Thanksgiving Focus Unit By Courtney Branscomb

Transcription

1 Thanksgiving Focus Unit By Courtney Branscomb FEATURED SELECTION Cranberry Thanksgiving by Harry Devlin. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, Grandmother bakes the most famous cranberry bread for miles, but she always hides the recipe behind a brick in the fireplace so no one will steal it. On Thanksgiving Day, Maggie and her grandmother usually invite a guest to dinner, but this year Maggie invites Mr. Whiskers, someone that Grandmother really does not like. Grandmother invites Mr. Horace, but he and Mr. Whiskers do not get along. Mr. Horace finds the hidden recipe as Maggie and Grandmother clean up, but Mr. Whiskers is able to stop him and retrieve the recipe. Grandmother then finds out that Mr. Whiskers knew that Mr. Horace owned a bakery in town, and Mr. Whiskers wanted to come to dinner just to protect her. Even though Mr. Horace tries to steal, the whole group sits down together to eat a piece of pie because it is Thanksgiving Day. RELATED MATERIALS Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, A fiction selection that describes what people should be thankful for. The main character, a child, lists what he is most thankful for.

2 The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, A fiction selection written in the same format as The Night Before Christmas. The main focus of the book is a description of the events that lead up to Thanksgiving Day dinner. The Can-Do Thanksgiving by Marion Hess Pomeranc. Illinois: Albert Whitman & Company, This realistic fiction selection begins with the main character wondering about where her donations go. She decides to follow the donation and help at a homeless Thanksgiving dinner. How Many Days to America? by Eve Bunting. New York: Clarion Books, This is a historic fiction selection that describes a family s journey from their native country to America. The time setting is the same as the first Thanksgiving dinner.

3 Arthur s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown. New York: Little, Brown Young Readers, Arthur takes the director s role for the school s Thanksgiving play in this fiction selection. Arthur has difficulty getting actors so his family decides to help, and he realizes how thankful he is for family. Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit! by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Malaysia: HarperFestival, A fiction selection with flaps describing the things that Biscuit should be thankful for. Biscuit enjoys Thanksgiving with his friend. The Circle of Thanks: Native American Poems and Songs of Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac. New Jersey: BridgeWater Books, This collection contains a variety of poems and songs that were prominent around the time of the first Thanksgiving. The poems contain ideas about what the Native Americans were thankful for during the specific time period.

4 The Story of Thanksgiving by Robert Merrill Bartlett. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, This non-fiction selection describes the true story and reasons for many traditions that occur around Thanksgiving. Accurate illustrations, recipes, and songs are included. Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne. New York: Random House, This fantasy selection tells about a historic trip of Jack and Anne to the first Thanksgiving. Time appropriate setting characteristics are included. Let s Celebrate Thanksgiving by Peter and Connie Roop. Connecticut: Milbrook Press, This non-fiction selection contains facts about life around the time of the first Thanksgiving. Riddles, crafts, and an explanation of modern traditions are included.

5 GOALS: The student will make a list of historical characteristics based on the books with 90% accuracy The student will design a picture describing a historical Thanksgiving with 90% accuracy. The student will write a letter in proper format with 95% accuracy. The student will complete a chart based on plant growth with 85% accuracy. The student will perform a skit based on the First Thanksgiving including at least 5 facts. Strategies and Skills Measuring Comparing and Contrasting Creating a jingle Creating a letter Making a chart Story writing and story telling Designing a skit Indiana Academic Standards Standard 1: History Listen to historical stories and compare daily life in the past and present Explain the meaning of community celebrations and traditions. UNIT PLAN: Pre-reading: (Math) In groups of 4 or 5, the students will help measure ingredients for a traditional Thanksgiving Recipe. (Monitor-Observations) (Assessment-Participation) (Grouping- Small Group) (Social studies) Make a list on the board comparing daily life in historical times and modern times. (Monitor- Conferencing) (Assessment-Participation) (Grouping- Whole Class) Reading: (Art and Fine Motor) Think about life in modern times and around the First Thanksgiving. Create a picture showing the First Thanksgiving. Create another picture about a modern Thanksgiving. (Monitor-Collect work samples) (Assessment- Completion and Following Directions) (Grouping-Individual) Responding: (Music) Work with a partner. Create a jingle about a Thanksgiving tradition. Share with the class. (Monitor-Observation) (Assessment- Completion and Inclusion of Facts) (Grouping- Partners) (Writing) Create a letter that would thank either the Native Americans or the Pilgrims for a tradition we have today. Be sure to include a description of the tradition and how it first occurred. (Monitor- Conferencing and Collect work samples) (Assessment- Rubric checking for written language skills) (Grouping- Individual)

6 Exploring: (Science) Pumpkins were very important at the first Thanksgiving, and they are still very important. Plant a pumpkin seed. Chart its growth. (Monitor-Anecdotal Notes) (Assessment- Accuracy of charting skills) (Grouping- Individual) Applying: (Storytelling) Think about how Native American families lived. Pretend that you lived during that time period. Create a story about an experience that you may have been a part of. Share with the class. (Monitor- Conferencing and Collect work samples) (Assessment- Checklist for written language skills) (Grouping- Individual and whole class) (Drama) Divide into 2 groups, the Pilgrims and the Native American. Create a short skit describing the events of the First Thanksgiving. (Monitor- Anecdotal notes) (Assessment- Inclusion of facts) (Grouping- Small Group and whole class) TIME SCHEDULE: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Book Talk with Cranberry Thanksgiving Predict what book is about Day 6 Math Lesson (Prepare Recipe) Day 7 Read Cranberry Thanksgiving aloud Social Studies Lesson (Compare and Contrast) Day 8 Art Lesson (Design comparison drawing) Day 9 Complete shared reading activity with Arthur s Thanksgiving Day 10 Music Lesson (Thanksgiving Jingle) Writing Lesson (Letter) Science (Plant Seed) Storytelling (Family story) Read Cranberry Thanksgiving again Talk about favorite parts

7 ASSIGNMENT CHECKLIST: Thanksgiving Unit Name 1. Helped measure ingredients for Thanksgiving Unit. 2. Designed pictures about historic and modern Thanksgiving. 3. Participated in shared reading activity. 4. Created a Thanksgiving Jingle that included facts. 5. Wrote a thank-you letter. 6. Created a chart. 7. Wrote a story with a historic setting.

8 Thanksgiving Focus Unit By Courtney Branscomb Educ 340 Literacy Block April 30, 2007

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