Summary: This book is a scientific book that is aimed for lower grade levels and discusses what a tornado is. The book starts off by giving the definitSummary: This book is a scientific book that is aimed for lower grade levels and discusses what a tornado is. The book starts off by giving the definition of a tornado, what they do, how they are formed, and what is considered a tornado. Then the book discusses the technology that scientists use in order to track and predict a tornado such as the Doppler radar and computers. Scientists use this technology to look for fishhook images that appear on their radars. The book discusses how people stay safe during the storm. A personal story about an artist was incorporated into the book. This artist’s hometown was hit by a tornado. He decided to use the debris in order to create artwork for his hometown. In the end, the book discusses how tornadoes are rated on an EF scale from 0-5.
Evaluation: This book would be a great book to use in the classroom. I liked how it showed pictures of all the technology and incorporated a personal story. Tornados are fairly frequent in Georgia so it would benefit the students to learn more about the,
Teaching Idea: Even though this book is a science book, it could be integrated into language arts. Students could read the book first. The teacher could then find an informational video for the students to watch on tornadoes. The teacher could have the students do a research project in a small group on tornadoes. Students could also research the tornadoes that devastated Joplin, Missouri and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could find information such as what these tornadoes were rated, how fast the wind speed was, how long they were on the ground, and how much damage was recorded. ...more
Summary: This book was about two friends named Piggie and Gerald. Piggie is a pig and Gerald is an elephant. Piggie comes into the story ribbiting. GeSummary: This book was about two friends named Piggie and Gerald. Piggie is a pig and Gerald is an elephant. Piggie comes into the story ribbiting. Gerald was very confused and wondered why his friend Piggie was ribbiting. Piggie decided he was going to pretend to be a frog. Gerald thought about becoming a frog and thought of all the things he would have to do like eat flies and hop all day. Gerald was worried and sad, he did not want to become a frog. Piggie told Gerald that he was just pretending to be a frog. Piggie explained to Gerald what the word pretending means. In the end, Gerald decided he did not want to pretend to be a frog, he wanted to pretend he was a cow.
Evaluation: This book was very cute. I liked how the book explains what the word pretend means. I think these books would be beneficial to use in the younger grades to help expand students’ vocabulary.
Teaching Idea: This book would be a good way to help expand students’ vocabulary. The teacher could create a word wall with words from books that she reads to the class. From this book, the word “pretend” would be added to the word wall. It would also be beneficial to create a book from the beginning of the year to the end of the year with all the words that they learned. For example, the teacher already has the word “pretend” on the word wall. She would then give the students a coloring page that had the word “pretend’ in bubble letters with the definition beside it. The teacher would then place each one of those completed activity sheets in a file in order to create a book for each student at the end of the year. The teacher could also teach about the two animals that were in the book. The teacher could discuss the colors of the animals and show pictures of what they look like in real life. ...more
Summary: This book is about a little mouse named Penny. One day Penny was pushing her doll Rose in a stroller while imagining they were in different plSummary: This book is about a little mouse named Penny. One day Penny was pushing her doll Rose in a stroller while imagining they were in different places. She was only allowed to walk down to Mrs. Goodwin’s lawn. When she reached Mrs. Goodwin’s lawn she noticed a big, blue, shiny marble. Penny decided to keep the marble. When she got home she played with the marble and observed it. However, as the day went on Penny wondered if she had made the wrong choice to take the marble off Mrs. Goodwin’s lawn. When Penny looked out her window she noticed Mrs. Goodwin standing where the marble had been. Everything reminded her of the marble. Penny felt guilty. The next day Penny decided to put the marble right where she found it. Little did she know Mrs. Goodwin saw Penny. Mrs. Goodwin wanted someone to have the marble and that is why she left it on her lawn. Mrs. Goodwin gave the marble to Penny. Penny felt relieved about doing the right thing and also getting to keep the beautiful blue marble.
Evaluation: This book is a good transition book for teachers to use in the class. I like how this book could be used to teach students a lesson about not taking others things.
