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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Analyzing Structure and Theme in Stanza 4 of “If”

For Teachers 6th Standards
Here is a lesson that provides scholars with two opportunities to stretch their compare-and-contrast muscles. First, learners compare and contrast their experience reading the fourth stanza of If by Rudyard Kipling to listening to the...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Revisiting Bud’s Rules: Survive or Thrive?

For Teachers 6th Standards
Bud followed a series of rules from Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. The question is, how did he use those rules to thrive or survive? After a grand discussion, class members explore the novel to locate and cite textual...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Pitching Your Claim with Best Evidence

For Teachers 6th Standards
Does Bud use his rules to survive or thrive? That is the driving question of a lesson plan following the reading of Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. In an argument essay prewriting activity, pupils use textual evidence to...
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Lesson Plan
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EngageNY

Selecting Evidence to Logically Support Claims

For Teachers 6th Standards
It's time to make a rule sandwich! After exploring the writing assignment's rubric and analyzing a model essay, learners are guided through the prewriting phase using the sandwich technique. Pupils create their sandwich addressing the...
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Assessment
California Education Partners

Bud Not Buddy

For Students 4th Standards
A two-day assessment challenges scholars to read an excerpt from the story, Bud Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis then complete a series of exercises in preparation for a writing assignment. Day one includes an independent reading...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Story Map for Bud, Not Buddy

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Why should your class complete a story map? After reading Bud, Not Buddy, divide your class into pairs or small groups to complete the included worksheet. They list the main characters, the conflict, main plot events, the resolution, and...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Text-Dependent Questions and Making a Claim: Digging Deeper into Paragraphs 20–23 of Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address (and connecting to Chapter 11)

For Teachers 6th Standards
In preparation for the unit exam, groups employ the strategies they have been practicing to formulate an interpretative claim about the connections between Christopher Paul Curtis's " Bud, Not Buddy, and Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bud Not Buddy Pre-Reading Activity

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Before you embark on reading Bud Not Buddy with your class, have them imagine they are in Bud's shoes. They must prioritize which of 13 items listed on a printable worksheet they would take with them to survive as a Depression-Era...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Watson's Go to Birmingham, 1963

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct research to obtain geographical information about the author. They create brochures or fliers to highlight the author as a guest at a mock author's conference. They answer questions on the Cyber Fact Scavenger Hunt...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

End of Unit 1 Assessment: Analyzing an Excerpt from Barack Obama’s Back-to-School Speech

For Teachers 6th Standards
In order to assess their mastery of the concepts taught in a 12-lesson plan unit study of Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud, Not Buddy, individuals read excerpts from President Barack Obama's 2009 Back-to-School Speech and use the strategies...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Getting the Gist and Determining Word Meaning: Paragraphs 12–14 of Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address (and connecting to Chapter 8)

For Teachers 6th Standards
Groups use a Venn diagram to compare the theme of love and loss in Steve Jobs' 2005 commencement address to Stanford University students and Christopher Paul Curtis' Bud, Not Buddy.
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Study Guide
Reed Novel Studies

Elijah of Buxton: Novel Study

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Most think Elijah in Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis gets famous for being the first African American child born free from slavery. However, his true fame comes from his adventures to capture a thief. Readers study Elijah's...
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Lesson Plan
Literacy Design Collaborative

Exploring Character Development in The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963

For Teachers 5th - 6th Standards
How did the Civil Rights Movement affect young people in the United States? Scholars read Christopher Paul Curtis' novel, The Watsons go to Birmingham - 1963. Next, they write compare and contrast essays showing how the main characters...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Researching Part 2: Reading for Gist and Gathering Evidence Using the Researcher’s Notebook

For Teachers 6th Standards
The gist should be short and sweet! Pupils practice finding the gist of an informational text and then write a summary of the text. Next, they gather with their research teams to discuss a focus question based on the novel Bud, Not Buddy...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Text-Dependent Questions Text-Dependent Questions and Making a Claim: Digging Deeper into Paragraphs 12–14 of Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address (and connecting to Chapter 9)

For Teachers 6th Standards
Readers draw connections between Bud, Not Buddy and Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford University commencement address and cite evidence from the two texts to support their analysis.
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Getting the Gist: Steve Jobs Commencement Address (Focus on Paragraphs 6-8, and connecting to Chapter 6)

For Teachers 6th Standards
As part of a unit study of Bud, Not Buddy, readers compare Buddy's list of rules to live by with those that Steve Jobs enumerates in his commencement address to Stanford's 2005 graduating class.
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Text-Dependent Questions and Choosing Details to Support a Claim: Digging Deeper into Paragraphs 6–8 of Steve Jobs’ Commencement Address (and connecting to Chapter 7)

For Teachers 6th Standards
Readers learn how to choose specific details drawn from a primary source (Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford University commencement address) to support an analysis of informative text.
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Notices, Wonders, and Vocabulary of the Third Stanza of “If”

For Teachers 6th Standards
How does one's experience reading a poem's text differ from listening to its audio version? Delve into the insightful question with the poem, If by Rudyard Kipling, as pupils compare and contrast their experience using a note-taking...
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Lesson Plan
EngageNY

Asking Probing Questions and Choosing a Research Topic

For Teachers 6th Standards
Begin the writing journey of an evidence-based essay detailing a rule to live by with various activities to familiarize learners with the topic and jump-start brainstorming. First, pupils take part in an in-depth review and discussion of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watsons Go To Birmingham--1963Patricia Wachholz

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the 1960s to prepare for reading the book, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis. They watch a documentary, create a timeline, and listen to music from the 1960s.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's So Important?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students work to develop comprehension strategies. They focus on the five 'w' questions for summarizing: who, what, when, where, and why? Through modeling and guided practice, they apply these questions to summarize several passages in...
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PPT
Alabama Learning Exchange

A Novel Study Unit to Take Us Back in Time

For Teachers 7th - 10th
A Novel Study is the focus of this Literature PowerPoint. A class is about to have author Chris Paul come speak to their class about his novel, The Watson's Go to Birmingham - 1963. Before his appearance, the class is directed to do an...
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Handout
Association for Library Service to Children

Summer Reading List Grades 3-5

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Encourage your charges to pick up a book (or two, or three) over the summer! They'll find 25 different ideas on this list of summer reading books for kids. Each book is paired with publication information and a brief synopsis, so your...
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Unit Plan
Gwinnett County Public Schools

Analysis of the Tuck Everlasting and The Birchbark House Text Exemplars

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Looking to introduce some text-based questions into your ELA lessons? Practice the kinds of skills the Common Core demands with the seven text-based questions and the essay prompt provided here. Designed to be a three-day lesson, day one...