Joseph Bruchac
Lesson plans and teaching resources
|Biography and Background|
|The Bear Boy|
|Between Earth and Sky|
|Bowman's Store: A Journey to Myself|
|A Boy Called Slow|
|Children of the Longhouse|
|"Chipmunk and Bear"
|Circle of Thanks|
|Code Talker|
|Crazy Horse's Vision|
|The Heart of a Chief|
|Hidden Roots|
|Jim Thorpe's Bright Path|
|The Journal of Jesse Smoke|
|Pocahontas|
|Pushing up the Sky|
|Sacajawea|
|Skeleton Man|
|The Story of the Milky Way|
|Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back|
A Chat with Joseph Bruchac
Transcript of author interview with emphasis on poetry.
Joseph Bruchac
The author's official site.
Joseph Bruchac
Author interview.
Joseph Bruchac
Video author interview.
Joseph Bruchac
The author's discusses March Toward the Thunder at the 2008 National Book Festival.
Joseph Bruchac
The author's page at Wikipedia: biography and a bibliography.
The Bear Boy Reading Warm-Up
Printable handout with emphasis on vocabulary. Access requires Adobe Reader or compatible application.
The Bear Boy Self Test
At this interactive site students can check their comprehension with 4 self-scoring questions.
Between Earth and Sky
Strategies for before reading (including vocabulary), during reading, and after reading (including extension activities). Designed for 7th grade. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.
Bowman's Store: A Journey to Myself by Joseph Bruchac
This teacher's guide includes background information, prereading questions, a graphic organizer for vocabulary, discussion questions, writing activities, and interdisciplinary connections.
A Boy Called Slow
A word search puzzle. Follow the link for the solution.
Flash Card Exchange: A Boy Called Slow
Vocabulary words and practice.
Integrity and A Boy Called Slow
Students discuss how the main character felt about his given name, what he did to earn a new name, and how he showed integrity. Students think of a new name they would like to earn and propose a plan to earn the new name. Includes writing task, requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.
Rituals and Rites of Passage
This lesson uses A Boy Called Slow to teach rites of passage. This multicultural lesson is designed for 5th and 6th graders.
Children of the Longhouse
This book report form requires Adobe Reader or compatible application for access.
"Chipmunk and Bear"
Slide presentation with story, comprehension questions, and scoring guide.
Lesson Five: Mother Earth
This plan incorporates Bruchac's Circle of Thanks in a unit on beliefs and cultural practices of American Indians, especially as compared with those of Europeans. This 10-page document requires Adobe Reader for access.
Code Talker
Listen to author Joseph Bruchac discuss the background to the book and then read an excerpt from it.
Decoding history: A World War II Navajo Code Talker in his own words
A Navajo Code Talker discusses his experience in World War II in conjunction with the release of his autobiography. (Nonfiction, informational text.)
Native Words, Native Warriors
An extensive bibliography of resources related to codes and Code Talkers, including books, films, and websites.
Crazy Horse's Vision by Joseph Bruchac
This teacher's guide includes background information, prereading questions, vocabulary words and discussion questions, ideas for literature circles and writing, and interdisciplinary activities.
The Heart of a Chief
On this page, a summary. Follow links on the left for author biography and interview. Follow the Teaching Strategies link for a discussion of double-entry journals.
Hidden Roots
Summary, media connections, related web sites and titles, and 3 teaching ideas.
Jim Thorpe's Bright Path
This teacher's guide includes background information, prereading questions, a graphic organizer for vocabulary, discussion questions, writing activities, and interdisciplinary connections.
The Journal of Jesse Smoke: A Cherokee Boy, Trail of Tears, 1838 Discussion Guide
Background information, summary, 9 discussion questions, 5 followup activities, and an author interview.
The Trail of Tears
This social studies lesson includes reading passages from The Journal of Jesse Smoke. It is designed for 5th graders.
Pocahontas Discussion Guide
Summary, brief author biography, and 16 literature circle questions (and answers).
Old Man Winter: Sounding out Unfamiliar Words
This lesson uses "Gluskabi and Old Man Winter" to help students practice sounding out unfamiliar English words. Access requires MS-Word or compatible application.
Pushing Up the Sky
An introduction to vocabulary words, including prefixes and alphabetical order. Access requires MS-Powerpoint or compatible application.
Sacajawea Lesson Plan
Summary, warum-up activity, post-reading activities, and related titles.
Skeleton Man
Summary, book talk, and 7 discussion questions.
Thematic Unit Based on Multicultural Children's Literature
This series of lessons focuses on the relationship between children and grandparents. Lesson #3 uses The Story of the Milky Way.
The Story of the Milky Way
Students explore the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Includes slide presentation and concept-mapping template; designed for third grade.
Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back
Students learn the Oneida names, ceremonies and seasonal activities of the yearly cycle as delineated by the teaching of the Thirteen Moons by using the visual aid of the shell of a turtle.
Turtle's Shell Lesson Plan
Students use technology to depict the months of the year in response to Thirteen Moons on Turtle's Back. Designed for grades K-4.
