Riding the Reading Roller Coaster:

Read and Write Historical Fiction

 

Regardless of whether the story occurs in Ancient times, the Middle Ages, or the early 1900's, historical fiction is timeless. This genre provides you with the opportunity to explore the setting and time period of a book in-depth. Explore some book ideas at Carol Hurst's US History and World History section. Also, try some Native American stories. Learn about how to teach with historical fiction literature.

 

Explore some activities that link books and websites:

• Ben and Me by Robert Lawson
• Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say
• A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry
• Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson (Connecting Ideas)
• Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles
• Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink (Connecting Ideas)
• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell (Reading Unit)
• My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier
• Dragon Wings by Laurence Yep (Connecting Ideas)
• A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
• Lily's Crossing by Patricia Giff
• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Connecting Ideas), (Reading Unit)
• Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth Speare (Random House Link, Connecting Ideas)
• The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Betty Lord (Connecting Ideas)
• Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
• The Ballad of Lucy Whipple by Karen Cushman
• Soldier's Heart by Gary Paulsen
• Lyddie by Katherine Paterson

Looking for other good books? Read the list called Traveling Through American History With Juvenile Fiction Picture Books - 3rd and 4th Grades.

 

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Patricia MacLachlan,

Sarah Plain and Tall

As you read Sarah, Plain and Tall, try the following simple activities:

• Make a simple list of wildflowers or things in Maine.
• Build a chart including the characters and places discussed in the book.
• Compare life in Maine and in Kansas.
• Describe life on the prairie.

Try the cyberguides for Sarah, Plain and Tall CyberGuide and Connecting Ideas Guide.

Christopher Paul Curtis

Bud, Not Buddy

When reading a historical fiction book, you may just think about the historical aspects of the story. Bud, Not Buddy has lots of curriculum connections. Check out the online teacher and student resources.

Select a historical fiction book set in a particular time period. Select an event or situation in each chapter that reflects the time period. Use the resources below to help students better understand that time period.

• Ancient Africa
• Ancient Rome
• Aztecs
• Civil War
• Colonial Life
• Great Depression
• Holocaust
• Lewis and Clark
• Oregon Trail
• Pioneer Life
• Pony Express
• Revolutionary War
• Underground Railroad
• Vietnam War
• Vikings

Ask students to write their own historical fiction. Read the guidelines and the student projects. Create your own project.