[LIT] Humanities novels request

[khonyx at aol.com]

THanks, Amy- could you send me the plans off line?? 


Karen Onyx
Carusi Middle School


-----Original Message-----
From: Amy Holtzer <AHoltzer at solomon-schechter.com>
To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades. <lit at literacyworkshop.org>
Sent: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 8:20 am
Subject: Re: [LIT] Humanities novels request



We teach ancient civilizations in sixth grade.  For Islam, we use Seven
Daughters and Seven Sons, by Barbara Cohen and Bahija Lovejoy.  For the
Middle Ages, we use The Midwife's Daughter, by Karen Cushman (same
author as Catherine Called Birdy).  I have lessons for both books that I
teach if anyone is interested.

Amy Holtzer
Middle School Dean
Solomon Schechter Middle School
Hartsdale, New York
aholtzer at solomon-schechter.com


-----Original Message-----
From: lit-bounces at literacyworkshop.org
[mailto:lit-bounces at literacyworkshop.org] On Behalf Of macwendy at cox.net
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 7:59 PM
To: A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades.
Subject: Re: [LIT] Humanities novels request

I am also new to 7th grade middle school and I teach 6 classes of
English.  The two books I have read that I think would be good are
"Kathyrn, Called Birdy" and "The Blood Red Horse."  The first book is
acctually a diary of a girl in medieval times, me thinks.  It is not
what you think and it has some great humor as well as what it might have
been like for our students had they lived then.  The second book is one
that is about a blood red horse that is first owned by a family with 2
boys and a girl that has been adopted by the high borns.  There is
conflict over the two boys for the girl's heart.  Both are being groomed
to take over the land holdings, both go to the Crusades.  The horse is
hurt and given away to a manastery who in turn gives the horse back to
the King's Army and is on his way to the Crusades as well.  The horse is
seen by a Muslim princed and coveted.  Of course the horse becomes a
part of the Muslim world and eventually is returned to the young boy now
a young man.  This is just a thumb nail sketch as there is a lot going
on here with family conflicts, duty, honor, the love of a lady and the
faith that gives birth to the Crusades.  It is also a real look at the
Muslim faith and a young prince who must deal with his anger and hate
and love of horses as his Christian couonterpart does.  

I have not 'done' the book with the classes but I would give both of
those some serious thought.  Read them first on your own and think of
the discussions you can have with your students.

Could tie in essay writing with the history classes as well, persuasive,
literary analysis, expository.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.  I'm in the market too.

MacWendy
---- khonyx at aol.com wrote: 
> 
> Sorry if you are getting this a second time, but one of the 7th grade
teachers in my building is looking for novels to tie in with the time
periods she is required to teach.? I was thinking of Rosmary Sutcliff
for the fall of Rome, but am sort of lost with the others.? Does anyone
have any suggestions for the other eras?
> 
> 500BC to AD1500
> fall of rome
> islam
> africa
> china
> the americas
> explorers
> renaissance
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Karen Onyx
> Carusi Middle School
> 
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>
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