One of our writing assignments for the story
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis was this: How is the suitcase a
symbol in the story? What does it stand for? What does he keep in it?I cut paper bags to make "suitcases" for the writing/project. The students decorated the outside. On the inside of the suitcase the students had to put pictures,items or drawings that actually represented the things that were most important to Bud.
You can see his rocks and the blue flyers here. We also had fun typing the writing assignment and creating a wordle of Bud's character traits.
I teach 5th grade and we're in the middle of this novel. My students hang on every word and enjoy the author's writing immensely. I love your suitcase idea and will definitely "borrow." Thank you! Your blog gives me so many ideas.
ReplyDeletewildcats rule
DeleteI LOVE this idea. I am currently teaching this novel with my 7th graders and I think this would be an awesome way to end the novel. We have been talking some about what the items symbolize in the suitcase and I think this would be a great way to bring it all together. I am totally borrowing this :)
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! Can I ask where you found grocery bags with handles?
ReplyDeleteI got them at Whole Foods and at Trader Joes.
ReplyDeleteGreat Idea thanks for sharing. I am just starting this book with a group of 4th graders next week. I will be using your suitcase idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suitcase idea! I'm using it as an enrichment activity with 5th graders in Muskegon, MI this week. Too bad we don't have bags with handles anymore...
ReplyDeleteLove this! I just finished reading this book with a group of boys and I'm going to turn it into their final book club project.
ReplyDeleteHi! I absolutely love this idea and look forward to incorporating it in a couple of weeks when we finish the novel. Any chance you would be willing to share what you give the kids for an assignment? If so, I would greatly appreciate it. If not, I understand. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJennifer.Hojer@k12.sd.us
We are going to do the suitcase idea for an after school book club, only instead of putting things important to Bud, we are going to put things important to us and later explain why to the rest of the club.
ReplyDeleteHi! This is an awesome idea. I can't wait to do it with my fifth graders. I was wondering if you had a scoring rubric and or the assignment you gave to the kids. If you're willing to share please email me! Thanks, Andrea anavaira@mbssjc.org
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