Teacher’s Guide for

Danitra Brown Leaves Town

By Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

 

Pre-reading Activity:

 

Brainstorm a list of things that people do in the summer. Think about places, activities, sports, etc.

 

Comprehension Guide/Quiz Questions:

 

Knowledge:

 

  1. Describe Danitra’s summer.
  2. Describe Zuri’s summer.

 

Comprehension:

 

  1. Explain why Zuri is sad at the beginning of the collection.
  2. Give examples of how the girls show their friendship even though they are apart.

 

Application:

 

  1. Write five interview questions for each girl about her summer.
  2. Draw a scene from the story.

 

Analyze:

 

  1. Examine the faces of Danitra and Zuri throughout the book. Does one look happier than the other? Why do you think so or not?
  2. Survey and graph your friends’ favorite spots for summer vacations.

 

Synthesis:

 

  1. How would you feel in Zuri’s place? What about Danitra?
  2. Describe a plan for a perfect summer vacation.

 

Evaluation:

 

  1. Which poem is your favorite? Why?
  2. Which illustration is your favorite? Why?

 

 

 

 

Multiple Intelligence Projects for

Danitra Brown Leaves Town

by Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by Floyd Cooper

 

Verbal/Linguistic

 

Write three letter poems about your own summer, or your favorite season. Be sure to revise by incorporating at least one simile, one personification, and one alliteration!

 

Logical/ Mathematical

 

Create a venn diagram (intersecting shapes where the things that are in common are listed where the two meet) comparing and contrasting Danitra and Zuri.

 

Visual/Spatial

 

Artists and poets both carefully choose a palette to depict tone and mood for a piece. Poets do this with words, artists with color. Choose a favorite poem from Danitra (or use one of your own) and then copy it into a plain piece of paper cut like an artist’s palette. Then, mix a variety of shades of color that you think would best represent the tone of the poem, and make small pools of color around the edge of the palette and your poem. (This makes a fabulous bulletin board!)

 

Musical/Rhythmic:

 

Reread “Block Party” and then write a similar poem about the music that you listen to and how it makes you feel. Be sure to read the poem aloud several times so that it has a good rhythm and is smooth.

 

Body/Kinesthetic

 

Reread the poem, “Big Plans” Then, brainstorm a list of things that you would like to do with your vacation. After that, make plans to do at least two things on the list regardless of the season! You may even want to have a summer event in mid-winter to lift everyone’s spirits.

 

Interpersonal:

 

Write at least five letters- two of which should be mailed. Bring in your letters (and for extra credit your addressed envelopes with stamps) to prove you have completed the assignment. Don’t worry- your teacher will just check that you have completed the work; she won’t actually read your letters!

 

 

 

Intrapersonal

 

Reread the poem, “Dream Places” and then write a travel guide for a place that you would like to visit one day. Be sure to include as much detail (and illustrations) as possible.


 

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