CONFRONTING CHANGE – 4TH/5TH grade

 

                                               BOOK LIST

 

Picture Books:

            I Want To Be, Thylias Moss

            This book was one of the driving forces in establishing this unit.  Ultimately I

                would like the students to feel that this unit will help them become the person they

                want to be, by overcoming the changes that confront them. 

 

            The Gardener, Sarah Stewart

            The story of a little girl who, when confronted with a new and seemingly dreary

                situation, puts her heart and soul into brightening her surly grandfather’s world. 

 

Literature Circle Books:

            Walk Two Moon, Sharon Creech

            13-year old Salamanca traces her “disappeared” mothers’ steps through Ohio

                and learns lessons such as: "Don't judge a man until you have walked two moons

                in his moccasins."

 

            Rules, Cynthia Lord

            Catherine experiences conflict with her family and her autistic brother, dis/trust with her next

                door neighbors, and a growing awareness of friendship with her new friend Jason.  She is a

                beautiful example of what confrontation of feelings is all about.

           

            The Giver, Lois Lowry

            Jonas is born into a world of no sickness, no poverty, and no unemployment.  It

                isn’t until he celebrates his 12th birthday and is granted the title of “Receiver of

                Memories” that he uncovers the unfortunate hypocrisy that underlies the reality

                of his world.  

 

            Sarah, Plain and Tall, Patricia MacLachlan

            This story told from the perspective of Anna and then her brother Caleb, years

                later, when drought threatens their home in the late 19th century, the children

                must deal with new surroundings, a new mother, and a new life. 

 

            Come Sing, Jimmy Jo, Katherine Paterson

            James struggles with his newfound fame when he starts to perform with his

                country-western singing family.

 

            The Great Gilly Hopkins, Katherine Paterson

            11-year old Galadriel “Gilly” Hopkins is a foster child who just can’t seem to get

                along with the world.  Her concepts of reality are challenged when she

                encounters her new foster mother, her son - “that freaky kid”, and the teacher

                who wouldn’t give up. 

 

Read Aloud:

            Crazy Lady. J.L. Conly

            Vernon’s outlook on life is changed when he encounters Maxine “Crazy Lady”

                Flooter and her developmentally disabled son Ronald. 

 

           

                                                          LEARNING TARGETS:

 

  1. Students will work cooperatively in group settings and respectfully appreciate group members’ various experiences confronting change.
  2. Students will use QUESTIONING and CONNECTING strategies to critically examine and understand how the characters in the texts confront change.
  3. Students will identify and discuss the various ways in which their characters are confronting change and integrate those concepts into their own personal writing.

 

 

                                                        CONTENT GENERALIZATIONS:

 

  1. Students will understand that change is a natural part of life.
  2. Students will understand that sometimes you feel alone going through changes, but can take comfort in learning that you can find support when you need it.
  3. Students will understand that change is sometimes unexpected, sometimes expected; what matters is how you cope with it.