Crossing the Bridge
Developed by Christopher Haught for the
5th grade
Of course he was going to run. He had gotten up early every day all summer to run. He figured if he worked at it - and Lord, had he worked - he could be the fastest runner in the fifth grade when school opened up. He had to be the fastest - not one of the fastest or next to the fastest, but the fastest. The very best.
- Bridge to Terabithia (p. 2), by Katherine Paterson. Winner of the 1978 Newbery Medal.
Task|Process and Resources|Evaluation|Conclusion|Credits
Introduction
Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia is a wonderful book that
explores one school year in the life of Jesse Aarons. Jesse's experiences
illustrate how 5th grade can be challenging, while at the same time our ten year
old hero learns valuable lessons about life and himself.
Bridge to Terabithia deals with some difficult issues, and Jesse is forced to cope with them. He is not alone in his efforts, however. He meets a new girl in class named Leslie Burke, and the two quickly become best friends. Leslie helps Jesse deal with the changes in his life, and aids him in opening many new doors. He learns much about himself, the nature of friendship, the power of kindness, and the importance of walking in someone else's shoes.
Now that you've read the book, it is time to take a look at how Jesse's experiences and lessons can apply to all our lives. You've been placed on a task force whose mission is to show how people can work together for the common good....
