PROJECT 1 Materials Objectives Children's Literature Activity One Activity Two Activity Three Activity Four Correlations Critical Thinking References Vocabulary Terms   Learning Activities Home Allen Parker Home   Site Design by Joyce Joines Newman

PROJECT 1: A UNIT ON SLAVERY By Dorothy V. Matheson   ACTIVITY THREE The following activity will be spread out over a two week period-reading aloud two chapters a day. Please make sure you study the Critical Thinking handout prior to reading this activity! Also, this activity is written for third grade, though it could be used for fourth and fifth graders, as the reading level and content are higher than third grade. Discuss the book Follow the Drinking Gourd that you read yesterday and review what was learned from making the concept maps. Also, discuss how it felt to be called by initials instead of a name. Ask the students to bring a pencil and a clipboard over to the carpet (in my room I sit in a rocking chair) in front of the chair. Hand out their writing journals (pre-made or bought). Tell them they are about to embark on a time traveling journey to the world of slavery in the 1800ıs. Warn them that at times, the journey will be dangerous and sometimes even scary, but assure them they are traveling in time. As these interesting things happen on their journey, they will need to keep track in their journal/diary. Be sure to tell them you will give them the time in class to write in their journals. Have them write A Girl Called Boy by Belinda Hurmence, Chapter One, at the top of the first page of their journal. Show the students the book, A Girl Called Boy. Ask them what they think the title means. Accept their answers, then prompt them by reminding them of the activity when their name was their initials. Read aloud the first chapter (as this book is higher than a third grade reading level and the vocabulary is too high as well. Make sure that throughout each chapter, you discuss the vocabulary with the students.), pausing where Hurmence discusses Boyıs name, Blanche Overtha Yancey. Discuss how her initials are the reason why she is called Boy. Discuss other nicknames the students may have and how they originated to make the story more relevant to them. Before reading the remainder of the chapter, be sure to have read the Critical Thinking handout, as you will ask questions from this handout throughout the first and following chapters. Continue reading, stopping where appropriate (according to the handout) to allow time for students to reflect/write in their journals. Once finished reading the first chapter, and once they have finished their journal writing, discuss what they have learned, and tell them that starting tomorrow, you will read aloud two chapters a day, and they will continue to write in their journals. Continue to use the Critical Thinking handout throughout all chapters of the book.   GO TO PROJECT 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 s For additional information or comments about these Learning Activities, contact: Dr. Joy N. Stapleton, Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary and Middle Grades Education, School of Education, East Carolina University.