Historical Fiction in Second Grade

This January, second grade students are reading historical fiction in school and at home. First, students explored the structure of historical fiction. In December, the reading of biographies set the stage for this study as many biographies focus on people from a time period in the past. As we discussed the contributions made by these people, we also focused on how the time period in which they lived affected their lives and helps to explain the importance of their work.

The entire grade is reading the historical fiction book Wagon Wheels and learning the story of the Muldie boys and their father as they travel from Kentucky to Nicodemus, Kansas in 1878. The Muldies were a real family who along with thousands of African American pioneers left the South after the Civil War to settle in the West. They first settled in the town of Nicodemus.

We read about the courage of the boys as they lived in a dugout while their father searched for land that will enable them to have a better life, and then of their journey of one hundred and fifty miles to connect with their father.

The trilogy of books from The Prairie Skies series by Deborah Hopkinson is being read aloud to the students. The first book is Pioneer Summer. This book starts in 1855 and follows the story of Charlie Keller and his family as they travel to Kansas from Massachusetts in order for Charlie Keller’s father, who is an abolitionist, to cast his vote for Kansas to be a free state. Along the way Charlie meets a friend whose father feels very different about slavery. Deep discussions have occurred in class as students think and discuss their reactions to the issues and characters in this book.

Students will be selecting historical fiction books of interest to read at home with their families and then talk, write and draw about their particular book.  

We will also be reading an assortment in class of historical fiction books as well both individually and in small groups.