Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
The author's Q&A is not available yet, so that means there might still be time for your kids to send in questions for the author, and she will answer them!
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2nd Grade Lesson Plan (Age 7)
Learning Objectives
Identify the main characters, setting, and major events in the story.
Describe the importance of teamwork as demonstrated by Reese and Dean.
Orally retell a key part of the story in sequence.
Create an artistic representation of a story theme.
Materials
Polar Post Book and/or Read Aloud Video
Procedure (Time does not include the read aloud which would be spread over multiple days: 65 minutes)
Watch the read-aloud video of Polar Post or read the book. The read aloud is about 1 hour and 15 minutes and would be broken up in 15-20 minute intervals per day until complete.
(10 mins) Post-Reading Circle: Gather students to discuss the main characters (Reese, Dean, Ty), the setting (Erutuf National Park's Arctic), and the main problem with the pirates.
(10 mins) Teamwork Talk: Ask students to share examples of how Reese and Dean worked together as a team. Brainstorm a list of what makes a good team.
(20 mins) 'Teamwork Shield' Art: Students will draw a shield and divide it into two sections. On one side, they'll draw an example of teamwork from the book. On the other, they'll draw a time they worked as a team with someone.
(5 mins) Share and Reflect: Allow a few students to share their shields with the class.
(20 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Afterward, lead a discussion prompting students to think of new questions they would ask the author about the characters or what it's like to be a writer.
3rd Grade Lesson Plan (Age 8)
Learning Objectives
Identify the central problem and the key steps in its solution.
Describe character traits using evidence from the text.
Create a map that incorporates key locations and events from the story.
Sequence the main events of the plot logically.
Materials
Polar Post Book and/or Read Aloud Video
Procedure (Time does not include the read aloud which would be spread over multiple days: 60 minutes)
Watch the read-aloud video of Polar Post or read the book. The read aloud is about 1 hour and 15 minutes and would be broken up in 15-20 minute intervals per day until complete.
(15 mins) Plot Discussion: Create a class chart on the board detailing the main problem (pirates want the map) and the steps Reese and Dean took to solve it. Discuss the challenges they faced and how they overcame them.
(25 mins) Create a Secret Map: Students will design their own secret map of the Arctic region of Erutuf National Park. They must include at least three key locations from the book and create a symbol for each on a map key.
(20-25 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Since the video has questions from other kids, challenge the class to brainstorm deeper questions about the author's choices for the plot, or why they created the pirates in a certain way.
4th Grade Lesson Plan (Age 9)
Learning Objectives
Analyze and discuss the main themes of the story, such as bravery, family bonds, and exploration.
Write a short narrative from an alternative point of view.
Make and justify predictions about the plot using textual evidence.
Compare and contrast the motivations of different characters.
Materials
Polar Post Book and/or Read Aloud Video
Procedure (Time does not include the read aloud which would be spread over multiple days: 65 minutes)
Watch the read-aloud video of Polar Post or read the book. The read aloud is about 1 hour and 15 minutes and would be broken up in 15-20 minute intervals per day until complete.
(15 mins) Theme Exploration: In small groups, students discuss the major themes they identified (bravery, teamwork, etc.). Each group shares their top theme and provides evidence from the text to support it.
(25 mins) The Pirate's Log: Students will write a short journal entry from the perspective of one of the pirates. What was their motivation for getting the map? Were they just greedy, or was there another reason? What did they think of Reese and Dean?
(5 mins) Author's Craft Chat: Briefly discuss why an author might choose to tell a story from one character's perspective versus another's.
(20-25 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Lead a discussion focusing on authorial intent. Prompt students to come up with questions about why the author made specific choices in the story, such as creating a talking polar bear or setting the story in the Arctic.
5th Grade Lesson Plan (Age 10)
Learning Objectives
Conduct a brief research project on a topic related to the book's setting.
Analyze complex character motivations and compare them using graphic organizers.
Synthesize information from the text and outside research to draw conclusions.
Present information clearly and concisely to peers.
Materials
Polar Post Book and/or Read Aloud Video
Procedure (Time does not include the read aloud which would be spread over multiple days: 70 minutes)
Watch the read-aloud video of Polar Post or read the book. The read aloud is about 1 hour and 15 minutes and would be broken up in 15-20 minute intervals per day until complete.
(15 mins) Character Motivation Deep Dive: Students use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the motivations of Reese and Dean with the motivations of the pirates. Discuss how their goals conflict throughout the story.
(20 mins) Arctic Fact-Finding Mission: Students choose a topic from the book (polar bears, the Arctic climate, or arctic exploration) and use online resources or books to find 3-5 interesting facts. This connects the fictional world to the real world.
(10 mins) Fact Share-Out: Students partner up and share the facts they discovered.
(25 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Encourage students to formulate questions that connect the fictional story to reality. For example, 'How much research on the Arctic did you do before writing this book?' or 'Is Ty's personality based on real polar bear behavior?'
Alternative Lesson Plan (Ages 7 - 11)
Learning Objectives
Apply the engineering design process to solve a problem.
Collaborate effectively in a small group to build a functional prototype.
Use creative problem-solving skills based on a literary scenario.
Communicate design choices and results to an audience.
Materials
Polar Post Book and/or Read Aloud Video
Recycled materials (cardboard, plastic bottles, etc.)
Craft supplies (craft sticks, tape, string, rubber bands, foil)
Procedure (Time does not include the read aloud which would be spread over multiple days: 65 minutes)
Watch the read-aloud video of Polar Post or read the book. The read aloud is about 1 hour and 15 minutes and would be broken up in 15-20 minute intervals per day until complete.
(10 mins) The Challenge: Present the scenario: 'The pirates have broken Reese and Dean's boat near an ice floe! Your team must design and build a device that can carry Reese and Dean (the toy figures) safely across a 2-foot gap of 'icy water' between two desks.'
(25 mins) Design & Build: In small groups, students brainstorm, sketch, and build their solution using only the provided materials.
(10 mins) Testing & Presentation: Each group demonstrates their device and explains their design choices and how it relates to the challenges in the book.
(20 mins) Author Q&A Exploration: Watch the author's Q&A video. Lead a discussion about creativity and problem-solving. Ask students to generate questions for the author about how they solve 'problems' in their stories when a character gets stuck.