Classics for Kids: Grades 4-6

About this course

Throughout this course, students will explore a collection of Classic Literature and ignite their imaginations as they dig into and examine new worlds, characters, and time periods.  Reading Classic Literature allows students to explore and appreciate a variety of perspectives, cultural and historical backgrounds, and moral messages which improves focus, concentration, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills.  Fun and engaging activities, mini-lessons, discussions and games will provide students with many opportunities to grasp and demonstrate their understanding of the classic stories they will be reading.

What you'll learn

First and foremost, students will learn to appreciate classic literature which will set them apart from their peers. Learning to love the classics at a young age will give them that step up that will be advantageous in their academic careers.  Throughout this course, students will also improve their reading and critical thinking skills by practicing an array of reading strategies.  Each week, students will play a trivia game that will highlight their reading comprehension.  Then, students will scaffold into higher order thinking by participating in a class discussion.  

Next, a classroom game or activity will feature and allow students to practice a specific reading strategy such as predicting, inferring, citing, summarizing, paraphrasing, retelling, visualizing, contextualizing, and reflecting.  

In addition to these short-term activities, long-term projects will also help students improve these reading strategies. Students will select and create 4 products related to each unit to add to their portfolio by the end of this course.  These long-term projects include illustrations, story maps, presentations, and so on.  By delving into the classics via short-term and long-term activities, students will hone their reading skills and open their hearts and minds to new worlds and perspectives.

Materials & Homework

1. Each student should come prepared with a notepad and pen, as well as a growth mindset!
2. Students are encouraged to complete the reading assignments before class each week so as to be prepared for discussions, games, and activities related to the reading material. Setting aside an allotted reading time per day is the best way to develop lifelong readers and learners!
3. The reading materials for this course are:

• Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
• Peter Pan by JM Barrie
• Swiss Family Robinson by Johan David Wyss