Must Read Mentor Text Linky--Social Studies with a FREEBIE!

It's Sunday and time for Collaboration Cuties Must Read Mentor Text Linky!  Today's topic is Social Studies, so it's a perfect time for us to share some texts we used this past November that we did not have time to blog about...

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Live of a Pilgrim Boy  and Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters were excellent texts for helping our students understand the roles and responsibilities of Pilgrim boys and girls.  The knowledge gained from exploring both texts was then compared to the roles and responsibilities they have today.  The two texts were perfect for reading aloud because the vocabulary and readability of each is "above" most of our students' independent reading levels.

The following outlines the activities we used before, during, and after the read alouds:

Before Reading:

Essential Question:  We presented students with an essential question that guided their exploration of both texts--How do your rules and responsibilities as a child today compare with a Pilgrim boy or girl?

Previewing Text: Identify title, author, and genre.

Anticipation Guide: Students independently completed and we shared out as a class.  This was a means of getting students thinking about key ideas related to the essential question.

Roles & Responsibilities Sort:  Students worked in groups of 2-3 to complete a roles and responsibilities sort.  Students had to work collaboratively and come to a decision where to place each card.

Vocabulary Knowledge Rating Scale:  Students completed this vocabulary activity using the Think-Pair-Share format.  Students rated their knowledge, paired with another students to share their knowledge, and then we shared our knowledge as a class.

During Reading: 

Roles & Responsibilities Reflection: During read alouds, we tied our pre-reading sorting activity to what was presented in the texts.  Connections were made as students discussed their lives in comparison to that of a Pilgrim boy or girl.

Revisiting Knowledge Rating Scale: We stopped to discuss words included on the knowledge rating scale and related our knowledge to how the words were used in context.  Students discovered that several words had multiple meanings.

After Reading:

Roles & Responsibilities Re-Sort: Students worked in small groups to complete the sorting activity we did before reading.  This was a means of reflection and assessment as students used the knowledge they gained from read alouds.

Revisiting Anticipation Guide:  As a class we discussed our misconceptions, things that surprised us, and some stereotypes that were shared about boys and girls.

Essential Question Graphic Organizer: Students self-selected two aspects of life (e.g., chores, school, clothing, etc.) and compared their life to that of a Pilgrim boy or girl.

Writing: Students completed graphic organizer was used as a guide for writing an informational/comparison essay.

 Pilgrim craftivity used to hold student writing by A Cupcake for the Teacher

Please feel free to download the activities/materials we used HERE--It's FREE!

Thanks to Collaboration Cuties for the opportunity to link up! Visit them to read about more social studies mentor texts...

All the best for an enjoyable week!