Henry's Freedom Box is the emotional story of a boy born into slavery and his unconventional escape to freedom. Henry does not know his birthday, he is torn apart from his family, and in desperation, he sets out on a brave quest for freedom.
For readers who have some knowledge of this time in history, this is an excellent selection to practice synthesizing.
It's Christmas Eve when a young boy, who is waiting up for Santa's sleigh, peeks out the window to find The Polar Express. He's invited aboard the mysterious steam engine headed to the North Pole, where he's surprised with a gift from Santa himself.
Chris Van Allsburg's classic holiday story lends itself well to a lesson plan focused on synthesizing because students can practice using a variety of strategies to extract full meaning from the text. The prompts included in this lesson plan help students think about the reasons why the boy and his sister believe at the end of the book.
Every year, a young girl and her father plant a garden, and every year, the father tells his daughter the same story about his childhood neighbor's garden. The summer the father turned 10, he and his friends got caught up in a moment of poor judgment and destroyed the neighbor's vegetables.
The Summer My Father Was Ten is a sophisticated text that can be used to challenge advanced readers. The story-within-a-story text structure introduces readers to multiple characters who represent past and present. There are also many different emotions and messages to pick up on. Students will need to demonstrate their ability to apply different comprehension strategies throughout this text in order to fully comprehend its meaning.
A Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting is a poignant historical fiction picture book that tells the story of a young orphan girl named Marianne. Set in the late 1800s, Marianne is determined to find a loving family to call her own. She joins a group of orphans traveling on a train from New York City to the Midwest, where they hope to be adopted by families in need of children to help on their farms. As the train travels through the countryside, Marianne faces uncertainty and longing but remains hopeful for a new beginning. The book beautifully captures the emotions of a child in search of a home and the resilience of the human spirit. It offers young readers a moving glimpse into the challenges and hopes of orphaned children during this historical period.
Train to Somewhere is an effective anchor text for advanced readers who need work synthesizing. In this lesson, students will work to recognize the different comprehension strategies they're using to understand the main character's perspective throughout the story.
Under the Quilt of Night by Deborah Hopkinson is a powerful and evocative children's book that brings to life the courage and resilience of enslaved individuals during the Underground Railroad era. Set in the 1850s, the story follows a young girl named Addy, who is escaping slavery with her family. Guided by the North Star and aided by the Underground Railroad network, they embark on a perilous journey to freedom, seeking refuge and safety. As they hide under the quilt of night, they encounter both danger and compassion from strangers along the way. Through poetic prose and striking illustrations, the book sheds light on the struggles faced by those seeking freedom and emphasizes the importance of hope, unity, and the human spirit.
Under the Quilt of Night is a moving and essential read that sensitively introduces young readers to the history of slavery and the Underground Railroad, while celebrating the enduring spirit of those who sought freedom against all odds.
Students will need to employ multiple reading strategies, like making text-to-text connections, visualizing and asking questions, to fully comprehend this text. Using the paired lesson plan, students will pause throughout their reading to recognize which strategy they're applying at specific points to inform their understanding and opinion of this text.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox is a heartwarming children's book that celebrates the special bond between the young and the elderly. The story follows Wilfrid, a curious and compassionate little boy, who lives next to a retirement home. He befriends the residents and, in particular, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, who has lost her memory. To help her remember, Wilfrid embarks on a heartfelt quest to collect objects that hold special memories for Miss Nancy. Through this endearing journey, Wilfrid learns about the richness of life and the power of empathy. The book beautifully portrays the value of intergenerational connections, kindness, and the simple joys that bring meaning to our lives.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is ideal for developing readers who are beginning to test their application and awareness of multiple comprehension strategies. With a small cast of characters, clear events and a slightly more complex theme, readers can focus on their comprehension and how it evolves throughout this text.
Start by telling your students that you are going to ask them to review a book towards the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the story. Let them know that their thoughts about the book will likely change over time, which is exactly what happens to readers who think while reading!
Stop during the beginning, middle, and end of the story and let students write down what they think about the book and a few reasons why. Try these sentence frames to support their writing:
After reading the first few pages, I think this book is __________ because ___________.
Now I'm starting to think this book is __________ because ___________.
In the end, I have to say this book was __________ because ___________.
