Dreaming of Summer By Kenn Nesbitt I'm dreaming of warm sandy beaches. I'm dreaming of days by the pool. I'm dreaming of fun in the afternoon sun, and week after week of no school. I'm thinking of swim suits and sprinklers, imagining lemonade stands. I'm lost in a daydream of squirt guns and ice cream and plenty of time on my hands. I'm picturing baseball and hot dogs, Envisioning games at the park, and how it stays light until late every night, and seems like it never gets dark. I long to ride skateboards and scooters. I want to wear t shirts and shorts. I'd go for a hike, or I'd ride on my bike, or play lots of summertime sports. My reverie turns to a yearning to draw on the driveway with chalk. It's really a bummer to daydream of summer while shoveling snow from the walk.
The Summer of Stitches by Raymond A. Foss Twelve trips to the doctor, a number of cuts, scrapes, gashes marked that summer of accidents and mishaps of youthful excitement a witness to some, but not all of the adventures turned awry A firm memory of the line from the last accident, a cut I ran to the driveway to get an adult, a race to him, to survey the damage, to prepare for the trip but no panic, I m putting pressure on it. Maturity from experience at the end of the summer of stitches
WEEK ONE: POETRY MATERIALS NEEDED: Paper, markers Readings: Dreaming of Summer and The Summer of Stitches Poetry: A piece of writing with focus on expression of feelings. It usually has a distinctive style that focuses on things such as rhythm or sound. Have students talk about the kinds of poetry they have seen before. What kind of structures have they seen before? How is it different from prose? Prompt them with ideas about structure, rhyming, topics, etc. Have they heard of acrostics? Haikus? Limericks? Have they heard of any famous poets before? Terms of the week Tone: First, have the students try to brainstorm what this term means. Then, provide them with the standard definition. Ask them to come up with a few examples, and provide them with some, especially if they are having trouble. Explain that tone is usually conveyed through setting, choice of words, and descriptions. Tone: The attitude of the author of a work towards its subject matter and/or audience. Here is a list of possible tone words, but there are many more options: Amused, angry, cheerful, horror, clear, formal, gloomy, humorous, hopeful, informal, ironic, light, matter of fact, resigned, negative, optimistic, pessimistic, playful, positive, sad, serious, suspicious, witty. Read them different sentences that explain the same thing but have vastly different tones. Ask them to characterize the tone and show them how word choice and description impacts tone. It rained three inches last night. The young children smiled and giggled, faces lit up by sunshine, as they jumped and splashed in three inch deep puddles left by last night s welcome rain shower. The old man trudged through his basement, frowning and sighing as he picked up countless family photographs that had been ruined under three inches of mucky water.
Sample Discussion Questions (you do not have to do all of these!) 1. Which of the following words best characterizes the tone of Dreaming of Summer? a) pessimistic b) yearning c) gloomy 2. What does the narrator in The Summer of Stitches think about summer? What details make you think so? 3. In line 7 of The Summer of Stitches, the word awry most nearly means: a) off course b) better c) as expected. 4. Write: Note: Tutors can participate in this one! Pick one of the four seasons. On the top of a sheet of paper, write the name of the season. Below it, write five nouns that you associate with that season. Pass your paper to another person in the group. For the next few minutes, write a poem using the season and nouns on the piece of paper you received. Read them aloud to the rest of the group, and ask the others to decide what the tone of your poem is. Interactive Activity! Invent a character who you think would be interesting to write about. Is it a person? An animal? How old is it? What does it look like? Is it colorful? Does it have a family? Does it like to play sports? Is it big or small? For the next few months, we will be learning about different genres, and each week the interactive activity will involve writing about this character in each of the genres, so make sure it is something you could talk about for a long time! This week, write a poem (or a couple of poems) about your character. Include at least one simile and one metaphor, but be as creative as possible! When you are done, draw a picture of your character as you described it in your poem. At the end of the session, collect all of the students notes and put them in your group s folder in the Main Office for next week.
