August 2003     Vol.4 Issue 8

All Lesson Plans

Looking Ahead

Suggested lesson plan for "Helping you
get involved in your community"

This article is different from most articles in that it is a listing and description of features to be continued and new ones to be included in future issues. Give the young reader a choice of either reading it aloud to you or having you read it aloud to him or her. Point out that you will help out with any words if he or she chooses to read the article to you. But either way, questions will be asked afterward in order to stimulate a discussion of the young reader's reactions. If the child reads the article aloud, help out with any troublesome words in order to keep the reading as fluent as possible. Of course if you read, model fluent and expressive oral reading. Sample questions might be ones such as these.

1. Have you and your parents ever planned an activity based on information found in Young Saint Louis.com? If yes, describe.
2. Of the areas listed in this preview, what areas might be of most interest to you? Why?
3. Do you think it is important for kids to become involved in community activities? Why or why not?
4. Do you know of community activities for kids that you would like to see reported in Young Saint Louis.com?
5. Do you know how to use the Your Turn tab on Young Saint Louis.com to submit your ideas to the editors of the website newspaper?

News

Suggested lesson plan for "Lewis and
Clark reenactment is big news"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Wydown Middle School, Scott Mandrell, Merriwether Lewis, Clayton School District, Tim Gore, Jim Strum, Harper's Ferry, Va., Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., Oregon, Cairo, Ill. Tom Laidlaw
Other words: bicentennial, re-enactment, expedition, casualties, appendicitis

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. If no more than three items require help, ask the child to read the article silently. If four to six items require your help, ask the child to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items cause problems, you volunteer to read the article aloud. Point out that questions will be raised afterward in all three instances.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simply offer to help with any words if asked for help. For the child reading aloud, supply troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent. If you read the article aloud, model expressive and fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check understanding and promote a discussion of the article.

1. What did the teachers have to do in order to be able to take part in the three-year re-enactment?
2. Why did the teacher playing Merriwether Lewis ride on horseback to Pittsburgh?
3. What sorts of events will make the re-enactment of educational value to kids across the country?
4. What happened to Sgt. Floyd of the original Lewis and Clark expedition?

Lifestyle

Suggested lesson plan for "Local kids'
artwork helps others who are ill"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Genna Atkins, Eureka, Dakota Riddle, Waterloo, Ill., Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital
Other words: competition, schedule, anonymous, premature, critically, discipline, fictional, acres

BEFORE READING: Have the child read the list of possible hard words in order to help prepare them to read the article. Help out where needed. Because the article has a list of names and towns embedded in it, have the child read the article aloud. Note that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: Help out with any names or words that impair fluency.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as these to check understanding and stimulate a discussion of the article.

1. How is the kids' artwork used to raise money?
2. How did Dakota differ in terms of how he entered from the way Genna entered the contest?
3. How did Genna's early artwork get her into trouble?
4. List other activities that Genna and Dakota are involved in?

Books

This month's book reviews

Ethan Allen isn't just a maker of furniture and Ticonderoga is not just a type of pencil

Author Gail Gauthier in "The Hero of Ticonderoga" shows great insight into the thinking patterns of sixth graders. In her witty and entertaining book she narrates how learning can and does take place in spite of the ineptness of teachers and the resistance of reluctant learners. Tessy, the heroine of the book, has been conditioned to think of herself as a loser through her treatment in school by teachers and cliquish classmates.

Tessy is transformed by fulfilling an assignment that no one, except her father, thinks she is capable of doing effectively. But she does it her own way. In the process, she develops improved self-respect and a greater appreciation of her unique family. That the young reader of her story finds out about Ethan Allen and the Battle of Ticonderoga is just a by-product.

A Jewish boy from an orphanage crashes upper crust Black society in the New York of the 1920's

Today we would call David Caros a hyperactive kid. But his relatives in the New York immigrant community of the 1920's just thought he was unmanageable. Although they felt guilty about it, they saw no recourse but to place him in the Hebrew Home for Boys. But David didn't let the restrictive environment of the orphanage keep him from leading an adventurous life at night outside the walls.

The paperback "Dave at Night" by Gail Carson Levine provides a 280-page roller coaster ride through the social groups of the New York City of the speakeasy era. Young readers will identify with the eleven-year-old Dave as he tries to prove to himself and others that he can make it on his own.

