My Trade Books - About Manchester
Transcription
My Trade Books - About Manchester
My Trade Books Abby Schwendeman EDUC-340: Literacy Block Professor Heather Schilling Spring 2011 Table of Contents: Multicultural Books: Nino’s Mask Bebe Goes Shopping Yo! Yes? Pink and Say Biblioburro (papier-mâché mask) (label in Spanish) (rewrite the story) (KWL chart) (write letter) Fantasy Books: Woolbur (bulletin board paragraphs) Dogzilla (write new related story) Alligator Wedding (rhyming words poetry) Giggle, Giggle, Quack (animal sounds) Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? (generate ideas, class list) Realistic Fiction Books: Our Tree Named Steve (measuring/identifying trees) The Paperboy (media research paper) Laurie (earplugs experiment) The Lemonade Club (making predictions) Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind (book recommendation) Historical Fiction Books: Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys Potatoes, Potatoes Apples to Oregon The Memory Coat Molly Bannaky 2 (persuasive letter) (multiple perspectives) (computer game) (play adaption) (compare and contrast) Table of Contents (cont’d): Non-Fiction Books: Local Farms and Sustainable Foods (refrigerator maps) Some Kids Have Autism (personal narrative) A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian (guest speaker) What Do Astronauts Do? (diary entries) Garbage Helps Out Gardens Grow: A Compost Story (compost pile) Books of My Choice: The Mine-o-Saur Hugless Douglas Duck at the Door Diary of a Worm Dog Breath (posters) (illustrations) (mini-lesson on migration) (paragraph) (dental hygiene day) 3 Multicultural Books 4 Title of Book: Nino’s Mask Author’s Name: Jeanette Winter Copyright Year: 2003 Genre: Multicultural Number of Pages: 31 Synopsis of Story: Jeanette Winter’s story Nino’s Mask is about a young boy named Nino who is told that he is too young to wear a mask and participate in the Fiesta. Through the bilingual story, Nino imagines what it would be like to wear a mask, asks for help in creating a mask and eventually makes a mask of a “perro” (dog) all by himself. As the “perro”, Nino participates in the Fiesta and scares away the “tigre” (tiger) in a ceremonial Fiesta story-telling tradition. After his great performance, his parents discover that it is Nino and are very proud of their young son. Nino discovers that his dreams can come true through his own initiative. Activity: Students will think of an animal that they would love to be for a day. Given appropriate materials, students will create a papier-mâché mask and decorate it to represent the animal of their choice. The students will then participate in a creative dramatic activity in which they depict the animal that they have created a mask of at their own classroom “Fiesta”. Children will then write a reflection about how they acted like their animal appropriately and whether they enjoyed the activity. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Theatre 2.8.2. -- Through physical actions, depict a human or animal character. 5 Title of Book: Bebe Goes Shopping Author’s Name: Susan Middleton Elya Copyright Year: 2006 Genre: Multicultural Number of Pages: 30 Synopsis of Story: This book takes a bilingual approach to a simple trip to the grocery shop or “supermercado.” The mother (mama) takes her baby (Bebe) to the supermercado to buy groceries from her list—but Bebe has other things in mind, like buying candy (dulche)! Bebe gets into all kinds of trouble at the grocery store, chewing on Mama’s list, knocking things off of the shelves, and eating his animal cracker snack. Throughout the story, the author provides context clues to help readers decode the Spanish vocabulary heavily sprinkled into this tale of Bebe’s fantástico day at the supermercado! Activity: To encourage bilingualism in my classroom, I would ask students to look up items in our classroom in Spanish/English dictionaries and label them with the appropriate Spanish word. (Example: a pencil could be labeled “un lapiz”) Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 2.4.4 -- Understand the purposes of various reference materials (such as a dictionary, thesaurus, or atlas). (Core Standard) 6 Title of Book: Yo! Yes? Author’s Name: Chris Raschka Copyright Year: 1993 Genre: Multicultural Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: With minimal words, Chris Raschka tells the story of two boys and their different cultures. Using dialects and differences in speech, the boys demonstrate the difficulties that can arise during intercultural communication. The Caucasian boy is upset because he has no friends and seems surprised when the African-American boy shows interest in talking with him. The African-American boy asks if they can be friends and the story ends with both boys expressing excitement at their newfound friendship. Activity: Students will be asked to rewrite the story using more words than the author did. This will allow for the teacher to see the way that the student interpreted the story and will allow for students to spell out the unsaid messages in the book. