I Have a Dream Too! - MLK Day Activity

Happy Martin Luther King Day everyone!

I'm using my extra day to get a few things done. Here is a quick look at my To-Do List:

1. Post simple, fun, and effective MLK writing activity to blog.
2. Grade the heaps and mounds of papers sitting on my coffee table.
3. Sign up for a charitable 5K in February.
4. Do laundry.
5. Go to the gym for spin class.
6. Stop at Starbucks and get coffee. 
7. Complete my application for the Trinity Prize Excellence in Teaching Award which I was nominated for by the amazing colleagues I work with at my school. 

Whew! It's going to be a busy day. I think I may need to move the trip to Starbucks to the very top or at least to right after I tell you about this simple and powerful MLK Day activity.

For the past seven years, I have had my students write their own "I Have a Dream" speeches. They always turn out more profound than I expect and reflect the current cultural, political, and environmental climate of the times.  I wish I had saved examples from year to year. Just from reading the dreams of a 4th grader, you get a pretty good idea of what was going on in the world during that year and what weighed on the hearts and minds of elementary students.

Like most teachers, I start the discussion with a book. By fourth grade, they already know so much about MLK that this is simply a spring board into discussion. My very favorite book to use is Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. The illustrations are beautiful and the text tells the story of Martin Luther King using both the author's words and excerpts from his speeches. Important Note: Make sure to read both the author and illustrator's notes at the front of the book.

After watching a clip of the original speech, it is finally time to start writing. Students use the simple frame below to complete the sentences and express their thoughts, ideas, beliefs, hopes, and dreams. They will typically write for 20-30 minutes without a sound. As they finish, they always want to share. So be sure to save time for everyone to stand up and read their own "I Have a Dream" speech. 

You can download the writing frame I use with my class for free at my TPT store. I hope your students enjoy this activity as much as mine have in the past. 

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Mentor Writing Text: The Day the Crayons Quit!

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope you had a great holiday and enjoyed your time off.  I have been relishing every last minute of freedom. I have not graded one paper, looked over a single lesson plan, or even uncapped a purple pen (because we all know red is taboo). However, I can never fully turn off my teacher brain.  Look what I found!


The Day the Crayons Quit
by Drew Daywalt

Perhaps you are like me and you had seen it before.  You'd even heard about it.  I mean...it's a New York Times Bestseller, right? How could we have missed it?

I had seen it on display, but I had never sat down and read it all the way through. Um...it's HILARIOUS and the perfect book for teaching children about personification, perspective, and writing voice. I liked it so much I bought it right then and there.  I even paid full price! Okay, full disclosure... I used a gift card, but you get the idea.

The book begins with Duncan discovering a stack of letters instead of his crayons in his desk. Each crayon has written to him to express their concerns and complaints about how they are being used.  Some feel under appreciated, some just need a break, and some just want him to start coloring in the lines.

Oliver Jeffers (illustrator of Stuck and The Moose Belongs to Me) did the pictures and they are fabulous!

Take a look...

picture courtesy of sittingcomfortably.org

picture courtesy of coolmompicks.com

 

In the end, Duncan discovers he needs to use all the crayons to make them happy and creates this final masterpiece.  Notice the lack of white space.  I'm always on my students to fill the page with color.  This is the perfect example of what I mean. White is in fact a color. Naturally, Duncan receives an A in coloring. I think I would give him an A+!

picture courtesy of searchingforteacherbalance.blogspot.com

I can honestly say this is one of my favorite picture books I have read in awhile. I laughed out loud in the middle of Barnes and Noble and have enjoyed rereading it several times since.

I plan on using this as a mentor text for my 4th graders.  After reading and discussing the voice, perspective of each crayon, and personification (because really you can't waste this opportunity) students will write their own letters from the crayons point of view. 

I love books like this because it doesn't just provide one or two examples... there are thirteen examples!  The kids hear good writing over and over again.  And we all know it takes more then one good example. It gives them shoulders to stand on while they write..the definition of a good mentor text. Thank you Drew Daywalt!

I can't wait to give this a try with my 4th graders.  I see a very cool class book in our future...The Day the Crayons Quit 4th Grade!