Elijah of Buxton

By: Christopher Paul Curtiss
Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval
Copyright: 2009

Eleven-year-old Elijah Freeman was the first born child into freedom in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves just over the border from Detroit. But now Elijah is more known as “fra-gile” according to his momma. However, when a former slave calling himself the Right Reverend Zephariah W. Connerly the Third steals money from Elijah's friend Mr. Leroy, who has been saving to free his enslaved family in the South. Elijah joins Mr. Leroy on a dangerous journey to America to the find the preacher and get Mr. Leroy’s money back. Elijah discovers firsthand the horrific life his parents fled from in America. Will Elijah make it back to freedom in Buxton?

Suggested Delivery: Guided Reading


Lexile Level: 1070L

Key Vocabulary: settlement, slavery, free slave, druthers, blaspheming, ornery

Web Resources:
Meet the Author: Students can view can interview with Christopher Paul Curtis http://www.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsp ID=1640183585&bcpid=1640183585& bclid=1683701960&bctid=1688353494 

Audio Tape: Students can listen to the author read the first chapter of the book http://www.randomhouse.com/audio/catalog/display.php?isbn=9780739367193

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Students will complete an anticipation guide, then they will view a short video that will give them background information of the setting of the book and the life that Elijah was living http://www.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsppID=1640149541&bcpid=1640149541&bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAFv844g~,BASb5BU03X-iSxP2xnUo82nI3lwCMiDm&bclid=1557820329&bctid=1731910630

After Reading: Students will create their own book trailer for Elijah of Buxton.


Writing: Students will respond to the question: If you were in Elijah's shoes would you help Mr. Leory (knowing all the risk)?Explain your answer with reasoning.

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean

By: Sarah Stewart Taylor, Ben Towle

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Copyright: 2010

In this book, we meet Amelia Earhart from a young girls perspective named Grace. Grace is an inspiring journalist, who writes for the town Trepassey, Newfoundland, which has made her a bit of a nosy nelly. Amelia Earhart has come to Newfoundland, to practice flying with a certain amount of fuel and Grace is all over Amelia's story. Each day Grace, watches Amelia take off and they fail at flying. One day Grace is able to talk to Amelia one on one, Grace is overjoyed. She asks her personal questions and finds out about her inspiration for flying. Finally, on the last day, Amelia's plane is carrying the lightest amount of fuel possible, but does she make it up in the air? Does she make it around the world?

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read 

Lexile Level: 1080L

Key Vocabulary: Aviation, endeavors, apprehensive, trespass, telegram, Charles Lindbergh

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Susan Stewart Taylor http://www.sarahstewarttaylor.com/ and the illustrator http://www.benzilla.com/

Reading Guide and Lesson Plan:http://wildgeeseguides.blogspot.com/2010/01/amelia-earhart-this-broad-ocean.html

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Students will fill out the K part of the KWL. Initiate students 

by asking: What do we already know about Amelia Earhart? Has anyone read any books or seen any pictures? (if students are having a hard time remembering show them the book cover).

During Reading: Students will have a discussion based on why Amelia Earhart was so inspiring to Grace? Is there anyone who is inspiring to you like that. 

Writing: Students will create a comic strip including key events in Amelia Earharts life. 

Bad News for Outlaws

Bad News For Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal

Publisher: Lerner Publishing Group

Copyright: 2009

By: Vaunda Micheaux Nelson

This is a biography of the fearless Bass Reeves he was the first African- American deputy U.S. marshal and the most successful in American history. He brought more than 3,000 criminals to justice with fewer than 14 deaths in the line of duty. He was a lawful man, he knew the rules and stuck to them. He even arrested his own son on murder charges. Bass Reeves kept peace in the Indian Terrority for over 30 years. This extremely hardworking man worked in the rugged Wild West in the late 1800s. 

There’s a “Western Words” glossary in the back, along with a timeline, research notes, and suggestions for further reading.Respect for the law and civilized behavior and the rewards of dedicated work run through this account of Reeves’ life.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Lexile Level: 860L

Key Vocabulary: Territories, sheriff, outlaw, lawless, lawman, warrant, bandit,

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Read how Vaunda Micheaux Nelson track down information about the Old West hero. 

Audio Tape: Author Talking about how she began writing the book Bad News for Outlaws and then she reads an excerpt from the book http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=3966

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Students will make vocabulary cards, with the word, definition, picture, and the word used in a sentence to study key vocabulary.

After Reading: Students will have a discussion on why the story of Bass Reeves is important? What makes Bass Reeves’ story inspirational?

Writing: One of the most surprising details about Bass Reeves is that he arrested his own son, Benjamin. Imagine you are Benjamin and write a letter to your mother from jail.

Two Bobbies

By: Kirby Larson, Mary Nethery, Jean Casselsy

Publisher: Walker & Company

Copyright: 2008

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, many family pets were left homeless and alone. This book tells the journey of two animals, Bobbi the dog and Bob Cat the cat, and how their struggle to survival can be inspirational to us all. Their loyalty to each other while roaming the debris covered streets, until they finally made it to an animal shelter, where they were separated. After both animals were restless and groan the whole night they volunteers at the shelter put the animals together and they were calm. The volunteers discovered that Bob Cat was blind and Bobbi worked as his seeing eye dog. This story highlights the importance of friendship and finding a place to call home.

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Lexile Level: AD810L

Key Vocabulary: Hurricane Katrina, Mardi Gras, debris, shelter, volunteers, blind, eye seeing dog, Mississippi, New Orleans

Web Resources:

Official Website: Students can read about how Bobbi and Bob Cat are doing and read about the authors http://www.twobobbies.com/bobbies.htm

Reading Guide to Use: http://www.bloomsburykids.com/sites/dev.bloomsburykids.com/files/Two%20Bobbies%20Classroom%20Activities.pdf

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Discuss question with students: What is a hurricane? Where did Hurricane Katrina hit? (Show map of the United States) Did Hurricane Katrina cause a lot of damage? Show students CNN Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeWf0mdQqm8

After Reading: Discuss with students about animal shelters. Does your town have an animal shelter? More than one? Why do you think animals end up in shelters? Why is it important to spay and neuter dogs and cats? Have students write in their journals and answer the question If you could adopt any animal into your family, what kind of animal would you choose? Why?

Writing: Students will write a story about a time when they had a friend be very loyal to them or About a time when they were loyal to a friend. Students will explain the events building up to the situation.

Swindle

By: Gordon Korman

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.

Copyright: 2009

Griffin Bing is the sixth grade students that always has a plan even if they are some way bigger than they need to be. Griffins most recent plan was to sleep in the local haunted house that is condemned and was being knocked down the next day. While in the house Griffin discovers a very rare George Herman Ruth baseball card. This is the key to all his problems, since he knows he can get a lot of money for the card, this will help his family from their financial problems. He goes to the collectibles dealer to see how much it is worth and the dealer says its only worth 120 dollars, then he later discovers that they card can sell for over a million dollars. Now Griffin must put together a band of misfits to break into the Swindles house to capture their card. But there are so many obstacles in their way including a vicious guard dog.

Suggested Delivery: Guided Reading

Lexile Level: 710L

Key Vocabulary: Condemned, supernatural, clamorous, emporium, narcolepsy, allergy

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Students can meet Gordon Korman and watch a video of how he got started writing books.

Guide for teaching: This is a guide for teaching the book Swindle http://www.emporia.edu/libsv/wawbookaward/curriculumguides/swindle.html

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Have students complete an anticipation guide: What does it mean to be Swindle? If someone steals from you is it okay to steal the thing back? If you find something does it make it yours?

After Reading: Have your students pretend they write for the local newspaper, have they write an article about the story as if it really happened http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=110&title=

Writing: Have Students write their own story (related it to Griffin's story). Questions to spark writing; Have you ever had anything taken away from your? How would you get it back? If your most valuable possession was taken from you, how you get it back?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

By: Jeff Kinney

Publisher: Abrams, Harry N., Inc.

Copyright: 2007

Jeff Kinney with have you laughing out loud in the journal / comic book that is written through the eyes of middle school student Greg Heffley. When first meeting Greg, he lets us know that this is journal, NOT a diary. And being Greg Heffley, is not easy. Greg is stuck in middle school with, “kids like me who haven’t hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas that need to shave twice a day.” All Greg wants to do is play video games and be popular. Unfortunately, is socially awkward best friend Rowley gets in the way of him being popular and Greg’s dad thinks he needs to stop playing video games and get active. Greg’s witty attitude and lack of conscious understanding of the right thing will make this book hard to put down!

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Lexile Level: 950L

Key Vocabulary: dismantle, offensive, treasurer, campaign, fabrications, legitimate

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Student can go to Jeff Kinney’s website where they read about the author, find more books about Greg Heffley, and see Jeff Kinney’s appearance around the United States http://www.wimpykid.com/

Website just for Guys: This website is all about getting boys to read and be interested in reading. Check it out! http://www.guysread.com/

Comprehension Strategies:

Before reading: Ask students to brainstorm about these question: what a diary is? What do you put in a diary? Why do people keep a diary? What do you think the diary of a wimpy kid is going to have in it?

After Reading: Students will create a comic strip about an event that is likely to happen in Greg’s life based on all the situations they have read that Greg has gotten himself into.First, students will plan their comic strip before using the online tool to complete the comic.

1. http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson195/comic-strip-planning.pdf

2.http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/comic/index.html

Extra: If students are interested in learning comic vocabulary, there are great definitions and examples that will enhance student’s comics.

Writing: Students will keep a diary every day for a week. Students will draw a comic of a funny or not so funny situation that happen to them that day underneath their diary entry.