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Reading 3.3.3-- Determine what characters are like by what they say or do and by how the author or illustrator portrays them. (Core Standard) Writing 3.5.7 -- Write responses to literature that: • demonstrate an understanding of what is read. • support statements with evidence from the text. 7 Title of Book: Pink and Say Author’s Name: Patricia Polacco Copyright Year: 1994 Genre: Multicultural Number of Pages: 44 Synopsis of Story: A young black Union soldier helps a fallen young white Union soldier in this Civil War tale. Pinkus (Pink) takes Sheldon (Say) back to his house to stay with his mother, Moe Moe Bay, so that he can recover in a safe place. However, the home is invaded by maurders and Moe Moe Bay is killed while trying to hide the two young soldiers. Now the two Union soldiers are stuck in Confederate territory with no protection and no place to go. The soldiers are eventually captured and held at Andersonville prison at one of the largest Confederate camps of the time. Sheldon (Say) was eventually released after months of starvation and suffering, but Pinkus (Pink) was said to be hung within hours of his capture. This book is a tribute to the heroic actions of Pinkus. Activity: This activity would be to be done before, during, and after reading the book “Pink and Say.” Students will participating in creating a class KWL chart about what the students know (K), want to know (W) and learned (L) from the story about the Civil War. Using their KWL charts, have students discuss in partners what they have learned from the book and compare it to the information that was given in their Social Studies textbook. Reference(s) for Activity: Higgins, M. (n.d.). Pink and say lesson plan. Retrieved from http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=975 Indiana State Standards Met: Reading 4.2.3 -- Draw conclusions or make and confirm predictions about text by using prior knowledge and ideas presented in the text itself, including illustrations, titles, topic sentences, important words, foreshadowing clues (clues that indicate what might happen next), and direct quotations. Social Studies 4.1.7 -- The Civil War Era and Later Development: 1850 to 1900. Explain the roles of various individuals, groups and movements in the social conflicts leading to the Civil War. (Core Standard) 8 Title of Book: Biblioburro Author’s Name: Jeanette Winter Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Multicultural Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: Based on a true story, Bilbioburro tells the story of a man named Luis in Colombia who loves to read. He decides to share his love of reading with other small villages by building book crates to hang over his donkeys’ backs and creates a traveling library. One day on the trail to a faraway village, a bandit accosts Luis. Luis asks him to please let him go because the children are waiting for the books, and the bandit takes a book and allows him to pass. The children of the village are overjoyed with the books and although the trips are hard, Luis sleeps well at night knowing that he has spread the love of reading to Colombian youth. Activity: For my activity, I would have students watch the short video clip from CNN’s Heroes collection (available online at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/25/cnnheroes.soriano/index.html?hpt=C2) so that they understood that this is a true story of a true hero for hundreds of Colombian children. Then students would be asked to write a letter to someone they consider to be a hero for helping them in their educational process, such as their parents or an older sibling who may have helped them read and do homework. Letters will then be mailed to the “educational heroes” so they know the impact that they have had on the students’ life. Reference(s) for Activity: Original idea supported by… Ruffins, E. (2010, February 26). Teaching kids to read from the back of a burro. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/25/cnnheroes.soriano/index.html?h pt=C2 Indiana State Standards Met: 9 Writing 2.5.3 -- Write a friendly letter complete with the date, salutation (greeting, such as Dear Mr. Smith), body, closing, and signature. 10 Fantasy Books 11 Title of Book: Woolbur Author’s Name: Leslie Helakoski Copyright Year: 2008 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: Woolbur is different from all the other sheep in his flock. He runs with the dogs rather than playing with his own sheep, rides on the spinning wheel rather than spinning wool and dyes his own wool rather than the already-sheared wool. Woolbur is happy to be such a free spirit, but his parents pull their own wool out at night. His parents worry that all of his idiosyncrasies are separating him from the flock—so they insist that Woolbur spend time with his flock and learn how to fit in. Instead of conforming to the flock’s norms, Woolbur teaches all the other young sheep to be just as individual and unique as he is. Activity: “Create a bulletin board titled “This is What Makes Me Special.” Have each child write a few sentences about a special talent or interest that they have that the others do not know. Post pictures of the children or illustrations of these special talents on your bulletin board” (“Woolbur Study Guide”). Students would use an editing checklist to proofread their own short paragraph caption and then word process the final draft on a computer before posting it on the bulletin board. Reference(s) for Activity: Woolbur study guide. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.spokenartsmedia.com/StudyGuides/Woolbur.pdf Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 2.4.5 -- Use a computer to draft, revise, and publish writing. Writing 2.4.7 -- Proofread one's own writing, as well as that of others, using an editing checklist or list of rules. 