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. 

When you reach me

By Rebecca Stead
Publisher: Random House Children's Book
Copyright: 2010

This story takes place in the Upper West Side of New York City in 1979 and it follows the main character Miranda whom is in sixth grade. One day she receives a strange note saying, I am coming to save your friend’s life and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. As the novel progresses she receives three more notes with requests. The novel contains three story lines: the appearance of Miranda’s mom on The 20,000 Pyramid, Miranda best friend Sal suddenly not talking with Miranda and the appearance of a laughing man. The stories conclusion is all three plots come together to reveal that the laughing man is Miranda’s friend Marcus who has come from the future to save Sal from an early death. Central themes in the novel include independence, redemption, and friendship. The story is inspired by Rebecca Stead favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time which the main character Miranda is often reading.

Suggested Delivery: Guided Reading


Lexile Level: 750L 

Key Vocabulary: allegations, truce, teleporting, racist, latchkey, conspiracy, epilepsy

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Students can learn about the author and her upcoming books. http://www.rebeccasteadbooks.com/

Guide for teaching: On page 28 there is a guide for teaching this novel http://www.dcfaward.org/Activities/dcfbookreviews&questions10-11.pdf

Comprehension Strategies:

During Reading: Since this book has many plots and little details that are 

key to understanding the book, have students complete while they are reading a concept map. 

After Reading: Complete a popcorn review with students; begin by asking students At the end, do you think all the pieces of the puzzle come together? Is there anything that still confuses you?


Writing: Rebecca Stead makes time traveling possible in this novel. If you could travel to a certain time, where would it be? Describe the details behind that place and your reasoning to why you picked there.

90 Miles to Havana

By: Enrique Flores-Galbis
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Copyright: 2010

A revolution has just started in Havana, Cuba, and Julian's parents must make the heartbreaking decision to send him and his two older brothers away to Miami via the Pedro Pan operation. But when the boys get to Miami, they are thrust into a world where bullies seem to run rampant and it's not always clear how best to protect themselves. The refugee camp where they are sent is not what they expected, it is an overcrowded facility ruled by a nasty bully, Caballo. The boys end up sleeping on the ground of a bathroom floor. Overtime Julian’s brothers are sent to a foster home up north leaving Julian all alone. Julian starts his own revolution at the camp in a democratic way fighting back against Caballo. When Julian plays his last trick on Caballo he is forced to leave camp where he meets Tomas a man who is fixing up a boat to illegally transport people from Cuba back to Miami. Julian wants his parents to be included in that group and on his adventure back to Cuba he is in for the trip of his life. 

Author and artist Enrique Flores-Galbis has written this story based on his own experiences as one of the 14,000 Cuban children sent from Cuba to the U.S. without their parents in 1961 by Operation Pedro Pan, the largest exodus ever in the Western hemisphere of unaccompanied children.

Suggested Delivery: Independent or Guided Reading 


Lexile Level: 790L

Key Vocabulary: Revolution, Pedro Pan Operation, immigrant, passport, refugee, illegal

Web Resources:

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozty5FRtpZs

Comprehension Strategies:

Before Reading: Show students a map point how where Cuba is located and we Miami is located. Explain students what the Pedro Pan Operation is using the website http://www.pedropan.org/category/history

After Reading: Have students in pairs compose a Poems For Two Voices, one of the voices being an immigrant child coming to the United States on the Pedro Pan Operation.


Writing: Students will go home and interview their grandparents or an elderly friend. Find out where they are from? How did they get to America? Where are their parents from? This will spark a great immigration unit.

Turtle: tough on the outside with a soft underbelly just like a turtle.

Turtle in Paradise

By: Jennifer Holm

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Copyright: 2010

Turtle in Paradise is a historical fiction novel set in the Great Depression. Eleven-year-old Turtle has been living with her single mother whom is a housekeeper in New Jersey, but her mother gets a new housekeeping job and it entitles no children, Turtle is sent to live with her Aunt Minnie in Key West with cousins she has never met; Buddy, Beans and Kermit. Her rowdy boy cousins are part of the neighbor “Diaper Gang” which coincidentally does not allow any girl members. In a world that is very different than the one she is used she learns about alligator pears (avocados), rum running, sponge fishing and most importantly that she has a grandma. Turtle uncovers what is means to have a family.

Authors Note at the end of the story: Many of these situations that Jennifer Holm wrote about in this story, had been her families stories that had been passed down from generation to generation.

Suggested Delivery: Independent Read

Lexile Level: 600L

Key Vocabulary: guava, mutiny, skepticalks, exasperated, tromp, meringue, ruthless

Web Resources:

Meet the Author: Students can read about Jennifer Holm and how she gets inspired to write http://www.jenniferholm.com/01_aboutme/01_overview.html

Comprehension Strategies:

During Reading: Students will complete a Split Page Notetaking- In one column students will write down the name of the chapter they are reading then students will think of a new name for the chapter after they finished the chapter.

After Reading: Students will create a Voki of the main character Turtle. 

Writing: This story was written based on stories that were past down by Jennifer Holm's family. Write about a story that has been past down from generation to generation at your house?