Teach Me

Teach Me

By R. A. Nelson

Pre-reading:

Read the words that surround the apple on the cover and then make predictions about the relationship that will take place inside the covers. What will the characters be like? Will it be a happy ending?

Questions for Discussion:

                        

1. How does the poetry of Emily Dickinson get entwined into the story? Which poem in the book is your favorite? Why?
2. Describe Mr. Mann. What kind of teacher is he? What does he do to captivate his students? Would you like to be in his class?
3. Who do you think holds most of the responsibility for what happens between Carolina and Mr. Mann? Do you think the position of power that a teacher holds over a student’s life makes them ultimately responsible? Defend your answer.
4. Why doesn’t Carolina tell Schuyler what’s happening? Do you think it would have made a difference if she had? What would Schuyler have done?
5. Carolina tells Mr. Mann about sex “It’s just so important, you know? Who it is, why you do what you do. I think everybody’s here for a reason. We’re not supposed to waste our lives just messing around. There are too many fantastic, amazing things to do. You can’t screw it up.” Does she keep this attitude throughout the novel?
6. What actions does Carolina take to get revenge on Mr. Mann? Is it really possible to take revenge on romantic relationships gone wrong? Do you think she should have told her parents or school officials what had transpired between them? Why or why not? Would you?
7. What does Carolina learn by visiting the parents of both Alicia and Mr. Mann? How are they different? Does it help explain Mr. Mann’s behavior? How?
8. What do Carolina and Schuyler do at the poetry reading? How else might this scene have ended? Can you ever imagine getting to the point that you would do something this drastic? How does a level-headed, career-minded, intelligent girl, act this irresponsibly?
9. Do you think Mr. Mann learned his lesson or do you think he’ll have another similar experience with a student? What makes you think so?
10. Predict where Nine will be next year. What will she have learned from this whole experience? Will Schuyler and Nine still be friends? Would you stay friends with Nine? Why or why not.

Projects:

Study the poetry of Emily Dickinson. Find one the poems that means the most to you and write a brief journal about why you picked it.

After choosing your favorite scene in the book, find a piece of music you think would accompany it. Explain your choice.

Create a piece of art that reflects the emotions of Nine using collage. Create your own images or gather them from the internet, magazines and newspapers.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

Moses

When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom

by Carole Boston Weatherford

illustrated by Kadir Nelson

About the book:

“I set the North Star in the heavens and I mean for you to be free”

Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman hears these words from God one summer night and decides to leave her husband and family behind and escape. Taking with her only her faith, she must creep through woods with hounds at her feet, sleep for days in a potato hole and trust people who could have easily turned her in.

But she was never alone.

In lyrical text, Carole Boston Weatherford describes Tubman’s spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one. Courageous, compassionate, and deeply religious, Harriet Tubman and her bravery and relentless pursuit of freedom are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

This is a unique and moving portrait of one of the most inspiring figures of the Underground Railroad. Kadir Nelson’s emotionally charged paintings embody strength healing and hope.

About the author:

Carole Boston Weatherford has authored well over a dozen children’s books including The Sound That Jazz Makes, illustrated by Eric Valasquez, which was an NAACP Image Award finalist and winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award from the National Council for the Social Studies. Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People was the winner of the Juvenile Literature Award from American Association of University Women- North Carolina. A minister’s wife, Ms. Weatherford makes her home in North Carolina and has roots in the same Maryland county where Harriet Tubman was born.

About the illustrator:

Kadir Nelson began drawing at the age of three, displaying an artistic talent before he could write or spell. His children’s books include Ellington Was Not a Street, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner, by Ntozake Shange, as well as Big Jabe: Hewitt Andersons’ Great Big Life, winner of the Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators Original Art show, and the Coretta Scott King Honor Book Thunder Rose, all by Jerdine Nolen. Mr. Nelson makes his home in California with his family.

About the guide:

This guide includes discussion questions intended to provoke thought and insight into the themes of the book, which include freedom, justice, family, risk and hope.

Author Interview:

1. What inspired you to tell this particular part of Harriet Tubman’s story?
2. Even your prose reads like poetry. How do you manage it?
3. What advice do you have for young writers?
4. What kind of research did you do for the book? What was the most interesting fact that you learned?
5. What can your fans look forward to next?

Pre-reading:

Read the forward aloud to students. What do you think Harriet Tubman will do for the slaves? Why?