Rock House: Why the Sun Follows the Moon (Cherokee Legend) Retold by Barbara Shining Woman Warren Father Sun and Mother Moon lived inside the huge hollow rocks of Rock House. Their light did not shine from the sky, so the People and the Animals lived in darkness. Now Coyote, who was always playing tricks, thought it would be great fun to dump some fleas on Father Sun and Mother Moon. So he began to gather the fleas and place them in bags. On his way to Rock House he met Rabbit. When Coyote bragged about his bags of fleas, Rabbit would not believe him. They began to argue. Between them, Rabbit and Coyote began to tug on one of the bags. As Rabbit yanked it from Coyote's grasp, the bag opened and the fleas spilled out on the ground. And to this day, Rabbit and Coyote are always scratching fleas. Rabbit liked Coyote's idea of taking the fleas to Rock House. So together they trudged up the peak to Rock House carrying the bags of fleas. As they walked they tried to think of a plan to get the fleas inside of Rock House. Along the path they found Gopher digging a hole. They decided to include Gopher in their trick. Gopher could dig a hole down through the soil to Rock House. When they reached the top of the peak, Gopher began to dig quietly so Father Sun and Mother Moon would not be alarmed. As soon as Gopher backed out of the hole, Coyote and Rabbit shook the bags of fleas down the opening. Then they plugged up the hole and ran away feeling very pleased with themselves. The fleas soon covered Father Sun and Mother Moon. When Mother Moon could no longer stand the fleas, she flew out of Rock House and began to circle the Earth. Father Sun followed Mother Moon out of Rock House. They raced around the Earth trying to get rid of those fleas. That is why, to this day, the Sun follows the Moon across the sky.
Why the Owl Has Big Eyes (Iroquois Legend) Raweno, the Everything Maker, was busy creating various animals. He was working on Rabbit, and Rabbit was saying: "I want nice long legs and ears like a deer, and sharp fangs and claws like a panther." "I do them up the way they want to be; I give them what they ask for," said Raweno. He was working on Rabbit's hind legs, making them long, the way Rabbit had ordered. Owl, still unformed, was sitting on a tree nearby waiting his turn. He was saying: "Whoo, whoo, I want a nice long neck like Swan's, and beautiful red feathers like Cardinal's, and a nice long beak like Egret's, and a nice crown of plumes like Heron's. I want you to make me into the most beautiful, the fastest, the most wonderful of all the birds." Raweno said: "Be quiet. Turn around and look in the other direction. Even better, close your eyes. Don't you know that no one is allowed to watch me work?" Raweno was just then making Rabbit's ears very long, the way Rabbit wanted them. Owl refused to do what Raweno said. "Whoo, whoo," he replied, "nobody can forbid me to watch. Nobody can order me to close my eyes. I like watching you, and watch I will." Then Raweno became angry. He grabbed Owl, pulling him down from his branch, stuffing his head deep into his body, shaking him until his eyes grew big with fright, pulling at his ears until they were sticking up at both sides of his head. "There," said Raweno, "that'll teach you. Now you won't be able to crane your neck to watch things you shouldn't watch. Now you have big ears to listen when someone tells you what not to do. Now you have big eyes not so big that you can watch me, because you'll be awake only at night, and I work by day. And your feathers won't be red like cardinal's, but gray like this" and Raweno rubbed Owl all over with mud "as punishment for your disobedience." So Owl flew off, pouting: "Whoo, whoo, whoo." Then Raweno turned back to finish Rabbit, but Rabbit had been so terrified by Raweno's anger, even though it was not directed at him, that he ran off half done. As a consequence, only Rabbit's hind legs are long, and he has to hop about instead of walking and running. Also, because he took fright then, Rabbit would have been an altogether different animal. As for Owl, he remained as Raweno had shaped him with anger with big eyes, a short neck, and ears sticking up on the sides of his head. On top of everything, he has to sleep during the day and come out only at night.
WEEK TWO: LEGENDS MATERIALS NEEDED: Paper, Pencil, Crayons Readings: Rock House: Why the Moon Follows the Sun; Why the Owl Has Big Eyes What is a legend? Have you ever heard any legends before? Legend: In this case, a historical type story of origins that serves to explain how things came to be the way that they are, though there is no proof that these events actually happened. Terms of the week Origin Story: First, have the students try to brainstorm what this term means. Then, provide them with the standard definition. Origin story: a story that explains how things have come to be the way they are Sample Discussion Questions (you do not have to do all of these!) 1. The first story does not just explain why the sun follows the moon. What else does the story explain? 2. The second story does not just explain why the owl has big eyes. What else does the story explain? 3. In Why the Owl Has Big Eyes, find and underline the word crane. Crane most nearly means: a) stretch b) shorten c) roll 4. Which legend is most convincing to you? Why? Interactive Activity! Write a legend about your character! It should be an origin story, such as why the grass is green or why the sky is blue. When you re finished, read your legend to your classmates. Be creative! At the end of the session, collect all of the students notes and put them in your group s folder in the Main Office for next week.
