For example, if the student chooses “Haste Makes Waste’, he would define it, loosely, as meaning that hurrying through a project without careful attention to it might result in doing it over, e.g., homework. Share opinions with class.Īfter selecting two maxims from the book, students will write an essay as to what they mean and how they are applicable to their own lives. Using a Venn chart, do a character analysis of the two main characters.

Student will produce a persuasive written argument for or against an issue. Student will demonstrate verbal and written communication skills.

Student will discuss the differences and similarities between the two main characters. Why do you think Red, Thomas Jefferson’s mouse, had some grievances against his master? How might his experiences been different from Amos’s? Language Arts.Do you think Amos was wise in renegotiating an agreement with Ben after the kite fiasco?.Why do you think Amos objected to swimming? What do you think the author was trying to tell us about mice?.Why do you think the author included a foreword for this book? Was it helpful or unnecessary? Explain.Students will answer the following questions in written form and discuss answers with class. Using a dictionary, students will define and use each word in a sentence. Student will demonstrate listening and comprehension skills by answering questions about the book. Student will define and explain the meaning of the relevant vocabulary. In my experience I have found that students enjoy doing this and are more attentive. Also, this book could be recorded ahead of time by some of your good readers and played during class sessions. ReadingĮach student should have his own copy however, this book works well as a “Teacher Read”. All of these used anthropomorphism as a literary device featuring a mouse, an assortment of animals, a cat and a horse, respectively. Some of his other books include Rabbit Hill, Captain Kidd’s Cat and Mr. In 1939 he wrote and illustrated Ben and Me, his first book. White and The Roving Lobster, by Arthur Mason. Among them were, Poo Poo and the Dragon, by C. He illustrated many books during his career. In 1921 he began to use that medium exclusively. He started out doing commercial art, illustrations and stage settings. He became interested in art in high school and after graduating, he went to the New York School of Fine and Applied Arts. Robert Lawson was born in 1892 in Montclair, New Jersey. Preliminary Discussionīefore the book is read, introduce the students to the author. In his book, Ben and Me, Robert Lawson has taken this age old technique and woven a creative biography of Benjamin Franklin as told by his friend, Amos, a poor church mouse. Most notable are the Harry Potter series by J. For centuries this technique has been used as a literary device. Anthropomorphism is the act of ascribing human characteristics to nonhuman things.

Ben and me robert lawson