Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco


Acivities by Brenda Brooks

Anticipatory Activity

1. Before reading the story ask the students ahead of time what things have been handed down in their families? They can search out the oldest things in their households that have been handed down from one generation to another. If possible, they can bring it to school and share it with the class. This gets them thinking about traditions.

2. Learn about Russia and the culture before reading the book. Make a list of differences and similarities between living in Russia and living in the US. Make a venn diagram:
http://www.stranslation.com/Russian_Translation/general_facts_about_russia.htm (General Facts about Russia) They can easily compare and contrast between the two countries.
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ru.htm (Map and brief description of Russia. Also includes historical photos.)

external image edu_venn_diagram_blank.gif

3. Ask the students, "What if you and your family had to move to a country where you didn't know anyone and didn't know the language. How would you feel? What fears would you have?"

Building Knowledge:

1. There are lots of words that are unfarmiliar to us. Reread the book and find the foreign words: babuska, challah, huppa, kulich. Have the class do some research on the words, and even find pictures of them.

2. Make a list of the four generations of women. Using a column chart describe the changes of tradition that occur as time goes by.

Consolidation Phase:

1. During this phase, students should be able to summarize the story as well as the main ideas. So in order to assess them, I will
have my students complete a story pyramid. The story Pyramid is an eight line summary which provides an effective way to
reduce the detail students tend to add to their summaries.

Directions:
1. Name of the main character
2. Two words describing the main character
3. Three words describing the setting
4. Four words stating the problem
5. Five words describing one event in the beginning of the story
6. Six words describing one event in the middle of the story
7. Seven words describing one event at the end of the story
8. Eight words describing the solution to the problem

Name

Story Pyramid

1.
Name of main character

2.
Two words describing main character

3.
Three words describing the setting.

4.
Four words stating the problem.

5.
Five words describing one event.

6.
Six words describing second event.

7.
Seven words describing the third event.

8.
Eight words describing the solution.

Click HERE to get a printable version of this worksheet!!!

2. For my second activity, I would like to do a type of service learning project. After they have read the book and we have done Anticipatory
sets and Build their knowledge, I would like them to get a more personal experience. I would take my class to a nursing home
where they can talk with the elderly. The elderly can share their experiences of passing things down from generation to generation
and the meaning behind it. The students can read the book to whomever they are paied up with. I think this experiece will
tie in all loose ends and give them greater appreciation for the meaning in this book!

If you are teaching in the Mequon area, here are a list of places that you might be able to go to:
http://www.newcastleplace.com/ - (262) 387-8850
Sky Residential Services LLC - (262) 236-3870
Cedar Springs Health & Rehabilitation Center - (262) 376-7676
http://www.familytreecbrf.com/welcome.htm - (262) 375-0661