Domain:
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Competency:
Reflect to improve decisions and outcomes
🎂
7-9 year olds
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30 to 35 minutes min
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Learning Objective
Students will learn to make predictions about a story and reflect on character actions to understand how perseverance and imagination can lead to positive outcomes.
Learning Resource Synopsis
In 'The Old Truck' by Jerome Pumphrey, a steadfast pickup truck serves diligently on a small family farm, working alongside the family who lives there. As the years pass, the once-vibrant truck becomes worn and is eventually left unused in the weeds. The family's young daughter, having grown up witnessing the truck's service, decides to restore it herself. This act of renewal symbolizes her own growth and determination as she takes on the responsibilities of running her own busy farm. The book features a retro design and nuanced illustrations, emphasizing the themes of perseverance and imagination.
Extended Learning Resources
| Resource & Author | Publication Info | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Little Engine That Could | Written by Watty Piper, published by Penguin Young Readers | This classic story of a determined little engine who perseveres to overcome obstacles teaches young readers about the power of positive thinking and persistence. |
| What Do You Do With an Idea? | Written by Kobi Yamada, illustrated by Mae Besom, published by Compendium Inc. | This inspiring book encourages children to nurture their imaginations and ideas, demonstrating how perseverance can bring impactful changes to the world. |
| National Geographic Kids: Little Kids First Big Book of Things That Go | Written by Karen de Seve, published by National Geographic Kids | Filled with vibrant images and fun facts, this book introduces young readers to various vehicles, inspiring curiosity and imagination about how things work and move. |
Vocabulary List
| Word | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Perseverance | Continuing to do something even when it's difficult. | The girl showed perseverance by fixing the old truck, even though it was hard work. |
| Imagination | The ability to think of new and creative ideas. | Using her imagination, the girl could see how the old truck might look after she restored it. |
| Restore | To bring something back to its original condition. | The girl wanted to restore the truck so it could be useful again on the farm. |
| Determination | A strong feeling that you will not give up on something. | With determination, the girl worked every day to bring the old truck back to life. |
| Symbolize | To represent an idea or quality. | The old truck symbolizes the girl's growth and hard work on the farm. |
Prompt
Essential Question: "How can using our imagination and not giving up help us make things better for ourselves and others?"
Today, we're going to explore how using our imagination and never giving up can help us make things better. Let's think about a time when we used our creativity or determination to solve a problem or change something for the better. How did it feel to keep going even when it was hard?
Anticipatory Set
- Start by asking students to close their eyes and picture a time they faced a challenge but kept going. Encourage them to think about how they felt and what they did.
- Show a picture of an old, rusty truck or play a sound of a rumbling engine. Ask students to imagine what this truck might have seen or experienced over the years.
- Invite students to share their thoughts with a partner: What might happen if someone decided to fix up this old truck? How could imagination and perseverance play a role in this story?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage all students to participate by pairing them up for partner discussions. This creates a safe space for sharing ideas.
- Use a talking object to facilitate sharing, ensuring each student has a chance to speak and be heard.
- Watch for students who may need additional support in visualizing or sharing and gently guide them with prompts or sentence starters.
Learn
Let's dive into 'The Old Truck' by Jerome Pumphrey, a story that beautifully combines the power of imagination with the strength of perseverance. As we read, we'll discover how a young girl's determination breathes new life into an old, forgotten truck and brings about change for herself and her family.
Interactive Engagement
- As we read about the old truck working hard on the farm, think about what kinds of jobs it might have done. What do you think made the truck so important to the family?
- When the truck is left unused, what do you notice about the illustrations? How do you think the truck feels being alone in the weeds?
- Watch how the young girl decides to fix the truck. What do you think gave her the idea to take on such a big project? What might she be feeling as she works on it?
- As we reach the part where the truck is restored, think about what it means for both the truck and the girl. How has she changed since the beginning of the story?
- Reflect on the ending: Why do you think the author chose to show the girl running her own farm? How does this connect to the themes of perseverance and imagination?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their thoughts during pauses to promote peer interaction and deeper understanding.
- Highlight the story's structure by discussing the beginning, middle, and end, helping students see the progression of events.
- Use different character voices and gestures to make the story more engaging and to help students connect with the characters' emotions.
Ask
Now that we've finished the story, let's think about how the girl's hard work and creativity changed not just the truck, but also her life. We'll explore how imagination and never giving up can make a real difference.
Discussion Questions
- Think about a time when something seemed too old or broken to fix. How did you feel about it, and what do you think might happen if you tried to fix it like the girl did with the truck?
