each student will work independently to fill out his or her guide. Once everyone has completed their guide, the class will review as a whole group the questions. The students will put a thumbs up if they agree and a thumbs down if they disagree with the statement. After each statement is made and every student has either put a thumbs up or down the class will talk about why the students feel that way.
Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-based reading activities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Page: 26
ISBN: 0-8234-1858-8
Grade level: 1-3
Multicultural Literatue*
Synopsis: Set in modern day Lalibela, a village in Africa Almaz wants nothing more than to be a beekeeper. The other beekeepers tell Almaz that beekeeping is not women's work, and she should go home and learn how to cook and clean. Father Haile Kirros had faith in Almaz and told her to not let anything stop her from becoming a beekeeper. He also tells her it doesn’t matter if you are a boy or girl that Almaz can do and be anything she wants. Almaz becomes a beekeeper and overcomes many obstacles on her own to produce the best honey.
Classroom activity: The students will fill out an anticipation guide as a pre-reading activity. Each student will work independently to fill out his or her guide. Once everyone has completed their guide, the class will review as a whole group the questions. The students will put a thumbs up if they agree and a thumbs down if they disagree with the statement. After each statement is made and every student has either put a thumbs up or down the class will talk about why the students feel that way.
Yopp, H.K., & Yopp, R.H. (2014). Literature-based reading activities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Page: 26