Essential Questions: How
can historical fiction stories teach us about history?
Enduring
Understanding: The students will be able to somehow relate to the
people in the past through text to self.
They will also be able to compare stories of the past to their life
using a Venn diagram.
Assessment: The
students will choose one of the books read and create a Venn diagram comparing
the people and events in the book to themselves.
Materials:
á
Writing Journal
á
Choose one book from each of the four time
periods:
á
Revolutionary War Period
á
Settler/Pioneer Period
á
Civil War Period
á
Depression Period
Suggested Procedures:
It is suggested this lesson
be completed in 2-3 days as a whole group.
1. Ask the
question, ÒWhy do people write stories about the past?Ó Write several responses on the
board. Discuss what historical
fiction is and why it is written.
2. Read one book from each of these times periods:
Revolutionary War, Settler Period, Civil War, and Depression Period. After each book discuss what was going
on in history. Have each student
write a text-to-self connection in their Historical Fiction Journal. Discuss how things were the same and
different from that time period to our time in history.
3. After you have read all four of the books make a Venn diagram on the board and have students come up with things different and the same from the time period in the book to our current time in history. After you have made a class Venn diagram hand out the Venn diagram worksheet and have them make their own Venn diagram. Have them choose one specific period and compare it to our time in history.