Media:
This unit begins with children listening to some of the popular songs from "Annie", such as "Tomorrow", or "Hard-Knock Life".  Kids of all ages love these songs because they are very catchy, and fun to sing! CDs can be bought at any music store, or ordered from BuyBroadway.com. Also, the Annie movie can be ordered online, or simply purchased at any video store. (Find out if your principal has any special vendors for drama or theatrical use.) The movie should be watched as soon as the interest is sparked, and lessons can be chosen from an array of needs for your classroom.  Some lessons, like Drama, or Writing Activities can be adapted to grades even higher than fourth.  Many aspects of "Annie" can be addressed, such as, students themselves can focus on touring with her, or they can focus on the elements of the play itself! Also, students may become more motivated to try to create a play of their own once they see that other young children are doing it! Any teacher who is teaching a summer enrichment program, like social center, could use any or all of these activities all summer long! Or, they could augment your "computer center" or any other "center" based activity area!

Finally, anyone who wants to go off on their own and try to order some movie scripts to do extra lessons with movies or TV as the motivator, try (click on the bottom for a menu, then go to Movies/TV for scripts to study:
metro.turnpike.net

For theme-related "Literacy unit", for use following
Annie:      Click on Literacy Unit, which is about a fish named "Swimmy", who
                   becomes an orphan when his parents and family are swallowed by a
                   giant fish in the ocean. Discover more related themes, like "Friendship",
                   and "Responsibility" through the fables of Leo Lionni.
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How this "Broadway" Unit fits in with Real Life:

Since many students are involved with actually working in the entertainment industry through
dance, modeling, commercials, and other acting "gigs", this unit helps to bring some of their
"world" into the classroom, and it can give those children a chance  help other children learn how to use their natural talents in a positive way.  Many children dream of starring in a TV show or movie, or to sing and dance on stage, and this unit enable children to "live" the dream in their own classroom as an enrichment activity.  What child who can't remember the "times tables" or when the Civil War took place forgets the words to their favorite popular song or TV commercial?

This unit helps to activate the intelligence that enhances "muscle" memory through acting,
affective development through identifying with Annie and singing her heartfelt songs about
hope and sometimes desperation, and finally, this unit shows even the youngest students that
all children have something special to offer the world, and it isn't just adults who have all the talent!   For a list of Chicagoland talent agencies who deal with Chicago Public Schools children, and others, please click on Talent Agents, in order to arrange a guest speaker for your classroom, or else provide an interested parent or guardian with information about how to get started in "Show Business".

North Side:  Contact Dr. Georgianna Theoharis at CPS Region 1 Offices for Work Permits regarding children younger than 17 years of age in the work environment @ 773/534-1083.   For South Side: Tilden H.S., Re-Entry Center, 4747 S. Union, Room 013, Chgo., IL, 312/535-1978.

Field Trips!
Try going to the Museum of Science and Industry as a culminating activity for this unit.  The children can get a chance to see life in the "olden days" downstairs in the "Olde Cobblestone Street".  Also, exhibits on communication and
transportation are cutting edge!

Another good Field Trip for this unit would be a trip to the
Chicago Historical Society to see what life was like in the past!

If your class cannot go to the Pet Store for the "animal observation" activities in Science, go to:
the Brookfield Zoo! There are many to animals to observe there!

More Children's Literature:

    Banish, Roslyn. A Forever Family.

  Bawden, Nina. Princess Alice.

  Bloom, Suzanne. A Family for Jamie.

  Bunin, Catherine. Is That Your Sister?

  Caines, Jeannette. Abby.

  Chapman, Noralee. The Story of Barbara.

  Fisher, Iris L. Katie Bo.

  Freudberg, Judy. Susan and Gordon Adopt a Baby.

  Gabel, Susan L. Where the Sun Kisses the Sea.

  Girard, Linda Walvoord. Adoption is for Always.

  Greenberg, Judith E. Adopted.

  Hess, Edith. Peter and Susie find a Family.

  Keller, Holly. Horace.

  Koehler, Phoebe. The Day We Met You.

  Lapsley, Susan. I Am Adopted.

  Livingston, Carole. "Why Was I Adopted?"

  MacKay, Jed. The Big Secret.

  Milgram, Mary Brothers are all the Same.

  Nixon, Joan Lowery. You bet your Britches, Claude.

  Pellegrini, Nina. Families Are Different.

  Rondell, Florence. The Family That Grew.

  Rosenberg,  Maxine. Being Adopted.

  Schnitter, Jane. William is My Brot
  Sobol, Harriet Langsam. We Don't Look Like Our Mom and Dad.

  Stanek, Muriel.  My Little Foster Sister.

  Stein, Ssara Bonnett. The Adopted One.,  &   That New Baby.

  Turner, Ann Warren. Through Moon and Stars and Night Skies.

  Udry, Janice May. Theodore's Parents.

  Voake, Charlotte. Mrs. Goose's Baby.

  Wasson, Valentina Pavlovna. The Chosen Baby.