Lesson Plan for Drylongso by Virginia Hamilton
This is a read-aloud lesson plan designed for grade 3 students.
Synopsis
Lindy and her family are suffering through a long drought. Then the mystical Drylongso teaches them the secrets of finding water
hidden in the earth. "Drylongso is a hypnotic, joyful story from a distinguished writer - one that, with the help of Jerry Pinkney's
beautiful watercolor and pastel pictures, depicts well the dry land, the swirling wind and earth, and an African-American family
planting in hope with the help of a wondrous, dusty, divining stickfella." -- The New Yor Times Book Review
(Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Drylongso/Virginia-Hamilton/e/9780152015879?itm=1).
Objectives
Students will be able to:
- identify the genre as realistic fiction
- discuss what the quality of life was like on the dry plains
- discuss why planting and harvesting was so important
- make text-to-self connections
- discuss how farmers are resourceful
- show the plains area of the United States
- identify key vocabulary terms
Materials
Materials needed for this lesson include:
- copy of Drylongso by Virginia Hamilton
- map of the United States
- dictionary
- pictures of sandstorms (optional)
- drawing paper
- pencils
- lined paper
- crayons
Before Reading:
- Discuss what life must have been like on the open prairie.
- Discuss natural resources that are used in farming.
- Discuss vocabulary words: cloudburst, divining rod, dust storm, sputtered, drought, peculiarly, cultivate.
During Reading:
- Ask prediction questions and have students check for answers.
- Use a United States geography map to locate the Great Plains region.
- Discuss how getting vegetables are different today than in the days of living on the wild frontier.
- Discuss what is happening in the story when each of the vocabulary words is introduced.
After Reading:
Please choose at least 3 of the activities listed below to enhance and extend learning.
- Students draw a picture of themselves using a divining rod to find water.
- Students write about how their lives would be different if they had to live like Lindy lives in the story. Have students
complete a Venn Diagram to plan their writing.
- Discuss some of the vocabulary terms for reinforcement.
- Discuss what problems a sandstorm can cause. Display pictures of actual sandstorms.
- Write about and compare/contrast a sandstorm to other natural disasters that have been studied in the class.
Evaluation/Assessment:
- Teacher observation
- Completion of writing assignment(s)
- Open-ended responses
- Participation in classroom discussions