Benny's Flag Reading Lesson Plan
Benny's Flag is the reissue of Phyllis
Krasilovsky's classic, with illustrations by Jim Fowler. It is the
story of how a native Alaskan, an Aleut boy named Benny Benson,
helped design the Alaska state flag. Dirk Miller,
, a teacher at
Gastineau Elementary School in Juneau, Alaska, developed the
following lesson plan using the book to help children learn
reading strategies and how to summarize using writing,
history, and drama. This was a winner of Alaska's First
Lady's Look to a Book grant.
Goals of the Project
- Reading comprehension. The unit is designed to help children
learn how: to infer and elaborate from text, to synthesize
information, to use strategies when reading and to summarize using
writing, art and drama.
- Alaska History. Students will get a glimpse into Alaska's
pre-statehood history. They will learn how a young Aleut boy used
his talents to help a territory become a state.
- Citizenship. The unit will empower students to have a say in
legislative actions and to learn how state government
operates.
- Community in the Classroom. Creating a classroom flag, will
teach students about cooperation and teamwork.
General Approach
- The unit is based on the book Benny's Flag,
written by Phyllis Krasilovsky and illustrated by Juneau artist Jim
Fowler. It begins with a simple reading of the story of Benny
Benson, without showing the beautiful illustrations. Students often
miss the beauty of language while reading, not pausing to picture
what the author is writing about. This strategy helps them
visualize text. The students can doodle or draw images during the
reading, while the teacher elaborates on the images the text
creates.
- Next, students choose illustrations to paint, using
watercolors. While they paint, the book is reread. This takes
another class session with children completing between one to three
illustrations.
- Now it's time to show the children Jim Fowler's pictures and
compare his work to their own. Students should be encouraged to
talk about how they came up with their pictures. The pictures can
be bound with the text into a classroom book to share.
- Jim Fowler is invited to come in and explain how he came to
create the illustrations in the book. He will talk about the
research and preliminary work that led to his art. For instance, he
used snapshots of some of the original entrees in the 1927
children's flag design contest. It would be a powerful way for the
children to learn something about the image making that reading
creates in our minds. Afterward, children can create their own
flags.
- Visit the state Historical Library, which has archives of some
of the original designs created by children in 1927. This is a
chance for students to see how children of yesteryear thought about
our state.
- By reading or singing the Alaska Flag song, students can learn
how to infer from text. The second verse, for those who don't know,
pays homage to the indigenous peoples of Alaska and their role in
the state. It doesn't mention Benny Benson by name, but there is a
line in it that goes: A Native lad chose the dipper's stars. Using
inferential knowledge, students can figure out the line refers to
Benny Benson. The patterning and rhythm and rhyme of the song can
help students learn how to chunk words and the singing helps with
reading fluency.
- Students will be encouraged to write the Alaska Legislature to
urge adoption of the second verse, or to persuade lawmakers to keep
the status quo. To do this, students can brainstorm a list of ideas
why lawmakers should or should not approve the new words. From this
list, they can synthesize what is the most important information,
and write letters based on this shortened list. After writing rough
drafts, the children will proofread each other's letters.
- Finally, to help all learners understand the Benny Benson
story, parts of the book can be acted out, with children creating
their own dialogue to represent pivotal scenes in the book, such as
when Benny learns he has won the contest.
Expected Outcomes
- Students will gain in reading comprehension. After this unit,
they will be able to use the strategies of elaboration, imaging,
and summarization to help reading comprehension. They will be able
to synthesize information in their readings and use it to help
their understanding of texts.
- Students will learn how Alaska became a state and how some
state symbols, such as the flag and the state insect were
chosen.
- Because students will work together to create a classroom flag,
they will learn citizenship skills, and how they can play a role in
state government.
About the Illustrator
Jim has illustrated a number of other Children's books that may also be
useful for teaching reading and art skills. Some of the original
illustrations are available for purchase. Jim also does school
visits. Contact the
artist for more information.
·
603 W 12th St · Juneau, Alaska 99801 ·
tel:+1-907-586-3279
