Stellaluna

Stellaluna
unit by Janee’ Lowrance
printables by Ami Brainerd
Optional Resources (for purchase)
Evan Moor Theme Pockets (October)
Bats Lapbook from Live and Learn Press
Language Arts:
Vocabulary
Clutched- to hold on tightly
Downy- soft
Clambered- climbed
Anxious- worried
Peculiar- weird/strange
Perched- to sit at a high vantage point
Sultry- very hot and moist
Limp- lacking strength or firmness
Babble- excessive or meaningless talk
Graceful- with ease of movement
Clumsy- lacking in grace
Muse- to ponder or meditate on (to think for a long time)
Play the Bingo Game! (contributed by Wende)
Simile
The baby bat’s wings are described “as limp and useless as wet paper”. When we
compare something using the words “like” or “as” it is called a simile. Try to think
of some similes of your own.
Onomatopoeia
Point out that when the author adds sounds to his story that it is called
onomatopoeia. Listen for these in the story. "FLUMP!" and "PLOP!" are both
examples.
Grammar
I also used this book as an opportunity to discuss capitalization of names and
other proper nouns. We learned the difference between a common and proper
noun and when to capitalize. We also took a look at the quotation marks
throughout the story and discussed what they are used for. We discussed
indirect quotations and direct quotations and practiced writing each.
Descriptive Language
Re-read the first paragraph on page 4 that begins “The dark leafy tangle of
branches”- notice the descriptive words. Ask if they can “picture” this scene in
their mind. Have your students write a descriptive sentence ( or paragraph)
describing a specific place - your backyard, a favorite place, or a room in the
house.
Math:
Count all the bats.
Count all the birds.
Count all the stars on the night time pages.
If you want, try estimating the amount of time Stellaluna was with the birds by
reading up on how long it takes a baby bat (or birds) to mature to being able to
fly.
Story Problem (contributed by Denise Gregson): On the page where the mother
bird returns to find the birds sleeping by their feet, it says she sees eight tiny feet
gripping on the edge of the nest. How many pairs is that? How many feet
would she have seen if she only had two baby birds along with Stellaluna? Or,
four birds plus Stellaluna? How many feet are there in your family?
Lapbook Component: Bird Math 3/4 Book
Social Studies:
Adapting
“Stellaluna learned to be like the birds”
We adapt to our surroundings. Babies born in China learn to speak Chinese and
eat Chinese food. They learn the customs and way of life of the people around
them. You could use this time to discuss the Pilgrims leaving Holland to come to
America for this very reason (or many other instances of this happening to
people in the Bible. The Bible says “He who walks with the wise shall be wise
and those who walk with fools will be fools.” We need to choose carefully who
we are around- we will learn to be like them.
Obeying Rules
Reread page 13. Mamma bird will not let Stellaluna back in the nest until she
promised to obey all the rules. Stellaluna promised and then she tried very hard
to do just that. Why were following mamma birds rules important? What rules
does your family have? Why do we have them. Notice how Stellaluna obeyed
mother bird even when mamma bird wasn’t there watching.
Feelings
“How embarrassing!” Have you ever been embarrassed? When? What made you
feel better? Have you ever seen a friend get embarrassed? How did you help her
to feel better?
Also the birds felt out of place with the bats (just as Stellaluna felt out of place
with the birds). Have you ever felt out of place somewhere? When? What helped
you to feel better? What should you do when you see someone who looks like
they feel out of place?
Geography/Science
Where do bats live? You will find bats all over the world! Stellaluna and her
mother are fruit bats. Fruit bats are found in Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia.
Make a story disk (baby fruit bat and baby birds?) and place in the continent of
your choice.
Lapbook Component: Finding Fruit Bats Book
Science:
Sense of Smell
The story says mother bat was following the scent of fresh fruit. Try blindfolding
your student and having them smell different types of fruit to see if they can
identify them. Some to try are cantaloupe, mangoes, oranges, lemons, and
peaches. You can explain that all bats have a good sense of smell and Old
World fruit bats rely upon their sense of smell to find their food.
