Unit Overview

 

Students will begin by telling stories that they know well from their past or that have been handed down in their families. They will learn about point of view and voice, then apply what they have learned by writing the story they have already told, but this time from the point of view of someone else, such as a grandparent or a sibling. They will then discuss the qualities that good storytellers have in common.

 

As a transition to the Anderson story, they will be asked to listen to the story aloud. For this, teachers have the option of reading the story to the class or allowing students to view the dramatic reading of the work featured on The Ohio Reading Road Trip video on YouTube.

 

Anderson wrote his story in five sections, so activities for each section determine the pacing for this part of the lesson. Students explore the concepts of plot, setting, character development, making inferences, and drawing conclusions as they read and think about the text.

 

Extension activities provide cross-curricular opportunities in the areas of social studies, drama, and art, as well as creative and non-fiction writing.

 

See the Plans, Standards and Assignments pages for lesson details.