July 2004     Vol.5 Issue 7

All Lesson Plans

Books

A fun way to learn about the details
of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair

When you open up the paperback “1904” by Marcelo Vital and David Montgomery, you find a running comic strip telling an adventure story while detailing the events and attractions at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Kids of today will find the book an enjoyable way to find out why the Fair of 100 years ago is receiving so much attention in 2004. Very likely, many adults who quickly scan the line drawn images also will find out things about the Fair that they might not have known themselves.

This month's book reviews

A remote Alaskan village and its one-room
schoolhouse makes for a good story

This touching story of a gifted teacher and her poverty-level students in a remote Alaskan Indian village is set in 1948. The author, Kirkpatrick Hill, had spent most of her teaching career in multiple-grade classes in remote Alaskan “bush” country. Her book “The Year of Miss Agnes” makes a strong case for non-traditional teaching methods, especially for dealing with classes that are made up of culturally different kids - in this case members of the Athabascan Indian tribe in Alaska. Any child who talks of being a teacher some day would find this book especially appealing.

A sensitive portrayal of racial injustice
in the deep South of the early 1900’s

“The Well” is a thin novel written by Mildred D. Taylor, the author of the much-acclaimed “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.” The story is told using a ten-year-old black boy, named David, as narrator. The title, “The Well,” comes from the well on the farm of the Logan family, a black family.

The uneasy relationship between blacks and whites is upset when David’s thirteen-year-old brother stands up to two white boys, who are bullying ten-year-old David, who, at the time, is wearing a cast on his broken leg.

The humiliation and injustice that blacks endured in the South as a result of racial bigotry is graphically illustrated. In this one instance, however, justice is finally served as the racial bigots get their comeuppance.

Another book by an author who pulls
all stops in trying to get boys to read

Todd Strasser, among other works, is author of the Camp Run-a-Muck series, with titles like “Greasy Grimy Gopher Guts” and “Mutilated Monkey Meat.” “Don’t Get Caught Driving the School Bus” is a story that is not quite as bad as the title may suggest. The key character in it is forced into driving the bus to save the lives of the occupants from an oncoming train.

From a middle grader’s perspective, Strasser’s book is about kids reacting against what they see as an oppressive establishment - the school. From a parent’s perspective, the book may be judged to be too encouraging of always trying to “put one over” on teachers, principals, and school bus drivers. Some of us may think kids don’t need much encouragement along those lines.

A kids’ story that entertainingly makes
the point that losers are people too

Jerry Spinelli is one of the top-rated children’s authors of today. In “Loser,” he tells the story of a child classified by teachers and kids as a “loser” among losers. Donald Zinkoff’s strange behaviors and clueless misperceptions seem to make it easy to label him. With Spinelli’s matter-of-fact yet humorous style of storytelling, a youthful reader will emerge with a more humane and accepting attitude toward those too easily written off as “losers.”

Environment

Suggested lesson plan for “Washington
kids help clean riverfront trail”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Jesseca and Dylan Yegge, Katy and Elly Kehl, Dick Stratman, Tamie Yegge, Styrofoam, Iraq
Other words: logo, futuristic, recruited, yuckiest, refuse

BEFORE READING: To help the young reader prepare for reading the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Help out with pronunciations where needed. Ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it afterwards.

DURING READING: If the reader hesitates on any names or words, provide them fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: Use questions to check comprehension and to stimulate discussion. Examples follow.

1. What was the first step the kids took before starting their clean-up of the trail?
2. How did the kids assess the effectiveness of their clean-up effort?
3. How do the kids use the Riverfront Trail?
4. Have you or your classmates been involved in any clean-up efforts? Why or why not?

Space

Suggested lesson plan for “Challenger
Center teaches kids about space”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Callie Mouser, Christa McAuliffe, Ryan Anani, John Shoep, Francisco Vasi, Savanna Anthony, Saint Sabina, Joe Kehrwald
Other words: exploration, astronaut, weightlessness, simulated, technology

BEFORE READING: To help the young reader deal with names and words used in the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help if needed. Afterward, ask the reader to read the article aloud to you and be ready to respond to some questions about it.

DURING READING: Provide help with any words that cause hesitations that might significantly impair fluency.

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

1. What did Christa McAuliffe have to do with the Challenger Learning Center?
2. What were some of the experiences the campers had at the Center?
3. Why did three Florissant girls call their team “Discovery 37?”
4. Have you visited or are you interested in visiting the Challenger Learning Center? Why or why not?

