Lesson Plans and Activities

Thunder Cake
From Patricia Polacco's website, a list of discussion questions and acitivity ideas: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/books/thundercake/thundercake_index.html 
This teaching plan includes suggestions for creating interest, making predictions, discussion questions, and a drama activity: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/thunder-cake-teaching-plan
In this lesson, students are introduced to story elements such as setting, character, and plot using Thunder Cake:http://www.lessonplanspage.com/lastoryelementsinthundercake23-htm 
The recipe to make your very own Thunder Cake! : http://www.patriciapolacco.com/participation/activity_ideas/index.html
Print out a Thunder Cake mini-poster: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/posters/thundercake_poster_big.html


Chicken Sunday
A writing prompt to use after reading Chicken Sunday: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/chicken-sunday-writing-prompt 
A teacher resource guide including several mini-lessons: http://www.zaner-bloser.com/freshimages/ChickenSunday_final.pdf
A writer's workshop mini-lesson on voice/author style using Chicken  Sunday: http://www.macomb.k12.mi.us/utica/info/minilessons/6_voice.htm
Print out a Chicken Sunday mini-poster: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/posters/chicken_sunday_poster_big.html


Mrs. Katz and Tush
A list of several discussion questions and activities for Mrs.Katz and Tush: http://www.shopgpn.com/guides/rr/93.pdf
In this lesson young students examine what makes them special after reading Mrs.Katz and Tush: http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ssmakesmespecial-htm


The Keeping Quilt
In this lesson students each make their own quilt square to add to a "classroom    quilt:" http://www.lessonplanspage.com/LAOQuiltsOfManyColors36.htm
This teaching plan includes a series of discussion questions and activity ideas: http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/keepingquilt.html
In this activity students bring in a piece of material that is significant to them to them to make a keeping  quilt: http://www.readinglady.com/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=27
Print out a mini-poster of The Keeping Quilt: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/posters/keeping_quilt_poster_big.html
Print out a Keeping Quilt bookmark: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/bookmarks/books/kq_b-mark_page.html

Pink and Say
A list of social studies and language arts activities using Pink and Say: http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/reviews/61950.aspx 
A list of several activities for students before, during, and after reading Pink and Say: http://users.manchester.edu/Student/BEDawes/index.htm
In this lesson for upper grades, Pink and Say is used as an introduction to a unit on the Civil War: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plan/pink-and-say-lesson-plan
Print out a mini-poster of Pink and Say: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/posters/pink_and_say_poster_big.html
Print out a Pink and Say bookmark: http://www.patriciapolacco.com/fun/bookmarks/books/pink_and_say_b-mark_page.html