The Gardener Literature Unit {My Favorite Spring Read Alouds}

The Gardener, by Sarah Stewart, is a Caldecott Honor book and one of my favorite spring read alouds. This literature unit for The Gardener is packed with lessons and activities for reading and writing.

The unit includes detailed lesson plans, activity sheets, a PowerPoint presentation of historical context, and an anchor chart.

Every lesson and activity is aligned to Common Core Literacy Standards: includes Reading, Writing, Language, and Speaking & Listening standards. (*Standards are noted in lesson plans for easy reference.) A suggested sequence is included, organized with before, during, and after reading activities.

Here is the list of Lessons and Activities:

• Great Depression Images: “What are they thinking?”
• Historical Timeline Chart: Giving Context to the Story
• Historical Timeline Chart: Giving Context to each Letter
• Vocabulary Study and Quiz
• My Growing Mental Image: Lydia Grace’s Secret Place
• Then and Now: Comparing the 1930s to Today
• The Effects of Lydia Grace
• 3 Important Things About Me: Postcard
• Close Reading – Interpretive Questions
• Character Analysis: Uncle Jim’s Thinking
• Changing Point-of-View: A Letter to Lydia Grace
• Compare & Contrast: Baking & Gardening
• Writer’s Craft Lesson: Show, Don’t Tell - Character Feelings
• Writer’s Craft Lesson: Building Anticipation
• Writer’s Craft Lesson: Using Contractions

Check out the preview for a closer look!

In the story, The Gardener, set in the Great Depression era, Lydia Grace moves to the city to live with her Uncle Jim, and uses her love of gardening to help him with his bakery. A story of hope, strength, and growth, it's an every-year read-aloud in my classroom!

This download is a zip file containing the following files:

1. Main PDF file (including lesson plans and printables)
2. PowerPoint presentation of Great Depression Images

**For personal and single classroom use only. If using with multiple classrooms, please purchase additional licenses at the discounted rate.**

.......................................................................................................................................

Visit me at my blog: The Thinker Builder, or on Facebook, or on Pinterest!

.......................................................................................................................................

You might also be interested in more of "My Favorite Read Aloud" Literature Units.