March 2004     Vol.5 Issue 3

All Lesson Plans

Science

Suggested lesson plan for
"$1 million robot car race is on"

Possible hard words: Bill Zimmerly, Warren Williams, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Carnegie Mellon University, California Institute of Technology, Kawasaki, Brian Bean, Chris Milan
Other words: perseverance, remote, vehicle, modifications, substantial, technicians

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the possible hard words list. Provide any help as needed and keep track of the number of items calling for help. Of the fifteen items, if no more than three call for your help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items require your assistance, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items require help, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, note that questions will be asked afterward.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, simply state that help with any words will be given if you are asked for help. For the one reading aloud, offer help with any words that seem to be impairing fluency. If you read aloud, model smooth, fluent, oral reading.

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

1. Why is Young Saint Louis.com telling the story of Bill Zimmerly and Warren Williams?
2. How do the two robot builders compare with other competing teams?
3. How does the robot "know" where it is and how to move safely?
4. Are you interested in this technological competition? Why or why not?

Storytelling

Suggested lesson plan for
"Kids create storytelling artwork"

Possible hard words: Proper names: ST-ART Club, Washington Middle School. Amanda Lehr, Ruthilde Kronberg Youth Storytelling Concert, Stuart Little, Jared Herbst, Erica Bushman, Melanie Martin, Kira Klein, Emily Martin, Alisha Matthews, New Orleans, Kate Stieren
Other words: ancestors, penguins, eccentric, illustration, stylized

BEFORE READING: In order to help the young reader be able to fluently read the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. You help out with any names or words that appear to be causing difficulty. Then ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you and be prepared to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Supply any names or words fairly rapidly if they appear to be causing difficulty. The object is to keep the oral reading reasonably fluent.

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

1. Where will the kids' artwork be displayed during the festival?
2. What are some of the topics that the kids tell stories about?
3. What do the kids do in the festival besides just displaying their pictures?
4. Would you be interested in attending the storytelling festival? Why or why not?

Entertainment

Suggested lesson plan for
"Muny tryouts draw 1,000 kids"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Julia Boudreau, Claire Krusie, Melissa Needles, Brittany Smith, Laura Peters Reilly, Susan Mandelker, Brett Clark, Chaminade Middle School
Other words: audition, pediatrician, pharmacist, choir

BEFORE READING: To help prepare the young reader to read the article fluently, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide any help as needed. Afterward, ask him or her to read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it after the reading.

DURING READING: Provide any overly-difficult words or names fairly promptly in order to keep the reading fluent.

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

1. Would you say there was lots of competition for roles in the plays at the Muny? Why?
2. Why were some of these kids called "veterans"?
3. Why had one of the girls, a veteran, dropped out this year?
4. Do you think it is a good idea that most of the kids had alternative ambitions rather than being in show business? Why or why not?

Books

This month's book reviews

A surprisingly adventure-filled story
about a homeless Korean boy

"A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park is set in twelfth-century Korea and the plot revolves around pottery making as an art form. A young reader would be absorbed in the story right away as he or she empathizes with the twelve-year-old homeless orphan who yearns to become a pottery maker. There are many glimpses at human caring and sensitivity as a societal outcast tries to establish an identify for himself in a society that seems cold and heartless.

The name "A Single Shard" is based on the broken piece of pottery that the young hero bravely takes to the emperor's palace to win a commission for his master. The shard was from the intact works that had been intended for the royal viewing. Bandits on the road had destroyed the beautiful pieces and had stopped just short of murdering the frightened boy.

An involving story about a young girl
living on the early American frontier

"Weaver's Daughter" by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley is an engrossing story about a ten-year-old girl living on a pioneer farm in the Virginia Territory. The girl's mother just happens to have a talent for weaving cloth and making clothes, blankets, etc out of the cloth she weaves. A young reader is involved quickly into what everyday life must have been like for kids living in a one-room log cabin on the frontier.

Besides insights into everyday frontier life and the craft of weaving, there is a look at the medical practices of those days, and at the societal relationships of those people of means and the small farmers of that era. Of special note is the value placed on literacy in a time when most people were unable to read or write.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get your wish

"Wishes, Kisses, and Pigs" by Betsy Hearne deals with the question of what happens if a wish you shouldn't have made actually comes true. This little fantasy is meant to be humorous. The problem is that when a girl accidentally wishes her kid brother into being a pig, and the pig is targeted for a barbecue, some kids might not find it funny. However, through a somewhat convoluted series of actions more or less orchestrated by the conscience stricken sister, the story comes out well in the end.

Entertainment value outweighs any clear cut moral message or messages contained in this frivolous little paperback. If there is any message at all, it might be to not play around with the occult or you might get more than you bargained for.

