Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Activity
Book:
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
Economics- counting, banking, saving, purchasing choices, and wants and needs
Perseverance- persevering through tough times; waiting for something you really want or
need
Working Class- those who work and have to save for needs
Fire- teaching how a fire can affect a person's life; loss; introduce the story during National
Fire Prevention Month (October)
As you can see above, this book covers so many themes. I have used it in a thematic unit that integrated math,
social studies, science, and of course language arts. The following activity will focus on family, working
together and taking responsibility.
Descriptive Phase
Begin the lesson by asking the students if they are responsible for anyone at home (e.g., helping a younger
sister or brother get ready for school.) Listen to students responses. Read story aloud. The teacher will ask
students to point out any new vocabulary words. As the teacher reads the story, descriptive questions will be
asked. These questions will ask students to explore the characters, motivations, themes and purposes present
in the story and are designed to promote conversations. The questions will ascertain the comprehension of
the story and its concepts.
When the story is over, ask the students to turn and talk to their partners about how they liked or disliked
the story. Ask students to support their statements with specific examples in the text. After a short time,
have students that are willing share their discussion points.
Possible questions:
Ask students to figure out who is telling the story (a little girl)
Ask
students
to
describe
how
they
are
responsible
for
chores
or jobs at home or school.
ask students to listen for the words in the story.
Ask students to tell about a time they did something good without being asked.
Have you encountered a similar situation?
How is what you experienced different from what happened in the story?
Creative/Transformative Phase
To develop childrens critical awareness so they are able to make decisions that will enrich their own
lives and improve the world around them.
The girls community comes together to help her family with their burned belongings, do you know of a
person or family that would benefit from your help? In what ways would you help those in need? Would you
solicit others to help you? How would you go about this? How do you think you would feel after helping
them out?