The True History of Little Golden Hood By Andrew Lang You know the tale of poor Little Red Riding hood, that the Wolf deceived and devoured, with her cake, her little butter can, and her Grandmother; well, the true story happened quite differently, as we know now. And first of all the little girl was called and is still called Little Golden hood; secondly, it was not she, nor the good grand dame, but the wicked Wolf who was, in the end, caught and devoured. Only listen. The story begins something like the tale. There was once a little peasant girl, pretty and nice as a star in its season. Her real name was Blanchette, but she was more often called Little Golden hood, on account of a wonderful little cloak with a hood, gold and fire coloured, which she always had on. This little hood was given her by her Grandmother, who was so old that she did not know her age; it ought to bring her good luck, for it was made of a ray of sunshine, she said. And as the good old woman was considered something of a witch, everyone thought the little hood rather bewitched too. And so it was, as you will see. One day the mother said to the child: `Let us see, my little Golden hood, if you know now how to find your way by yourself. You shall take this good piece of cake to your Grandmother for a Sunday treat to morrow. You will ask her how she is, and come back at once, without stopping to chatter on the way with people you don't know. Do you quite understand?' `I quite understand,' replied Blanchette happily. And off she went with the cake, quite proud of her errand. But the Grandmother lived in another village, and there was a big wood to cross before getting there. At a turn of the road under the trees, suddenly `Who goes there?' `Friend Wolf.' He had seen the child start alone, and the villain was waiting to devour her; when at the same moment he perceived some wood cutters who might observe him, and he changed his mind. Instead of falling upon Blanchette he came frisking up to her like a good dog. ` 'Tis you! my nice Little Golden hood,' said he. So the little girl stops to talk with the Wolf, who, for all that, she did not know in the least. `You know me, then!' said she; `what is your name?' `My name is friend Wolf. And where are you going thus, my pretty one, with your little basket on your arm?' `I am going to my Grandmother, to take her a good piece of cake for her Sunday treat to morrow.' `And where does she live, your Grandmother?' `She lives at the other side of the wood, in the first house in the village, near the windmill, you know.' `Ah! yes! I know now,' said the Wolf. `Well, that's just where I'm going; I shall get there before you, no doubt, with your little bits of legs, and I'll tell her you're coming to see her; then she'll wait for you.' Thereupon the Wolf cuts across the wood, and in five minutes arrives at the Grandmother's house. He knocks at the door: toc, toc. No answer. He knocks louder. Nobody. Then he stands up on end, puts his two fore paws on the latch and the door opens.
Not a soul in the house. The old woman had risen early to sell herbs in the town, and she had gone off in such haste that she had left her bed unmade, with her great night cap on the pillow. `Good!' said the Wolf to himself, `I know what I'll do.' He shuts the door, pulls on the Grandmother's night cap down to his eyes, then he lies down all his length in the bed and draws the curtains. In the meantime the good Blanchette went quietly on her way, as little girls do, amusing herself here and there by picking Easter daisies, watching the little birds making their nests, and running after the butterflies which fluttered in the sunshine. At last she arrives at the door. Knock, knock. `Who is there?' says the Wolf, softening his rough voice as best he can. `It's me, Granny, your little Golden hood. I'm bringing you a big piece of cake for your Sunday treat to morrow.' `Press your finger on the latch, then push and the door opens.' `Why, you've got a cold, Granny,' said she, coming in. `Ahem! a little, a little...' replies the Wolf, pretending to cough. `Shut the door well, my little lamb. Put your basket on the table, and then take off your frock and come and lie down by me: you shall rest a little.' The good child undresses, but observe this! She kept her little hood upon her head. When she saw what a figure her Granny cut in bed, the poor little thing was much surprised. `Oh!' cries she, `how like you are to friend Wolf, Grandmother!' `That's on account of my night cap, child,' replies the Wolf. `Oh! what hairy arms you've got, Grandmother!' `All the better to hug you, my child.' `Oh! what a big tongue you've got, Grandmother!' `All the better for answering, child.' `Oh! what a mouthful of great white teeth you have, Grandmother!' `That's for crunching little children with! `And the Wolf opened his jaws wide to swallow Blanchette. But she put down her head crying: `Mamma! Mamma!' and the Wolf only caught her little hood. Thereupon, oh dear! oh dear! he draws back, crying and shaking his jaw as if he had swallowed red hot coals. It was the little fire coloured hood that had burnt his tongue right down his throat. The little hood, you see, was one of those magic caps that they used to have in former times, in the stories, for making oneself invisible or invulnerable. So there was the Wolf with his throat burnt, jumping off the bed and trying to find the door, howling and howling as if all the dogs in the country were at his heels. Just at this moment the Grandmother arrives, returning from the town with her long sack empty on her shoulder. `Ah, brigand!' she cries, `wait a bit!' Quickly she opens her sack wide across the door, and the maddened Wolf springs in head downwards. It is he now that is caught, swallowed like a letter in the post. For the brave old dame shuts her sack, so; and she runs and empties it in the well, where the vagabond, still howling, tumbles in and is drowned. Thereupon the Grandmother hastened to dress poor Blanchette, who was still trembling with fear in the bed.
