Author: Sonya Murphy

Independence Day!

Grade Level: 5th
Content Area: Social Studies
TEKS:
(17) Citizenship. The student understands important symbols, customs, celebrations, and landmarks that represent American beliefs and principles and contribute to our national identity. The student is expected to:
(D) describe the origins and significance of national celebrations such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Constitution Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.

http://www.timeforkids.com/news/happy-fourth-july/41766

Summary: This article, published on Times for Kids, is title “Happy Fourth of July: Get the story behind the star-spangled celebration.” The article covers the history behind the Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day. It also describes the very first Independence Day celebration and other traditions that have developed over time. The article concludes with a few fun extra facts about the Fourth of July. I really liked this text because it is from a prestigious source. Introducing students to Time for a Kids is a good way to start teaching and making them aware of news magazines, which can contain really valuable and rich text.

Instructional Strategy:
For this text, I would have have my students read this article individually. I could print off copies for them, or let them read the articles on a computer or iPad, to promote the use of technology. After reading, I would have students engage in a silent conversation. To do this, I would instruct them to write a letter with their response to the article. In their response I would request that students discuss their families traditions celebrations for the Fourth of July, if they celebrate at all. I would also ask them to reflect upon the significance of Independence Day and ask them to think about what our country would be like if we had never been made independent. Finally, I would ask them to ask one question that they still have from the reading. After students write their letter, they would pass it to another student, who would respond to the letter, and so on. I think this strategy would work well with this text because students would get to see and appreciate how other people celebrate and also share ideas about the significance of the holiday. I think in a country where there is so much diversity, it is great for students to share individual traditions and ideas about our country.

Diary Of A Worm

Diary of A Worm, By Doreen Cronin
Published in 2003

”March 20:
Mom says there are three things I should always remember:
1. The earth gives us everything we need.
2. When we dig tunnels, we help take care of the earth.
3. Never bother Daddy when he’s eating the newspaper.

March 29:
Today I tried to teach Spider how to dig. First all of his legs got stuck. Then he swallowed a bunch of dirt. Tomorrow he’s going to teach me how to walk upside down!

March 30:
Worms cannot walk upside down. “

I choose this book because I think it would a fun and interesting read in an early elementary classroom. The author is great, and has many more books that are silly and funny, such as “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” and “Diary of a Spider”. For that reason, I think this book would be a good way to introduce students to this author. Another reason I think this is a good read is because it can teach students about worms, and what makes them different from other creatures. It helps to highlight the differences in a funny way. It also teaches students about worms in general, and how their function. I think the layout of the book is relateable to children, because it is in the form of a diary, which many children may have. All in all, I think this is a funny, cute book that can introduce students to the works of an author and also be a good topical read, when learning about worms or insects.