The final book by a famous author of horse stories for kids

This little book by Marguerite Henry has just 100 pages. It was published in 1996, and Ms Henry died at 92 years of age in 1997. Three of her earlier books about horses had earned Newbery recognition.

"Brown Sunshine of Sawdust Valley" is a horse book that ends up being about a "horse that's not a horse." The tired-looking mare that Molly's dad bought at auction for her was pregnant and gave birth to a mule. The young reader of this book finds out a lot about the important role that mules have played in the history of our country.

Lewis & Clark

Suggested lesson plan for "A neat
place for kids: Cahokia Mounds"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Meriwether Lewis, Camp Dubois, Scott Mandrell, Dr. Mark Esarey, Dr. John Kelly, Washington University, Roxanna, Ill., Monks Mound, Woodhenge, Stonehenge, Dr. Warren Wittry
Other words: archaeological, pyramids, interpretative, gigantic, circumference, celestial, installations, reenactors

BEFORE READING: To ascertain how capably a young reader might read the article, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed but keep track of the number of items needing your assistance. If no more than three call for help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items need your assistance, ask the young reader to read the article aloud. If seven or more items need your help, you offer to read the article aloud. In all three instances, point out that questions will be raised over the article after the reading.

DURING READING: For the silent reader, offer to help with words if asked. For the oral reader, 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 similar to these to check understanding and stimulate a discussion of the article.

1. What did Meriwether Lewis have to do with Cahokia Mounds?
2. Why is Cahokia Mounds on the United Nation's list of significant archaeological sites?
3. Why is Stonehenge mentioned in the article about Cahokia Mounds?
4. Have you visited the Cahokia Mounds site yet? Would you like to? Why or why not?

Sports

Suggested lesson plan for
"Tennis girl overcomes broken leg"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Haley Fournier, Topeka, Belleville, Memphis, St. Teresa Catholic School, Dr. Jay Nofsinger, Mia Hamm
Other words: recuperation, competitors, bracket, commitment, previous, international

BEFORE READING: If you want to get some idea of how easily a young reader might find this article, you can ask him or her to read the list of possible hard words. You might also wish to help out with any of the items that seem to be causing difficulty. Keep track of the number that seem to require your help. If no more than three items require help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items call for your help, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more items require assistance, you might 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 troublesome words, if asked for help. For the one reading the article aloud, supply and words that seem to be hindering fluency. If you read aloud, model expressive, fluent oral reading.

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

1. How did Haley show she had "come back" from her broken leg?
2. How does Haley believe the injury has made her a better athlete?
3. How does Haley manage to get her homework done with her busy schedule?
4. Why does the doctor at SLU think it's a good idea for kids to play a number of sports rather than concentrating on just one?

Reading

Suggested lesson plan for
"Read, Right & Run"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Columbia, Ill., Spirit of St. Louis Marathon, U. S. Olympic Team, Coach Jon Wehrenberg, Angela Mayer, Chris Coulter, Erik Roediger, Trent Blank, Emily Schmidt
Other words: obstacles, marathon, facility, components, participate, viewpoint

BEFORE READING: To determine how easy or difficult the article might be for a young reader, have him or her read the list of possible hard words. There are fifteen items listed. Provide help where needed and keep track of the number of items needing your assistance. If no more than three call for your help, ask the young reader to read the article silently. If four to six items require your help, ask the young reader to read the article aloud to you. If seven or more require assistance, you volunteer to read the article aloud. In all three cases, point out that questions will be raised over the articles after the reading.

DURING READING For the silent reader, point out that you will help with any words if asked for help. For the one reading aloud, provide any words rather quickly that delay smooth reading. If you read aloud, model smooth, fluent oral reading.

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

1. What were a couple of the obstacles that came up to get in the way of the middle school's participation in Read, Right, and Run?
2. What were some of the kids doing at home or in a fitness facility to get in shape for the marathon?
3. Besides meeting the running part of the program, what did some of the kids do to meet the other two requirements?
4. Would you take part in the event if given the chance? Why or why not?

Earth Day

Suggested lesson plan for
"An Earth Day Grocery Bag project"

Possible hard words: Proper names: Butterfly House, Donna Dupske, Schnucks, Dierbergs, Australia, Croatia, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Madison County, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Missouri Botanical Gardens
Other words: prior, environmental, coordinated, organization

BEFORE READING: Have the young reader read the list of possible hard words. Provide help as needed. Since most of the anticipated hard words are proper names, just ask the child to read the article aloud and be ready to discuss it afterward.

DURING READING: Provide words fairly quickly that seem to be disrupting fluent oral reading.

AFTER READING: Use questions to check understanding and to stimulate discussion of the article.

1. Describe the grocery bag project.
2. What is the purpose of the grocery bag project?
3. What are some of the other craft activities held at the Butterfly House?
4. How widespread has the grocery bag project for Earth Day become?