`Well,' she said to her, `without my little hood where would you be now, darling?' And, to restore heart and legs to the child, she made her eat a good piece of her cake, and drink a good draught of water, after which she took her by the hand and led her back to the house. And then, who was it who scolded her when she knew all that had happened? It was the mother. But Blanchette promised over and over again that she would never more stop to listen to a Wolf, so that at last the mother forgave her. And Blanchette, the Little Golden hood, kept her word. And in fine weather she may still be seen in the fields with her pretty little hood, the colour of the sun. But to see her you must rise early.
WEEK THREE: FAIRY TALES MATERIALS: Paper, Crayons Readings: The True History of Little Golden Hood What is the difference between a legend and a fairy tale? Have the students discuss what they think the differences may be both before and after the story. Fairy Tale: A story, usually for children, about magical and imaginary beings and lands. Terms of the week Oral Tradition: What is a tradition? What does it mean to pass down a tradition orally? Have the kids brainstorm what this phrase could possibly mean. Then, have them think of stories that they may have heard from their parents or grandparents as examples of oral tradition. Connect this term to the story by revealing that most fairy tales were oral traditions that were passed from person to person until authors decided to write them down (literary tradition). Sample Discussion Questions (you do not have to do all of these!) 1. What are some parallels you found between this story and the traditional telling of Little Red Riding Hood? Differences? 2. When Grandmother enters her house, she exclaims to the Wolf, Oh, brigand! Brigand almost nearly means: a) a furry animal; b) a criminal; c) a guard 3. Group Activity: Pick a fairy tale that the groups is familiar with and brainstorm how you could rewrite the story to make it different from the original. Then, make a storytelling chain one person says one line of the story, the person sitting next to them says the next line, and so on until you ve started your own oral tradition! Interactive Activity! Write a fairytale about your character encountering a mythical creature! It could be an animal with human properties, like the Wolf, or a completely made up creature of your choice. You can even include the hood you made! At the end of the session, collect all of the students notes and put them in your group s folder in the Main Office for next week. An Ocean Mystery
An aircraft recovery group is starting a new search for wreckage from famed pilot Amelia Earhart s plane Published March 21, 2012 By Kelli Plasket, Time for Kids Pilot Amelia Earhart disappeared during a flight over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. New evidence may help searchers find the wreckage of her plane. The celebrated American aviator Amelia Earhart has been missing for 75 years. She vanished while flying over the South Pacific on July 2, 1937, and was never found. Her disappearance is one of the great mysteries of the 20th century. But now, a team of historians, scientists and salvagers are opening a new investigation. They plan to search for the wreckage of Earhart s plane in the waters off the remote island of Nikumaroro in the western Pacific Ocean. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery is behind the search. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave her support to the investigation at a State Department event held March 20 to announce the new plans. Clinton spoke about how Earhart was an inspiration to Americans who were struggling to recover after the Great Depression. [Earhart] gave people hope, and she inspired them to dream bigger and bolder, Clinton said. Like that earlier generation, we too could use some of Amelia s spirit. Flying First Amelia Earhart was a pioneer for women aviators. She bought her first plane in 1922. In May of 1932, she became the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean. The trip took 14 hours, 56 minutes a new record. Earhart set out to fly around the world in 1937 with her navigator, Frederick Noonan, in her Lockheed Electra plane. The pilot and navigator disappeared on their way to Howland Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Navy searched for the pair, but they were never found. Many historians believe the two fliers crashed into the ocean. A New Discovery The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery believes Earhart and Noonan may
