Last week we headed to the Catskills for the most perfect, cozy, blissful weekend escape. My nerdy inner elementary school teacher was as about the relaxation and she was about the setting of Jean Craighead George’s My Side of the Mountain in the real. To give a little context to my unabashed enthusiasm, when I taught grade 5 I devised an entire My side of The Mountain unit plan. It is hands down one of my favourite novel studies to do with a group of upper elementary school students. The story is set in the Catskills, and centers around the theme of survival in the wilderness. So as you know I believe in experiential learning. So naturally when I was teaching in the Northwest I made sure to infuse activities that got my students out in their natural environment to ensure the book really came alive. It really is one of the best books to create interactive, authentic learning experiences around. So while away this past weekend, I snapped a handful of pictures throughout our trip that I can put together in a slide presentation for fellow teachers to use to help their students visualize the setting of My Side of the Mountain. It is now up on my Teachers pay Teachers store.
Also in honour of our visit to the Catskills I have added a few new resources to the store that go with my My Side of the Mountain unit. Be sure to explore the new materials:
- My Side of the Mountain Unit Plan
- My Side of the Mountain Chapter Questions
- Henry David Thoreau Notations and Quotations Activity
- My Side of the Mountain Setting Slideshow
While you are at it check our the other resources for the My Side of the Mountain Novel Study:
Raising Jordans 