School and Community Fall 2022

Let Books Inspire Lesson Plans!

BY LYSHA THOMPSON S ummertime was always my time to read (or reread) titles I planned to use throughout the year and prepare lesson plans for each. Some of my favorite plans over the years became full units in collaboration with classroom and specials teachers. A few even culminated with students sharing through presentations, performances and hands-on experiences for other classes, parents and administration. I’m no longer preparing units and lesson plans, but I am still reading new middle school and young adult titles and a few have spoken to my school librarian heart recently. The subject matter is perfect for a class project and/or collaborative units with other teachers. One of those I recently read is “Linked” by Gordon Kormon. The book triggered my lesson planning mode early into the story. When a school in a quiet town is vandalized with a swastika, students join to bring the school and community together, showing that the swastikas that keep appearing do not define their school nor does the “secret” history of the town. After

hearing of Holocaust remembrance projects by others, the students begin a paper chain with the goal of one link to represent each of the 6 million Jews killed. The narrators of the story are also determined to solve the mystery of who could be vandalizing their school and why that person would choose a swastika. The person responsible for starting the vandalism may surprise you but, as usual, there is no easy answer. My thoughts were churning by chapter two with ideas for this one. Of course, the paper chain project could be replicated (or some version of it) but why not dive in further? Join forces with the social studies teacher for a unit on World War II, Nazi Germany, Hitler and the concentration camps. Bring in the math teacher to plan the paper chain with students – including the perfect size to make the links, estimating the amount of paper that will be needed, creating a supplies list and a budget. Complete a study of cultures while discussing respecting other cultures and the results of intolerance. The list could go on,

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