have managed to land on a reef near Nikumaroro and survived for a short time. In earlier visits to the island, the group recovered artifacts that could have belonged to the pair. They think the plane s wreckage may be found in the deep waters nearby. This October 1937 photo of the shoreline of Nikumaroro Island shows what analysts say could be parts of a Lockheed Electra plane sticking out of the water, to the left. Now, the aircraft recovery group has taken a new look at an old photo of the shoreline of the island. The recent analysis of the October 1937 picture shows what may be part of a Lockheed Electra landing gear sticking out of the water. The evidence could help narrow the wide search area for the plane. Ric Gillespie is the executive director of the aircraft recovery group. He says that the evidence is circumstantial but strong and that a new search will provide an opportunity to explore. "The most important thing is not whether we find the ultimate answer or what we find. It is the way we look," Gillespie said. The search is scheduled to last for 10 days in July and will use high tech underwater robotic submarines and mapping equipment. The Discovery Channel will film the expedition for a documentary. In her speech, Clinton cheered on the searchers. "Even if you do not find what you seek, there is great honor and possibility in the search itself," she said. "We are excited and looking forward to (hearing) about your own great adventure." Amelia Earhart Encyclopedia Britannica for Kids Amelia Earhart was a pioneer of aviation. She was the first woman to fly alone across the Atlantic
Ocean. She disappeared during a flight in 1937 and was never found. Amelia Mary Earhart was born on July 24, 1897, in Atchison, Kansas. Her family did not want her to be a pilot, but she learned anyway. In 1928 Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. She was a passenger in an airplane that someone else piloted. Four years later she became the first woman and only the second person to fly across the Atlantic alone. She flew from the island of Newfoundland to Ireland. Her flight lasted 14 hours and 56 minutes. Earhart next made a series of flights across the United States. She wanted to get more women involved in aviation. She also wanted to make flying more popular as a way to travel. In June 1937 Earhart set out from Miami, Florida, to fly around the world. She took along a navigator, Fred Noonan, to help her find the way. On July 2 their plane vanished over the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. Army and Navy and the Japanese navy sent out searchers. However, no one ever found the two fliers or their plane. WEEK FOUR: REFERENCE MATERIALS: Paper, Pencil
Readings: An Ocean Mystery; Amelia Earhart Prompt the students to talk about what non fiction means. Ask them to provide examples of non fiction which they have seen before (newspaper articles, magazine articles, encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies, autobiographies, biographies, memoirs, histories, book/movie reviews, news broadcasts). Be sure that they know what each of these genres means, and review them if they do not. Remind them that it does not have to be written to be non fiction. Have they seen non fiction things on television? On what channels would non fiction programs be broadcast? What are the advantages of reading fiction instead of non fiction? Of reading non fiction over fiction? Which do they prefer and why? Terms of the week Non Fiction: First, have the students try to brainstorm what this term means. Then, provide them with the standard definition. Ask them to come up with a few examples, and provide a few yourself if they are having trouble. Non Fiction: Any kind of factual narrative. Sample Discussion Questions (you do not have to do all of these!) 1. Which article provides the most information about Amelia Earhart? 2. Write: Using the two articles, write bulleted short biography of Amelia Earhart. Underline the most important facts from each article to help you write, and use your own words to make a bulleted list of her life and accomplishments. 3. What do you think happened to Amelia Earhart? Interactive Activity! This week, write a non fiction paragraph about the place where your character lives. It can be a geographic location, like Middletown, CT, your backyard, the cupboard under the staircase in your house, or a non geographic location, like a pool, a toy store, or a grocery store. Keep in mind that this must be non fiction and you therefore must write about a place that you know a lot about. Your character is imaginary, so he/she/it will not appear in your paragraph, but after you are done you may draw a picture of your character in the location. At the end of the session, collect all of the students notes and put them in your group s folder in the Main Office for next week.