Moon Over Manifest

For E371, we were required to read Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool.  The book is about a little girl who is surviving a summer in a new town during the Great Depression.  The book has many aspects that could be successfully implemented into a Unit.  I would say that this book would be appropriate for ages 9 thru 12.  The book explores many subjects including the Ku Klux Klan, immigration, segregation, and some small pieces of more mature nature including bootlegging and killings.  Here is my idea for a Unit plan based on the book:

            I think there are many ways to incorporate this book into a unit.  My favorite idea would be to take a week and pretend your classroom is the town of Manifest. 

Setting the Stage:

·        Create posters that would include the lingo used in the book (south slang)

·        Make areas of the room parts of the town that the book includes

·        Assign each person a role to play for the week and follow a character in the book

Language Arts:

·        Find old letters or create them;  have students work with a partner and read the letter aloud.  Have the students write a scenario, predicting what was going on and why the letter was written (like the girls did with the spy)

·        Create written rhymes or poems similar to Abilene’s

·        Write a story with a beginning, middle, and end like Abilene was instructed to do for her summer project

Writing:

·        Have students write letters like the ones in the book; research ideas or time periods to focus the topics of the letters on

·        Create written advertisements like those in the book

Math:

·        The book references the use of coins frequently.  Use coins as the basis and create story problems for the students to solve based on events in the book

Science:

·        Research the plant poison ivy that the book discussed.  Decode what reaction it may cause and illustrate what the plant looks like

·        Miss Sadie uses many plants for home remedies.  Have the students research some of these plants and other uses they may have

Social Studies:

·        Research some of the listed events and dates listed in the book (Great Depression, Babe Ruth, Stock Market Crash, Charles Lindberg, etc)

·        Draw a map of Manifest including stores and specifics that the book discussed (Manifest Herald, Funeral Parlor, Hardware Store, Koski’s Diner, etc)

·        Use the idea surrounding the cigar box that Abilene found and have the students create their own box that could tell a story

·        Research the Ku Klux Klan and other rally groups in the 1900-1940’s.  Create posters about the rebellious groups and list reasons why they protested or rallied

·        The book refers to immigration a lot.  Have the students create a timeline based on events in the book that refer to immigration and segregation

·        Locate some old newspapers;  have the students use the newspapers and find information; write summaries based on the information

·     Divide the students into 2 groups.  Have one group create a Manifest timeline of 1936 and one a timeline of 1918. 

Music:

·        Find a variety of songs about “riding the rails” similar to the one Abilene and her friends sang; print out the lyrics and have the students sing some of the songs

Art:

·        Make a poster advertising people to come to Manifest; include key points in the book

·        Create an advertisement with drawing for one of the advertisements in the book

·        Create a victory quilt like the one in the story; have each student draw a piece for the quilt and then put each piece together to make a quilt