Outdoors

Suggested lesson plan for “Kids
study to get hunting licenses”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Matt Davis, Busch Conservation Area, O’Fallon, Mo., Carrie Giesen, Defiance, Mo., Erin Meier, New Melle, Mo., Karlos Bledsoe, Creve Coeur, Ashley Wooden, Kentucky
Other words: taxidermist, archery, mishap, complicated

BEFORE READING: To acquaint the young reader with the vocabulary to be met in reading the article, have him or her read the names and words from the list of possible hard words. Provide any help needed. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud and be prepared to answer questions afterward.

DURING READING: Supply any troublesome words fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

AFTER READING: To assess comprehension and promote discussion use questions such as the following.

1. What kids of things were taught at the Youth Hunter Education Day Camp?
2. Under what condition are kids legally able to hunt?
3. What tells you that grown-ups are required to take a training session before being issued a license?
4. Do you have an interest in hunting? Why or why not?

Sports

Suggested lesson plan for “A big
running month for O’Fallon family”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Megan, Jesse, and Danny Mathews, St. Louis Blazers Track Club, Blair Porter, Joplin, Mo., Michigan
Other words: qualify, sophomore, chiropractor, strenuous, conditioning, optimistic

BEFORE READING: This article is fairly easy with few “hard” words or difficult proper names. Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words while you provide any help that might be needed. Then ask the reader to read the article aloud to you and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Should any words or names seem to be stumping the reader, supply the pronunciation fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

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

1. Why is July a big month for the Mathews kids?
2. What got these kids into competing in track events?
3. What was Megan’s “silver lining” in this year’s losing at the state level tournament?
4. Are you interested in track competition? Why or why not?

Music

Suggested lesson plan for “”Kid mixes
classical music and skateboarding”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Evan Antoine, Rittnour Middle School, Kurt Baldwin, Extreme Park, Louisville, Ky., Chicago, Ithaca, N.Y., Gilbert, Deborah, W. H. Squire, Tarantella, Yo Yo Ma, St. Louis Symphony, Powell Hall
Other words: concussion, customized, memorization

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the names and words from the possible hard words list so that he or she can anticipate the vocabulary in what is about to be read. Then ask him or her to read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Simply supply fairly quickly any names or words that seem to be impairing fluency.

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

1. Describe Antoine’s other main interest besides music.
2. How do Antoine’s parents' jobs play a part in his musical involvement?
3. How does Antoine deal with his dislike for practice?
4. Do you think Antoine will be likely to make a career in music? Why or why not?

Peace

Suggested lesson plan for “Kids
prepare peace drawing for Bush”

Possible hard words: President Bush, Laclede Elementary School, Lloyd Harvey, Martha Rose, Brianna Farrell, Cedric Benbow, Jamika Liston, Ramel Robinson, Darius Kimple
Other words: accompanied, violent, attitude, equates, recyclable

BEFORE READING: To help the reader anticipate vocabulary to be met in the article, have him or her read the names and words from the list of possible hard words. Provide help if needed. Then have him or her read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: If any of the names or words still seem to cause hesitation, supply the term fairly quickly in order to keep the reading fluent.

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

1. How were the young children prepared to think about turning their ideas about peace into art?
2. Describe some of the kids’ artwork.
3. What did Lloyd Harvey plan to do with the artwork from Laclede School?
4. As an older kid, what kind of plan would you have about putting your idea of peace in an artwork?

Profile

Suggested lesson plan for “Fenton kid earns achiever status with many accomplishments”

Possible hard words: Proper names: Jimmy Gordon, Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Math-a-thon, Rockwood South Middle School, Uthoff Valley Elementary School
Other words: volunteer, accomplishments, diverse, accelerated, martial arts, goshinjitsu, musical

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words to get some idea of how he or she may be able to handle the article. Help out with pronunciations if help is needed. If no more than two items call for help, have the young reader read the article silently. If three or four items require help, have the young reader read the article aloud to you. If five or more items call for your help, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out that questions will be raised afterward

DURING READING: For the silent reader offer to help out with any names or words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, supply troublesome words fairly rapidly in order to keep the reading fluent. If you read aloud, model smooth, fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions such as those that follow to check understanding to stimulate discussion.

1. What is the reward for qualifying as a Young Achiever in the areas competition?
2. List as many of Jimmy Gordon’s activities as you can.
3. What is unusual about Jimmy’s involvement in music?
4. Do you know any kids who might come close to qualifying for a Young Achiever award? Describe him or her.