February 2004     Vol.5 Issue 2

All Lesson Plans

History

Suggested lesson plan for "Learn
about Black History at local libraries"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Topeka, Kan., Linda and Cheryl Brown, Earnest Green, Glenn "Papa" Wright, Dream Weavers, Gregory Carr, James Beckwourth
Other words: segregation, unconstitutional, adaptations, frontiersman, unique, ceremony, prudent

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words, Provide help as needed. If no more than two of the items require assistance, ask the child to read the article silently. If three to five items seem difficult, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If six or more items call for help, you offer to read the article aloud. Point out in all three instances that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: For the child reading silently, simply offer to help out with any hard words if asked. For the child reading aloud, supply any words fairly quickly that seem to be impairing fluency. If you read aloud, model fluent oral reading.

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

1. What sorts of programs are the city libraries promoting for Black History Month?
2. What 50th anniversary will be celebrated this year by the libraries?
3. Awards will be given to kids for what kinds of activities?
4. Will you be involved in any kind of Black History Month activity? If so, describe it.

Music

Suggested lesson plan for "An original
Lewis and Clark opera for kids"

Possible hard words: Opera Theatre at the Loretto-Hilton Theater, Webster University, Sarah Baldessari, Stephen Mager, Bach, Beethoven, Omaha (Neb.) Opera, Michele Dumoulin, Aaron Levin, Austin Hope, Ashraele McDowell, Nathanael McClure, Patrice Stribling-Donald
Other words: premiere, commissioned, auditions, percussionist, alto, tutu, previous

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Help out with pronunciations of those names or words which cause difficulty. Since most of the problems in reading this article are related to the many proper names, have the young reader read the article aloud so you can help out if needed. Note up front that questions will be asked afterward.

DURING READING: Just help out with names and words enough to keep the reading reasonably fluent.

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

1. What is so special about the "Dream of the Pacific" opera?
2. What impresses the kids in the opera about working with Stephen Mager?
3. What does a percussionist do in terms of music?
4. What did all of the kids have to do in order to be picked for the opera?
5. Would you like to see the opera performed? Why or why not?

Outdoors

Suggested lesson plan for "Kids
fish for trout in winter"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Tyler Greet, Matt Breite, Andrew Shelton, Tim Emmons, Suson Park, Tilles Park, Windegger Shelter, Lake Taneycomo, Branson, Lake Barkley, Kentucky,
Other words: flourish, sustain, taxidermist

BEFORE READING: Take the young reader through the list of names and words. Help with pronunciations as needed. Since the article is not very difficult, have the young reader read it aloud and point out that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: Supply any difficult words fairly rapidly in order to keep the oral reading fluent.

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

1. Where do you usually have to go to fish for trout?
2. What has been added to the local winter trout fishing experience by the Missouri Conservation Department?
3. What are some of the varied baits that the young fishermen were using to catch the trout?
4. Would you be interested in fishing in the local St. Louis lakes for trout this winter? Why or why not?

Books

This month's book reviews

A boy tries to save his dog which the
law says has to be destroyed

Eve Bunting's "Summer of Riley" starts out by showing how having a dog as a pet can help a young boy cope with his problems, including grief over the recent loss of his grandfather. Unfortunately, soon after the boy and his dog have bonded, the dog exhibit's a possible tendency to chase livestock. In a ranching state, the law says such an animal should be destroyed. Now the boy has to take on a crusade to save the life of his dog friend.

The study of the relationship between a boy and his dog gives way in this short novel to a study of a variety of other relationships. These include a look at the relationship between the boy and his mother, the boy and his divorced father, the boy and an elderly lifelong neighbor, the boy and a girl of his own age, the boy and a bully from school, and several other relationships. It's a lot more than just the typical dog story.

• Buy this book from Amazon.com

A retelling of the old story of Shahrazd
from the Arabian Nights tales

Author Susan Fletcher in "Shadow Spinner" has taken the story of Shahrazad and fleshed out the characters, added some new ones, and retold the story in much more detail. The book has been named a Children's Notable Book in the Field of Social Studies. I presume that is because it gives much more life to a famous old story that was told originally in sketchy outline.

Parents need to be aware that they may have to field questions about a harem, eunuchs, and the unlimited and murderous power that a Sultan held over his subjects, especially women. The few references to Muslim prayer practices and to the meals and dress of people of the Middle East in the day of the fictional Arabian Nights would seem to do little to change Western World readers' stereotypic perceptions. Still, it's good story just as it has been for centuries.

• Buy this book from Amazon.com

A prize winning mystery novel for kids

"Dovey Coe" by Frances O'Roark Dowell won The Edgar Allan Poe Award for mysteries for kids in 2000. Twelve-year-old Dovey Coe is the main character in the novel and is the narrator of her story. At the beginning of the novel, the reader is informed that Dovey is facing trial as the murderer of Parnell Caraway, her older sister's ex-boyfriend. The story then in flashback tells the events of the summer that led up to the charges against Dovey. At the end, we hear the account of the trial and find out whether Dovey really did it or not.

