Standards Aligned Activity

Standards Aligned Activity

The Day the Crayons Quit

Bibliography: Daywalt, Drew, and Oliver Jeffers. The day the crayons quit. HarperCollins Childrens Books, 2016.

Lexile: AD730L

Grade: 3^rd

Alignment

Learning Standard(s): CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A
Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.

Learning Goals: Students will demonstrate their understanding of empathy.

Learning Objectives

Cognitive: Students will identify an inanimate object and think about how that object would feel if it had feelings.

Affective: Students will show their understanding of empathy.

Psychomotor: Students will create a writing piece (similar to the crayons from the book) to demonstrate the feelings their object would have.

Learning Outcomes: Students will know and understand empathy as well as show empathy to others.

Activity

After listening to “The Day the Crayons Quit”, students will choose an object of their choice and write a short letter describing how that object “feels” similar to the way the crayons wrote a letter to Duncan.  The class should first discuss a few examples to give the students ideas and guidance.  Students will have a finished written product to demonstrate their understanding of what it means to have “empathy”.
**This idea for this activity originated from: http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/library/books/the-day-the-crayons-quit**

Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla

Applegate, Katherine, et al. Ivan: the remarkable true story of the shopping mall gorilla. OSCI Braille Program, 2016.

Lexile Level: AD620L

This is a true story about a gorilla captured in Africa and was moved to Washington where he spent his days in a shopping mall.  Students will have the opportunity to feel empathy for Ivan as they realize that a shopping mall is no place for a gorilla, that he belongs in his natural habitat. 

 

The Invisible Boy

Ludwig, Trudy, and Patrice Barton. The invisible boy. Alfred A. Knopf, 2013.

Lexile Level: AD680L

Some students will be able to relate to Brian, a young boy who seems to be ignored by just about everyone around him.  Things begin to look up for Brian when a new kid, Justin, comes to school.  This book has a message of empathy and kindness.  Many elementary-aged students will feel empathy toward Brian’s feelings of isolation.

Russell's World: A Story for Kids about Autism

Amenta, Charles. Russell’s world: a story for kids about autism. Magination Press, 2011.

Lexile Level: 620L

Russell is your average boy who faces a few extra challenges compared to his peers due to the fact he has autism.  This story not only gives the readers an understanding of what it means to have autism, it also teaches readers that everyone deserves to be loved.

In Your Shoes: A Story of Empathy

Johnson, Kristin F., and Mike Byrne. In your shoes: a story of empathy. Millbrook Press, 2018.

Ages 5-8

In all of Sophie’s excitement over her big news, Sophie neglects to see that her friend Jacob has news to share with her as well.  Children will walk in Sophie’s shoes as Sophie puts herself in Jacob’s shoes and learns what it means to have empathy.