12 Title of Book: Dogzillq Author’s Name: Dav Pilkey Copyright Year: 1993 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: The mice in the city of Mousopolis were all gathering to have their First Annual Barbeque Cook-Off, when the wafts of their wonderful food awaken Dogzilla from her volcano home! The Mousopolis army, led by The Big Cheese, goes to work capturing the drooling beast, but is overwhelmed by her dog breath. Dogzilla ate all of the food, chased cars off the highway, chewed up all the furniture at the furniture store and even dug up bones at the museum! The Big Cheese formulates a plan to chase Dogzilla back into hiding—the threat of a bath. The plan works, but there was something that the Mousopolis Army did not plan for—PUPPIES! Activity: Write an original fantasy story that would have an unlikely villain, such as a dog like “Dogzilla”. (Dav Pilkey’s book Kat Kong could also be read for extra inspiration.) Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 2.3.6 -- Recognize the difference between fantasy and reality. Writing 2.4.3 -- Research Process and Technology: Find ideas for writing stories and descriptions in pictures or books. 13 Title of Book: Alligator Wedding Author’s Name: Nancy Jewell Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: Two alligators get married down in the bayou and have a raucous and roaring good time! The author takes readers through the whole wedding process in rhyme—from the ceremony to the reception. After the first kiss as a married couple, the alligators have a huge feast of traditional Creole foods, followed by toasts to the newlyweds. After the dinner, they cut the cake (and feed each other with a long handled rake!) and dance the night away. Their night is almost ruined when their honeymoon barge sinks under their weight, until they realize that they can swim to their honeymoon because they are alligators! Activity: Students would be asked to identify rhyming words in the book and write a list of rhymes that are found in the book. Then students will look at spelling patterns that are found in the words and note differences in spelling patterns—even between words that rhyme. Once the student has recorded the words, have them create an original rhyming poem using the same words from the book. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 2.1.1-- Phonemic Awareness: Demonstrate an awareness of the sounds that are made by different letters by: • distinguishing beginning, middle, and ending sounds in words. • rhyming words. • clearly pronouncing blends and vowel sounds. (Core Standard) Writing 2.1.2 -- Decoding and Word Recognition: Recognize and use knowledge of spelling patterns (such as cut/cutting, slide/sliding) when reading. (Core Standard) 14 Title of Book: Giggle, Giggle, Quack Author’s Name: Doreen Cronin Copyright Year: 2002 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 28 Synopsis of Story: When Farmer Brown goes on vacation and leaves his brother Bob in charge of the farm, Duck causes mischief by re-writing all the notes regarding the animals’ care. Duck writes notes (with the support of the other animals) so that the animals get pizza for supper in the barn, the pigs get spa-like baths, and the cows get to choose the movie for “Movie Night.” When Farmer Brown calls to check in on Bob and the animals, all he can hear is “giggle, giggle, quack, giggle, oink, giggle, moo.” He then realizes that Duck has been causing trouble on the farm while he has been away. Activity: Review animal sounds with students. (“Old McDonald” song could be a fun way to review.) Then ask students to complete the worksheet regarding animal noises and the starting sounds that begin each animal noise that can be found on page 14 of the Enrichment Guide listed below. This activity will work on phonics, as well as checking students’ understanding of what each animal “says.” Reference(s) for Activity: Grote, J, & Howe, G. (2008, October). Enrichment guide: giggle, giggle, quack. Retrieved from http://www.firststage.org/media/pdf/Giggle_EG.pdf Indiana State Standards Met: English K.1.12 -- Listen to spoken sentences and recognize individual words in the sentence; listen to words and recognize individual sounds in the words. (Core Standard) 15 Title of Book: Is Your Buffalo Ready for Kindergarten? Author’s Name: Audrey Vernick Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: Audrey Vernick uses the silly premise of a buffalo going to kindergarten to help relieve small students’ first day jitters. The book asks readers to determine whether the buffalo is ready to go to kindergarten based on how he behaves. Is a buffalo simply ready for kindergarten because he has a backpack? No—he also needs to learn the “Rules of Sharing and Caring” and get along well with his classmates as well. By the end of the story, he buffalo is having so much fun at kindergarten that he never wants to leave! Activity: Explain how the story was written to help little kids feel less nervous about kindergarten, as well as helping them understand what is expected of them in kindergarten. Have students help generate a class list of the ideas from the book as well as more ideas that would help a child know if they were prepared for kindergarten. