1) Gingerbread Man Make & Take

2) Weaving a Story - Legend of the Blue Bonnet

3) Character Kites

Lesson Plan Kindergarten Gingerbread  Man

Library Objective:   Share a story supporting curriculum and compare a story read in class with the regional version read in the library. Make and Take activity to aid in story retelling and enjoyment. Listen attentively, critically, and purposefully to stories, plays and poems read aloud for enjoyment, to gain information

-Students will compare original fairy tale with the regional tale through discussion

- Students will identify this as a make believe story not real

-Students will identify characters in a story

-Experience stories in creative ways.

Texas TEKS: 110.2.10C TAKS Reading #2 Apply knowledge of literary elements to understand culturally diverse written texts. 110.2.1A; Determine the purpose(s) for listening such as to get information solve problems and to enjoy and appreciate 110.K.11C – Distinguish fiction from nonfiction.  110.K.1C – participate in rhymes, songs conversations and discussions.

TITLE - The Gingerbread Cowboy / by Janet Squires ; illustrated by Holly Berry, New York : HarperCollins Publisher, 2006. 

Activity:

·         Read Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires

·         Discuss with students similarities and differences to the story they have read in class The Gingerbread Man retold by Eric A. Kimmel Illustrated by Megan Lloyd.

·         Students decorate a “gingerbread cowboy” and pony so they can continue the gingerbread adventures at home.

Resources:

·         Cut-outs of pony and gingerbread boy

·         Clothespins  to clip on pony body to make it stand

·         Chart paper or white board to list characters and who the gingerbread boy ran from in the original story they read in class and in the cowboy gingerbread story.

·         http://www.janetsquires.com/  Author Web site has worksheet and additional lesson plans

Closure/Evaluation:  Sharing of Pony and Gingerbread man – discussion of additional adventures the cowboy/girl can have and take Photos to be put up in the library.

Gingerbread Man

·         The Gingerbread Boy / illustrated by Scott Cook. New York : Knopf, 1987.

·         The Gingerbread Boy / Richard Egiselski  Harper Collins,  1997.

·         The Gingerbread Boy / Paul Galdone. New York : Clarion Books/Ticknor & Fields, [1983], c1975.

·                 Gingerbread friends / Jan Brett. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2008.

·         The Gingerbread Man / retold by Eric A. Kimmel ; illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Published: New York : Holiday House, c1993.

·         The Gingerbread Cowboy / by Janet Squires ; illustrated by Holly Berry.

       Published: New York : HarperCollins Publisher, 2006.

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Lesson Plan Fourth Grade Weaving a Story

Library Objective:    Share a story supporting curriculum - Listen attentively, critically, and purposefully to stories, plays and poems read aloud for enjoyment, to gain information

-Students will identify characters in a story

-Discuss how author “weaves a story" together using descriptive language and word choice, sentence fluency and voice to make the setting and story line believable.

-Experience stories in creative ways.

-Locate where to find folk tales and fairy tales in library

Texas TEKS:

§110.6. English Language Arts and Reading 4.2 Listens critically to analyze/evaluate 4.3 Listens attentively and purposefully, 4.8 Reads widely for different purposes from varied sources

§113.6. Social Studies, Grade 4. (A) Identify Native-American groups in Texas and the Western Hemisphere before European exploration and describe the regions in which they lived; 

   §117.14. Art, Grade 4.  (2) Creative expression/performance. The student expresses ideas through original artworks, using a variety of media with appropriate skill.

TITLE – The Legend of the Bluebonnet Retold by Tomie dePaola  G.P. Putnam’s sons, New York 1983.

Activity:

·         Read The Legend of the Bluebonnet Retold by Tomie dePaola

·         Comanche Indian lore is introduced through discussion of The Legend of the Bluebonnet

·         Discuss story elements & character/cultural information woven into story

·         Cooperative student groups sequence sentence strips showing beginning, middle & end

·         “Weave” the story into “blanket”

·         Students retell story and display “weavings” in library.

Resources:

Closure/Evaluation:  Student Groups share their “Story Weavings”,

Students share a retelling of the legend with peers and or visit classrooms of 2^nd & 3^rd Grade to tell the story

Weavings are displayed in library.

Beginning

One young Indian girl loses both her parents to a terrible disease.

The tribe renames the young girl She-Who-Is -Alone.

A drought brings much suffering to the tribe.

The wise men pray for wisdom for wisdom about how to end the drought.

Middle

The wise men receive a message that rain will come if the tribe makes a great sacrifice.

She-Who-Is –Alone sacrifices her doll.

She-Who-Is-Alone scatters the ashes left from her doll.

End

The ashes become bluebonnet flowers.

Her tribe discovers the great sacrifice that She-Who-Is-Alone made for them.

The tribe renames her She-Who-Loves-Her-People.

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End of Year Activity

Lesson Plan  Kite Characters- 1^st – 6^th Grades

Throughout the year help students keep track of their favorite books & the characters they like the best.  In May I begin reading “kite” stories to make the idea of Kites interesting and fun.  Students will work in Library, classroom and Art if the goal is to make a traditional size kite. Miniature kites can be complete in one or two visits to the library. Kites in process can easily be kept in a manila folder.

