Memoirs
Memoirs, accounts of personal life experiences, are probably my favorite way to capture and relive moments in time.
How many of you keep a diary, or journal? Those are both examples of types of memoirs.
These are examples of memoirs you might be interested in reading.
Marley and Me, by John Grogan (2005)
This book, which was turned into a famous movie starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson, recalls a part of the life of John Grogan that included an adorable (yet mischievous) Golden Lab named Marley.
The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them, by the Freedom Writers, Ziata Gilipovic and Erin Gruwell. (1999)
This memoir provides a window into the lives of teenagers in the Los Angeles area during the riots of the early 1990’s. Erin Gruwell, a teacher of high school students, uses writing in a diary to educate them about acceptance of cultural, ethnic, and racial differences. In addition, she helped the students see that they could make a difference in the world around them.
The Kids Are Alright: A Memoir by Diana, Liz, Amanda, and Dan Welch (2009)
Even though the Welch family endured some difficult times starting in 1982, as the children were able to rise above the hard times and being separated from each other and were able to be reunited as a family.
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank (U.S. edition in 1952)
The Diary of Anne Frank tells the story of a young girl who hid from the Nazi's during the Holocaust. She lived in the attic of a home in Amsterdam, but was eventually arrested and died while imprisoned. The house is a museum today that is open to the public.
Anne Frank
For an interactive experience touring the home that Anne Frank lived in, a timeline of events that impacted Anne and her family, and other facts about her life, visit this website.
www.annefrank.org/en/Metanavigation/For-students/
Here is a great memoir about the reactions of a goldfish as changes are made to his fishbowl environment.
www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/lm_2011_MR_GoldfishProgrammingGuide_360492_7.pdf
There are interesting follow-up activities that you can complete if you wish. Here is one of the activites for you to practice with. I have adapted it directly from the Michigan webite. Please download, complete, and turn it in when you have finished.