Malala’s Magic Pencil

By Malala Yousafzai

Yousafzai, Malala. Malala's Magic Pencil. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2017. 

Summary:

This is a picture book based on the true story of Malala Yousafzai and her book I Am Malala. Growing up in Pakistan, Malala used to wish for a magic pencil. She wanted to use this pencil to draw a world where there was no conflict and injustice. As she get older, Malala realized the power of the written word and used her pencil to document her life and experiences of other girls and women in her country. The book is written for a younger audience and is able to convey Malala’s message at a level children can understand.

Lexile Level: 740L

Grades: 1st-3rd

Domain: Affective, Cognitive and Psychomotor


Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.1

Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.2

Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.

Goal: 

Students will understand Malala’s story, the meaning of advocacy and how they can help other children go to school.

Objective:

Students will be able to define the term Advocacy. (Cognitive)

Students will be able to identify ways they may be able to assist other children in their community. (Psychomotor)

Students will understand the importance of helping others. (Affective)

Outcome:

Students will brainstorm ways to help children in poorer region go to school. Students will identify one specific way to help children in poorer region go to school. Student will create a plan of action of how they would carry out their ideas.

Video of Malala explaining the book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWKYalbPLRY


My selling tool:

https://create.piktochart.com/output/26099091-magic-pencil

Minecraft: A Guide to Building

Minecraft: A Guide to Building   by Josh Gregory

Gregory, Josh, Anna.Minecraft: A Guide to Building . Michigan:Cherry Lake Publishing, 2017.

Lexile Level: 740

Grades: 5-7

Summary: This is a guide to the world of Minecraft. It encourages creativity and problem solving skills to build entire worlds from scratch. In this book, readers will learn everything they need to know about creating worlds, dealing with animals, and how to utilize valuable resources. Readers will also learn about the construction in Minecraft, including which materials to use in different situations and how to choose building locations.

Selling Tool: Infographic

Learning activity for the book:

Students in 6th grade will read Minecraft, they will then design their own adventure level just like in the book. They will need to include 4 or more of the following terms in their design:

Students will then create a written How-To Guide (expository writing) along with a virtual tour (of an IMovie on the Ipads) to explain the steps taken to design a level in Minecraft. They will present their new levels to other peers and will be assess through a presentation rubric.

Learning Goal: Students will read Mindcraft and create a How-To Guide written essay, along with a virtual tour to explain the steps taken to design a level in Minecraft.

Objectives	Assessments
Students will use terminology (using 4 or more key terms) from reading Minecraft to write a How-To essay on creating a new level (Cognitive).	Student completed How-To essays
Students will design a virtual tour IMovie  as a visual to go along with their How-To writing (Psychomotor)	Student Presentations (Imovie and writing) Rubric

Learning Standards:

CC Standards: Informational Text :Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.7

Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.

Information Fluency Continuum:

6.4 Presents conclusions and supporting facts in a variety of ways.

American Association School Library:

3.1.3 Use writing and speaking skills to communicate new understandings effectively.

2.1.6 Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express new understandings.

Coraline

“Coraline” by  Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. New York: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2006.

ISBN: 0061139378

Lexile: 740

Recommended for: Grades 3-5

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/FokjopTFNO0

Activity/Curricular Uses: This book would be great to use to teach an an ELA lesson on plot/theme for students in grade 4. A prior lesson leading up to this lesson would be on identifying characteristics that make up the Fantasy genre.  

Students will read this novel and discuss the plot and theme in groups while filling out a graphic organizer. They will discuss their findings with their group and gain multiple perspectives from other peers. Students will then  apply that knowledge to create their own fantasy book using elements of fantasy, theme, and plot using Book Creator to tell their own story, which will be assessed through the use of a rubric.

Lesson Objectives:

• Students will summarize key plot points from the novel Coraline by Neil Gaiman by responding to a graphic organizer (Cognitive)

• Students will identify two themes while reading the book, Coraline in their graphic organizers. (Cognitive)
• Students will apply three or more key elements that make up fantasy genre to create an original fantasy story (Cognitive)

• Students will create their own fantasy story with elements of plot and theme through the use of Book Creator(Psychomotor)

Standards:

Common Core Standards: ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.2 Key Ideas and Details:Determine a theme of a story, drama, or poem from details in the text; summarize the text.

AASL:2.1.6 Use the writing process, media and visual literacy, and technology skills to create products that express new understandings.

2.1.5 Collaborate with others to exchange ideas, develop new understandings, make decisions, and solve problems.

Information Literacy Continuum Benchmarks: 4.8 Identifies and evaluates the important features for a good product.

Read-alikes:

• Clockwork: or All Wound Up by Philip Pullman
• Curses, Inc by Vivian Vande Velde
• Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright