Title – Veteran’s Day Story and Comprehension Activities

By – Sharon Ferry

Primary Subject – Social Studies

Secondary Subjects – Language Arts

Grade Level – 1-4

Introduction:

This lesson centers around the book

Granddad Bud – A Veterans Day Story

by Sharon Ferry.

Book summary:

When a young boy’s great-grandfather comes to his school to talk about Veterans Day, the
boy is unsure what to expect. Why exactly do we celebrate Veterans Day – and will his
classmates be interested in what Granddad Bud has to say?

Procedure:

• Read the book with the class (whole group or small group).
  • For younger students, have them take a picture walk first (preview, looking at the pictures) and come up with “I wonder” questions.
  • For older students, look at the cover and the back cover blurb and predict or ask questions.
    
  • During reading: make inferences on how each character feels, e.g.:
  • Describe how you think Granddad Bud felt when he was away from his family on the ship.
  • How did his wife feel? Why?
  • How does the boy feel at the beginning of the story? How do his feelings change by the end?

• Other questions about the book:
  • Why did Americans first start celebrating Veterans Day?
  • What are some ways we honor veterans on Veterans Day? Use information from the story.
  • How does the boy feel when his Granddad Bud talks about the war at family parties?

Make Connections:

• Do you know anyone who is serving in the military or who has served in the past?
• Why do we call it “serving” in the military?
• Do you think our school should have an veterans assembly like the one in the story?
• Write a letter to a veteran or to Granddad Bud. What would you like to ask a veteran?

Note:

Granddad Bud – A Veterans Day Story

may be purchased from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or most any website that sells childrens’ books. For more information, visit

www.sharonferrybooks.com

E-Mail

Sharon Ferry

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