The Salem Witch Trials

The Salem Witch Trials

By Matt Doeden

Genre: non-fiction

Grade: third to fifth

Click Here!

About The Author

With 138 published books, Doeden is a successful author. Writing non-fiction books, he is now a freelance writer, and was an editor on the Capstone Press for 7 years. Doeden admits that his work is all over the place, writing about genetics, geography, sports, cars, nutrtion, and more, click link above for more. He has also focused on emergent readers, and ESL students, and appears to be a man of many talents. 

About The Book

This a a you Choose Book, meaning that is an interactive history book for young readers. It has 3 story paths, 39 choices and 13 endings! Students can decide to be three different characters: 1. They can can defend themselves against charges of witch craft 2. Try keeping a family together after their mother has been put on trial 3. Or they can accuse someone of witch craft. Based in a colony out of Massachusetts in 1692 readers can get a real sense of the time period. Ever story path is real person trials and tribulations during the Salem Witch Trials.  I found the book to be a great alternative to "typical" chapter books, as it gives it reader power and engages them in the reading process. 

Lesson

purpose: To understand the Salem Witch Trials by actively taking part in a trial

Pre-assessment: Having a formal discussion of the Salem Witch Trials, attached to a corresponding worksheet looking at when, how, and why.

Lesson: Students will read the text ( a certain amount of them should read each path way). Then go over important factual information during the Salem Witch Trials. Once done students will put on their on trial. They will have a judge, spectators or family, the accusing party, and the individual(s) put on trial. The students story paths will effect what they do in the trial as to help with background knowledge. When this is done students will then write a paper on the reading and the trial comparing and contrasting the two and answering how they felt in the trail (putting themselves in their characters shoes). 

Post assessment: Taking student notes on the trial, looking at the paper, and giving a test. 

Thank you, Mr. Falker

Thank you, Mr. Falker

By Patricia Polacco

Genre:  Fiction (Autobiographical)

Grade: Kindergarten to fifth

Click Here!

About The Author

Born in Lancing, Michigan, Polacco is an author with a purpose! Having Dyslexia herself, she needed a teacher to reach out to her, and got one, Mr. Falker.  She can still remember the first time that she was able to read. Being an artist first then a writer, she is a well known writer and award winning author. Click on the link above to learn more!

About The Book

The book begins with meeting Trisha. Trisha can paint and draw very well, but has trouble reading. Unfortunately, Trisha feels that she is dumb because she cant read very well and often felt different than the other students. She even gets bullied by a boy and begins to feel unsafe and sad. But she is saved, by Mr. Falker, who not only stops the bullying but also helps Trisha read and figures out that she is Dyslexic. 

The book is heart felt and just down right amazing. Upon reading the book I felt moved by the story yet over joyed by the success of Trisha. I recommend it for any classroom. 

Lesson

Purpose: To understand the authors purpose of the story. 

Pre-assessment: Discuss what authors purpose means!

Lesson: Inform students that an authors purpose is to either, persuade, entertain,  or to inform.  Discuss what each term means by creating a class chart! Then ask the students what they think the authors purpose is? Once they have decided that it is to inform, then have students write a short response as to why.

Post assessment: Looking at the short response and taking notes on the class discussion. 

To be a Slave

To be a Slave

By Julius Lester

Genre: Non-Fiction

Grade: sixth to eighth 

Click Here!

About The Author

Lester has written adult and children's books, and was a professor at  the University of Massachusetts. He is also a winner of the Newberry Honor Book and has written 34 books and 200 essay's and reviews. Lester also has other hobbies such as, a photographer for the Civil Rights Movements, has recored two music albums, and has hosted radio shows. Click the link above for more information. 

About The Book

The book does an outstanding job of bringing the story of slavery to life. By using the testimonies of actual slaves, Lester gives the black perspective. Within some of testimonies  there is even the music that was song during labor. Through song slaves could make fun of the owners and keep a watch on the sun to get work done.

Lesson

Purpose: To know the history of slavery and what slaves has to endure.

Pre-assessment: Informal discussion about when slavery was, what they had to do, and how cruel their labor and owners were. 

Lesson: Students will read the text over a period of time, during which discussions and worksheets will be done.Then students will create a graphic organizer for an essay. Students will be answering the question, What was slavery? why did it exist? What did some of slaves have to endure? (giving at least 4 to 5 examples)

Post assessment: Discussion on slavery, looking at the packet of worksheets, and essay. 

Into the Sea

Into The Sea

By Brenda Z. Guiberson

Illustrated by Alix Berenzy

Genre: Fiction

Grade: second to fifth

Click Here!

About The Author

For over fifteen years Guiberson has been writing and illustrating books. Growing up in eastern Washington she developed her love of animals and today greatly enjoys studying animals. Her love of animals and science comes through in her books and she gives her readers a great opportunity to learn.  Click on the above like to learn more!

About The Book

I choose another book about turtles because this book is more detailed then the previous one. The illustrations are inviting and colorful while being extremely informative and engaging. 

The book begins with a tiny sea turtle as it makes its journey to water. The readers then grow with the turtle as it encounters new situations and explores the ocean. Eventually the turtle becomes one of the largest creatures in sea, where it then procreates and re-starts the cycle. 

