Meet Danitra Brown

Lesson Plan
 
Adapted from: Counselor Name:  Karen Ward
Title of Lesson: Meet Danitra Brown  
Quarter:  Anytime
Audience:   Classroom  or   Small Group
Level:    Primary (K-2)   Intermediate (3-5)
Target Grade: 4th
 
COUNSELING  STANDARDS
 
PERSONAL/SOCIAL
 Acquire the attitudes, knowledge, and interpersonal skills to help them understand and respect self and others.   
.   

 
COUNSELING COMPETENCY(IES)
Identify sources and effects of peer pressure.
 

MATERIALS/RESOURCES:
The book, Meet Danitra Brown by Nikki Grimes (Scholastic).
Another good book for this competency is The Other Side byJacqueline Woodson.
Also need friendship chart, poetry paper, venn diagram, friendship game, poster board to create a Circle of Friends.
 
ACTIVITY:
Discuss friendship by charting qualities that are needed to build friendships and by charting qualities that tear down friendships.  Introduce
Danitra Brown as the main character and read the story.  Discuss poetry and what makes this writing poetry.  Allow time for the students to share
 
what is special about their friends.  Talk with students about the characteristics and structural elements of poetry in the book (e.g., imagery,
rhyme, verse, rhythm, meter) With these elements in mind have students write a short poem about a friend.  The poem could be given as a gift or
shared in the classroom.  Make sure everyone gets a poem.  Refer to qualities chart for ideas.  Have the class do one or more Venn diagrams.  
Follow up with a discussion. The Venn diagram activity gives students a chance to find out more about each other.  The closure to this lesson is
to create a Circle of Friends poster, including every member of the class.
 
EVALUATION:   
Pretest/Postest:       
 
How did the student change as a result of this lesson?  Students will share in writing about what makes their friend special.  Student will
understand the importance of working cooperatively with a partner and with every member of the class to complete the Circle of Friends poster.
 
Information/Comments/Follow-up:  Notice those students unable to work well with others.  It may be necessary to work with a few students at
a time to build friendship skills.