Predators
What is a predator (hunter)? What is prey ( the hunted one) ? Can you name
some of each? Can you make a chain of who eats who? Start with an animal and
name some of the things they eat, then what those things eat, and so on. This is
called a food chain. The Magic school Bus series has a book on food chains as
well called Magic School Bus Gets Eaten.
Here are different ways animals protect themselves from predators. Which
method would you try if you were an animal?
1. Running away: fast animals (like rabbits and deer) can try to outrun their
predators.
2. Scaring predators: some animals try to convince their predators that they
are bigger and scarier than they really are. Some butterflies, moths, and
frogs have special markings on their bodies that allow them to do this.
3. Hiding: some animals find rocks, leaves, or burrows to hide in; hoping they
won’t be noticed or found by their predators
4. Warning colors: poisonous animals (like the monarch butterfly and poison
dart frogs) usually have special colorings that tell predators to stay away!
When a predator eats one of these animals, it gets sick, and it remembers!
Next time it sees the bright colors, it will find something else for lunch.
5. Fighting: some animals have sharp teeth, sharp claws, or sharp horns, and
they aren’t afraid to use them! They will attack predators if they have to.
6. Camouflage: some animals have the ability to blend in with the area
around them.
Many animals, like the "walking stick" insect and the Indian Leaf butterfly
have amazing camouflage. Sloths are covered with a greenish layer of
algae which camouflages their fur; they also move very slowly, making
them even harder to spot.
Lapbook Component: Predator and Prey
Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores
While talking about food chains you also may want to discuss herbivores,
carnivores, and omnivores.
Herbivores-- plant eater
Carnivores-- meat eater
Omnivores-- eat plants and meat
Use the prepared minit book to learn more about who's who in the animal
kingdom. Have your student cut the large rectangle book out and fold it in half.
Have him cut the three slits that serve as three peek-a-boo windows for the
book. Have your student cut out each of the animal pictures. Using the
information at the bottom of the second page, help your student learn which
animals are herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Your older student may
want to skip the cutting/pasting and simply write the answers in the minit book;
he may also think of some more animals to research (and he can record those in
his book as well).
Lapbook Component: Who's Who Flip-Flap Minit Book
Bats (contributed by Cate Proudfoot)
There are around 1,000 different types of bats.
-The biggest is the Giant Flying Fox. Its wingspan can be up to six feet long.
-The smallest bat is the Kitti's Hog-nosed bat, also called the Bumble Bee bat. Its
average wingspan is only four inches.
-The big brown bat is the most common bat in North America. It has a wingspan
of around fourteen inches.
-The most famous bat is the Vampire bat. They are found in South America,
Central America and Mexico. Blood is the only food they eat. To do this the bat
makes a small cut in an animals skin and licks the blood with its tongue. The
animal hardly feels the cut.
Lapbook Components:
Types of Bats Tab Book
Bat Anatomy Minit Book
Find more information- p. 96-99 Evan Moor's Giant Science Resource Book
(Label the parts of a bat, different kinds of bats, bat book); Ch. 5 (Stellaluna)
More Science Through Children's Literature by Butzow
Owls
If you want to learn more about owls, try this Nocturnal Animals Lapbook.
Nocturnal Animals
You may want to discuss this idea with your child. Usborne has a good book on
this in the Beginners series called Night Animals. Make a list of nocturnal
animals. See link in “Owls” for more information.
Lapbook Component: Diurnal and Nocturnal Animals
Animal Nurturing
On page 1 it says “Oh how mother bat loved her soft tiny baby” . Do all animals
love and nurture
their babies? Research and make a list of the animals who take care of their
young and of those have to fend for themselves.
Echolocation (contributed by Cate Proudfoot)
About 70% of all bat species use a navigation system called echolocation (a
radar-like sense) to help them find their prey in the dark. Bats, dolphins, most
whales and even some species of shrews use echolocation to navigate. By
sending out sound waves, created by using their mouth or nose, these
mammals can "see" in dark places. The sound goes out and hits an object and an
echo is bounced back. Location, shape, size and even texture of an object can be
identified by the sound of the echo.
