read all about it
DESCRIPTION
TestTRANSCRIPT
Read All About ItRead All About It
Great books and how to use Great books and how to use them in your classroomthem in your classroom
Jane Harper
READ 823
The Watsons go to Birmingham -- The Watsons go to Birmingham -- 19631963
Historical fiction by Historical fiction by Christopher Paul Christopher Paul CurtisCurtis
An ordinary family An ordinary family is caught up in the is caught up in the struggle for Civil struggle for Civil Rights in the Rights in the United States.United States.
Grades 5-8Grades 5-8
The Watsons go to Birmingham -- The Watsons go to Birmingham -- 19631963
StrengthsStrengths Engaging story Engaging story
with lots of humorwith lots of humor Accurate historical Accurate historical
detailsdetails Believable Believable
characterscharacters Irresistible first-Irresistible first-
person narratorperson narrator
Could Could improve…improve…
It is difficult to find It is difficult to find any weaknesses in any weaknesses in this multi-award-this multi-award-winning novel! winning novel!
Instructional ideasInstructional ideas
Use as a twin text with a non-fiction Use as a twin text with a non-fiction work to teach about the struggle for work to teach about the struggle for Civil Rights (Freedom Walkers: The Civil Rights (Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, by Russell Freedman, for example.)by Russell Freedman, for example.)
Brings history alive for children, Brings history alive for children, because it is a great example of because it is a great example of ordinary people caught up in ordinary people caught up in extraordinary historic events. extraordinary historic events.
Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story about Brain ScienceStory about Brain Science
Non-fiction by John Non-fiction by John FleischmanFleischman
A railroad worker A railroad worker suffers a freak suffers a freak accident when a 3-accident when a 3-ft. long tamping ft. long tamping iron pierces his iron pierces his head and exits head and exits completely.completely.
Gr. 6 & upGr. 6 & up
Phineas GagePhineas Gage
STRENGTHS: STRENGTHS: Meticulous historical research Meticulous historical research
presented in an interesting waypresented in an interesting way Excellent photographs and other Excellent photographs and other
primary sourcesprimary sources
WEAKNESSES:WEAKNESSES: Very few, but promises a little more Very few, but promises a little more
“gore” than it delivers!“gore” than it delivers!
Instructional IdeasInstructional Ideas
Perfect for studying the history of Perfect for studying the history of medicine and the brain, particularly medicine and the brain, particularly surgery.surgery.
Good topic for “history-mystery” Good topic for “history-mystery” studies.studies.
Use in science classes to show how Use in science classes to show how Gage’s accident, however tragic, Gage’s accident, however tragic, helped advance the study of science.helped advance the study of science.
Master Man: A Tall Tale of Master Man: A Tall Tale of NigeriaNigeria
A tall tale told by A tall tale told by Aaron Shepard and Aaron Shepard and illustrated by David illustrated by David WisniewskiWisniewski
Variant of a Variant of a traditional tale of traditional tale of the Huasa people the Huasa people of Nigeriaof Nigeria
Grades K-3Grades K-3
Master ManMaster Man
Exciting adventure Exciting adventure and lots of actionand lots of action
Strong, interesting Strong, interesting characterscharacters
Comic book/graphic Comic book/graphic novel style layoutnovel style layout
Source notes Source notes provided by Shepardprovided by Shepard
3-D effect paper 3-D effect paper collage illustrationscollage illustrations
Illustrations may Illustrations may be too detailed for be too detailed for effective read-effective read-aloud experiencealoud experience
Layout too busy Layout too busy and kinetic for and kinetic for some childrensome children
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
Instructional IdeasInstructional Ideas
Would make a great companion to any Would make a great companion to any version of “Jack in the Beanstalk.”version of “Jack in the Beanstalk.”
Good for introducing tall tales and Good for introducing tall tales and pourquoi tales.pourquoi tales.
Social studies tie-in for African historySocial studies tie-in for African history Good interactive read-aloudGood interactive read-aloud Author provides a reader’s theater Author provides a reader’s theater
script on his Web site.script on his Web site.