2
Novel Activity Project
Topic: The past and present for black children
Standard of Learning, Novel Information, and Objective
Standard of Learning: VS.2.1
The student will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic
decision making, and responsible citizenship by
g) making connections between past and present.
Novel Information: [Provide the novel name, author, year of publication, grade level, and the
number of pages. Explain if the novel shows any biased information. If so, how will you address
it? Explain your viewpoint on this with at least one solid paragraph of five sentences]
The novel name is Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. This novel was published in
2007, is for kindergarten through third grade, and has 40 pages. This story is regarded as a well-
researched and historically accurate novel, but just like with most historical events, some could
say it is a little biased. For example, the story does not depict Henry’s life as oppressed like
many slaves’ lives were. I feel like this novel is a good story for second grade. Slavery is a
sensitive topic that has to be approached carefully.
Objective: After reading Henry’s Freedom Box, students will compete a past and present graphic
organizer, listing 4/5 similarities and differences.
Interdisciplinary Activities
Interdisciplinary Approaches: [Describe a social studies activity that is based on the novel
information, with a beginning, middle, and end. Explain how the novel links to at least two
subject areas. Name at least three content vocabulary terms that students need to know for the
novel. Explain your viewpoint on this with at least one solid paragraph of five sentences.]
3
When teaching students about past and present, it is important for students to make
connections with what happens in their world and what they are learning about the past. Before
reading the story, I will go over important vocabulary that students will need to know. There will
be words students may have never heard that will make the story hard for them to understand if
they don’t know what the words mean. Three vocab terms that I will pre teach is the
Underground Railroad, freedom, and enslavement. "The words you choose should be critical to
comprehension of the passage and unfamiliar to most, if not all, students" (Maxim 2017).
There are many social studies activities that can be done with this story. The one that I
choose to do with my students is feeling out a graphic organizer. Students will have a graphic
organizer with a column for past and a column for present. The question that will be asked is,
how is life different for black children today than it was in the past?
This novel can be linked into reading and writing. We will read the story together as a
class, but students will need to read the graphic organizer to understand the directions. They will
also need to write and keep their information organized in the graphic organizer.
Resources
Resources for Activity: [Describe how students will use library or research tools. What are some
of the verbal, written, and visual resources that you will provide? For one example, will the
students need computers for the activity? Explain the use of artifacts, primary, and secondary
sources in this assignment. For example, will the students get to read diary entries as a part of
this activity? Explain your viewpoint on this with at least one solid paragraph of five sentences
Students will each have a copy of the novel as we read it together. After reading the
story, students will have the opportunity to use their school issued iPads, books that are around
the room, and library to research life of black children during slave days. I will also show
4
students pictures and videos of past and present events. “In an age of standards and
accountability, teachers need to include the realities of students’ lives, technology use in
students’ everyday lives, and the role and use of technology when planning for instruction
(Maxim, 2017)
Assessment of Student Learning
Assessment Plan: [Describe the plan and method for assessing student learning of the novel
information and the activity. For example, what method will you use to assess student learning of
the novel information? For example, will you use projects or essays? Describe the plan to
provide feedback for the student assessment, and describe an example. For example, will you
provide feedback on essays? Will you use Kahoot for assessment feedback? Explain your
viewpoint on this with at least one solid paragraph of five sentences.
After we are done reading Henry’s Freedom Box, I will assess students on their
understanding of the story by assigning them a worksheet to complete. Students will work with a
partner to complete a multiple-choice paper with questions from the story. After grading the
students papers, I will meet with both students for each group to discuss their answers.