Lesson

Purpose: To understand the concept of an endangered species, and how are negligence effects the environment. (conservationism) 

Pre-assessment: A "test" asking what is an endangered species? and what can we do to help the environment?

Lesson: Explain what an endangered species is, and the story as an example. Make a web chart for the term endangered species and give different examples of animals. Then ask the students how they think we effect the turtles habitat? Ask students to turn to a partner and discuss, how can we help prevent this? 

Then allow the students to come up with a project in their own community to help the environment. 

Post assessment: The project and class discussions. 

The U.S Constitution and You

The U.S Constitution and You

By Syl Sobel, J.D.

Genre: Non-fiction

Grades: third to fifth

About The Author

Syl Sobel works for the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C, where he is the Director of Publications & Media. From the research that I have done most of written works are limited to US Government. Some of his other works include, How the U.S Government Works, Presidential elections and Other Cool Facts, and The Bill of Right: Protecting Our Freedom Then and Now. 

Not much information but click and see, Click Here

About The Book

This is a great alternative to a text book! It simplifies the U.S Constitution! The different chapters include: The rules for the government, Three branches of Government, Checks and Balances, The People's Powers, and more! It has very few illustrations, but its simple illustrations are helpful and effective.  All of our students have to be educated about our government and this book does a great job of that. 

Lesson

Purpose: To understand the U.S Constitution and the branches of the government.

Pre-assessment: An informal questioning about their knowledge of the constitution and government. 

Lesson: Day 1- Chapters 1, 2 & 3

               Day 2- Chapters 4 & 5

               Day 3- Chapter 6,7 & 8

               Day 4- Chapter 8 and an activity

Students will have worksheets that coordinate with the reading alone with discussions. On the last day the students will create a class constitution. 

Post assessment: Use discussions about the readings, along with worksheets, and U.S Constitution. 

Press Here

Press Here

By Herve Tullet

Genre: Fiction

Grades: Pre-kindergarten to third

(May be appropriate for several age groups depending on disability) 

Lean more about Tullet!

About The Author

Born in 1958 in Normandy, Tullet made his first book in 1994, Comment Papa a rencontré Maman.   The book received recognition right away, and got the Prize for Non-Fiction. Many of his books are for early childhood, as they are not just reading books, but also books that are touch and feel based. He studied fine and decorative arts and in turn worked as an Art Director for 10 years. For more information click on the link above!

About The Book

Press Here, is a fun interactive book that gives directions to its readers! As a reader follows the words they change and alter the colors on the page creating a series of movements. Students can turn the lights on and off, put objects to the right side of the book or the left. The best part is that it keeps students moving activity while reading the book, students with ADHD could greatly benefit from a book like this. 

Lesson

Purpose: To help students with special needs in comprehension and sequence. 

Pre-assessment: Allow the students to read the book for the first time and view their interaction with it. 

Lesson: A major part of this lesson is just reading the book and completing the actions. Students may need help at first, several reads may need to be completed. Once the students have read the book then a simple work sheet for sequence can be used. Such as the first touch in the story was to _______, or after shaking the dots then I _______. Using fill in the blank or a word box would be extremely beneficial. 

Post-assessment:  After the second read, or several reads watch the students interaction with book. The assessment is the students ability to comprehend the actions written in the book, or the worksheet with sequence. 

Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!

Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!

By April Pulley Sayre

illustrated by Annie Patterson

Genre: 

Grades:1 to 3

Click Here!

About The Author

April currently lives in South Bend, Indiana and is the author of over 50 books.  Growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, she spent time picking flowers and observing insects and birds. She attended Duke University where she studied biology and focused on primatology. The link above has more information! 

About The Book

Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! begins on a beach in Florida when a mother turtle lays her eggs. Helping hands keep the eggs safe and two months later the eggs hatch. Once the baby turtle enters the ocean the reader then learns about all of dangers that a baby turtle encounters. Then eventually the baby turtle completes the cycle grow up and lays her own eggs. 

I already have a love for sea turtles, so the book was extremely easy for me to choose. The book also has beautiful illustrations and does a great job of educating its readers. The common words of, Turtle, Turtle, Watch out! is through out the book and makes it a great book for younger readers. The students can even read it out loud with the teacher! The book briefly describes the seven types of sea turtles in the back of the book while speaking about the helping hands that help save sea turtles. 

Lesson

Purpose: To teach students about sea turtles and the different types of sea turtles. To show students how to compare and contrast. 

Pre-assessment: Having student talk about sea turtles with a partner, then asking students what comparing and contrasting means. Student responses should written down.

Lesson: Go over characteristics of sea turtles. Such as they are air breathing reptiles, body characteristic, habitat they live in. Another class chart can be made and then students can go over the 7 different kinds of sea turtles as class, or students can do this in group work, where they create a graph (a graph could be made up ahead of time for the sake of time). Once done let them choose two sea turtles and compare and contrast the two.  Be sure to explain what comparing and contrasting mean, a venn diagram would be helpful.The students can then write a paper on it. Depending on the grade level students may need a demonstration of comparing and contrasting or writing as a class can also be a helpful tool for them. 

Post assessment: Looking at student work, the graph, and paper, while also taking into consideration students reposes during discussion. (notes should be taken)