Illustrated by Bryan Collier
Language Arts
Biography:
1. Read aloud to class as an introduction to biographies.
2. Discuss characteristics of biographies and autobiographies.
3. Allow students to choose a biography to read independently or with a partner.
4. Have create a presentation related to the biography they chose to read. Encourage them to create multimedia presentations using videos, photos, PowerPoints, etc.
5. Students will practice listening and public speaking skills as they share their presentations.
Poetry:
1. Discuss characteristics of poetry.
2. Spend several days reading a variety of poetry as a whole group, in small groups, and independently.
3. Have students partner or create small groups based on their favorite poem or type of poetry. Students will discuss and list the reasons they prefer the specific poem or type of poetry. They can share what they discussed with the other groups.
4. Model poem writing by working as a whole group to create poems.
5. Small groups can create poems to share.
6. Independent writing of poems based on choice or suggested topics such as seasons or friendship.
Following Directions:
*See art activities below
Social Studies
1. Create a time line that demonstrates the elapsed time between current day and when Dave was alive.
2. Small groups can research or complete internet scavenger hunts that detail the importance of pottery throughout history. Compare past pottery with today's storage methods.
3. Upper grades can research the impact of slavery on African American families and how this theme is illustrated throughout the book.
Art
1. Students can make pinch pots. Write about the experience.
2. Students can make coil pots. Write about the experience.
3. Have students write their own instructions for each method or compare the methods and which they preferred and why.
