Little Red Riding Hood By: Trina Schart Hyman
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade: K-1
ISBN: 0823406539
Bibliography: Hyman, T. S. (1983). Little red riding hood. New York,NY: Holiday House.
Synopsis: This timeless classic follows little Red Riding Hood as she travels to her grandmother’s house one afternoon. Along the way she is stalked by a wolf who wants the basket of goodies she is to take to her grandmothers. The wolf unsuccessful decides to rush ahead of the young girl and eats her grandmother. When Red arrives the wolf has assumed the grandmothers identity and after brief dialogue she is eaten. Both women are saved however when a friendly woodsman slices open the wolf.
Activity: Identifying colors! Students will receive a copy of 1 page from the story. It is up to them to color the page according to the colors in the book (ex. Red Riding hoods cape must be red. They will then write the colors name on the side of the page next to where they used the color. Lastly at the bottom of the page students will write a brief sentence explaining what is happening in the story at the point of their picture.
Awards : four Caldecott awards
Grade: K-1
ISBN: 0823406539
Bibliography: Hyman, T. S. (1983). Little red riding hood. New York,NY: Holiday House.
Synopsis: This timeless classic follows little Red Riding Hood as she travels to her grandmother’s house one afternoon. Along the way she is stalked by a wolf who wants the basket of goodies she is to take to her grandmothers. The wolf unsuccessful decides to rush ahead of the young girl and eats her grandmother. When Red arrives the wolf has assumed the grandmothers identity and after brief dialogue she is eaten. Both women are saved however when a friendly woodsman slices open the wolf.
Activity: Identifying colors! Students will receive a copy of 1 page from the story. It is up to them to color the page according to the colors in the book (ex. Red Riding hoods cape must be red. They will then write the colors name on the side of the page next to where they used the color. Lastly at the bottom of the page students will write a brief sentence explaining what is happening in the story at the point of their picture.
Awards : four Caldecott awards
Persephone By: Sally Pomme Clayton
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Grade: 4-9
ISBN: 0802853498
Bibliography: Clayton, S. P. (2009). Persephone. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Synopsis: This traditional Greek myth tells the story of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter the goddess of the earth. In this tale Persephone is kidnapped by Hades and forced to marry him. When her mother discovers she is missing her sadness causes the land to freeze over and an eternal chill descends upon the earth. Zeus upon seeing the frozen earth and hear Demeter’s cries goes to Hades and arranges for her to see her mother for a brief time once a year. This story explains the seasons and why we have winter.
Activity: Introduction To the Greeks: Before reading the story students are shown images of the text and asked to write what they think is happening in the text at that point. After reading the story students are asked to reflect on their predictions and discuss in groups the common misconceptions they had before reading.
Grade: 4-9
ISBN: 0802853498
Bibliography: Clayton, S. P. (2009). Persephone. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Synopsis: This traditional Greek myth tells the story of Persephone, the daughter of Demeter the goddess of the earth. In this tale Persephone is kidnapped by Hades and forced to marry him. When her mother discovers she is missing her sadness causes the land to freeze over and an eternal chill descends upon the earth. Zeus upon seeing the frozen earth and hear Demeter’s cries goes to Hades and arranges for her to see her mother for a brief time once a year. This story explains the seasons and why we have winter.
Activity: Introduction To the Greeks: Before reading the story students are shown images of the text and asked to write what they think is happening in the text at that point. After reading the story students are asked to reflect on their predictions and discuss in groups the common misconceptions they had before reading.
How the Leopard Got His Claws By: Chinua Achebe
Genre: Contemporary Liturature
Grade: k-1
ISBN: 0763648051
Bibliography: Achebe, C. (2011). How the leopard got his claws. (1st ed.). Candlewick.
Synopsis: Leopard was once the king of all the animals. During his rule all of the animals where friends and everything one was kind, gentle and loving. Everyone that is, except Dog. Dog has sharp teeth and once he is kicked out of his cave he attacks the Leopard and takes over as king. The angry Leopard visits a blacksmith and after taking a trip to Thunder’s home Leopard returns to reclaim his kingdom with a new set of claws.
Activity: Name that Animal: while reading the text the educator will stop at different points asking students to identify which animals they see and what sounds they make.
Grade: k-1
ISBN: 0763648051
Bibliography: Achebe, C. (2011). How the leopard got his claws. (1st ed.). Candlewick.
Synopsis: Leopard was once the king of all the animals. During his rule all of the animals where friends and everything one was kind, gentle and loving. Everyone that is, except Dog. Dog has sharp teeth and once he is kicked out of his cave he attacks the Leopard and takes over as king. The angry Leopard visits a blacksmith and after taking a trip to Thunder’s home Leopard returns to reclaim his kingdom with a new set of claws.
Activity: Name that Animal: while reading the text the educator will stop at different points asking students to identify which animals they see and what sounds they make.
Ella Enchanted By: Gail Carson Levine
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade: 6-8
ISBN: 0060558865
Bibliography: Levine, G. C. (2005). Ella enchanted (rack). New York, NY: HarperTeen.
Synopsis: Ella is a girl with who was bestowed the most unfortunate gift of being obedient from a slightly misguided fairy named Lucinda. Ella lives a peaceful life until her busy father remarries after her mother dies. Her step mother and two step sister abuse Ella’s inability to say no. Ella gets frustrated with her predicament and sets out in search of Lucinda in order to reverse the curse that has plagued her entire existence.
Activity: Why does setting matter?: While students will take note of the settings in the novel and write a brief description of how it is described. At the end of the novel students will pick one of these settings to write a short essay on how that setting affected the story and answer the question: how would a lack the description of the setting effect the entire book? At the end of this essay students will provide an image (drawing, computer generated, college, etc.) and present in small groups.
Awards: Newbury Honor
Grade: 6-8
ISBN: 0060558865
Bibliography: Levine, G. C. (2005). Ella enchanted (rack). New York, NY: HarperTeen.
Synopsis: Ella is a girl with who was bestowed the most unfortunate gift of being obedient from a slightly misguided fairy named Lucinda. Ella lives a peaceful life until her busy father remarries after her mother dies. Her step mother and two step sister abuse Ella’s inability to say no. Ella gets frustrated with her predicament and sets out in search of Lucinda in order to reverse the curse that has plagued her entire existence.
Activity: Why does setting matter?: While students will take note of the settings in the novel and write a brief description of how it is described. At the end of the novel students will pick one of these settings to write a short essay on how that setting affected the story and answer the question: how would a lack the description of the setting effect the entire book? At the end of this essay students will provide an image (drawing, computer generated, college, etc.) and present in small groups.
Awards: Newbury Honor