Author Study: Patricia Polacco Grade: 4th Grade Purpose: To introduce students to the work of Patricia Polacco and

to encourage them to read picture books in addition to the many chapter books they read. Many of Patricias stories are written for older children and have a more challenging vocabulary and content. I find the students from 4th grade on really do not want to read picture books anymore even though they are often excellent short stories with interesting illustrations. We use the AR program and since AR only gives picture books .5 points regardless of content, our students will often not read them. I want to encourage the students to read from our picture book collection for fun and imagination development. Patricia is a wonderful writer and illustrator and has lots to offer our older elementary students. Standards: 21st Century Learner 4.1 Skills 4.1.1 Read, view, and listen for pleasure and personal growth. 4.1.2 Read widely and fluently to make connections with self, the world, and previous reading. 4.1.3 Respond to literature and creative expressions of ideas in various formats and genres. 4.2: Dispositions in Action 4.2.4 Show an appreciation for literature by electing to read for pleasure and expressing an interest in various literary genres. Learning Activities: Lesson one: (45 min) Read aloud: (display using document camera) I Can Hear the Sun Share Power Point to introduce Patricia Polacco. Call on volunteers who would like to read text (highlighted to make it easier) Intersperse with extra dialogue and info as students read Visit Patricias home page on the Web: http://patriciapolacco.com/ Share some of her photos that tell a bit more about her life and books Go to Fun Stuff and Video Gallery: http://patriciapolacco.com/fun/video/index.html View preview one through five

Encourage discussion based on her video talks (bullying, imagination etc.) Invite students to check out books by Patricia Polacco from the book truck and tell them about the incentive: Students who read any 3 books by Polacco and complete the review sheet and the AR test for each will receive a prize (free book, free ice cream coupon, or treasure box item of their choice)

Lesson 2: (40 min.) Read Aloud: (document camera) John Phillip Duck Short discussion about the book and ask students who have read any of her books if they would like to share with the class Partner Read Students will be put into pairs and they will choose one Polacco book to read together. Allow students to move to quiet areas in the library and read for 10-15 minutes. When finished reading, each student will complete a character sketch graphic organizer on one of the main characters in the book (each student should choose a different character) This should take another 8-10 minutes to complete. Place sketches inside book and collect for next time, as these will be used to make trading cards. Encourage students to go back to Polaccos website (bookmarked on the library catalog) and peruse her site. Remind students about the reading incentive while they begin to choose books. Lesson 3: (40 min.) Read aloud: Visit Story Online and listen to Melissa Gilbert read My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother http://www.storylineonline.net/ Short discussion of story

Students will get back into the same pairs as last time and using the character sketch graphic organizer, make a trading card. Students will fill in the template and make a picture of the character. When completed, cut, fold and glue to create the card. Later, these will be hung around the book truck display. Bring students back together in a group and ask for volunteers to share the trading card info and something they enjoyed about the book Encourage students to continue reading Polacco books from the truck display and to turn in any reports for the incentive.

Lesson 4: Wrapping up the author study (40 min.) Listen to Thank You Mr. Falker on http://www.storylineonline.net/ Discussion: Talk a bit about dyslexia and what it can mean for people and how Patricia learned to manage it. Think about feelings, and look back at Patricias message about bullying (preview #4): http://patriciapolacco.com/fun/video/index.html Then ask students to think about something they learned, were interested in or a question they still are wondering about and have them write it as a skicky note on the following website: http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/4thpatriciapolacco This is a collaborative site where you write on web-sticki notes and can then publish the document. Encourage students to continue reading and sharing Polacco books.

PowerPoint used to introduce Patricia Polacco

Trading

Character Sketch Template

Name: _______________________________________ Title of Book: ________________________________________________________________________ Character name: ____________________________________________________________________ Descriptive words (appearance, personality, what this character is like) ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ One action this character did that was important, funny, or strange: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Your opinion of this character: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Trading Card Template

Title of Book:_________________________________________ Author: _______________________________________________ Characteristics of ____________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________

Action: _______________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ My opinion: _________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Star Rating: