Smack Dab in the Middle
by Anita Riggio
SUGGESTIONS FOR CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Anita Riggio suggests these activities to use in the classroom after reading the story of Rosie Roselli, a spunky middle child who handles the trials and the triumphs of being "smack dab in the middle."
FOR GRADES K-2
CHART IT!
1. Fold a paper into eight sections.
2. In the first section, write: RAINBOW WEEK.
3.Write one day of the week in each remaining section.
4. At the end of each day, draw a self-portrait in that day's section. Color yourself the way you feel: yellow (happy), red (angry), blue (sad) or a combination of all three colors!
5. "Show and Tell" about your RAINBOW WEEK.
WRITE IT!
1. Copy and complete the following sentence:
I like being the (oldest, middle, youngest, only, or twin) because________________________________.
2. Copy and complete the following sentence:
I don't like being the (oldest, middle, youngest, only, or twin) because________________________________.
ILLUSTRATE IT!
Use cut paper, crayons, or paint to create an illustration for each sentence.
FOR GRADES 3-4
GRAPH IT!
1. Fold a piece of paper into quarters. Using both sides of your paper, write one of these words at the top of each quadrant:
INDEPENDENT
PATIENT
EASYGOING
FAIR
CREATIVE
ORGANIZED
SECRETIVE
RESPONSIBLE
2. Write these words down the left side of each quadrant:
Totally!
Sort of...
NOT!
3. Along the bottom of each quadrant, write your initials and the initials of two or three people (siblings, cousins, or friends) whose places in their families are different from yours.
4. Under each set of initials, write: OLDEST, MIDDLE, YOUNGEST, ONLY, or TWIN.
5. Now rate each person (using the choices of Totally!, Sort of..., and NOT!) on the attribute in each quadrant (INDEPENDENT, PATIENT, etc.) BE HONEST!
6. Get together with two or three other classmates. Compare and contrast your ratings of oldests, middlers, youngests, onlys, and twins.
7. Together, make a graph that shows the averages of your group's findings.
