Discuss the topic of banned books with Junior High or High School students. Have students research Judy Blume's controversial books that have ended up on banned books lists such as "Forever" and "Blubber," to find out why some people wanted them banned. Instruct student groups to debate the subject of censorship and book banning and to form a personal opinion about it. Assign students to make individual, persuasive posters to advertise their personal stance on the subject.
Have students of any age participate in an author study book club focused on Judy Blume. Choose age appropriate books from Blume's large body of work. Allow students to choose between several titles. Students then read the books and research to find out more information about Judy Blume. Assign a certain number of pages to read each week. Once or twice a week, have students meet in title book club groups to discuss their findings about the author and the novel they are reading. Provide students with guiding questions for the group discussions at each book club meeting. Sample questions might include "How has the main character changed or developed since the last meeting?" or "What conflict did the characters face in this chapter and was it resolved?" When finished reading, have students create a visual (poster, book jacket, diorama) to demonstrate knowledge of the book and author.
Have elementary students read the novel "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" about a boy trying to overcome family frustrations and find his identity. Discuss the conflicts the main character faces in the story. Instruct students to think about a time that they felt frustrated and confused. Encourage students to attempt to include humor in the story. Afterwards, have students brainstorm ideas for a biographical story of the same title, substituting their grade level if not in fourth grade. Have students write their personal version of the story, taking it through the writing process to a final publication.
Read the picture book "The Pain and the Great One" aloud to students. Discuss the dynamics of the brother and sister relationship of the two main characters with elementary students. Point out the way that the author wrote the story from two different points of view. Have students think of a situation where they disagreed with another person, friend or family member. Instruct students to pre-write by creating a venn diagram showing the two different points of view on the different sides of the diagram. In the middle, students write the facts that the two people involved agreed on. Afterwards, provide students with a stapled paper, blank book in which to write a picture book story similar to Blume's book, but based on personal experience.