The novel is aimed at kids 8 to 12 years old according to the publisher, but is probably more suitable for kids at the upper limits of that range or even for younger teenagers.

• Buy this book from Amazon.com

Mistreated orphan twins find
a happy home in a rustic setting

Twins, Florida and Dallas, are named after places on the folded map found tucked in the basket with them when they were left at the door of the Boxton Creek Home for Children. Author Sharon Creech's "Ruby Holler" tells the story of their sad life in the orphanage and their later finding a happy home with the older couple, Tiller Morey and his wife Sairy. The twins are very dependent on one another, but they react differently to their trials as abandoned children. Florida becomes a distrustful and mouthy little girl, lashing out at those around her. Dallas, her brother, is a daydreamer who deals with his problems by escaping to fantasy worlds.

Basically, the story shows how the dependency of the twins on each other is paralleled in the interdependency of the elderly couple, Tiller and Sairy Morey. When the lonely orphans merge their lives with the empty nest Morey's, both pairs find their lives enriched. The book earned the Carnegie Award for Children's Literature in 2002.

• Buy this book from Amazon.com

Lifestyle

Suggested lesson plan for "St. Michael's
kids set up book club"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Emily Puetz, Angie Meyer, Robert Cormier, David Walter, Ben Mikaelsen, Jeffrey Strader, Sara Painter, Gabrielle Pfyl
Other words: librarian, innocent, fantasy, dimension, rehabilitation, karate, genealogy

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and words with you providing help as needed. Since this is a relatively easy article, have the reader read it aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Help out with any troublesome words in order to keep the oral reading relatively fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as the following to check understanding and stimulate discussion.

1. How do the kids make use of the librarian's suggestions in their reading for the book club?
2. What is the parent-kid dimension discussed in the article?
3. Do the kids in the book club seem to have time for other activities?
4. Would you like to join a book club? Why or why not?

Food

Suggested lesson plan for "Ukrainian kid
gets holiday food surprise"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Tanya Boksha, Damon and Jill McCoy, Orthodox, Ukraine, St. Petersburg, Yelena Onufrieva, Molly, Keagan, Kelsey, Igor Gubin, Uzbekistan, Anna Korunova, Lara Svoboda, Austria, Klemens Vogel, Switzerland
Other words: borscht, donagan plav, mimosa, golubtsi, vinigret, pelmini, curriculum, electives, croissants

BEFORE READING: To acquaint the young reader with the vocabulary in this article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide as much help as you can where it appears to be needed. Next, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. Note that some questions will be asked afterward.

DURING READING: Help out words when necessary to keep the oral reading fluent.

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

1. Who are these foreign students here in America?
2. Why was it that Tanya's hosts knew what they were doing in preparing Russian food?
3. What were Russian schools said to be like in comparison with American schools?
4. Are you familiar with any foreign food dishes? What do you think about them?

Sports

Suggested lesson plan for "Kids vie
for spots on basketball "feeder" team"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Alex Whiteside, Ryan and Troy Robertson, Ryan Kiernan, Terry Hollander, Brad Heckman, Kramer Soderberg, Billikens, Savvis Center
Other words: alma mater, tradition, varsity, immediate

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of names and words as a way to prepare for a fluent oral reading of the article. Help out with items as help is needed. Ask him or her to read the article aloud and be prepared to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Help out with any words as needed to keep the reading fluent.

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

1. What do you think a "feeder" team is as described in the article?
2. What do you think is referred to in speaking of the West "tradition"?
3. What does it mean to say someone "can play with the varsity but cannot dress for the games"?
4. Describe what your interest is in basketball.

Earth Day

Suggested lesson plan for "You can
help with Forest Park project"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Muny Opera, Gary Schimmelpfenig, Anabeth Weil, Andrea Schnapp, Flora Conservancy, Kennedy Woods, Jewel Box, Pagoda Circle
Other words: restoration, reintroduction, savannas, transitional, renovation, ecological, ecosystem

BEFORE READING: To obtain some idea of how well a young reader can read the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help where needed and keep track of how many items require your assistance. If no more than three items require help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items need help from you, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items need assistance, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out that questions will be raised afterward.

DURING READING: For the child reading silently, offer up front to help out with any words if asked. For the child reading aloud, supply and troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading as fluent as possible. If you read the article aloud, model fluent oral reading.

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

1. What is it the volunteers will be helping to accomplish on this Earth Day Weekend in April?
2. What all is included in a Missouri savanna?
3. Why are the varied lakes in Forest Park being connected?
4. Who, besides the Earth Day volunteers, are working on reintroducing native plants to the park?
5. Would you have any interest in taking part in this project? Why or why not?