An Island Boy Web Quest

by Jody Henderson, Page Dilts, and Lynn Hoenig

Island Boy, by Barbara Cooney, is about life on an island. Learn about the challenges that faced many families who lived long ago in Maine.

Task:

Students will create a booklet about Maine after reading

Island Boy by Barbara Cooney.

Here are some books you might find useful:

1. Fradin, Dennis B. Maine. Sea to Shining Sea. Chicago: Children's Press, 1994

2. Kummer, Patricia K. Maine. Minnesota, Capstone Press, 1998

3. Engfer, LeeAnne. Maine. Hello USA. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1991

Fact Sheets

Maine Coastal Birds

Internet Sites

http://www.wildblueberries.com/html/allwildblue.htm

Read and/or listen to Island Boy, by Barbara Cooney
Work with a partner to complete the Categories Worksheet. Find as many examples for each category that you can by reading through the story page by page (don't forget to look at the illustrations in the book for more ideas!)
Each of you should make a 10-page booklet by doing the following: Choose 2 items from each category to define, describe, and illustrate in your booklet. (Use the resources listed above.)
Design your Maine booklet cover.
Be prepared to share your booklet with the class

Conclusion:

We hope that you will take the time to visit your local library where you will find many books written and/or illustrated by Barbara Cooney!

Extensions:

Write an author profile. include information about Barbara Cooney and other books she has written and/or illustrated.
Laminate the booklet and donate it to the school library
Venn Diagram life in Maine -- present and past
Using crops mentioned in the story, make a recipe for the class

Evaluation: