"Caring for Others and Allowing others to Care for Us"
Britta Bede
Seattle University Master in Teaching Program
TEED 521
Fall 2008
Throughout the unit, we will be exploring the central questions:
What does it mean to care for others and allow others to care for you?
What does it take to care for others and allow others to care for you?
Learning Targets
1. Students will understand that:
a. Caring for others requires unconditional love and a willingness to see with your heart. (Generalization/Concept)
b. Caring for others takes courage, empathy and responsibility.
(Generalization/Concept)
c. Caring for others is a willingness to help those that are less fortunate.
(Generalization/Concept)
d. It takes humility to allow others to care for you.
(Generalization/Concept)
e. People need to work together to care for others.
(Generalization/Concept)
2. Students will be able to identify main points in the novel that illustrate how characters choose to take action to care for others. (Skill)
3. Students will be able to generate questions before, during and after reading and explain how their questions help them to understand what it means to care for others. (Skill)
4. Students will be able to work effectively in literature circles, critically analyzing the text for themes of caring for others and actively participating in small group discussions. (Skill)
LITERATURE CIRCLE BOOKS
DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie. Candlewick Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 2000.
Loving story about a young girl named Opal who finds comfort with her new found dog, Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie helps Opal come to terms with her mother’s death and helps Opal understand what it takes to care for others.
Reading Level: 3.8
Generalization: Caring for others requires unconditional love and a willingness to see with your heart.
Generalization: Caring for others is a willingness to help those that are less fortunate.
Gardiner, John Reynolds. Stone Fox. Harper Trophy. 1980
This story is about Willy and his determination to save his grandfather’s farm. With the help of Willy’s loyal dog Searchlight, the two decide to enter into a dogsled race to hopefully win money to pay the needed taxes on the farm. Willy takes action to care for his grandfather, giving up his own agenda and sacrificing his life savings.
Reading Level: 3.5
Generalization: Caring for others requires unconditional love and a willingness to see with your heart.
Generalization: People need to work together to care for others.
Hurwitz, Johanna. One Small Dog. Harper Trophy. 2002
Curtis falls in love with Sammy, an animal shelter puppy with curly black hair and floppy ears. This book explores the relationship between Curtis and Sammy, showcasing the bond between people that care for each other.
Reading Level: 4.8
Generalization: It takes humility to allow others to care for you.
Jones, Marcia Thorton. Champ. Scholastic Inc. January 2007.
A loving story about a young boy that rescues an injured dog from being put down to sleep after a car accident. This book show the courage needed to care for others.
Reading Level: 4.3
Generalization: Caring for others takes courage, empathy and responsibility.
Miles, Ellen. The Puppy Place: Buddy. Scholastic Inc. September 2006
This story is about a young girl Lizzie who works at an animal shelter. The shelter is overflowing with puppies and she volunteers to take three puppies to nurse and care for at home until the shelter finds them new owners. Lizzie and her family care for the young puppies, illustrating the intense responsibility involved in caring for young puppies. Lizzie also befriends a local struggling store owner and finds a way to increase business for him and find homes for the puppies at the same time.
Reading Level: 4.2
Generalization: Caring for others takes courage, empathy and responsibility.
Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. Yearling Newbery. September 1992.
This story is about an eleven year old boy named Marty Preston who finds a stray beagle in the hills near his house. Marty fears for the dog’s safety after meeting the owner so Marty finds a way to keep the dog. It takes courage for Marty to stand up the owner and care for the helpless beagle.
Reading Level: 5.0
Generalization: Caring for others takes courage, empathy and responsibility.
Wallace, Bill. No Dogs Allowed. Aladdin Fiction. New York, NY 2004.
After watching her horse pass away, Kristine was sure that she didn’t want any more pets. Kristine’s dad ends up giving her a dog for her birthday and stirs up emotions about her horse Dandy. This is a story about a young girl who comes to terms with death and learns to care for others in unexpected situations. - Reading Level: 4.0
Generalization: Caring for others is a willingness to help those that are less fortunate.
Wallace, Bill. Goosed. Aladdin Fiction. New York, NY. May 2004.
Life gets turned upside down for T.P., when a new puppy is brought home to share the affection of his owner Jeff. This story illustrates the importance of coping with change and caring for others.
Reading Level: 4.0
Generalization: Caring for others is a willingness to help those that are less fortunate.
Generalization: People need to work together to care for others.