Charlottes Webb By: E. B. White
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/6164196.png)
Genre:Modern Fantasy
Grade: K-3
ISBN: 0064400557 k-3
Bibliography: White, E. B. (1999). Charlotte's web. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Synopsis: This magical tale tells the story of a talking spider named Charlotte and her barnyard friends, as they tackle life on the farm and the seasons. Fern is a young girl who is friends with one of the farm animals; a little pig named Wilbur. Wilbur is best friends with Charlotte after she saves him from being eaten. Wilbur and Fern learn of love, life, and loss through Charlotte’s friendship and wisdom. The story begins with Charlotte who is unable to play with the rest of the barn animals because she has to build her web before the winter. As the story progresses it is clear that Charlotte is preparing her web for her babies and an end to her own life.
Activity: Can you tell the story? This sequencing activity involves students to pic an image out of a hat and work together to put the photos of the story in order.
*adapted from Mrs. Hardy
Awards: Trophy Newberry Award
Grade: K-3
ISBN: 0064400557 k-3
Bibliography: White, E. B. (1999). Charlotte's web. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
Synopsis: This magical tale tells the story of a talking spider named Charlotte and her barnyard friends, as they tackle life on the farm and the seasons. Fern is a young girl who is friends with one of the farm animals; a little pig named Wilbur. Wilbur is best friends with Charlotte after she saves him from being eaten. Wilbur and Fern learn of love, life, and loss through Charlotte’s friendship and wisdom. The story begins with Charlotte who is unable to play with the rest of the barn animals because she has to build her web before the winter. As the story progresses it is clear that Charlotte is preparing her web for her babies and an end to her own life.
Activity: Can you tell the story? This sequencing activity involves students to pic an image out of a hat and work together to put the photos of the story in order.
*adapted from Mrs. Hardy
Awards: Trophy Newberry Award
James and the Giant Peach By: Roald Dahl
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/1495974.jpg?198)
Grene: Modern Fantacy
Grade: 6-8
ISBN: 0140374248
Bibliography: Dahl, R., & Dahl, R. (1996). James and the giant peach, a children\'s story. New York: Puffin.
Synopsis: An orphaned young boy by the name of James is forced to live with his self-absorbed, rude aunts. He is fed very little and locked away in his room the majority of the time. James lives a miserable existence until he discovers an old man who gives him magical crystals and promises to save him from his terrible life. When James mistakenly spills the crystals on his aunts’ old peach tree, a single peach grows that takes him into a magical world where he is the hero. This oversized peach transforms James and his magical insect companions (a ladybug, a spider, a grasshopper, a glowworm, a silkworm, and a centipede) into a new world as they travel across the world in order to reach New York.
Activity: The truth about Fairytales! Students will construct a research essay where they must compare and contrast James and the Giant Peach to another fictional story with a similar plot line. Their pre activity for this assignment is to create a plot diagram where they must identify what characteristics of the plot they want to look for in other texts. Students will then create a vin diagram In which they will compare and contrast the two texts they have chosen as a way to prepare them for writing.
*Adapted from Henderson’s 8th grade classroom; Yopps
Grade: 6-8
ISBN: 0140374248
Bibliography: Dahl, R., & Dahl, R. (1996). James and the giant peach, a children\'s story. New York: Puffin.
Synopsis: An orphaned young boy by the name of James is forced to live with his self-absorbed, rude aunts. He is fed very little and locked away in his room the majority of the time. James lives a miserable existence until he discovers an old man who gives him magical crystals and promises to save him from his terrible life. When James mistakenly spills the crystals on his aunts’ old peach tree, a single peach grows that takes him into a magical world where he is the hero. This oversized peach transforms James and his magical insect companions (a ladybug, a spider, a grasshopper, a glowworm, a silkworm, and a centipede) into a new world as they travel across the world in order to reach New York.
Activity: The truth about Fairytales! Students will construct a research essay where they must compare and contrast James and the Giant Peach to another fictional story with a similar plot line. Their pre activity for this assignment is to create a plot diagram where they must identify what characteristics of the plot they want to look for in other texts. Students will then create a vin diagram In which they will compare and contrast the two texts they have chosen as a way to prepare them for writing.
*Adapted from Henderson’s 8th grade classroom; Yopps
The Giver By: Lois Lowry
![Picture](/uploads/1/1/6/2/11627417/9026537.jpg)
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade: 8-12
ISBN: 0440237688
Bibliography: Lowry, L. (1993). The giver. New York: Laurel Leaf.
Synopsis: Jonas is a 12 year old boy who lives in a world of no poverty, no crime, and no sickness and Family size is controlled by the community. In this new world everyone is happy and one’s job is chosen for them. This powerful story begins when Jonas is assigned the role of becoming the community’s receiver of memories. From his meetings with The Giver Jonas discovers the truth about life and the true horror of his Utopian life. Lowry weaves a masterful tale of which reflects how all humanity can be lost in the hopes of gain peace and the power of “I”.
Activity: What about today? Groups of 2-4 students will discuss the story and answer three questions: how are race, gender, and one’s ability to feel emotions affect the identity of a person; what factors played a role in creating this new world; and can we see those factors in today’s world? The students will then write their answers three sticky notes (one for each question) and place it on the board according to the question. A classroom discussion as whole will then take place as students explain some of their answers.
Awards: 1994 Newbery Medal winner
Grade: 8-12
ISBN: 0440237688
Bibliography: Lowry, L. (1993). The giver. New York: Laurel Leaf.
Synopsis: Jonas is a 12 year old boy who lives in a world of no poverty, no crime, and no sickness and Family size is controlled by the community. In this new world everyone is happy and one’s job is chosen for them. This powerful story begins when Jonas is assigned the role of becoming the community’s receiver of memories. From his meetings with The Giver Jonas discovers the truth about life and the true horror of his Utopian life. Lowry weaves a masterful tale of which reflects how all humanity can be lost in the hopes of gain peace and the power of “I”.
Activity: What about today? Groups of 2-4 students will discuss the story and answer three questions: how are race, gender, and one’s ability to feel emotions affect the identity of a person; what factors played a role in creating this new world; and can we see those factors in today’s world? The students will then write their answers three sticky notes (one for each question) and place it on the board according to the question. A classroom discussion as whole will then take place as students explain some of their answers.
Awards: 1994 Newbery Medal winner