Ballet for Martha: Making Appalachian Spring

By: Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

Illistrated By: Brian Floca

This book takes us on the journey through what it takes to compose a ballet. Martha Graham's is the choreographer who collaborates with a composer, and other dancers to come up with the ballet. Students will get to experience what it takes to work together to get something accomplished and the hard work that goes into creating something wonderful.

 

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press Copyright: 2010

 Reading Level: 2nd and up Lexile: AD710L

Suggested delivery: Read Aloud

Vocabulary: Collaborating, Forge, choreographer, composer, Ballet, artist, Frontier, Pioneer,  

Electronic Resources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/books/review/McDonald-t.html review about the book

http://www.jangreenbergsandrajordan.com/pages/books/marthagraham/videos.html about the book, along with pictures and videos of the actual ballet. Great for before or after reading to really bring the dance alive and elevate the students comprehension of the book.

Activities to increase comprehension:

Before Reading: Have the students talk about collaboration. This book is about people working together to create a beautiful ballet. Having a discussion about things that require people working together would be a great way to get students ready to read this book. Students will not only get a preview to the words that will be used in this book but also the concepts.

After reading: Have the students watch the videos of the actual ballet so that it becomes real to them. Then have them work together and do a collaborative activity with a partner. They could do a found poem about the book to illustrate comprehension about the book and work with others.

 Kirkus Best Books 2010
PW Best Books 2010
Booklist Editor's Choice 2010
SLJ Best Books 2010
Washington Post Best Books 2010
Boston Globe Best Books
Horn Book Fanfare
ALA Notable Book
NCTE 2011 Orbis Pictus Award
ALSC's 2011 Sibert Honor