The Impossible Patriotism Project

Title: The Impossible Patriotism Project

Author: Linda Skeers

Publisher: The Penguin Group

Copyright: 2007

Reading Level: Approximately Grade 3



Summary:

For President’s Day, students in Caleb’s class were asked to make projects to represent patriotism. Unfortunately, Caleb cannot think of anything to represent how patriotic he is and his father, a solder in desert fatigues, is not around to help. As he thinks of his father’s absence, he realizes that his father is the best way to represent patriotism.

Suggested Delivery:
Read aloud followed by small group discussion.

Electronic Resources:
1- Field Trip- This website can be used by both the students and the teachers after the reading. The website contains a visual field trip of America, activities for students and discussion questions for students to think about Patriotism.
2- Presidents' Day- A useful website for students to utilize before or after the reading. It contains information, activities, games and historical facts about Presidents' Day.

Teaching Suggestions:
1. Vocabulary- Patriotism, Slumped, Scrunched, Pouting, Crates, Grumbled

2. Reading Strategies-

Before Reading: Before reading the book, have students create vocabulary cards. The index cards should include the word on one side and on the other side, their own definition and a visual to represent the word.

During Reading: As you read the book aloud, have students do the direct note taking activity. Stop in appropriate pages and have students write one fact or something they learned from the reading.

After Reading: In small groups, have students do the popcorn review activity. They should use their notes to talk about the book. Their discussion should be about:

- What they learned from the book?

- What was interesting?

- What is patriotism for them?

- How would they represent patriotism and why?

3. Writing Activity- As their exit ticket and part of their popcorn review, have students explain why they think Caleb chose his dad to represent patriotism.

The Secret of Priest's Grotto

Title: The Secret of Priest's Grotto

Authors: Peter L. Taylor and Christos Nicola

Publisher: Kar-Ben Publishing

Copyright: 2007

Reading Level: Approximately Grade 6

Summary:
The Secret of Priest’s Grotto is a nonfiction book about the survival of several families during the Holocaust. For more than a year, underground caves in the Ukraine provided sheltered and protection to Jews, including children and the elderly. The book is basically about two different stories; one story is about the men who discovered the caves and the other story is about the survivors. The survivors tell their unknown stories of how they found the caves, how they fought to survive and how life was like underground.

Suggested Delivery:
Small reading groups including reading group discussions.

Electronic Resources: 
1- Holocaust Children- This website includes stories about other Jewish children that survived the Holocaust. This website can be utilized after the reading so students can expand on what they read. This can also be used as a text-to-text connection followed by text-to-self connection. This connections will enhance student's comprehension.

2- UAYCEF- This website was recommended by the authors of the book and it can be used during the reading. The website includes visuals, stories of their different discoveries and interesting information for students.

Teaching Suggestions:
1- Vocabulary- Western Ukraine, Substantiate, Methodically, Prevailed, Silhouette, Vigor

2- Reading Strategies- (KWL Chart)

Before Reading: Ask students to make predictions of the book based on the cover page. Have a brief class discussion about what they think the book might be about. After, have students complete the “K” section of the KWL chart. Students should write everything they know about Jews, Ukraine, Holocaust survivors and history. Review the vocabulary and read just the first page.

During Reading: After reading the first page, have students complete the “W” section of their KWL chart. The questions should be based on the first page reading. Encourage students to ask questions about topics like Jews, Ukraine, the Holocaust, survival and caves.

After Reading: Discuss the reading with students by asking them about the questions they wrote for the “W” section. They should be able to include details from the book and personal opinions. After, have students complete the “L” section.

3- Writing Activity- From the different survival stories told in the book, have students select one that made an impact on them. They should identify what was interesting about the story, how it made them feel, any thoughts and questions they have about the story.

Moon Over Manifest

Title: Moon Over Manifest

Author: Clare Vanderpool

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2010

Reading Level: Lexile 800

Summary:

This book is about a twelve year old girl named Abilene Tucker and her experience in a new town, Manifest during the depression. After Abilene cut her knee and had a near fatal three-day infection, Gideon, her father, decided to send her away where she can be better taken care off. Once in Manifest, she was welcomed by Shady, her father’s friend and Hattie Mae, the town’s reporter. With the help of two classmates, Ruthanne and Lettie, the towns diviner, Miss Sadie, and a box of forgotten artifacts, Abilene begins her journey into her father’s hometown past.

Suggested Delivery:

Independent reading followed by popcorn discussion.

Electronic Resources:

1- Clare Vanderpool- This website can be of use by both students and teachers after the reading. It includes a summary of the book, information about the author, activities and much more.