A different, almost mystical
message book for children

Karen Hesse, the author of "Music for Dolphins," is a Newbery medalist for one of her earlier books. One early review of "Music for Dolphins" calls it "haunting and unforgettable.' It certainly ranks among those books where subliminal messages rate as more important than the plot itself. This is truly a little book that any helping adult will want to read before sharing it with kids. Sensitive readers will want to talk about its many nuances, whether they are adults or children. As a parent or teacher you want to be prepared for such a discussion.

A really good kids' book about making
moonshine whiskey
back in the hills in the old days

Could children's author, Carolyn Reeder, produce a good piece of historical fiction with a strong moral message for kids under the title " Moonshiner's Son"? I certainly think she did in this 2003 published Aladdin Paperback, originally published in hardback in 1993.

There are numerous themes running through "Moonshiner's Son". Of course, there is the vivid description of Prohibition-era life back in Virginia Mountain country. A number of other messages are conveyed. How people with polarized views can come to a respect for and understanding of each other's positions is conveyed. The importance of deeds over words is also clearly illustrated. Secondary themes are concerned with appreciating and respecting the elderly and acknowledging the value of literacy. And with all of that, it is entertaining without being preachy. Perhaps the happy ending is a little bit too pat, but after all it is only a 206 page kids' book.

Outdoors

Suggested lesson plan for ""Two local kids
in International Youth Hunting test"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Ashley Metzger, Raton, New Mexico, James Vest, Ray Hentges Range
Other words: orienteering, lacrosse, refereeing

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and words from the short list above. Help where needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud.

DURING READING: Supply any words as needed to keep the oral reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions to check comprehension and stimulate a discussion of the article. Examples follow.

1. What do the two young hunters have in common?
2. What is "orienteering"?
3. In terms of weapons, what is one of the advantages of being a Show-Me Shooter member?
4. Would you have any interest in Show-Me Shooter club activities? Why or why not?

Entertainment

Suggested lesson plan for "Second choice
instruments for young musicians"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Alexandria Sayles, George Harper III, Whitaker Foundation, Normandy School District, Parkway School District, St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist, Mathews Dickey, Harvard University
Other words: trumpet, violin, trombone, recommendation, financial, unique

BEFORE READING: To help the young reader prepare to read the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. Then have the child read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Provide any words rather quickly that seem to be impairing reading fluency.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as those that follow to check understanding and to promote a discussion of the article.

1. What is meant by "second choice" instruments for the two musicians in the article?
2. What are the usual requirements to receive a Whitaker grant?
3. How is Alexandria different from most grant recipients?
4. Why was George especially interested in continuing his music lessons?

Sports

Suggested lesson plan for
"Illinois sisters follow bike trails"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Courtney Harbison, Tifffany Harbison, Eads Bridge
Other words: refurbished, pedestrian, vehicle, cyclists, scheduled, hostelling

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the short list of possible hard words. Because of the nature of the article, ask the child to read it aloud and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Supply words and names fairly quickly if the child seems to be having difficulty with them in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following in order to check comprehension and stimulate discussion of the article?

1. What was especially exciting about the Fair St. Louis rice?
2. Why were some rest stops more rewarding than others?
3. What is usually special about the scheduled Trailnet bike rides?
4. Would you have any interest in these Trailnet scheduled rides? Why or why not?

Profile

Suggested lesson plan for "Young
Achiever wants to be astronaut"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Alexander Ecklund, U. S. Rep. Todd Akin, Babler Elementary School, Ellisville Rams, Huntsville, Ala., Mr. Snuffles, Webelos, Frank Lloyd Wright, Antarctica, Alaska, ACE Birdhouse Co.
Other words: astronaut, competitive, installation, weightlessness, mandatory, voluntary

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words with you providing help as needed. The purpose is to get an idea of how difficult the article might be for the young reader. Of the seventeen items, if no more than three seem to cause difficulty, ask the reader to read the article silently. If four to six seem to be troublesome, suggest the young reader read the article aloud to you. If seven or more are problems, you offer to read the article aloud to the child. In all instances, note that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, offer to help out with any words if asked for help. For the child reading aloud, provide fairly quickly any words that seem to be impairing reading fluency. If you are reading loud, model smooth, fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check comprehension and stimulate a discussion of the article.

1. Why does Alexander want to go to the U.S. Naval Academy?
2. Do you think Alexander is unusual for a beginning fifth grader? Why?
3. What different types of birdhouses did he make and sell?
4. How do the activities in your life compare with Alexander's?