The Pedagogical Planner

As we get into Native American Heritage Month, I want to highlight one of my top picks from Jane Yolen: Encounter.

This book tells about the first encounter with Christopher Columbus and the European explorers from the point of view of a young boy from the Taino Native American tribe. This is a great opportunity for students to learn about different perspectives and comparing and contrasting. For this lesson, I like to use a Venn Diagram and have students compare and contrast the accounts of European explorers and Native Americans. Below are some ideas for how to implement this amazing book in your classroom:

• Compare and Contrast using a Venn Diagram the accounts of Native Americans and of European explorers.
• Have students write a diary entry from the point of view of a Taino Indian and one from the point of view of a European explorer.
• Figurative Language and Author’s Craft. Notice Jane Yolen’s use of similes, metaphors, and personification.
• Making Inferences throughout the story. Jane Yolen’s language in this book is a perfect mentor for “show, don’t tell.”
• Mentor Text for writing

If you are looking to use Encounter task cards to check for comprehension, they are available in my store. The resource also includes a figurative language anchor chart.

I would highly recommend this book for upper elementary. It is a more advanced read than some of Jane Yolen’s other picture books, but it is wonderful for grades 3-5! It is available on Amazon here.

I hope you enjoy!