2- Your world- Useful for students to use during the reading. The book does not mention much about World War 1 but using this website can provide valuable information.

Teaching Suggestions:

1- Vocabulary- Depression, Satchel, Autumnal, Awnings, Diviner, Sycamore

2-Reading Strategies-

Before Reading: Have students complete a vocabulary card for each word. They should write the word on one side and on the other side have them write their own definition and draw a visual. Encourage students to do vocabulary cards throughout the reading to enhance their comprehension.

During Reading: Group students depending on their reading level. Every night, assign students to read two or three chapters and to write a reflection about what they read. The reflection should include what they learned and what they have questions about. In class, have students do a popcorn discussion about their reflection. Guide students and if necessary provide some modeling instruction.

After Reading: Provide students with the text from the back of the book and a black marker. Students will be using the found poems activity to create a poem that will explain something about the book. The poem can be about the main character, a scene they can imagine from the book or anything they found critical about the book.

3- Writing Activity- Have students rewrite their found poems. Have them explain why they chose those words or phrases and why they chose that topic.

The Grand Mosque of Paris

Title: The Grand Mosque of Paris

Author: Karen G. Ruelle and Deborah D. Desaix

Publisher: Holiday House

Copyright: 2009

Reading Level: Lexile 1090

Summary:

This book tells the story of how French Muslims dedicated their time to save the lives of many Jews during the Holocaust. Courage, strong faith and devotion to social justice were the tools Muslims used to save people of all ages, including children. Jews found refuge in an unlikely place where it was not only a place of worship but also a community center. “Save one life, and it is as if you’ve saved all of humanity.”

Suggested Delivery:

Read aloud followed by group discussion.

Electronic Resources:

1- More For You- This website is a great tool for students to utilize after the reading. This website includes a 3D tour of The Grand Mosque, activities and extra useful information.

2- Kidskonnect- A great resource tool for students to view before the reading. It includes important fast fact about the Holocaust that can help set the stage for the book.

Teaching suggestions:

1- Vocabulary- Allah, Mecca, Mosque, Souk, Synagogue, The Holocaust

2- Reading Strategies-

Before Reading: Have students complete an entrance slip. They should write everything they know about the Holocaust, Muslims, Jews and/or The Grand Mosque of Paris. In addition, have students write five questions they have about the topics. After, collect the entrance slips and write down the top ten questions on the white board.

During Reading: Students will be using the split-page note taking activity to enhance their comprehension level. For the left hand side, have students write the ten questions and as you read, the answers on the right hand side.

After Reading: As the last activity, have students be the professor know-it all. Divide the students into groups of five and have each student answer two questions. They should gather facts to support their answers from the book and the websites.

3- Writing Activity- Students should write in their journal what they learned from another professor - and anything they found interesting from the reading.

After Ever After

Title: After Ever After

Author: Jordan Sonnenblick

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Copyright: 2010

Read Level: Lexile 820

Summary:

Jeffrey Alper was diagnosed with cancer when he was just four years old. Jeff started his chemotherapy treatment but the after math caused him attention and learning challenges. Tad, Jeff’s best friend, decides they can help each other graduate eighth-grade. Tad was going to help Jeff with his school work and Jeff was going to help Tad with his physical therapy. Unfortunately, one of them does not make it to their graduation day.

Suggested Delivery:

Independent reading followed by think-pair-share.

Electronic Resources:

1- Jordan Sonnenblick- This is the author's webpage and it is a useful tool for students before the reading. As a good reader, it is important to find out who the author is and his/her style of writing. When you know more about the author, you comprehend the book better.

2- Captain Chemo- This website is a tool that students can use to better understand Cancer and Chemotherapy treatment with a game. They can utilze the website to learn morea about the topic in an engaging manner.

Teaching suggestions:

1- Vocabulary- Relapse, Treatment, Chemotherapy, Leukemia,  Interrogation, Marrow

2- Reading Strategies-

Before Reading: Have students look through the book. Ask them to write in their journals what they think the book will be about based on the front and back cover. Ask them to write down everything they know about Cancer, Friendship, and Family. Introduce new vocabulary and encourage students to keep a section in their journal with vocabulary words.

During Reading: As students read the book, they must write the vocabulary words down and have a definition based on context clues. They should also write down questions about the reading.

After Reading: Have students pair up and share their opinions, questions and vocabulary words. Together, students should come up with two questions, two opinions, and three vocabulary questions they have from the whole book. Once that is completed, have students write them down on the white board.

3- Writing Activity- Students should select two questions, two opinions and two vocabulary questions to answer in their journal. This will be their exit ticket and used as an assessment.