The weather starts cooling outside, but you're in the heat of the school year by October. The newness of the beginning of school has faded away.
The first grading period report cards may be finalizing soon. You're officially teacher-tired, the kids are testing your classroom management plan and your patience, parents are emailing for conferences, administrators are using up your time with meetings and professional development sessions you'd rather not attend.
It's time for a refresh, and what better way to renew your teacher passions then some FUN October-themed teaching activities?!
One way I kept myself excited about going to work each day was designing learning activities that I knew I would enjoy teaching and the kids would enjoy doing. Teaching English/Language Arts (ELA) in middle school provided so many opportunities to theme the learning objectives and standards to seasons and holidays.
One novel I taught in 6th grade for many years during Hispanic Heritage Month was Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
I've always lived in the Southeast (Coastal Georgia most of my life and now Central Florida), so hurricanes are a regular part of life here. Hurricanes impact so many people in this region of the world, from the Caribbean Islands and Puerto Rico to the Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida and potentially all up the Atlantic coast from Florida through to the New England area.
Teaching about hurricanes in ELA has always been a fun cross-curricular with science class. I always made sure to meet up with the science teacher to see how we could piggy-back in 6th grade Earth Science across to 6th grade ELA.
There's always current news literature from online newspapers you can use for your hurricane lessons, but a novel that I loved reading with my kiddos is Zane and the Hurricane, by Rodman Philbrick.
Be sure to check out Part 2 of this blog post for specific tips and ideas for incorporating the fall season, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Halloween into your middle school ELA classroom!
One way I kept myself excited about going to work each day was designing learning activities that I knew I would enjoy teaching and the kids would enjoy doing. Teaching English/Language Arts (ELA) in middle school provided so many opportunities to theme the learning objectives and standards to seasons and holidays.
Here are FIVE engaging themes you can explore in ELA with your students during the month of October:
1. The remainder of Hispanic Heritage Month (begins mid September and runs through mid October)
2. Hurricane season (There always seems to be at least one that makes landfall in October in the Southeast U.S.!)
3. Fall season
4. Indigenous Peoples' Day (second Monday of October)
5. And, of course, Halloween!
The literature resources for Hispanic Heritage Month are so rich. There are soooo many amazing books to choose from.
2. Hurricane season (There always seems to be at least one that makes landfall in October in the Southeast U.S.!)
3. Fall season
4. Indigenous Peoples' Day (second Monday of October)
5. And, of course, Halloween!
Hispanic Heritage Month with Esperanza Rising
One novel I taught in 6th grade for many years during Hispanic Heritage Month was Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan.
This historical fiction novel takes place during the Great Depression era and follows the life of a girl from Mexico who must migrate to California after a family tragedy occurs.
The book is super sad but also teaches perseverance and the importance of family. There are great opportunities to teach some Hispanic history and culture as tie-ins to the book as well!
I created a cross-curricular mini project for students to complete while reading this novel. Check it out here!
I created a cross-curricular mini project for students to complete while reading this novel. Check it out here!
I also loved using a museum project about overcoming adversity with my Esperanza Rising novel study unit. You can get it FREE in my middle school ELA free resource library! Click here to grab that freebie!
Hurricane Season Roars On with Zane and the Hurricane
I've always lived in the Southeast (Coastal Georgia most of my life and now Central Florida), so hurricanes are a regular part of life here. Hurricanes impact so many people in this region of the world, from the Caribbean Islands and Puerto Rico to the Gulf Coast states from Texas to Florida and potentially all up the Atlantic coast from Florida through to the New England area.
Teaching about hurricanes in ELA has always been a fun cross-curricular with science class. I always made sure to meet up with the science teacher to see how we could piggy-back in 6th grade Earth Science across to 6th grade ELA.
There's always current news literature from online newspapers you can use for your hurricane lessons, but a novel that I loved reading with my kiddos is Zane and the Hurricane, by Rodman Philbrick.
Zane is a biracial boy who goes to visit his long lost great-grandmother in New Orleans, La., and he unfortunately finds himself and his dog Bandy stranded in New Orleans in the midst of the horror and tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.
You'll fall in love with the rich characters and sit on the edge of your seat throughout the novel as they attempt to navigate this terrifying time in our nation's history. My kiddos always got super into this book, and they'd beg to keep reading at the end of each chapter!
Wanting to add Zane and the Hurricane to your curriculum? Click here to check out my Zane and the Hurricane resource bundle!
Be sure to check out Part 2 of this blog post for specific tips and ideas for incorporating the fall season, Indigenous Peoples' Day, and Halloween into your middle school ELA classroom!
My friend Chris and I are dropping a hint below... our boney friend is a literary character I LOVE teaching about in ELA for Halloween!
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