COURSE NAME: Children's Litrerature

SCHOOL DISTRICT: Fort Plain High School

INSTRUCTOR: Louise Clute

Half Year

Course is open to: Juniors and seniors with an interest in examining and gaining insight on how children's
literature can be used to teach a variety of ethnic, moral, social, and educational concepts.

BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION/OUTLINE:

Purpose: The purpose of this course is to acquaint students with the various themes that run through all
children's literature. This course will develop an awareness of the different types of children's literature and
provide a critical basis for evaluation of this literature. Analysis of the artwork that appears in these books
will be an integral part of this course. There will be an emphasis on how children's literature can be used to
teach a variety of ethnic, moral, social, and educational concepts. Students will be expected to create
storybooks.

Course Description: This 20 week course will consist of 10 units. Each unit will include assigned readings and
discussion of those readings.

" At the conclusion of units 2, 5, and 8, students will be asked to submit a project associated with the
various topics and themes learned.

" At the conclusion of unit 10, students will research a favorite author and create a presentation to the
class.

" Included in the final activity, there will be a reflection piece.

Units: Each unit will be structured around an introduction, readings, discussion, and an activity or reflection
paper.

" UNIT 1 Introduction to Children's Literature
" UNIT 2 Fiction
" UNIT 3 Investigating Illustrators of Children's Literature
" UNIT 4 Folklore and Literary Tales
" UNIT 5 Poetry
" UNIT 6 Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Informational Books
" UNIT 7 Difficult Themes (death, divorce, moving, etc.)
" UNIT 8 Multicultural and Ethnic Diversity
" UNIT 9 Research specific authors
" UNIT 10 Final presentation
Throughout the units of study, students will be expected to read and evaluate numerous children's literature,
submit a written reflection at the conclusion of each unit, and create several projects based on specific
themes.

Evaluation: Discussion, participation, reflection papers, projects, and the final presentation will be evaluated
using a rubric. Grading will be based on:
" 30% satisfactory completion of assignments within each unit
" 45% units 2, 5, and 8 projects
" 20% final project
" 5% in class discussion

1/20/06