Themed Literature Unit: Facing and Overcoming Challenges

Allison Fast

Seattle University Master in Teaching Program

TEED 521

Winter 2007

 

Central Question

This unit will be guided by the central question: What does it take to face and overcome challenges?

Learning Targets

  1. Students will understand and demonstrate 3 types of connections: text-to-text, text-to-self, and text-to-world
  2. Students will be able to ask questions and then make inferences and predictions based on the text to increase comprehension and interest
  3. Students will work cooperatively in a group setting.
  4. Students will value and understand the importance of facing and overcoming challenges in their personal lives.

Generalizations
  1. Cooperating with and trusting others makes it easier to face and overcome challenges;
  2. Keeping our dreams in mind and believing in ourselves helps us face and overcome challenges;
  3. It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Book Club Books

Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Marty Preston encounters an abused dog and works diligently and whole-heartidly to save this dog from its owner.

Generalization: Keeping our dreams in mind and believing in ourselves helps us face and overcome challenges.

Stuart Little by E.B. White

Stuart Little, a little mouse born into a family of humans encounters many challenges from being a small being on an adventure in a large world.

Generalization: It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Opal deals with the challenges of moving to a new town and coming to terms with her mom abandoning her and her father, drawing on the connection with a very special stray dog she takes under her wing.

Generalization: Cooperating with and trusting others makes it easier to face and overcome challenges.

Ruby Lu The Mighty by Lenora Look

Ruby Lu encounters many challenges typical of an 8 year old, including dealing with her cute baby brother and not always being the center of attention, however she also faces the unique challenge of helping her cousin from China assimilate to life in the United States.

Generalization: It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Picture Books:

Chicken Sunday Patricia Polacco, Illustrated by Edward Miller

Three children work diligently to buy an Easter hat for their beloved grandmother.

Generalization: Cooperating with and trusting others makes it easier to face and overcome challenges.

I Have Heard of a Land by Joyce Carol Thomas, Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

An African American woman works diligently to settle a plot of land on Oklahoma Territory.

Generalization: It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Thank You Mr. Faulker by Patricia Polacco, Illustrated by Edward Miller

A girl finally overcomes the hurdle of learning how to read with the help of her caring teacher.

Generalization: It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Fly Away Home by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Ronald Himler

A homeless father and son live in the airport and find hope through watching a trapped bird find freedom.

Generalization: Keeping our dreams in mind and believing in ourselves helps us face and overcome challenges.

Read Aloud:

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

Gilly Hopkins, a fiesty and intelligent 11-year-old, finds a way to connect with her foster family after being abandoned by her mom and living through difficult foster homes.

Generalization: It takes courage and hard work to face and overcome challenges.

Nimby by Jasper Tomkins

A creative cloud stays true to his unique ways and finds a place to belong.

Generalization: Keeping our dreams in mind and believing in ourselves helps us face and overcome challenges.