Extension Activities
Biographies
Have students complete a biography book report. Have students write a monologue as the person they have read about in their selected biographies. Have the children then dress up as the individuals and perform their monologues for the class.
Students can use the Internet to find a picture/ information of the person they are researching and create a biography poster.
Autobiographies
Write a poem in which every other line begins:
I seem to be ___________
But I really am __________
For young kids allow them to do a picto-biography using computer clipart.
Have students bring old and recent photos of themselves and of pets, family, friends, etc. Have the students paste the pictures in any order they wish on a long piece of paper. For each pictures, have students write a sentence that tells about some piece of their life that's shown in that picture.
Have students draw around their hand. Cut out the outline. On the hand have them write all the things that they can do with their hands.
Persuasive Writing
Have students create an ad for their favorite toy.
Have students plan and write an announcement to be given over the school's public address system to get students to purchase items from the school store.
You've just created the sandwich of all sandwiches. Create a radio commercial to advertise it.
Tall Tales
Complete A Puzzle. Visit Johnny Appleseed and see if you can complete the online crossword puzzle.
Complete A Tall Tale Activity. Follow the instructions found at the website below:
1) American Folklore and Tall Tales
http://millville.org/Workshops_f/Dich_FOLKLORE/FOLKTEXT/folkhome.htm
2) Johnny Appleseed http://covington.k12.tn.us/tetc/apples.htm
3) Paul Bunyan: Legendary Hero http://covington.k12.tn.us/tetc/bunyan.htm
Do A Tall Tale WebQuest. Adapt or follow the procedures found at one of the following WebQuest sites:
1) American Tall Tales by A. Crawford
http://emints.more.net/info/southeast/annetta/index.html.html
2) Hey Paul, Paul Bunyan (Grades 3-4) by C. Ernst
http://gp.k12.mi.us/richard/ernst/paulbunyan.htm
3) Johnny Appleseed (Kindergarten) by K. Moore and H. Rocabado
http://arlington.k12.va.us/schools/barrett/webquest/hero/
4) Tall Tale News (Grades 5-6) by T. Sherman
http://berksiu.k12.pa.us/webquest/shermanquest/default.htm
Compare and Contrast Two Tall Tale Characters. Pick two tall tale characters and analyze how they were alike and different. First start by identifying the story elements of the tall tales. What parts of their stories make them a tall tale? What exaggerations are made? Do you think a tall tale is similar to a person who is a legend? Another name for a hero is a legend. Do you think either of your characters were American heroes? Why or why not? Do you think authors of the tall tales did research? Why? Do you think either character originated from a true story and then was exaggerated?
Illustrate A Tall Tale. Take one of the tall tales you find online or one that you have written, and complete illustrations to go along with the story. Have fun, use your imagination, and don't forget to share, display your finished work.
Letter Writing
A
Letter to the Editor
Write
a letter to your local newspaper and express your views
Check
your letter to make sure your ideas and thoughts are
clear
and that the spelling and punctuation are correct. Sign
your
letter, and include the name of your school and your age.
Send
your letter to the editor of the newspaper. You can
usually
find the editor’s name and the address of the
newspaper
on the page that features letters to the editor.
A
Letter to the President
Write
a letter to President George W. Bush and communicate
your
concerns about our country. Keep the following points in
mind
when you write:
•
Make your letter simple and direct.
•
Focus on one issue.
•
Organize what you want to say. First, explain why you are
writing
and what your concern is. Then, express your opinion,
and
offer some suggestions about how the problem might be
solved.
•
Sign your name. Include your age and grade level and the
name
and address of your school. Address your letter to the
president
as follows:
President
George W. Bush
The
White House
Dear H.D.:
I was sorry to
hear about your accident. What were you doing sitting on top of that
high wall anyway, you old egghead?
Seriously though, I know how awful head injuries can be.
Remember that time I tumbled down a hill? I had splitting headaches
for weeks after that. To this day, I don't know how it happened.
Jill claims I tripped over a stone.
Anyway, I hope your stay in the hospital is a short one.
Trust the doctors--they know a lot more about medicine than do all the
king's horses and all the king's men.
Get well soon, Eggie,
Fondly,
Jack
Poetry
Listen to Jack Prelutsky read one of his poems, then follow his tips and techniques to have some fun with poetry writing!
Karla Kuskin demonstrates how to use descriptive words to create powerful poems.
Rhyme
and rhythm are two keys to writing poetry — and I Spy riddles as well,
using Jean
Marzollo's tips and activities.
Book Reports