THE HUNDRED DRESSES BY ELEANOR ESTES, poverty, bullying, forgiveness, regret / Lesson Plan

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Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to analyze themes of poverty, bullying, forgiveness, and regret in the book "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes, and express their understanding through a writing activity.

Materials and Prep

  • Copy of the book "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes
  • Paper and pencils for writing

Activities

  1. Read aloud a selected chapter or passage from "The Hundred Dresses" to the student, focusing on a scene that highlights one of the themes mentioned.

  2. Engage in a discussion with the student about the themes of poverty, bullying, forgiveness, and regret. Ask open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking and reflection. For example:

    • "How does the character's experience of poverty affect their actions and relationships?"
    • "What are the consequences of bullying in the story? How do the characters feel about their actions?"
    • "Do you think forgiveness is an important theme in this book? Why or why not?"
    • "What regrets do the characters have? How do they try to make amends?"

  3. Ask the student to choose one of the themes discussed and write a short paragraph expressing their thoughts and reflections on that theme. Encourage them to provide examples from the book to support their ideas.

  4. Review and discuss the student's writing, providing constructive feedback and guidance on how to improve their expression and analysis.

  5. Encourage the student to revise their paragraph based on the feedback received.

  6. Conclude the lesson by having the student share their revised paragraph with you, and engage in a brief discussion to further explore their understanding of the chosen theme.

United States of America: Grade 4 Grade Talking Points

  • "In the book 'The Hundred Dresses,' we learn about the experiences of characters who face poverty. Poverty means not having enough money or resources to meet basic needs. It can affect how people live and how they interact with others."
  • "Bullying is another important theme in the book. Bullying means repeatedly hurting, intimidating, or excluding someone. It can have a negative impact on individuals and communities, and it's important to stand up against bullying and treat others with kindness and respect."
  • "Forgiveness is a theme that emerges in the story. Forgiveness means letting go of anger or resentment towards someone who has hurt you. It can lead to healing and growth, both for the person forgiving and the person being forgiven."
  • "Regret is also explored in the book. Regret is a feeling of sadness or disappointment over past actions or choices. It can motivate us to make amends and learn from our mistakes."