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Friday, October 21, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots
Janni, R. (2011). Every Cowgirl Needs Dancing Boots. New York: Dutton Children's Books. Grade 1-3
Written by: Rebecca Janni
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship and embracing differences
Subject Area: Social Science
Summary:
Nellie Sue has brand new dancing boots but she can't go dancing alone. The glitter girls don't seem all that nice and they wear ballet shoes which is why Nellie Sue thinks that no one will want to have a hoedown with her. Nellie Sue decides that she would try anyways, but during the hoedown Nellie slips and falls. She is embarrassed and thinks the hoedown is ruined until one of the glitter girls helps her out.
Initiating Questions and Activities:
Put on some music and play a quick game of freeze dance before sitting down to read the story. After playing show the children that anyone can dance. Then have the students sit in a circle and share their favorite songs to dance to.
Extending Question and Activity:
Give the children a cut out of a boot or a boot writing page. In the boot have them write ways they can help a friend. Hang these around the classroom as instant and daily reminders of how to be a good friend.
Written by: Rebecca Janni
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship and embracing differences
Subject Area: Social Science
Nellie Sue has brand new dancing boots but she can't go dancing alone. The glitter girls don't seem all that nice and they wear ballet shoes which is why Nellie Sue thinks that no one will want to have a hoedown with her. Nellie Sue decides that she would try anyways, but during the hoedown Nellie slips and falls. She is embarrassed and thinks the hoedown is ruined until one of the glitter girls helps her out.
Initiating Questions and Activities:
- Do you have dancing boots or know anyone who does?
- Why do you think every girl needs dancing boots?
- Is dancing for just girls or can boys dance too?
- What do you think will happen in this story?
Put on some music and play a quick game of freeze dance before sitting down to read the story. After playing show the children that anyone can dance. Then have the students sit in a circle and share their favorite songs to dance to.
Extending Question and Activity:
- Why was Nellie Sue sad in the beginning?
- What did you think was going to happen after Nellie Sue fell?
- What was your favorite part of the story?
- How could you help a friend?
Give the children a cut out of a boot or a boot writing page. In the boot have them write ways they can help a friend. Hang these around the classroom as instant and daily reminders of how to be a good friend.
The Day it Rained Hearts
Bond, F. (2002). The Day it Rained Hearts. New York: HarperCollinsPublisher. Grade Pre-K-2
Written by: Felicia Bond
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Importance of friends and family, creativity
Subject Area: Social Science
Summary:
One day it rains hearts and Cornelia collect many of them. She believes that each heart is special for different reasons and she decides that she will send them to all the people and things that are special in her life.
Initiating questions and activties:
Have the children sit down at their desks and take out their journal. Give them a writing prompt:
If it rained hearts I would...
Then have them draw a picture along with their writing.
Extending Questions and Activities:
Give the children all different shape and sized hearts. Show them in the book all the creative things that Cornelia did with hearts. Have them glue hearts on their page to make a picture like Cornelia did with the valentine for turtle. In the picture, she makes a turtle out of hearts. The children can make someone or something special to them out of hearts!
Written by: Felicia Bond
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Importance of friends and family, creativity
Subject Area: Social Science
One day it rains hearts and Cornelia collect many of them. She believes that each heart is special for different reasons and she decides that she will send them to all the people and things that are special in her life.
Initiating questions and activties:
- Has it ever rained hearts?
- If you could have it rain anything what would it be? Why?
- What would you do if it rained hearts?
Have the children sit down at their desks and take out their journal. Give them a writing prompt:
If it rained hearts I would...
Then have them draw a picture along with their writing.
Extending Questions and Activities:
- Where all the hearts the same?
- What made each of them special?
- Who did the valentines go to?
Give the children all different shape and sized hearts. Show them in the book all the creative things that Cornelia did with hearts. Have them glue hearts on their page to make a picture like Cornelia did with the valentine for turtle. In the picture, she makes a turtle out of hearts. The children can make someone or something special to them out of hearts!
The Ugly Pumpkin
Horowitz, D. (2005). The Ugly Pumpkin. London: Puffin Books. Grades Pre-K-2
Written by: Dave Horowitz
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Embracing Differences
Subject Area: Social Science
Summary:
This is about a pumpkin who feels very sad, because he is ugly and doesn't fit in with the rest of the pumpkins. No one ever picks him from the pumpkin patch which is also another reason he is a sad pumpkin. So he wanders off and hides in bushes. He sees all these other "pumpkins" that look just like him until he realizes that he really isn't a pumpkin, he is a squash!
Initiating Questions and Activities:
Ask students if they have ever felt odd or different. Discuss with the students on what makes a person odd or different. Discuss that not one person is ever the same which is what makes everyone so special. Ask the kids to go around the room and share something special about them or something different they might have that others do not. For example: I have glasses and many of my friends do not have glasses.
Extending Questions/Activities:
Give the students a squash. If you cannot get a hold of actual squash, cut squash out of paper. Give the kids all sorts of supplies such as glitter, feathers, googly eyes ect. to dress up their squash. Show that even though they may be different on the outside, you may be beautiful on the inside. Us decorating the squash is demonstrating how she/he may feel on the inside.
Written by: Dave Horowitz
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Embracing Differences
Subject Area: Social Science
This is about a pumpkin who feels very sad, because he is ugly and doesn't fit in with the rest of the pumpkins. No one ever picks him from the pumpkin patch which is also another reason he is a sad pumpkin. So he wanders off and hides in bushes. He sees all these other "pumpkins" that look just like him until he realizes that he really isn't a pumpkin, he is a squash!
Initiating Questions and Activities:
- Does the pumpkin look happy?
- Why do you think the pumpkin is ugly?
- Would you pick this Pumpkin for Halloween?
Ask students if they have ever felt odd or different. Discuss with the students on what makes a person odd or different. Discuss that not one person is ever the same which is what makes everyone so special. Ask the kids to go around the room and share something special about them or something different they might have that others do not. For example: I have glasses and many of my friends do not have glasses.
Extending Questions/Activities:
- What did the pumpkin end up being?
- What is a squash?
- What do you use squash for?
Give the students a squash. If you cannot get a hold of actual squash, cut squash out of paper. Give the kids all sorts of supplies such as glitter, feathers, googly eyes ect. to dress up their squash. Show that even though they may be different on the outside, you may be beautiful on the inside. Us decorating the squash is demonstrating how she/he may feel on the inside.
I Like Me!
Carlson, R. (1988). I Like Me!. New York: Trumpet. Grades Pre-K-K
Written by: Nancy Carlson
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Self-Esteem
Subject Area: Social Science
Summary:
This is a story in which a Pig talks about her best friend- herself. This book shares with the readers about loving yourself and embracing differences and similarities with others.
Initiating Questions and Activities:
Have students sit in a circle. Go around the circle and have every child say something that they like about themselves. Then ask them if there are ever times when they feel like they are unhappy with themselves.
Extending Questions and Activties:
Give children a pig cut out. Have them dress the pig how they like to dress. Around the pig, with the help from a teacher write things down that you like about yourself and things that you like to do with yourself!
Written by: Nancy Carlson
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Self-Esteem
Subject Area: Social Science
This is a story in which a Pig talks about her best friend- herself. This book shares with the readers about loving yourself and embracing differences and similarities with others.
Initiating Questions and Activities:
- Do you like yourself? Why?
- Why do you think the Pig likes herself?
- What are some reason which you would like yourself?
- Why is like yourself a good thing?
Have students sit in a circle. Go around the circle and have every child say something that they like about themselves. Then ask them if there are ever times when they feel like they are unhappy with themselves.
Extending Questions and Activties:
- What are somethings that the pig likes about herself?
- What things can you do just by yourself?
- How do you cheer yourself up?
- How do you fix your mistakes?
Give children a pig cut out. Have them dress the pig how they like to dress. Around the pig, with the help from a teacher write things down that you like about yourself and things that you like to do with yourself!
The Cow That Laid an Egg
Cutbill, A. (2009). The Cow that Laid an Egg. New York: HarperCollins Publisher. Grades Pre-K-1
Written by: Andy Cutbill
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Animals hatching eggs
Subject Area: Science
Summary:
Marjorie is a cow who feels sad that she can not ride bicycles and do handstands like all the other cows. To make Marjorie feel better, the chickens came up with a plan. The next morning Marjorie woke up with a fabulous surprise, She had laid an egg! Everyone in the town in astonished by the news and Marjorie felt so special. While Marjorie takes care of the egg everyone wonders and wait to see waht will hatch out of the egg.
Initiating Questions and activities:
Have a discussion with the children about if cows lay eggs or not. Then make a T-chart on the board. On one side write animals that lay eggs and on the other write animals that don't lay eggs. Brainstorm with the class and see how many animals you can come up with.
Extending Questions and Activity:
Give each child a piece of paper. Have each child draw an egg. Have them all think of their favorite animals. Have them write the name of their favorite animal and then write "That Laid an Egg." For example: The Giraffe that Laid an Egg. Then draw what the animal looks like on the egg. For example: I would draw giraffe spots on the egg. Under the egg have the kids write how the giraffe laid the egg. For example: The chickens played a trick on the giraffe, and while she was sleeping they painted an egg and put it where she was sleeping.