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 2.5.7-- Write responses to literature that: • demonstrate an understanding of what is read. • support statements with evidence from the text. 16 Realistic Fiction Books 17 Title of Book: Our Tree Named Steve Author’s Name: Alan Zweibel Copyright Year: 2005 Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Pages: 30 Synopsis of Story: The book is written in a letter format, from a father to his children, recalling the history that they have shared with a specific tree from the very beginning. He tells of the family’s visit to the site that their future home will be on. The father explains that the trees will need to be cleared to make room for their house, but Sari (the two year-old) cries and repeatedly says “I love you, Steve” meaning “I love you, tree.” The other two children, Adam and Lindsay, join in and soon enough the parents spare that tree from destruction and it becomes the family tree in the family yard. The tree is a source of shade, entertainment, and watches the family as they grow. The book ends with the sad event that Steve the tree is toppled in a storm and is no longer in the family’s yard. However the dad says that Steve will always be a part of the family and no storm can take away the memories that Steve has provided them with. Activity: This book would lend itself well to supporting a mini-lesson about trees and leaves. A number of activities could be done regarding trees, but one that might work well because Steve was so large is measuring trees and/or identifying different types of trees in the school yard. See http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp309-01.shtml for formal lesson plan. Leaf identification books could also be made with students, if time allows. Reference(s) for Activity: Education World (http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp30901.shtml) Indiana State Standards Met: Life Science 1.3-- Observe, describe and ask questions about living things and their relationships to their environments. 18 Title of Book: The Paperboy Author’s Name: Dav Pilkey Copyright Year: 1996 Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Pages: 27 Synopsis of Story: It is early in the morning and the neighborhood is quiet and still, all except the paperboy—who is busy at work. The paperboy and his dog wake up early each morning, while his family and neighbors are fast asleep, and deliver the daily news. The boy is tired, but he knows his job is important and so he travels the route he knows so well and gets his job done. He gets home just as his parents and sister are awakening, but he quietly goes up to his room and slips into his bed—which is still warm. Activity: Because newspapers are becoming more and more obsolete, have students brainstorm and research other ways that people receive news. Ask students to choose one source of news (i.e. internet, television, newspapers, radio, etc.) and then write a review of it—with benefits, drawbacks, and interesting facts about the media. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing: Applications-- 3.5.2 -- Write descriptive pieces about people, places, things, or experiences that: • develop a unified main idea. • use details to support the main idea. (Core Standard) 19 Title of Book: Laurie Author’s Name: Elfi Nijssen & Eline van Lindenhuizen Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Pages: 24 Synopsis of Story: Laurie is unlike anyone else she knows. Laurie has hearing problems, which causes her to have issues with her peers and causes her to be unsafe when crossing the street. She is sad because no one wants to play with her at recess because she cannot hear them and has to ask them to repeat things. Laurie goes to the hearing doctor and is able to get hearing aids, which she calls her “computer friends”, which help her to socialize better and help her live a fuller life. Laurie still can turn her hearing aids down or off when she misses the quietness that her life was before, but she is so happy now that she can hear and now her friends all think she is special, rather than weird. Activity: Have the class try to communicate with each other for about half an hour while wearing earplugs. Have them communicate like they were at recess, as well as trying to have them listen to a lesson. At the end of the experiment, have a grand discussion as a class and talk about the difficulties that you had understanding each other when you couldn’t hear well. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Listening and Speaking 2.7.1 Comprehension-- Determine the purpose or purposes of listening (such as to obtain information, to solve problems, or to enjoy humor). (Core Standard) 20 Title of Book: The Lemonade Club Author’s Name: Patricia Polacco Copyright Year: 2007 Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Pages: 38 Synopsis of Story: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Miss Wichelman’s fifth grade class learns the true meaning of this cliché saying when one of their students, Marilyn, is diagnosed with leukemia. The whole class joins together and shaves their heads in solidarity and for support of Marilyn as she goes through her chemotherapy treatments. The classroom teacher, Miss Wichelman, is personally connected to this little girl’s struggle because she herself is struggling through cancer. The students form “The Lemonade Club” as an afterschool support group to benefit both the students and the teacher alike. Activity: While reading this book aloud to the class, ask students to make predictions as to what will happen next. For instance, ask students what they think is wrong with Marilyn, what they think the students will do to make her feel better, why all the students would be wearing hats, and why Miss Wichelman’s hair isn’t growing back, etc. If needed for assessment and tracking, have the students write down their predictions, followed by what actually happened in the book. After predicting while reading, have students write in their writer’s notebooks about something that happened in their life that they never could have predicted. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Comprehension 2.3.5-- Confirm predictions about what will happen next in a story. 21 Title of Book: Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind Author’s Name: Judy Finchler and Kevin O’Malley Copyright Year: 2006 Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Pages: 31 Synopsis of Story: Miss Malarkey, the classroom teacher, is on a mission to find a book that every student will enjoy reading. Principal Wiggins adds extra incentive to the program by saying that he will dye his hair purple and sleep on the roof if the students in his school can read 1,000 books by the end of the year. All of the students seem excited… except for our narrator and his group of friends. Throughout the book, months fly by and slowly but surely Miss Malarkey finds books that all of his friends enjoy and he no longer has any friends to come over afterschool and play video games with. They all want to read! Our narrator tries book after book, but he was unable to connect with a book. Then, after months of trial and error, and getting to know her student well—Miss Malarkey finds a book that she is SURE our narrator will. And certainly enough—he does! Our narrator reads Book 1,001 and the whole school wins the contest, but the narrator gains something even better—the passion for reading. Activity: Create a “Leaving No Reader Behind” bulletin board, with each student writing a book recommendation for their favorite book, describing the plot, characters, and genre. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 4.5.2-- Write responses to literature that: • demonstrate an understanding of a literary work. • support statements with evidence from the text. (Core Standard) 22 Historical Fiction Books 23 Title of Book: Virgie Goes to School with Us Boys Author’s Name: Elizabeth Fitzgerald Howard Copyright Year: 2000 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 22 Synopsis of Story: Virgie is a young AfricanAmerican girl growing up during the Reconstruction period. At this time, girls were not schooled in a public setting—but there was nothing that Virgie wanted more than to go to school with her five brothers. Her parents were hesitant, because it wasn’t normal for girls at that time and the school was a seven mile walk from the home. But Virgie was adamant about going and at the end of the summer was allowed to go to school with the boys. She was in awe of the schoolhouse and all the books and the opportunity to learn. Virgie, against all odds, had found a way to get an equal education to her brothers’ and was able to fulfill her dream of going to school. Activity: Students will write a persuasive argument (in letter form) from Virgie’s point of view to her parents as to why she should be allowed to attend school just like her brothers. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 4.5.6 -- Write for different purposes (information, persuasion, description) and to a specific audience or person. (Core Standard) 24 Title of Book: Potatoes, Potatoes Author’s Name: Anita Lobel Copyright Year: 1967 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 37 Synopsis of Story: A long time ago, there were two countries: one in the west one in the east. In between the two countries, there lived a woman with her two sons on a large potato garden. The lady wanted to have nothing with the feuding countries and so she separated her farm from the world with a big stone wall. The boys, bored with the potato farm, both leave— one going to the west and one to the east. The two boys both joined the armies and fight each other until hunger overtakes both their armies. The brothers have the same idea and both take their armies to eat potatoes at their mother’s garden. They feud over the starchy vegetables until their mother is endangered and they realize that their fighting is pointless. The two countries’ armies are able to make amends and dine on potatoes with each other. Activity: Have students rewrite the story from one of the brothers’ point of view. Compare stories with other students who wrote from the other brother’s point of view. (i.e. If you wrote from the brother who went to the east’s point of view, get together with someone who wrote from the brother who went to the west’s point of view.) Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Reading 4.3.3-- Use knowledge of the situation, setting, and a character's traits, motivations, and feelings to determine the causes for that character's actions. (Core Standard) Reading 4.2.5-- Compare and contrast information on the same topic after reading several passages or articles. 25 Title of Book: Apples to Oregon: Being the (Slightly) True Narrative of How a Brave Pioneer Father Brought Apples, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, and Cherries (And Children) Across the Plains Author’s Name: Deborah Hopkinson and Nancy Carpenter Copyright Year: 2004 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 30 Synopsis of Story: When the family decides to move from Iowa to Oregon, following the Oregon Trail by covered wagon, Father can’t bear to leave his precious apple orchard behind. He builds a traveling nursery and brings his small trees and fruit plants with him! The whole treacherous journey on the Oregon Trail is overshadowed by making sure that the plants, not just the family, survive the long journey. The small girl, known as Luckily Delicious, understands her father’s wants and needs to protect the plants and is overwhelmingly happy when the family—and traveling nursery—make it to Oregon in one piece, safe and sound. Activity: Have students get a sense of how hard the Oregon Trail would have been to travel by having them play the simulation computer game “The Oregon Trail.” Then ask students whether they feel it would have been plausible for someone to take all the plants in the traveling nursery with them. Have the students write their responses with valid reasons in their writer’s notebooks. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: History 3.1.7-- Chronological Thinking, Historical Comprehension, Analysis and Interpretation, Research-- Distinguish between fact and fiction in historical accounts by comparing documentary sources on historical figures and events with fictional characters and events in stories. 26 Title of Book: The Memory Coat Author’s Name: Elvira Woodruff Copyright Year: 1999 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 26 Synopsis of Story: Two Russian Jewish children, Rachel and her cousin, Grisha, immigrate with Rachel’s family to America through Ellis Island to escape persecution in their homeland. Rachel’s mother wants Grisha to get a new coat before the long journey because his is so tattered, but he refuses because his coat holds too many memories for him. Grisha falls during the journey and does not pass the health inspection because his eye is injured. They mark his coat that he is to return to Russia, but Rachel is not about to let her cousin get shipped back. She takes his coat and turns it inside out—to hide the mark and to show the colorful wool lining that his mother had sewn in. The newer looking, bright coat and a re-inspection allow the boy to enter into the United States. Activity: As a class, adapt the story into a play and perform to celebrate the unique cultures that make up the United States because of immigration through places such as Ellis Island. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Theatre 4.1.3 -- Examine the value of theatre as a means of integrating history and culture. 27 Title of Book: Molly Bannaky Author’s Name: Alice McGill Copyright Year: 1999 Genre: Historical Fiction Number of Pages: 28 Synopsis of Story: After accidentally spilling the milk of her lord’s cow, Molly is sent to court where she is saved from the gallows. Instead she is sent to the New World, where she must work for a farmer for seven years. After her seven years are up, Molly takes what little she has and stakes her claim of land. When she realizes she needs more help on her homestead—she buys a slave man, promising him freedom when he helps her set up her homestead and make it stable. Instead, Molly and Bannaky (the slave man) fall in love, marry, and have children—even though it is against colonial law. Molly and Bannaky create a large homestead and are successful in the New World—and Molly passes on her family’s heritage and unusual history through her children and grandchildren. Activity: This book offers several different viewpoints to slavery, because of Molly’s indentured servitude and Bannaky’s slavery in helping Molly set up the homestead. Compare this book to other books regarding slavery and have students interpret why the slavery present in this book looks so different from slavery present in other books (i.e. Molly was a Caucasian woman, Molly loved Bannaky, etc.). (Also make sure that students see this as a work of fiction, not necessarily a true story down to the very last detail.) This discussion should take place in small groups, with teacher guidance. After the discussion, students will write an opinion piece about why they think that slavery was banned in the U.S. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Reading 6.2.7 -- Make reasonable statements and conclusions about a text, supporting them with evidence from the text. (Core Standard) 28 Non-Fiction Books 29 Title of Book: Language Arts Explorer: Local Farms and Sustainable Foods Author’s Name: Julia Vogel Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Non-Fiction Number of Pages: 31 Synopsis of Story: This book takes children on a journey through working at a local farm and harvesting sustainable foods. It explains the differences between certified organic and using organic methods. Offering suggestions for finding organic and local foods near the readers’ home, the book also tells benefits of eating locally rather than having food imported or travel miles upon miles. The author then challenges readers to live a healthier lifestyle and eat foods from local, sustainable farms. Activity: Make a “map to your refrigerator.” Have students look in their refrigerator and then research where those foods came from. Then have students research and look for healthier, organic, and local options that they could replace the food in their refrigerator with. Reference(s) for Activity: Julia Vogel, the author, gave this idea in the back of this book. Indiana State Standards Met: Earth Science 4.2.5 -- Describe methods that humans currently use to extend the use of natural resources. Earth Science 4.2.6 -- Describe ways in which humans have changed the natural environment. Explain if these changes have been detrimental or beneficial. 