Paul Bunyanby Steven Kellogg

Included: A brief excerpt from the book and rigorous question set activities

promoting higher level-thinking development

Additional Resources

Video attachment

Tier 1

Excerpt from book

Jacob’s Ladder Goals & Objectives

Habits of Mind

Excerpt

As the largest baby ever born in Maine, lumberjack Paul Bunyan’s unusual size and strength bring him a life full of many fantastic adventures and lead to the creation of several

of America’s most well-known geographic features.

Obtain the book from a school library to read the story in its entirety and complete the ladder activities.

Students will be able:Ladder BB1 Details- To list specific details or recall facts related to the text or generate a list about a specific topic or character.B2 Classifications-To categorize different aspects of the text or identify categories from a list of topics or details.B3 Generalizations-To make general statements about the reading or an idea in the reading and use data to support statements.

Ladder CC1 Literary Elements-To identify and explain specific story elements such as character, setting, or poetic-device.C2 Inference-To use textual clues to read between the lines and make judgments about specific textual events, ideas, or character analysis.C3 Theme/Concept-To identify a major idea or theme common in the text.

Ladder DD1 Paraphrasing - Students will be able to restate lines read using their own words.D2 Summarizing - Students will be able to provide a synopsis of text sections.D3 Creative Synthesis - Students will create something new using what they have learned from reading and their synopses.

Habits of Mind

Working Interdependently

Thinking about Thinking (metacognition)

Innovating, Creating, Imagining

Refer to Jacob’s Ladder Story Table for Ladder B, C & D Thinking Questions.

Tier 2Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder B, C & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).

Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.

B1 — What factors of Paul’s early life contribute and help explain his activities and his later feats?

B2 — After making a list of the projects he completes in the book explain how would you categorize the projects? What skill/s would you need to accomplish each of the task?

C1 — Paul is considered a hero for making the wilderness more habitable. After defining “hero” and considering his achievements, illustrate what you consider his contributions are to our environment.

C2— What statements from the story help infer that Babe was depressed towards the end? What would you do as Paul to help Babe overcome those feelings?

D1 — In order of what you think are the most important, what do you think are Paul’s most important qualities?

Tier 3Rigor

(Discussion)

High Level Strategies with

Ladder B, C & D Questions

Discussion Strategies: Think-Pair-Share, Write-around, 3-4 Podcast slides (Pixie, Frames).Choose 2 of 3 questions below to complete.

B3 — If you were first meeting Paul how would you generalize him? How would you generalize him after getting to know him and his work? Did you consider let first impressions control you generalizations?C3 — “building” is a concept or theme through out this story. Most would consider Paul a genius at getting things built. Would his ways and thinking work in today’s world? Why and Why not? Make a list of things that would be able the stay the same and a list of things that would either not work or have to be different today.D2 — Summarize the story in 3 to 5 sentences or illustrations. D3 — Using thoughts from C3, what would a “Paul Bunyan” look like today? How would you illustrate and describe a today’s Paul Bunyan?

Tier 4

Reflections/Relevance

Choose one of the writing ideas to complete.  Be creative. 

1. Read a book about another legend. Compare and contrast the 2 main characters using a graphic organizer (t-chart, venn diagram). Share your story and findings with others.

2. Write your own original legend story. Remember to include details about the character, the setting and events.

Suggested project strategies:  Write a podcast script; create a puppet show; develop a PSA; a PowerPoint presentation; write and be an actor in a skit; write a persuasive speech and give before the class.