This year, with a full three weeks (plus 2 days) of December before Christmas Break, how to deliver some literacy curriculum in a festive way is extended until the 23rd!
I dug out an old favourite, Barbara Robinson's "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" to share with this year's class. The novel introduced the Herdmans and their introduction to the Christmas story in seven chapters (80 pages).
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| This is the cover of the novels we have |
Chapter 1: Robinson's descriptive language allows for the reader to easily visualize her scenes and characters. Although there are pencil illustrations scattered throughout the book, I challenged the students at the end of this chapter to sketch the Herdman's pet cat based on what was read.
From the above student sketches, courtesy of Dylan and Marie Claire, you may notice that the cat is missing an eye, has a broken tail and one leg that is shorter than the other three. It also was responsible for the destruction of a classroom aquarium of goldfish. As Marie Claire notes, the Herdmans DO have a Beware of Cat sign hanging on their property.
Later, I had the students answer a seemingly simple question: What do you think of the Herdmans? Many students mentioned how terrible they were, supporting their opinion with proof from the text (they smoke cigars, bribe and blackmail the kids in their classes, steal, burned down a tool shed, swear). I was not expecting the response I got from Jesse:
"I think that no one gave them a chance to make a good impression. I would hang out with them because they seem lonely and might need someone to cheer them up. When they do those bad things I guess it would make them happy. I think they are amazing, good kids. Maybe they are only bad because they want someone to hang out with."
Warms your heart, doesn't it?
Chapter 2-4: The reader is introduced to the Christmas pageant preparation at the local church, We hear Luke's Gospel of the birth of Jesus and learn of the Herdman kids' reaction to Jesus being born in a stable since the "hotel" was full. They perceive the Wise Men as horrible gift givers and Herod's "dirty little spies" and Gladys, the youngest Herdman, views the angel of the Lord like a comic book character who shouts "Shazam!" to get the attention of the shepherds.
Taking my cue from their reaction, I suggested to the students that the Herdmans would have been appalled by Joseph's lack of planning for a return to Bethlehem for the census with his very pregnant wife, Mary.
Students were then tasked to form a travel company (alone or in partners) and create a brochure that included flight information (why travel on a donkey when you can ride first class?), an attraction, a restaurant and a pre-booked hotel. We agreed it is much easier to be prepared in the age of technology and with some help from Tripadvisor, Trivago and Red Tag sites!
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| The brochure created by Gloria and Gabriella |
This coming week, we finish the novel. Stay tuned for part 2!
~MissBrooks
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