Cross-Age Tutoring: Courage
Literature: Stone Fox by John Gardner
Focus: Literature, geography, mathematics, research, communication
Suggested grades: 2 and 4 for the original cross-age structure
Purpose
Older and younger students use a shared literary text to practice reading, research, geography, mathematics, and communication. Cross-age work should give both age groups meaningful academic tasks rather than making one group simply perform for the other.
Activities
- Crops and climate: Research potatoes and other crops, including climate and growing conditions.
- Farm technology: Examine photographs or visit a farm, museum, or virtual collection to study historical and modern machinery.
- Money and banking: Create a classroom financial simulation involving deposits, withdrawals, loans, interest, and repayment. Use simple, clearly labeled numbers.
- State research: Teams prepare a source-based report on Wyoming's geography, history, and environment.
- Budgeting: Given a fictional $500 budget, students categorize choices and explain tradeoffs. Emphasize mathematical reasoning rather than spending preferences.
- Dogsled research: Research the equipment, geography, animal care, and history of dogsled travel. Build a small model if desired.
- Literature presentation: Create a reader's theater or other presentation based on the book without requiring students to imitate dangerous activities.
- Living museum: Students prepare exhibits explaining documented details from the story and their research.
Assessment
Use oral explanations for younger students and written reports for older students. Assess reading comprehension, factual accuracy, mathematical reasoning, research, and communication.
Teacher Note
The original phrase “Indian culture” has been replaced with specific historical and cultural research supported by the text and reliable sources. Students should not be taught to treat Native peoples as a single culture.