Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina
Albert Whitman & Company © 2009
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.2 Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text.
Suggested Delivery: Independent Read
Lexile Measure 650
Summary:
Finding Lincoln by Ann Malaspina is a historical fiction picture book that takes place during the civil rights movement. It tells the story of a boy named Louis who finds a challenge when he wants to check out a book from a segregated library.
Building Schema:
Vocabulary:
budge (verb) – to move slightly — usually used in negative statements
donate (verb) – to give items or money in order to help a person or organization
enormous (adjective) – very great in size or amount
errand (noun) – a short journey that you take to do or get something
game (noun) – animals that are hunted
integrate (verb) – to end a policy that keeps people of different races apart in (a place, such as a school)
pretext (noun) – a reason that you give to hide your real reason for doing something
protest (verb) – to show or express strong disapproval of something at a public event with other people
refuse (verb) – to say that you will not accept something
regulation (noun) – an official rule or law that says how something should be done
segregate (verb) – to separate groups of people because of their particular race, religion, etc.
temporary (adjective) – continuing for a limited amount of time : not permanent
Before Reading Activity:
Introduce and define theme for students. Create a list of common themes in stories to display as an anchor chart. Use examples from familiar texts.
Model for students that the theme of a story can often be found by asking these questions:
- Do the characters learn anything in the story?
- Do the characters go through any changes?
- Why do the characters act the way they do?
- How do the characters solve their problems?
During Reading Activity:
Students will use this Retell-A-Story graphic organizer in order to sequence the story’s characters, setting, events, problem, and solution.
After Reading Activity:
Students complete an exit slip responding the following prompt:
What lesson did Louis learn in the story Finding Lincoln? Based on this, what do you think the theme of the story is?
Writing Activity:
Students will create black-out poetry using any of the text in Finding Lincoln (including the note and information about President Lincoln) that depicts what the theme of the story is.
Karen About Kids 