THE LITTLE RED AND THE GREAT GREY BRIDGE

THE LITTLE RED LIGHTHOUSE AND thinks of a river, explain that this story takes place Connect the story to history, science, and tech- THE GREAT GREY BRIDGE in a famous big city that is located on a river. Have nology by focusing on the art in the program. them guess the city, then watch the program to see Encourage students to do research on steam- by Hildegarde H. Swift and Lynd Ward if their guesses were right. boats, especially along the Hudson and other Themes: American History, Communities, Feelings, American rivers. Discuss the changes in trans- Growth and Change, Self-Esteem portation that made the great grey bridge neces- Grade Level: K–6 (ages 5–12) AFTER VIEWING ACTIVITIES sary. Ask students to prepare timetables or time Running Time: Ask children to recall and discuss how the light- house felt at different points in the story. Use the lines showing important dates in transportation feelings of the lighthouse as a way to discuss their technology. SUMMARY own feelings when big changes happen and they Buildings, bridges and boats come alive in this don't understand what's going around them. Share Connect the story to social studies by focusing appealing tale of a little red lighthouse that guards your own feelings about being in situations when on the "" in your own community. the shoreline of City. Nature comes alive you suddenly feel very, very small, such as driving This is a good opportunity to examine your local as well, speaking to the lighthouse and the boats on a huge, choked expressway. Encourage chil- transportation, water supplies, fire and police through the river and the fog. With the help of the dren to state the lesson the lighthouse had learned departments and other community institutions. man who comes every night, the lighthouse stands by the end – that its light was still important. Share Older students can research the local history of proud as it speaks with flashes and foghorns. Then and discuss ways in which every person's "light" is these institutions and look for buildings that, like a huge change takes place. Workers come and important. If you used the expressway example, the lighthouse, are left over from earlier eras. built a great gray bridge that towers over the discuss the need for every driver to stay alert for lighthouse. After a flashing light is mounted at the the safety of all. Other related videos about American very top of the bridge, the lighthouse feels very, History available from Weston Woods very small. It takes a series of accidents – a boat Because the lighthouse, boats and bridge talk in smashing on the rocks, the lighthouse keeper flashes, hoots, and other sound effects, this story include: arriving late – to teach the lighthouse that its light lends itself especially well to re-enactment. SO YOU WANT TO BE PRESIDENT? by Judith still has to keep shining. Children will enjoy playing these unusual parts. St. George, ill. by David Small Use a "story theater" approach and follow the MARTIN’S BIG WORDS by Doreen Rappaport, OBJECTIVES words exactly to increase appreciation for the ill. by Bryan Collier GEORGE WASHINGTON’S MOTHER by Jean • Children will watch and listen to a fictional story story's literary qualities. Challenge dramatic skills Fritz, ill. by Dyanne DeSalvo-Ryan about . with sentences such as, "A thick fog crept over the JUST A FEW WORDS, MR. LINCOLN by Jean • Children will appreciate how people work river and tried to clutch the boats one by one." Fritz, ill. by Charles Robinson together to protect each other. WHO’S THAT STEPPING ON PLYMOUTH • Children will understand that their own Connect the story to geography by having stu- ROCK? by Jean Fritz, ill. by J.B. Handelsman contributions are important. dents locate the places mentioned in the story: , New York City, Lake Tear-in-the- SHH! WE’RE WRITING THE CONSTITUTION by Woods, and Albany. Study a map of to Jean Fritz, ill. by Tomie dePaola BEFORE VIEWING ACTIVITIES locate Riverside Drive. Then find the place where AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED, PAUL REVERE? Introduce the title of the program and ask children Riverside Drive meets a bridge that crosses the by Jean Fritz, ill. by Margot Tomes what a lighthouse is. Encourage them to reason Hudson River. Locate the lighthouse at the foot of JEAN FRITZ: SIX REVOLUTIONARY WAR from the word itself to its definition. Ask children to the [TAPPAN ZEE or GEORGE WASHINGTON] FIGURES by Jean Fritz think of a place in nature where there might be Bridge. WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA, BEN FRANKLIN? both a bridge and a lighthouse. After someone by Jean Fritz, ill. by Margot Tomes

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