Author: brodrig5

Mini Unit: Timeline

Grade: 2nd

Content Area: Social Studies

TEKS: (2) History. The student understands the concepts of time and chronology. The student is expected to: (B) apply vocabulary related to chronology, including past, present, and future. (C) create and interpret timelines for events in the past and present.

Link: How to Make a Timeline

Summary: This “How To” article provides great step by step instructions to help students create their own timeline. It can be a great instructional tool for teachers who can then guide students through the steps. However, if you want students to create a timeline as a “home” project, this is a great instructional tool for parents as well. It provides detailed yet easy to follow instructions.

Instructional Strategy: Students will have learned the terms past, presents, and future and would have explored a variety  of text where they can see these terms put to use. Once students have grasped an understanding of the terms they will move into understanding and interpreting timelines. Students will be given the opportunity to create their own timeline about their life. This will be started in class and taken home to finish with their parents/guardians. This is a great way for students to practice speaking in front of the class as they present their timelines. It is also a great way for students to learn and get to know their classmates.

One Great Text: Poem by Kenn Nesbitt

The One Great Text that I shared was a poem by Kenn Nesbitt. I found this author while looking through some of the author presentations made by my fellow classmates. One presentation, over Kenn Nesbitt, explained how his poetry could be used for science. I went on his website poetry4kids.com and found one poem that I thought was not only funny but a great educational tool. The poem is entitled My Senses All are Backward. I thought this poem was great when talking about the five senses with students. It’s a fun way to explore and check for understanding.

Click here to view the full poem!

I shared this poem with my reading group that consisted of five students. They really enjoyed the poem and found it very funny. Here are a few of their responses:

“He was funny”

“I love the poem”

“I like that the senses are backwards”

“I like that he likes the smell of skunks”

 

Snippet from Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin

Pam Calvert is an award winning children’s author of many nationally acclaimed picture books. She speaks to thousands of children every year, encouraging them to achieve their dreams and to love math through the use of literature. This book is a great way to introduce multiplication and problem solving. I would use this book for 3rd grade when starting a lesson on multiplication. TEKS: 1B, 3C, and 4E. These are just a few connections to the Mathematics TEKS.

Here is a snippet from the Multiplying Menace:

The castle was full of guests celebrating Peter’s tenth birthday.

“You have one gift left,” said his mother, the Queen. A big bouncy puppy ran out and licked Peter’s face.

“This is the best birthday ever,” Peter said as he ran his fingers over the dog’s soft fur. Just then, down the stairs came a thunderous rumbling and a cloud of smoke.

Peter watched as the smoke cleared. There stood a strange little man who said to him in a high, squeaky voice, “I have come for you.”

“Go away!” the Queen gasped. “I said your name ten years ago, and I will say it again. Rumpelstiltskin!”

“You can’t get rid of me so easily this time. Ten years ago, I turned your worthless straw into gold. Now I demand what you owe me.”

“Guards!” the Kind ordered. Ten guards rushed forward.

Rumpelstiltskin pointed his walking stick at them and muttered some words. There was a sudden flash and eight guards disappeared. Only their hats remained.

“By tomorrow you will see that the only way to save your kingdom is to give me the boy,” the little man cackled, and then he was gone.

 

Author Presentation: Aileen Fisher

Aileen Fisher’s love for poetry is what inspires her beautifully written work for children. Although the themes of her work vary, her use of poetry is incorporated within each. According to Fisher, “Poetry is a rhythmical piece of writing that leaves the reader feeling that life is a little richer than before, a little more full of wonder, beauty, or just plain delight”. Since Fisher’s themes vary, you could use her work in various areas. My suggestions in the classroom are just a few obvious ways to use her work which allow children to explore their own writing. I thought her work would best be used in the English Language Arts TEKS: 7 in grades Kinder and Second, 8 in First, 6 in third, and 4 in grades fourth and fifth. Her work would also be useful when learning about literary nonfiction: 10 in grades first and second, 9 in third, and 7 in grades fourth and fifth.