Discussion Guide:

1. Harriet Tubman heard God’s voice. Why do you think some people can while others cannot hear their god? Could anyone learn to listen or is it a special gift?
2. Why doesn’t Harriet tell anyone her plans? Would you be able to keep this secret?
3. Describe what Harriet must do to stay safe on her journey?
4. Which part would have scared you the most? Why?
5. How does Harriet know who to trust along the way? How do the strangers help her?
6. How does she escape the dogs on her trail? What other dangers does she face?
7. What do you think the phrase “Your faith has wings” means? How does Harriet prove her faith?
8. Where does Harriet escape to? Why is this a safe place for her?
9. What is the Underground Railroad? How does it work?
10.  Why is Harriet Tubman called Moses? Who was the biblical Moses? What did he do for his people? What did Harriet do for hers?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Read the author’s note at the end of the story. Write five facts from it that you found most interesting. Then, write five questions you wish you could ask Harriet Tubman herself.

Math:

Brain Teasers:

1. How many miles did Harriet Tubman walk to gain her freedom? (in the author’s note)
2. If there are 2,000 steps in every mile then how many steps did Harriet make?
3. How many miles did Harriet travel if she made 19 trips back to the south?
4. If the runaways need to make it in five days how many miles must they travel each day?
5. Harriet is thought to have freed nearly 300 slaves. On average, how many slaves went with her each time?

Music:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/singers/sfeature/songs.html

Visit this website and hear many of the slave spirituals that were popular during Harriet Tubman’s life.

Art:

Create a collage about freedom. Use any materials you like but explain your piece in a brief artist’s statement or journal. Why did you use the pictures, colors and textures that you did? What would Harriet Tubman think of your piece? How does art help people understand each other?

www.TracieVaughnZimmer.com

Abe's Honest Words by Doreen Rappaport Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln

by Doreen Rappaport

Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

About the book:

From the time he was a young man, Abraham Lincoln was pained by the cruelty and evil of the institution of slavery. A voracious reader, Lincoln spent every spare moment of his days filling his mind with knowledge, from history to literature to mathematics, preparing himself to one day lead the country he loved toward greater equality and prosperity.

Despite the obstacles he faced as a self-educated man from the backwoods, Lincoln persevered in his political career, and his compassion and honestly gradually earned him the trust of many Americans. As president, he guided the nation through a long and bitter civil war and penned the document that would lead to the end of slavery in the United States. The passion for humanity that defined Lincoln’s life shines through in this momentous follow-up to Martin’s Big Words and John’s Secret Dreams. Told in Doreen Rappaport’s accessible, absorbing prose.

About the author:

Doreen Rappaport has written numerous award-winning books for children, including: Freedom Ship and The School Is Not White, both illustrated by Curtis James: Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a Caldecott Honor Book, a Jane Addams Children’s Book Award winner, and a Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and John’s Secret Dreams. The Life of John Lennon, both illustrated by Bryan Collier. She lives and writes in upstate New York.

Kadir Nelson is the illustrator of many books for children, including Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford, an NAACP Image Award winner, A Caldecott Honor Book, and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner. He is also the author-illustrator of We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. He lives with his family in southern California.

 

Pre-reading:

Brainstorm a list of everything you know or believe about Abraham Lincoln.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do you think the author makes a point to tell us in the first sentence that Lincoln was born in a slave state?
2. Describe Lincoln’s early years and compare them to your own.
3. Why are some of the words in the book written in italic? Why do you think the author decided to include them?
4. Why do you think Abraham Lincoln lived in so many different places? Why do people move? Has that changed over time or not?
5. Who did Abraham Lincoln like to listen to? Who do you? Why?
6. What did Lincoln see happen in New Orleans? Do you think it changed him or only convinced him of the feeling he had? Defend your answer.
7. What jobs did Lincoln have? Did they match what he liked to study? How did he get them to match? Which job would you most like to have? Least like to do?
8. Why did people like Lincoln? Did he always win the office in government that he wanted?
9. What happened just as Lincoln to the office of President? Did he think of the south as the enemy of the union? What makes you think so or not?
10. Why did people doubt Lincoln’s skill to lead the country during war? How did he react to everyone’s negative views of him?
11. What was the Emancipation Proclamation? Why was it important? Where did it count the most? How did Lincoln get it to count in the North too?
12. How did Lincoln plan to put the country back together without hatred? Why did he never get the chance?

Projects:

Language Arts:

Inspired by the clear and lyrical prose of Doreen Rappaport write a biography of another important American hero inspired by Abe’s Honest Words.

Reading:

In the following chart pull important facts, quotes, or details from the book and list them on the left side. On the right share your reactions including feelings, thoughts, memories or connections you made to the text.

Important quotes, facts or details	Connections and reactions:
Ex. “He had just a mite of schooling.”	Wow! I just figured that Lincoln went to school a lot to end up being the President!

Music:

Learn the lyrics for both “Yankee Doodle” and  “Dixie Land” after singing them, discuss what the lyrics mean.

Social Studies:

Create a dimensional map of the United States as it looked during the Civil War. Be sure to label which states fought on the Union and which Confederate.