30 Title of Book: Some Kids Have Autism Author’s Name: Martha E. H. Rustad Copyright Year: 2008 Genre: Non-Fiction Number of Pages: 24 Synopsis of Story: This book introduces young children to something that they surely will see in their lifetime—autism. The book tells children the particular behaviors that their autistic peers may have and urges readers to be understanding of these differences. It also brings to attention that children with autism need friends, too. Rustad helps children to understand the differences that they will observe but also to be kind and open-minded when dealing with these children with special needs. Activity: When dealing with more sensitive material, I feel that it is imperative that students discuss the information so that it is completely understood by all. Students should engage in a grand discussion with the class about questions they still have, personal experiences with children with autism, and things that they learned. If the student does not feel comfortable participating in the discussion, the student can talk to the teacher in private as well. After the discussion, have students draw a picture that helps depict including EVERYONE in the classroom. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Reading Comprehension 1.2.7-- Relate prior knowledge to what is read. (Core Standard) 31 Title of Book: A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian Author’s Name: Heather Adamson Copyright Year: 2004 Genre: Non-Fiction Number of Pages: 24 Synopsis of Story: This book follows the day of Dr. Kip, a veterinarian. It shows the time of day at the top of the page in a clock format and shows how the day progresses and all the different tasks that the vet must do. The tops of the page also display questions, which are then answered on the page, so it allows for easy reading and skimming to find information. Adamson gives reader an overview of what veterinarians do every day, including when there is an animal emergency, and leads the readers through a job shadowing experience. Activity: The class could take a field trip to a veterinarian’s office or the teacher could organize a veterinarian to come as a guest speaker to come to the classroom to answer any questions that the students still might not have had answered. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Economics 2.4.6 -- Define specialization and identify specialized jobs in the school and community. (Core Standard) 32 Title of Book: What Do Astronauts Do? Author’s Name: Carmen Bredeson Copyright Year: 2008 Genre: Non-Fiction Number of Pages: 32 Synopsis of Story: This book uses a question and answer format to show readers what astronauts do and how they do it. It also includes a “fun fact” text box on some pages to tell readers unknown and interesting information and trivia regarding astronauts. The book covers topics such as what do astronauts eat, how do they shower, what do astronauts do for fun, and even how do astronauts go to the bathroom. Activity: I would have the students go online and look at one of the websites listed in the back of the book to learn more about what astronauts do. Either http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/living/index.html or http://spaceplace.nasa.gov.en/kids/ would be acceptable for this activity. Students will then write “diary entries” for an astronaut talking about life in space. Reference(s) for Activity: Carmen Bredeson, the author, gave me the idea when she listed the websites in the back of the book. Indiana State Standards Met: Reading Comprehension 2.2.4 -- Ask and respond to questions (when, who, where, why, what if, how) to aid comprehension about important elements of informational texts. (Core Standard) 33 Title of Book: Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: A Compost Story Author’s Name: Linda Glaser Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Non-Fiction Number of Pages: 30 Synopsis of Story: This book follows a child’s family’s compost pile and shows how they started the compost pile. Then the book shows what kinds of garbage they put into the pile and how it undergoes a change known as decay. Soon, the garbage doesn’t even look like garbage anymore—it looks like soil! The family then plants new vegetables and fruits, using the compost pile to act like fertilizer and soil. The book points out that composting is not only beneficial for the earth because it helps us grow wonderful garden, but also because it helps keep lots of trash out of landfills. Activity: Have the class organize a compost piles for the school to use, and then have the students help plant a community garden (using the compost to help it grow) in the spring. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Earth Science 4.2.5-- Describe methods that humans currently use to extend the use of natural resources. 34 Books of My Choice 35 Title of Book: The Mine-o-saur Author’s Name: Sudipta BardhanQuallen Copyright Year: 2007 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: The Mine-o-saur has trouble making friends because he is unwilling to share anything with other dinosaurs. When other dinosaurs have something that Mine-o-saur wants, he will not think twice before he steals what he wants and hoards it all for himself. Mine-o-saur realizes however, that having everything isn’t much fun when you have no friends. What’s the good of having all the blocks and building an awesome tower if you have no one to show it to? Eventually, the Mine-o-saur apologizes and returns all the other dinosaurs’ things that he had taken in his selfish storm. Mine-o-saur finally has something that he has never had before—friends! Activity: Have students work in small groups create posters to hang around the school reminding people to take turns, share, and not to be a Mine-o-saur! Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Creating Art 2.6.3 -- Create and use symbols in personal artwork to communicate meaning. 