Fruit bats, like Stellaluna, rely on vision to see. Microbats (bats who eat animals
~ at least for the most part!) "see" by using a echolocation. Microbats depend
on echolocation to help them hunt for food at night. They send out the sound
waves (high pitched sounds) and when the echoes bounce back, they are able
to judge what objects (such as insects) are close by.
Echo Experiment Gather 2 paper towel tubes and a clock that ticks. Place one end of each tube at
a slant (45 degree angle) against a wall. Put the ticking clock at one open end of
a tube. Listen at the other open end of the opposite tube. You should be able to
hear the ticking clearly through the tube. If the tubes are held correctly, the
sound waves should bounce off the wall and shoot out through the second tube
- just like an echo.
*Variation - use large wrapping paper tubes
Lapbook Components:
What Kind of Bats use Echolocation?
What Mammals use Echolocation? Side by Side Book
Art
Medium
Acrylics and prism color pencils were used. Notice the detail on each of the
drawings. Are these illustrations realistic or cartoon-ish? Notice how the
author/illustrator chose to leave 1 full page for the illustration and one for the
words. Did you notice the small pictures on the text pages?
Details (contributed by Denise Gregson)
See if your child can determine what parallel story the mini illustrations tell
(answer- the mother bat's frantic for Stellaluna); artists can tell stories with
pictures just as authors tell stories with words. Your child may want to become
the author for these mini illustrations and write words to go along with the
parallel story.
Just for Fun
Since fruit bats eat fruit, make a fruit salad!
Read other Janell Cannon books and explore even more science topics.
Video Go-along-- The Magic School Bus Going Batty
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Clutched
Anxious
to hold on tightly
worried
Limp
Babble
a lot of talking without any
meaning
lacking strength or firmness
Sultry
very hot and moist
Clambered
climbed
Peculiar
weird or strange
Graceful
with ease of movement
Perched
to sit at a high vantage point
Muse
to think about for a long time
Downy
covered in or resembling soft,
furry feathers
Clumsy
lacking skill or grace in
movement
Made for Homeschool Share by Jenni (age 10)
Glue here
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Print out riddles. Fold paper down the center on line, with bat halves on front. Cut out around bats
(not down center). When you open up each one, you should have a full bat. Write answer to riddle
inside. Glue back of bat half into lapbook/notebook.
Riddle 1 - They prefer to hang out with their friends!
Riddle 2 - Because they can't drive!!
Riddle 3 - Because he had bat breath!
Types
of Bats
Giant Flying Fox
REMOVE THIS AREA (Cut away so you have just a tab left)
Bumble Bee Bat
REMOVE THIS AREA
Big Brown Bat
REMOVE THIS AREA
Vampire Bat
Assembly Directions:
Cut the five strips along the solid outer lines. If there is a rectangle piece in the right corner
of the strip, cut it off as indicated (remove this area). Stack your strips in order and staple at
the left side of the front page where the marks are indicated.
Discuss each type of bat (information is found in the unit). Let your student record some
information on each page of his minit book (if desired).
Your older student may want to learn more about one or more types of bats.
Photo Credits
Giant Flying Fox
Big Brown Bat
Vampire Bat
Giant Flying Fox
Bumble Bee Bat also known
as Kitti’s Hog-nosed bat
Big Brown Bat
Vampire Bat
Cut out as one piece. Fold back flap up. Fold flaps around the back and glue down.
Use to store your vocabulary cards.
New Words
Cut out book on previous page as
one piece (what you see is the INSIDE of the book). Fold in half.
Cut out title and animals on this
page. Paste title on the front of
your book. Your student may want
to add some animals, too (draw
them or cut pictures out of magazines).
Help your student determine which
animals are diurnal and which ones
are nocturnal.
Diurnal: goat, sparrow, cow, butterfly, squirrel
Nocturnal: moth, owl, bat, raccoon, mouse
diurnal
Or
Nocturnal?
