Literature: "Harriet the Spy" by Louise Fitzhugh

These sites are about the book, “Harriet the Spy.” There are author biography, suggested classroom activities, and discussion questions. Also includes tips on how to teach students to use descriptive writing. There are links to eThemes Resources on espionage and spies, character traits, realistic fiction, and figurative language.

Grades

• 3,
• 4,
• 5,
• 6

Links

• Teacher Vision: Banned Children's Books

  Find out the reason why "Harriet the Spy" has been banned in some libraries. Teachers could have students discuss in class whether they believe the book teaches students the wrong values. NOTE: This site contains ads.

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• Global Book Club

  This site has three activity ideas that go along with the book.

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• Fun Trivia

  Click on "Play Now" to try to answer questions about details from the book. NOTE: The site includes ads.

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• Scholastic: Harriet the Spy

  This lesson plan has students become spies and keep their own diaries in which they record their observations. There is also a suggestion to have students keep an "alternative diary" that would retell Harriet's version of events from another person's perspective. NOTE: This site contains ads.

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• Reading is Fundamental

  Read reviews of the book written by elementary students. You can also submit your own review without having to give an e-mail address.

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• Scholastic: Descriptive Writing

  Follow the "Next" button to advance through this online lesson on how to write using descriptive words. There are also links at the left you can use to navigate - don't miss "Brainstorming" and "Write Your Description." Students can also publish their work online.

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• The Lifesaver Descriptive Writing Lesson

  This is a simple exercise that helps students learn how to use descriptive writing techniques. NOTE: This site contains ads.

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• Describing the Real World

  This activity has students write about a room using descriptive language. NOTE: This site contains ads.

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• Descriptive Writing

  In this fun activity, students have to observe items and describe them. Blindfolded students then have to guess what the items are. NOTE: This site contains ads.

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• Discussion Guide for Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy (1964)

  This page has discussion questions that go along with the book.

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• Harriet the Spy

  A 7-page pdf file includes a book summary, author biography and interview, a book review by a student, discussion questions, and suggested reading.

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• Reading to Kids Book: Harriet the Spy Discussion Guide

  There are discussion topics for before, during, and after reading the book. Includes craft ideas.

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• eThemes Resource: Espionage and Spies

  These sites focus on espionage and the lives of some famous spies. Test your skill at breaking codes, take a video tour of a spy museum, and view photos of real objects used by spies. Includes information about recent espionage incidents, text of the official Espionage Act of 1918, documents from actual espionage cases, and several online games. Also learn about the FBI, the CIA, and the Secret Service.

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• eThemes Resource: Writing: Realistic Fiction

  Learn about realistic fiction, a genre of writing that has situations that could occur in real life. These sites include lists of books that fit into this category and a list of realistic fiction authors. There are also writing prompts to help students write their own realistic fiction stories. Includes links to eThemes Resources on various realistic fiction books.

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• eThemes Resource: Writing: Character Traits

  These sites focus on character traits and include lists of adjectives that students can use to improve their writing. There are also many activity ideas for having students identify the traits of main characters in stories. Includes lesson plans, graphic organizers, and a link to an eThemes Resource on adjectives.

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• eThemes Resource: Writing: Alliteration, Idioms, and Hyperbole

  Learn how to use different types of figurative language to improve your descriptive writing. Includes definitions and many classroom activity ideas for each topic. There are links to eThemes Resources on personification, and similes and metaphors.

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Education Standards

• AL
  • 6
  • 7
  • 7.1
• ME
  • A2.a
  • A2.a
  • A2.a
  • A2.a
  • A2.b
  • A2.b
  • A2.b
  • A2.b
  • A2.e
  • A2.e
• MO
  • 1
  • 1.1
  • 1.10
  • 1.5
  • 1.6
  • 2
  • 2.1
  • 2.3
  • 2.4
  • 4
  • R.1.I.a
  • R.1.I.a
  • R.1.I.a
  • R.1.I.b
  • R.1.I.b
  • R.1.I.b
  • R.1.I.c
  • R.1.I.c
  • R.1.I.c
• NV
  • 3.3.1.1.a
  • 3.3.1.1.b
  • 3.3.2.1
  • 3.3.2.2
  • 3.3.3.1
  • 3.4.1.1.a
  • 3.4.1.1.b
  • 3.4.1.1.c
  • 3.4.1.1.e
  • 3.4.2.1
  • 3.4.2.2
  • 3.4.3.1
  • 3.5.1.1.a
  • 3.5.1.1.b
  • 3.5.1.1.e
  • 3.5.2.1
  • 3.5.2.3
  • 3.6.1.1
  • 3.6.1.2.a
  • 3.6.2.1
  • 3.6.2.2
  • 6.3.4.1
  • 6.4.4.1
  • 6.5.4.1
  • 6.6.4.1
• OK
  • A.3.2.c
  • A.4.1.a
  • A.4.2.a
  • A.4.2.a
  • A.4.2.a
  • A.4.2.b
  • A.4.2.b
  • A.4.2.b
  • A.5.2.a
• DE
  • 4.1b.2
  • 4.1b.2
  • 4.4a.1.a
  • 4.4a.1.a
  • 4.4a.1.a
  • 4.4a.1.a
  • 4.4a.1.b
  • 4.4a.1.b
  • 4.4a.1.b
  • 4.4a.1.b
  • 4.4a.1.c
  • 4.4a.1.c
  • 4.4a.1.c
  • 4.4a.1.c

Request State Standards

Created: August 09, 2003 at 07:04 | Updated: March 02, 2012 at 20:42