36 Title of Book: Hugless Douglas Author’s Name: David Melling Copyright Year: 2010 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: A young brown bear named Douglas wakes up from hibernation and feels that he needs a hug. He goes out in search of a hug in the oddest places. He says he enjoys big hugs, so he hugs the biggest thing he can find—a rock—but gets no satisfaction. He says he likes comfy hugs, so he hugs a big bush, but the animals in the bush are none too pleased. Even the sheep in the book don’t feel comfortable giving Douglas a hug because they are too busy. After pulling a rabbit out of his hole in search of a hug, Douglas is finally led back to a den and discovers that the best hugs come from someone very special—his mother! Activity: I would use this book to teach social skills to kindergarteners. After talking with peers, students will work individually on drawing pictures of people/things that it is appropriate to hug and people/things that it is not appropriate to hug. Reference(s) for Activity: http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/2010/12/hugless-douglas.html Indiana State Standards Met: Writing K.4.8 -- Organize and classify information into categories of how and why or by color or size. 37 Title of Book: Duck at the Door Author’s Name: Jackie Urbanovic Copyright Year: 2007 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 29 Synopsis of Story: Irene’s house is cozy and filled with all kinds of pets, but one snowy evening a new animal comes to her house looking for a residence to wait out the long weather—a duck! Max the duck explains that his whole flock migrated south for the winter, but he thought that he could wait it out and wouldn’t get too cold. However, Max became extremely lonely and cold and asks if he can stay in Irene’s house over the winter. Irene, ever the sucker for animals, agrees and Max causes all kinds of trouble trying to fit in with the other pets. He hogs the remote, makes a mess in the kitchen trying to cook, and just generally annoys the other animals. Spring returns and Max’s flock comes back and Max goes back to his flock. Irene’s animals miss Max and cannot wait until he returns next winter. Irene and her animals were not counting on Max bringing his entire flock next winter though! Activity: Students will participate in a minilesson about ducks and migration patterns. A formal lesson plan for such a lesson can be found at http://www.stoller-eser.com/nie/PDFs/Birdmigration.pdf. If possible, obtain a LARGE map of the U.S. (some blacktops have them painted on!) and have students show migration patterns of birds. Reference(s) for Activity: Bird Migration Lesson Plan http://www.stoller-eser.com/nie/PDFs/Birdmigration.pdf Indiana State Standards Met: Life Science 4.3.3 -- Design investigations to explore how organisms meet some of their needs by responding to stimuli from their environments. 38 Title of Book: Diary of a Worm Author’s Name: Doreen Cronin Copyright Year: 2003 Genre: Fantasy Number of Pages: 34 Synopsis of Story: Written in journal form, this book shows the world from an earthworm’s point of view. The book, while humorous in nature and a work of fiction, teaches children the importance of earthworms and how they interact with our earth. Worm, the narrator, talks about his relationship with his best friend, Spider, why he is at a disadvantage because he has no legs, and why hopscotch is such a terrifying game for a worm. Although he is just a worm, Worm has some big plans for his life—he wants to be a Secret Service agent for the President—but fears that his small stature may be a hindrance. Activity: Students will use other non-fiction texts about earthworms to gain a greater understanding as to what earthworms do for the ecosystem and for a general understanding of earthworms as well. Students will then write a short paragraph explaining why worms are misunderstood to be “scary” and how they are actually important and “good.” Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Writing 4.5.6 -- Write for different purposes (information, persuasion, description) and to a specific audience or person. (Core Standard) 39 Title of Book: Dog Breath Author’s Name: Dav Pilkey Copyright Year: 1994 Genre: Fiction Number of Pages: 30 Synopsis of Story: Hally Tosis, the Tosis family dog has a big problem—she has the worst breath ever! Hally has been known to make people pass out, skunks plug their noses and even peel wallpaper off the walls. Mr. and Mrs. Tosis think that it would be best for the dog to find a new home, but the Tosis children are determined to save their dog. They try all kinds of things to make Hally lose her breath—breathe-taking views, movies that will “leave you breathless” and a rollercoaster. Nothing works. The children are saddened by the fact that their dog must leave and go to bed dejected. A miracle happens however—Hally saves the family’s residence and reinforces their safety by knocking out thieves who had broken into their home with her horrendous breath! The children are overjoyed and the parents are so pleased with her security that she is allowed to stay within the Tosis household. Activity: As a classroom teacher, I would host a “Beat the Bad Breath” day where students would learn about oral hygiene, why bad breath happens and be allowed to chew minty gum while in the classroom. Students can also brush their teeth and then chew the tablets that show where they might have missed. Explain the importance of brushing teeth and good oral hygiene. Reference(s) for Activity: Original Indiana State Standards Met: Health and Wellness 1.1.1 -- Explain the connection between behaviors and personal health. Health and Wellness 4.1.4 -- Explain ways to prevent common health problems. 40