Lower School Classroom Chronicle

In Social Studies and English Language Arts, fifth graders have been studying Reconstruction, the Great Migration, and the Harlem Renaissance while reading the historical fiction novel, Finding Langston. While reading, students discussed themes of the book then wrote responses to literature including: making inferences; finding direct quotes from the text to explain and support their perspectives and thoughts about the reading; identifying the author’s and narrator's points of view; and analyzing the main characters. We also read and discussed poems by Langston Hughes, which were referenced in the text.

In small groups across the Fifth Grade, students created a Character Sketch Poster where they drew a picture of the protagonist Langston and labeled parts of his body that signified aspects of his life.  For example, his eyes were how he saw the world, his shoulders were his burdens or worries, and his achilles heel was his weakness. Students will engage in a gallery walk and then present their posters.