MaiStoryBook Library

Black History Month: The Oldest Student- How Mary Walker Learned to Read + Craft Extension

by MaiStoryBook

Introducing an inspirational biography about the nation’s oldest student, featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

*The Oldest Student* by Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Illustrated by Oge Mora

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “The Oldest Student” to start on your own reading adventure! ~*

About the Book

This is the inspirational story of Mary Walker, whose life spanned from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, and who learned to read at the age of 116. She was born into slavery in 1848 and freed at age 15. She married and had her first child by age 20. Throughout her life, she worked various jobs such as cooking, cleaning, babysitting and selling sandwiches to raise money for her church. Despite being the last remaining member of her family at 114, she persevered and dedicated herself to learning, proving that it is never too late to acquire new skills.

Main Themes/ Ideas

  • You’re never too old to learn something new.
  • It’s never too late to achieve your dreams.

*The Oldest Student/ My Learning Journey* Craft

Read aloud the story “The Oldest Student: How Mary Walker Learned to Read”, and then encourage students to create their own *Mary Walker* Craft to share what they learned about Mary Walker, or to share about their own student learning experience.

Materials

Ways to use the craft:

  • Share your craft to share what you learned about Mary Walker
  • Share your craft to share about something you want to learn and about what kind of student you are.
  • Use your craft to inspire you to learn something new.
  • Share your craft and ask family and friends what is something they want to learn.
  • Display the crafts for a Reading Bulletin Board to inspire everyone to pursue their dreams and to study and learn!

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*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of reading adventures this year, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *Remarkable Bookshelf* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear about your own remarkable Bookish adventures!~*

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*