Written by: Andy Cutbill
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Animals hatching eggs
Subject Area: Science
Marjorie is a cow who feels sad that she can not ride bicycles and do handstands like all the other cows. To make Marjorie feel better, the chickens came up with a plan. The next morning Marjorie woke up with a fabulous surprise, She had laid an egg! Everyone in the town in astonished by the news and Marjorie felt so special. While Marjorie takes care of the egg everyone wonders and wait to see waht will hatch out of the egg.
Initiating Questions and activities:
- Do cows lay eggs?
- Do you think the cow really laid an egg?
- What do you think will hatch out of the egg?
- How do you think the cow feels about laying an egg?
Have a discussion with the children about if cows lay eggs or not. Then make a T-chart on the board. On one side write animals that lay eggs and on the other write animals that don't lay eggs. Brainstorm with the class and see how many animals you can come up with.
Extending Questions and Activity:
- How did Marjorie feel at the beginning of the book?
- How did she feel at the end of the book?
- Is there something that your friends can do that you can't do?
- Do you think Marjorie really laid an egg?
Give each child a piece of paper. Have each child draw an egg. Have them all think of their favorite animals. Have them write the name of their favorite animal and then write "That Laid an Egg." For example: The Giraffe that Laid an Egg. Then draw what the animal looks like on the egg. For example: I would draw giraffe spots on the egg. Under the egg have the kids write how the giraffe laid the egg. For example: The chickens played a trick on the giraffe, and while she was sleeping they painted an egg and put it where she was sleeping.
Friday, September 30, 2011
The Sandwich Swap
Al Abdullah, R. (2010). The Sandwich Swap. New York: Disney. Grades 1-3
Written by: Queene Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly DiPucchio
Award: Parent Choice Award, NYSRA Charlotte Award Nominee
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship
Subject Area: Social Science
Summary:
Lily and Salma are very best friends. They do everything together and like all the same things, until one day they come in with different sandwiches. At first it seems like nothing, but the the problem escalates. The two girls cannot bare to be different from one another, but who is right? A food fight breaks out in the cafeteria and the girls have to decide what is more important, friendship or differences?
Initiating Questions and Activties:
Have a discussion with the class. Go around in a circle and ask what everyone's favorite sandwich is, if another child like the same sandwich as another child you can have them put a thumb up to agree, but don't have the other kids but a thumb down. Tell them that everyone likes different things, no two people like exactly the same things. Then ask the children if we should swap sandwiches or food in general. Explain to kids that we shouldn't share food at school, but maybe they could ask a parent or guardian that they would like to try something new.
Extending Questions and Activity:
Get out a large sheet of paper. Draw a huge sandwich. Include several different layers. Example: Bread, meat, cheese, lettuce tomato, onion ect. Make sure each layer is thick enough so you can write in each layer. Above the sandwich write "The Friendship Sandwich." With the class brainstorm what would make a "Yummy," "Perfect," and "Good" friendship sandwich. You can start them off with one for example: On one layer: Accepting and Embracing our friend's differences.
Written by: Queene Rania Al Abdullah with Kelly DiPucchio
Award: Parent Choice Award, NYSRA Charlotte Award Nominee
Genre: Fiction
Theme: Friendship
Subject Area: Social Science
Lily and Salma are very best friends. They do everything together and like all the same things, until one day they come in with different sandwiches. At first it seems like nothing, but the the problem escalates. The two girls cannot bare to be different from one another, but who is right? A food fight breaks out in the cafeteria and the girls have to decide what is more important, friendship or differences?
Initiating Questions and Activties:
- Have you ever swapped a sandwich with your friend?
- What is your favorite kind of sandwich?
- What is the relationship between the two girls on the cover?
- What kind of sandwich don't you like?
Have a discussion with the class. Go around in a circle and ask what everyone's favorite sandwich is, if another child like the same sandwich as another child you can have them put a thumb up to agree, but don't have the other kids but a thumb down. Tell them that everyone likes different things, no two people like exactly the same things. Then ask the children if we should swap sandwiches or food in general. Explain to kids that we shouldn't share food at school, but maybe they could ask a parent or guardian that they would like to try something new.
Extending Questions and Activity:
- Why were Lily and Salma different?
- Why was there a food fight?
- How did the girls solve their problem?
- Which sandwich would you want? Lily's or Salma's?
Get out a large sheet of paper. Draw a huge sandwich. Include several different layers. Example: Bread, meat, cheese, lettuce tomato, onion ect. Make sure each layer is thick enough so you can write in each layer. Above the sandwich write "The Friendship Sandwich." With the class brainstorm what would make a "Yummy," "Perfect," and "Good" friendship sandwich. You can start them off with one for example: On one layer: Accepting and Embracing our friend's differences.
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