* The book that we suggest using to Model Literature Circles for the class is entitled Fourth of July on the Plain. This book also deals with Westward Expansion. The narrator is a little boy who is traveling west with his family. They are camping with other families along the trail. The men and women discuss how they are going to celebrate the Fourth of July since they are not at home. The story tells how this little boy makes himself a part of the festivities.
 

    Special needs modifications are very easily incorporated into this unit plan. This is true because different reading levels are already provided for.  However, some other modifications that could be made would be:

• English as a Second Language students (ESL) respond well to hands on activities.  The teacher can provide these students with supplementary activities that involve reading the assigned reading and then having them create a model of something they read.  For example, all of the readings have prairie houses in them.  Having an ESL child create a model of one of these, instead of doing one of the Jobs will benefit them more in the end.  Also, when they share with their group, the group will learn from the model they present.  ESL children would also benefit from working with the other students.  They could work with each Job first and then attempt it on their own.
•  Learning Disabled children would benefit mostly from modifications of the assignment.  Having them do part of the job, instead of all of it will allow them to do their best work.  For example, having them do 2 questions for Discussion Director or 2-3 passages for Passage Picker would be acceptable for these students.  Also, the teacher can provide them with a modified Job sheet that has the directions in a simpler form.  This will cause less confusion and give the LD children a chance to complete a Job just like the other children.  The teacher could also provide the students with a tape recording of the reading sections.  They would get to follow the words and gain an understanding of the story by doing this.