Literature Summary 10/15/12

We wrapped up our discussion of "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" this week with the creation of lapbooks in class.  Our books provide both a summary of the novel and a personal keepsake of our reading journey. 

We reviewed the basic literary elements covered in class and then assembled these elements into sections of our lapbooks.  In addition to Shirley, the protagonist of the story, students were asked to include three of their favorite supporting characters.  We identified major themes from the novel (friendship, overcoming challenges, Chinese and American culture, patriotism, and baseball), and students included those themes that were the most meaningful to them.  They also identified several conflicts Shirley faced throughout the book, and provided resolutions that were reached by the conclusion of the story.  

Maps of China and Brooklyn identify the novels two settings, and students assembled a mini-booklet of vocabulary words we have studied.  Finally, everyone had the chance to provide their own rating of the book (1-5 stars).

Feel free to share these lapbooks with siblings and friends - they are a great introduction to the novel and a springboard for further literary questions and discovery!

Our next book selection is:  "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbitt. (summarized here).  Students should read the Prologue and Chapters 1-10 for next class.