Examples of ways for students to keep track of their favorite characters.:

·         Class lists of favorite characters and books next to student names in a binder.

·         Book Stop Reviews – Students can post previewed mini-book reviews in the library throughout the year. 

·         Booook & Breakfast – as come as your favorite book character breakfast  around Halloween. This year it is happening October 30^th

·           Reading Bluebonnet book nominees and other award winning books.

Library Objective:   Share a story supporting curriculum and create. a make and take activity to aid in story retelling and enjoyment.  Students will listen attentively, critically, and purposefully to stories, plays and poems read aloud for enjoyment, to gain information. TAKS Reading 2 The student will use a variety of strategies to analyze culturally diverse written texts.

-Students will identify characters in a story

-Experience stories in creative ways.

Reflect on books enjoyed during the year and share those with others in a creative format.

Texas TEKS: 110.2.10C TAKS

Reading #2 Apply knowledge of literary elements to understand culturally diverse written texts. 110.2.1A; Determine the purpose(s) for listening such as to get information solve problems and to enjoy and appreciate 110.K.11C – Distinguish fiction from nonfiction.  110.K.1C – participate in rhymes, songs conversations and discussions. 110.5.12J Draw conclusions from information gathered. 110.3.7B Read from a variety of genres to acquire information.

Math: 111.3.15A Identify Math in everyday situations. 1113/15D- Use real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

Social Studies: 113.512A: Explain the significance of selected ethnic and/or cultural celebrations.

TITLE –Choose a Kite book to introduce the Unit such as the ones listed. The Title will vary depending on the age of the students. A few listed here and at the end of lesson in Resources.

·         Angel’s Kite By Alberto Blanco, Illustrated by Rodolfo Morales, 1994 Children’s Book Press.

·         Tree of Cranes by Allen Say 1991. Houghton Mifflin New York.

·         .Catch the Wind . Gibbons, Gail. 1989. Little, Brown.

Resources:

·         Patterns of Kite Shapes to decorate, In a variety of shapes and sizes Rectangle, Circles, Squares, and Diamonds.

·         Kite Books with illustrations of decorated Kites.

·         The specific book the “Character” chosen is featured in.

·         String for flying, tail making

·         Coffee Stir sticks or Bamboo Shish Kabob skewers for kite Sticks

·         If making larger Kites Check materials needed.

·         Markers, pencils, crayons, crepe paper, tissue paper

·         Clip Board with class lists of favorite Characters from books students have read.

·         Mary Poppins “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” soundtrack.

Closure/Evaluation

This can be a grade level or school wide activity. Share Kites with Classmates  and share what characteristic of the character inspired you  to make the Kite about them.

Display Miniature Character Kites in library and fly those air-worthy as a culminating activity Fly Kite Day during the last weeks in May, During Recess and or PE Class

KITE BOOKS

Blanco, Alberto. 1994. Angel’s Kite Illustrated by Rodolfo Morales, Children’s Book Press.

Demi.  2000. Kites Random House.

Gibbons, Gail. 1989. Catch the Wind. Little, Brown.

Hill, Eric. Spots Windy Day and Other Stories.  

Lewis, Thomas P. 1974. The Dragon Kite. Illustrated by Errol LeCain, Holt Rinehart and Winston.

Lin, Grace. 2004. Kite Flying. Dell Dragonfly Books.

Park, Linda Sue. 2000. The Kite Fighters. Clarion Books, N.Y.

Rey, H.A. 1958. Curious George Flies a Kite. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.

Say, Allen. 1991. Tree of Cranes Houghton Mifflin New York

Yolen, Jane. 1967. The Emperor and the Kite Illustrated by Ed Young. World Publishing Company.

Yolen, Jane. 1970. The Seventh Mandarin Illustrated by Ed Young. The Seabury Press, New York.

KITE MAKING RESOURCES

·         Downer, Marion. 1959 Kites How to Make and Fly Them. Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Co. New York.

·          Drachen Foundation  http://www.drachen.org/

·         Drachen Foundation Lesson Plans for all levels http://www.drachen.org/classroom_lessons_level.html

·         Garbage bag Kites  http://www.thinkingfountain.org/k/kites/kites.html

·         Education World Soar into spring with kites.-http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson056.shtml

·         Murphy, Stuart. 2000. Let’s Fly a Kite illustrated by Brian Floca. Harper Collins.

·         Olney, Ross  and Chan Bush. 1980. Better Kit Flying for Boys and Girls. Dodd, Mead  & Company. N.Y.

·         Skinner, Scott and Ali Fujino. 1997  Kites Paper Wings Over Japan, The Drachen Foundation. Thames Hudson.

·         Smithsonian Kit Festival Site March 2009  http://kitefestival.org/

·         The Virtual Kite Zoo http://www.blueskylark.org/zoo/    Links for making Kites.