In fifth grade unit 5, Reading Historical Fiction Book Clubs, students will be organized into reading clubs consisting of 3-5 students of similar reading levels as they read historical fiction text set made up of related historical fiction, informational text and primary sources (photographs, letters, posters etc.) How do readers read, analyze and interpret historical fiction text? to understand their historical fiction and the time period connected to the text.
Summarize a written text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.

This lesson provides teachers with support for using text-dependent questions to help students derive big ideas and key understandings while developing vocabulary from the text Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. Pilot Amelia Earhart and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt are good friends and one night, after dinner at the White House, Amelia then offers to take Eleanor on an unforgettable night flight to Baltimore and back in the Curtis Condor twin-motor airplan. By the time they arrive back in Washington D.C., a group of reporters meets them at the airstrip. Eleanor admits to not flying this time, but has every intention to fly in the near future.

To prepare for literature circles featuring historical novels, students research the decades of the 1930s to the 1990s and share their information using Prezi, a web application for creating multimedia presentations.

Students write resumes for historical fiction characters. They first explore help wanted ads to see what employers want, and then draft resumes for the characters they've chosen.

Host Harry Kreisler welcomes historian and novelist Michael Oren for a discussion of the search for truth in his historical studies and in his novels. He reflects on the skills and temperament required to do history and fiction focusing on his study of the six day war in the Middle East and his novel Reunion. (54 min)

While learning about historical connections/patterns of civil rights movements in History class, students in English Language Arts will be completing literature circles featuring various genres of literature. Students will start 5-6 consecutive classes featuring excerpts and reviews of new novels and short stories. Students will then personalize learning, exercising voice and choice when selecting a novel to finish reading and specialize in. Using the book of their choice, students will move into their final project which will bring the historical event together with modern issues. Students will have a few days to build their projects.
Written by: Sean Astle, Chelsea Crowley, Pam Kelly and Sr. Lauren Zak

This is an author spotlight on Kathleen Baldwin. Baldwin is a historical fiction author.

This lesson pairs the reading of historical fiction with nonfiction to introduce students to the large themes of history.

Students read Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis, demonstrate comprehension of the story by involving themselves in discussions, and analyze the characters in preparation for a class "press conference."

Students learn how to walk a mile in someone else's shoes by reading historical fiction about the Underground Railroad.