I think a great book to use in my future classroom would be Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. I haven't read it in a while, but I still remember that it's about a young boy living on his own who goes on a search to find his father. I remember how he holds all his special things in a suitcase, and how he rides a train all by himself. Oh and I'm pretty sure that while Bud is in the orphanage some boy shoves a pencil up another boy's nose and some boys poor water over a boy so that he will wet the bed. In any case, I loved reading that book, and I feel that my upper elementary students would love it as well, and they can also gain a lot from the story.
I think the theme of the book is all about survival and courage. The story is set in the Great Depression - a time of great struggle for everyone, but especially for a 10 year old boy living on his own. Teaching this book could involve having the children work out strategies to make it through their own struggles, and teaching about the difficulties and social issues of living during the Great Depression.
It's tough for me to pick out one story element. Bud's character, obviously, is essential to the story, but I believe that overall the setting may be the strongest element in the story. It is very apparent that Bud's journey would have gone much differently if it occurred today or in any other time period.
I see many potential lesson plans using this book. Bud is a fairly rebellious child, so I think it would be great if the students could compare and contrast his appropriate survival strategies and his inappropriate survival strategies. This could lead into a writing activity, and could be applied to the children's lives as they brainstorm ways to appropriately solve their own life difficulties. Of course it is also good for social studies as a teach about the Great Depression, and it could also be great for math - maybe we could track the miles that Bud travels on his journey.
I'm liking this idea more and more...now I wish I hadn't left that book at home.
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I LOVE Christopher Paul Curtis as well! His writing style makes me never want to put the book down and his characters are so realistic. I recommend his recent one, Elijah of Buxton. It's really well done and an award winner. Now you have a reason to go home and get your favorite book :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great book to use in your classroom, Kristen! I like the idea of students discussing strategies to get through their individual struggles. I also believe this book is a great way to get children to see from another person's perspective and step into someone else's shoes.
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