Skills Building: The Oldest Student

Unit 13 Book - The Oldest Student

Written by Rita Lorraine Hubbard and illustrated by Oge Mora

Pre- Reading Questions 

  1. Have you heard anyone, maybe your teacher, principal, or parent, talking about having “grit”? Having “grit” is similar to persevering or showing perseverance. When have you heard about having “grit”?
  2. Perseverance is doing something despite it being difficult, frustrating, or taking a long time to achieve or complete. When is a time that you showed perseverance? 
  3. Why is showing perseverance an important skill?
  4. Looking at the cover and the title, take a guess of how old Ms. Mary Walker was when she learned to read. 
    1. *Staff can take guesses from students, then read the inside cover of the book 
      1. “In 1848, Mary Walker was born into slavery. At the age of 15, she was freed. At 20, she was married and had her first child. At 68, she was still working, and raising money for her church. At 114, she was the last remaining member of her family. And at 116, Mary Walker learned to read.” 
    2. Staff gives high five/praise to the student who was closest to guessing Mary Walker’s age when she learned to read.

Post- Reading Questions

  1. Mary Walker showed perseverance or “grit” at many points in her life. What are some examples of her perseverance? 
  2. Mary Walker always wanted to learn to read, and it is inspirational and incredible that she learned to read at age 116. What is something that you would like to work to achieve? 
  3. How do you think Ms. Mary felt when she learned to read at 116? How do you think her teacher felt? What do we learn from Mary Walker in this book?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Donut Ever Give Up Bookmarks (PK-2)

Overview

In the book The Oldest Student, we learned about Ms. Mary Walker who showed immense perseverance and learned to read at the age of 116! Mary Walker had a tough life but never gave up on her dream of learning to read. In this activity, you will make inspirational and silly bookmarks to remind you to never give up!

Materials

  • Googly eyes
  • Bookmark Template printed on cardstock
  • Yarn or string
  • Color pencils or thin tipped markers if available 
  • Hole puncher 
  • Glue

Duration:

40-45 minutes (for staff: 5-minute pre-activity setup, 15-minute prep)

  • 5 minutes: Introduce the activity
  • 10 minutes: Students color their bookmarks with color pencils
  • 10 minutes: Hole punch and thread string through the hole
  • 5 minutes: Glue googly eyes to the bookmark
  • 5 minutes: Clean up
  • 5 minutes: Reflect and share

Instructions

  1. Staff should print templates on cardstock and cut them out for each of the younger students prior to the activity. 
  2. Introduce the activity using the book. 
  3. Each student receives their bookmark template and colors with color pencils (color pencils are recommended over crayons or markers because of the smaller details.)
  4. Staff helps students hole punch and thread string the thread/yarn through the hole.
  5. Students glue googly eyes to the bookmarks and leave it out to dry.
  6. Clean up the materials. 
  7. Reflect as a group.

Reflection Questions

  • Mary Walker showed us a lot of toughness and perseverance, which means she never gave up! What is something that you will work hard to do in the future? 
  • Is there a book that you are currently reading at school or at home? How will you use your new bookmark?
  • “Donut give up!” is a pun, or a play on words, that tells us to not give up! Think of a time when you didn’t give up and share it with your neighbor.
Donut Bookmark Activity
Donut Bookmark Activity

Creative Enrichment Activity: Donut Ever Give Up Over the Page Corner Bookmarks (3-5)

Overview

In the book The Oldest Student, we learned about Ms. Mary Walker who showed immense perseverance and learned to read at the age of 116! Mary Walker had a tough life but never gave up on her dream of learning to read. In this activity, you will make inspirational and silly bookmarks to remind you to never give up!

Materials

  • Googly eyes
  • Bookmark Template printed on cardstock
  • Yarn or string
  • Color pencils or thin tipped markers if available 
  • Hole puncher 
  • Glue

Duration40-45 minutes (for staff: 5-minute pre-activity setup, 5-minute prep)

  • 5 minutes: Introduce the activity
  • 5 minutes: Students cut out the template along the outside to make a square
  • 5 minutes: Students color the corner tabs of their bookmarks with color pencils
  • 10 minutes: Fold the templates to make the bookmark
  • 5 minutes: Glue googly eyes to the bookmark
  • 5 minutes: Clean up
  • 5 minutes: Reflect and share

Instructions

  1. Staff should print templates on printer paper prior to the activity. 
  2. Introduce the activity using the book. 
  3. Each student receives their bookmark template and colors the two corners with color pencils (color pencils are recommended over crayons or markers because of the smaller details.)
  4. Students cut out the template along the outside to make a square.
  5. Students fold the template to make the bookmark (see QR code below for video instructions or go to YouTube and watch “Easy Origami Bookmark Corner – How to make a Corner Bookmark DIY”)
    1. Flip paper over so design is on the back.
    2. Rotate the paper so that it is a diamond with the design on the top, back part of the diamond
    3. Bring the bottom corner to the top corner and make a strong crease
    4. Bring the right corner to the top and fold.
    5. Repeat with the left corner.
    6. You should now have a smaller diamond with the design on the front “Donut give up” upside down.
    7. Unfold the two flaps of the smaller diamond to make it into a triangle. 
    8. Take the top flap corner (just one piece of the open paper not both) and fold it to the middle.
    9. Take the side that says “Donut” and tuck the top part that is blank into the folded flap.
    10. Repeat with the other side.  
    11. You now have an over the page bookmark!
  6. Students glue googly eyes to the bookmarks and leave it out to dry.
  7. Clean Up
  8. Reflect as a Group

Reflection Questions

  • Mary Walker showed us a lot of toughness and perseverance, which means she never gave up! What is something that you will work hard to do in the future? 
  • Is there a book that you are currently reading at school or at home? How will you use your new bookmark?
  • “Donut give up!” is a pun, or a play on words, that tells us to not give up! Think of a time when you didn’t give up and share it with your neighbor.
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark Activity
Corner Bookmark