Cut out book on solid lines. Fold on dotted.
Use the pictures on the next page to paste behind the flaps (or simply write the
names of the animals behind the flaps).
carnivore
herbivore
omnivore
Frogs, Toads
Hyenas
Cats, Lions, Tigers
Polar Bears
Spiders
Octopuses, Squid
Bird of Prey-- Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, Owls
Snakes
Seals, Sea Lions, Walruses
Crocodiles
Most Water Fowl-- Penguins, Pelicans, Storks
Vultures
Elephant
Giraffe
Zebra, Horse
Cow
Deer
Llama
Rabbit
© www.homeschoolshare.com
CARNIVORES
HERBIVORES
Many species of Bears
Many species of Birds
Many species of Monkeys
Dogs
Pigs
Raccoons
Opossum
Foxes
OMNIVORES
Cut book out as one piece. Cut
and paste the animals (bat,
shrew, dolphin, and whale) inside
the mini book.
Echolocation
Animals Who Use
Math
Bird
When the mother bird returns
to find the birds sleeping by
their feet, she sees eight tiny
feet gripping on the edge
of the nest.
Cut L-shape out as ONE piece. Fold the top of the L shape down. Cut dotted lines Fold the left rectangle in over the existing
flap. Cut rectangle (“when the mother…”) out and paste on the inside cover of the book. Let your student record her answers
under the flaps.
Five-toed Foot - bats sleep hanging
upside down, hanging by claws on their
toes.
Finger Bones - bats have four very long
finger bones in each wing outer wing
Thumb - very short unlike the other four
finger bones
Arm Bones - consist of an upper arm and Uropatagium - the flap of skin between
forearm with an elbow between them.
the bat's hind legs and tail
Ears - bats have large external ears and
good hearing
Body - covered with fur.
Wings - covered with leathery skin;
powered by large muscles in the body
For easier identification,
allow your student to color the parts that go with
each number (color each
part in a different color.
For instance, for #1 color
the entire right wing yellow. For #2 color the
thumb purple. For #3
color the ear red, etc.
When you finish, it will be
floppy. You need to staple or *carefully* glue
(tiny bits) the edges
down. Re-fold book. Cut
out cover (“Bat Anatomy”) and paste on.
Cut out the rectangle
with numbers (on the
next page) as one piece.
Glue on the front of the
bottom fold. Cut on dotted lines to make flaps.
Be sure to cut the flap
after numbers 4 and 8 as
well.
Unfold and fold bottom
flap up over the words.
Cut out this book as ONE
PIECE. Fold in thirds
(this is the INSIDE of
your book).
Anatomy
Bat
After you staple the outside
edges, go ahead and fold
each flap back once (and
crease) to make it easier
for your student to manipulate.
**THE FLAPS SHOULD
OPEN FROM THE CENTER
(they should not be connected in the center).
Once you get the number
page glued down, you will
cut away the extra part in
the middle and then cut
on each dotted line to
make the flaps.
Bats
Finding Fruit
Label the continents. Color the continents you’d have to travel to find fruit bats.
Cut page out and paste in the book on previous page.
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Predator
Help your student learn about each predator (owl, lion, spider, and wolf).
Inside each book write PREY and then list the animals that each predator
hunts.
Cut matchbooks out (four total) and fold. Cut book (“Predators and Prey”)
out as one piece and fold in half. Glue two matchbooks to the top and two
to the bottom. It would be best if the main book is printed on cardstock.
Predator
Predator
Predator and Prey
Predator
Bats
Fruit
Let your student write
NO behind the “fruit bats”
door. Your older student can
write more information (fruit
bats eat fruit not insects/
meat, so they don’t need
echolocation to find their
next meal).
Echolocation?
Bats
Let your student write YES
behind the “vampire bats”
door. Again, your older student can write more information. If he needs help
with his research, tell him to
Vampire
Bats Use
What Kind of
Cut book out as one
piece. Fold right flap
in. Fold left flap in.
Fold in half. “what
kind of bats...” should
be on the front cover.