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Show Way

Language: English

Show Way traces the lineage of one family’s women who began creating quilts with secret maps to freedom during the years of slavery, and continued in the following generations as a tribute to the past. Host LeVar Burton’s family discover items from earlier relatives, and a grandmother shares memories of surviving the Holocaust during World War II with her grandchildren.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Family photo wall hanging

You will need:

  • large piece of background paper (wrapping paper on a roll) or poster board
  • scissors
  • glue
  • marking pen
  • paper hole punch
  • yarn

Together, make a list of family members -- including grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even family pets.

  1. Look through some boxes of family photographs, and let your child choose 1 picture for each person on the list.
  2. Arrange the pictures on a large piece of colorful paper or poster board, leaving approximately the same amount of space between each picture with room under each photo to write the name of the person.
  3. Attach the pictures.
  4. Punch two holes in the top and thread yarn through them to serve as a hanger.

Share family memories and stories as you make and hang the finished product.

  

Favorite book bookmarks

  • Cut construction paper into the size of bookmarks (about 2 x 6 inches).
  • Have family members write their name and the title of a favorite children’s book or story on a bookmark.
  • Draw pictures on the bookmarks for decoration.
  • Put them in a place where anyone who needs a bookmark can find them.

Make a “life”-line

Together make an illustrated timeline of your child’s life.

You will need:

  • sheets of 8 ½ x 11 paper (computer printer paper or the blank side of recycled paper)
  • colored pencils, crayons, or markers
  • cellophane tape
  1. Talk with them about events that they might want to draw a picture of, such a special birthday, a vacation, a family celebration, a milestone, school events and friends, etc.
  2. Tell stories about their baby and toddler years.
  3. Each part of the timeline represents an event so plan what will go in each picture before beginning to draw. Help them write, or dictate, a caption for each event.
  4. Connect the pages together with tape.

Have fun sharing with other the stories that go with each picture!

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Kids’ Family Tree Book by Caroline Leavitt
  • What A Family! by Rachel Isadora
  • Seven Brave Women by Betsy Hearne

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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