Students write and illustrate their own children's stories using the text from a Walt Whitman poem.
Today is Walt Whitman's birthday.
Grades
|
Barbara Park, author of the Junie B. Jones series, was born on this day.
1 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students write their own "Junie B." stories, based on the Junie B. Jones series, after brainstorming issues they've experienced during the school year.
Grades
|
The Statute of Anne, an influential copyright law, went into effect in 1710.
6 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Student groups do web research, compile their information, and make a booklet on copyright rules for the class to use as a reference.
Grades
|
Author Amy Tan was born today in 1952
9 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students watch an excerpt of an interview with Tan and apply some of her principles to writing a story of their own.
Grades
|
Roald Dahl was born on this day in 1916.
3 - 6
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students adapt a Roald Dahl story to picture book format and share their books and add them to the classroom library. Additionally, they compare a book version and film version of one of Dahl's works.
Grades
|
Today is D.E.A.R. Day!
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Holiday & School Celebration
April 12 is known as D.E.A.R Day! D.E.A.R. stands for "Drop Everything and Read," a national month-long celebration of reading designed to remind folks of all ages to make reading a priority activity in their lives.
Grades
|
Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was born today in 1872.
8 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read one of Dunbar's most famous poems and explore how critical excerpts shape their understanding.
Grades
|
James Baldwin was born today in 1924.
9 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read and respond to an essay by Baldwin, commenting on the contemporary resonance of his ideas.
Grades
|
Celebrate Louise Erdrich's birthday today.
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students watch a short video about Erdrich's love of books and write their own memory piece.
Grades
|
Sandra Cisneros was born today in 1954.
6 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students choose a small aspect of their lives to develop into a story, poem, or brief essay inspired by Cisneros' work.
Grades
|
Time Magazine launches its "Tom Swifty" contest today in 1963.
5 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students have fun with language by creating a special kind of pun with its origin in a literary source.
Grades
|
Constitution Day is observed today in the U.S.
6 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students explore an annotated online version of the Constitution before sharing what they learned about one aspect of the document through the Trading Card interactive.
Grades
|
Celebrate Mandela Day today.
4 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
After reading Kadir Nelson's Nelson Mandela, students explore the Mandela Day website before using an online tool to start working on a service project of their own.
Grades
|
Jon Scieszka was born in 1954.
K - 8
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students review Scieszka's tips for encouraging young people to read and then create their own, sharing ideas with adults in their community through a letter.
Grades
|
United States Congress officially adopted the position of Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry in 1985.
K - 12
Calendar Activity
| Literacy-Related Event
Students investigate the website of a past Poet Laureate's project and use it as a model to celebrate poetry that appeals most to them.
Grades
|
Frederick Douglass began publication of The North Star today in 1847.
9 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students read and discuss an editorial written by Frederick Douglass and then write the opening editorial for a contemporary publication devoted to a social cause important to them.
Grades
|
Sharon Draper was born on this day in 1952.
5 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students read a book from one of Draper's trilogies and then meet to discuss their book with students have read the other two books.
Grades
|
Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon was born today.
4 - 8
Calendar Activity
| Historical Figure & Event
Students research a constellation and share their learning using an interactive or mobile app.
Grades
|
Author Matt de la Peña was born today.
8 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students use an essay by de la Peña as a model for writing their own literacy autobiography.
Grades
|
Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim was born today.
4 - 12
Calendar Activity
| Author & Text
Students examine the painting that inspired Sondheim's Pulitzer-prize winning musical and then create a story of their own based on image they choose.