- Imagine you are the girl who restored the truck. How do you think she felt when she saw the truck finally working again, and how might that feeling encourage her in other parts of her life?
- How do you think the girl's decision to restore the truck has affected her family and farm? What does this tell us about how one person's actions can influence others around them?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share personal stories and connect them to the themes of the story. This can help them relate the girl's experience to their own lives.
- Facilitate a safe and open environment where students feel comfortable discussing their thoughts and feelings. Remind them that there are no wrong answers.
- Use visual aids or gestures to help students express emotions and ideas, such as miming fixing a truck, to make the discussion more engaging and accessible.
Navigate
Restore and Renew: Imaginative Problem Solving Workshop
This activity invites students to explore the themes of perseverance and imagination, akin to the young girl's journey in 'The Old Truck'. By working together to creatively solve problems, students experience the journey of renewal and growth.
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Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to think outside the box and not be afraid to suggest 'wild' ideas.
- Highlight the importance of teamwork and valuing different perspectives during group work.
- Use open-ended questions to guide reflection, such as 'What was challenging about this task?' and 'How did your group work together to overcome obstacles?'.
Share
As we come to the end of our lesson on 'The Old Truck,' let's take a moment to think about what we have learned about perseverance and imagination. Remember how the young girl in the story used her determination to bring the old truck back to life. Let's reflect on how this story might inspire us in our own lives.
Reflection Questions
- Think about the girl in the story. How did her imagination and perseverance help her achieve something important? How can you use these qualities in your own life?
- Reflect on a moment in the story that made you feel proud or inspired. What was it, and how can that feeling help you when you face your own challenges?
- Imagine you are the girl at the end of the story, standing next to the restored truck. What did you learn from her journey, and how can it guide you in your next big task or project?
Teacher Tips
- Encourage students to share their reflections with a partner or in small groups to foster a sense of community and support.
- Allow students to choose how they express their reflections—through words, drawings, or even acting out a moment from the story.
- Highlight and celebrate the connections students make between the story and their own lives, reinforcing their understanding of perseverance and imagination.
UDL Strategies
Representation
- Create a multimedia presentation that combines a video of a truck's role in the community with still images and text overlays to highlight its importance. Use descriptive audio for visually impaired learners.
- Provide physical models of truck parts that can be assembled and disassembled, allowing tactile learners to explore the truck's components and visualize the repair process.
- Incorporate a digital interactive diagram of the truck where students can click on different parts to learn about their function and the specific issues needing repair, with both audio and text descriptions.
Action & Expression
- Allow students to choose how they present their solutions, such as through a puppet show, a digital storyboard, or a simple animation created with an app, catering to different expressive strengths.
- Facilitate group presentations where students can use a mix of verbal explanation and visual displays, like posters or digital slides, to share their ideas, supporting diverse communication styles.
- Provide an option for students to create a 'Solution Diary' where they can draw, write, or voice-record their creative process and reflections, encouraging self-assessment and personal expression.
Engagement
- Begin the lesson with a storytelling session where students act out the truck's journey, highlighting its significance to the community. Use costumes or props to enhance the experience.
- Set up a 'repair shop' station where students can use a variety of recycled materials to create their prototypes, encouraging creativity and hands-on interaction.
- Offer a 'mission card' system where students receive specific challenges or tasks related to the truck repair, allowing them to choose based on their interests and strengths, such as design, construction, or storytelling.
Assessment Criteria
Formative Assessment
- Observe students during the brainstorming session to assess their ability to predict possible outcomes of their solutions. Look for evidence of imaginative ideas and willingness to persevere through challenges. Note if students can relate their ideas back to the story themes.
- Conduct brief one-on-one conferences with students as they work on their prototypes, asking them to articulate their predictions and how they plan to overcome potential roadblocks. Listen for connections to character actions and themes of perseverance.
- Use a checklist during group work to monitor how students handle setbacks and whether they show perseverance by adapting their ideas or trying new strategies. Look for evidence of reflection and learning from mistakes.
Summative Assessment
- Have students complete a group presentation where they explain their problem-solving process and solutions. Assess their understanding of perseverance and imagination based on how they describe overcoming challenges and using creative thinking, ensuring they connect this to the story.
- Request individual reflective journals or essays where students discuss their experience with the activity. Evaluate their ability to make predictions about story outcomes and reflect on the role of perseverance and imagination in achieving positive results, noting specific examples from their work.
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