Red Socks and Yellow Socks s12

CHALLENGING WORDS

comfortable consoling debate demanded embarrassment paragraph parchment probably suggestion sympathetic

SUMMARY

Thomas Jefferson was proud of his Declaration of Independence. He was sure that his fellow members of the Continental Congress would agree it was a masterpiece. Can Benjamin Franklin sooth Thomas’ hurt feelings when the other members start criticizing and revising his precious masterpiece? --- Conversation Questions---

(1) Relate to me what this story was about. (Answer) A story told by Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Jefferson to help him not be so upset about people making changes to his documents. (Follow Up) Has anyone ever told you a story to make you feel better?

(2) Explain how you would have changed the hatmakers sign if he had asked you to read it. (Answer) Any logical answer (Follow Up) Have you ever seen a silly sign in a store?

(3) Pretend you are one of the members of the Continental Congress, tell me why you want changes made in the document. (Answer) Any logical answer (Follow Up) Have you ever helped someone with their writing assignment?

(4) Compare Mr. Franklin trying to make Mr. Jefferson feel better to a time when you made someone feel better. (Answer) Any logical answer (Follow Up) Did you both end up smiling?

(5) Tell me what a ‘debate’ is. (Answer) A discussion presenting two sides to a problem, and argued facts. (Follow Up) Use ‘debate’ in a sentence.

(6) Name the document Thomas Jefferson had just written. (Answer) The Declaration of Independence. (Follow Up) Do you know what the Declaration of Independence is?

(7) Share with me the name of the man who wanted Mr. Jefferson to feel better. (Answer) Mr. Benjamin Franklin (Follow Up) Who have you made feel better?

(8) Recall for me how many people changed the hatmakers sign & name three of them. (Answer) Seven; His wife, Reverend Brimstone, Lady Manderly, British Magistrate, two apprentices, Professor Wadsworth, and the sign maker. (Follow Up) Do you think it is possible to make too many changes to something?

(9) Remember and share with me what the sign said when all was said and done. (Answer) ‘John Thompson, Hatmaker Fashionable Hats sold for Ready Money’ (Follow Up) Do you think it was a good sign?

(10) Tell me the lesson Mr. Jefferson learned. (Answer) That not everyone will agree with you all of the time, but you can be proud of knowing your accomplishments. (Follow Up) Share with me a lesson you recently learned. Activities

1. Make a list of the people who wanted the hatmaker to change his sign.

2. Design a good sign for the Hatmaker.

3. Imagine you are Thomas Jefferson. Write a journal entry about your feelings when the other men want to change your Declaration of Independence.

4. Write 3 sentences about the hardest assignment you have ever had in school.

Introduction

1. Copy the Declaration of Independence. Explain to the student what it is and why it is so important. Ask who they think it was written, by one person or by many. Say, “Today we are going to read a story about how this great document was written.”

2. Have a paper on the table you have written. Place “red lines” on it to change things such as deletions and additions. Explain that you thought your paper was wonderful, but your teacher wants you to change it and you are highly upset. Say, “That’s how it is in our story today. Mr. Jefferson has written a very important document and everyone else wants changes. Can Mr. Franklin make him feel better about it?”

3. Ask the student to close their eyes and imagine that they have worked and worked on something. Tell them that they are tired and very proud of their work. Then imagine someone else tells them things to change. Ask how would they feel about that. Say, “Let’s read and see how Mr. Jefferson feels when his fellow congress members want to make changes in the document he worked hard and long on.”

Book Title: The Hatmaker’s Sign Author: Candance Fleming Illustrator: Robert Andrew Parker ISBN: 0-439-07179-8 # of Text Pages: 15 AR: 3.8 LEX: 410 Building Oral Vocabulary 1 scribbling 1 quibbled 8 strolling Prediction Questions 4 Is that a good sign for attracting customers? Would you change it? 14 Do you think the sign is perfect now? 26 Do you think Mr. Franklin’s story helped Mr. Jefferson not be so upset?

This resource is provided by THE LEARNING CORPS—Barren County Board of Education, an AmeriCorps project funded in part by the Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.