Teaching Idea: When looking up teaching ideas for this book, I found an abundance of resources. Teachers suggested using the book as a writing prompt for younger students. One of the writing ideas was asking students if they would have picked up the marble and taken it home too. Another writing idea was having the students write about a time that they had made a mistake and how they fixed it. The teacher could also discuss the guilt that Penny felt because she took the marble. This kind of discussion would be a good way to help build community, learn about emotions, and discuss right from wrong. https://www.icanread.com/printables/p... ...more
Summary: This book is about hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans August 29, 2005. It discusses the evacuations that were set in before the hurricane Summary: This book is about hurricane Katrina that hit New Orleans August 29, 2005. It discusses the evacuations that were set in before the hurricane hit. People who did not evacuate were either stubborn or had no way to evacuate. Once the hurricane hit there was no place to hide. If you research the elevation of New Orleans, it is either 6.5 feet below sea level or 20 feet above sea level. During this hurricane, the storm surge was 27 feet. The devastation that occurred during and after the hurricane still lingers today. Many people died since they did not have the supplies and the help needed.
Evaluation: I liked this book. There were things that I did not know about. I think the author did a good job depicting what people must have felt like during this disaster.
Teaching Idea: The most obvious teaching idea would be to discuss this disaster with the students. I would first have the students research the land in New Orleans (i.e is it above sea level, below sea level, etc.) Then I would discuss what a hurricane is. The students would then discuss why this hurricane was so disastrous from the research they did on New Orleans. After students have understood the catastrophic devastation and how powerful hurricanes can be, I would show hurricane videos to help the students have a better understanding of how strong the winds are and how high the waves are. The students could then use the computer and NOAA has some games where students can create their own hurricane. NOAA also includes other activities that can be used when learning about hurricanes. https://www.noaa.gov/resource-collect... ...more
Summary: This book was a poetry chapter book that describes the life of Josh and Jordan Bell. The main sport that it focuses on is basketball which is Summary: This book was a poetry chapter book that describes the life of Josh and Jordan Bell. The main sport that it focuses on is basketball which is their life, love, and passion. Even though this sport is the main focus in their lives, the book takes you through other obstacles that they have to overcome. Some of the obstacles include Josh being suspended from the basketball team, Jordan having a girlfriend, and their father passing away.
Evaluation: This book was a little hard to follow along at first. After the first 50 pages, it became easier to follow. I liked how the book did not just focus on basketball but other problems that they had in their lives.
Teaching Idea: It was suggested that students find a line in the book and write it down on computer paper. Students would then visualize what they think that line looks like and draw it. It was also suggested that students create their own poem. http://literaryfusions.com/2015/03/03... ...more
Summary: This book is about scientists journey to help save the Kakapo parrot. This parrot is not like any other parrot because it weighs up to 9 pounSummary: This book is about scientists journey to help save the Kakapo parrot. This parrot is not like any other parrot because it weighs up to 9 pounds, has a flat face, doesn’t talk, can’t fly, and lives for a long time. The Kakapo is the heaviest parrot, it “growls, booms, and chings”, they climb and can live until they are 70 years old. Sy Montgomery describes how they arrived at Codfish Island to study the near extinct 91 Kakapo parrots. Before they could enter the island they all had to wash their clothes in Trigene (soap that kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi). He describes the heartache the scientists felt when one of the chicks died from a seed they had fed it. He also describes when they finally were able to see these magnificent parrots up close. Nic Bishop’s photographs depict the journey in a truly incredible way.
Evaluation: I think this book is a little long but would interest the students. This would help students learn about different types of animals and animals that are near extinction. As stated before, students love to learn about animals and this would help capture the interests of students.
Teaching Idea: Sy Montgomery has a huge amount of resources for this book. One particular activity was having the students use the book and look on a website to learn more about the kakapo. Students would be required to fill out the activity sheet about what they look like, where they live, what they eat, does it fly, how long they live, and other interesting facts. Another activity allows students to learn more about endangered animals. Another activity focuses heavily on critical thinking skills. It asks the students to compare the late 1800’s and by 1950 listing how many kakapos there were and who and what their predators were. Students would then be required to determine what happened between those times and why the kakapo population dwindled. They also have a lesson on figurative language. This would be an important tool to use since I have notices students struggle with this. http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten... http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten... http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten... http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten...
Summary: This book was about a man named Tom McCarthy who was asked to study snow leopards in Mongolia. Snow leopards are sometimes called, “the ghost Summary: This book was about a man named Tom McCarthy who was asked to study snow leopards in Mongolia. Snow leopards are sometimes called, “the ghost of the mountain.” This is because it is extremely difficult to find one. Tom was up for the challenge to find the mysterious snow leopards. The way that Sy Montgomery writes this book draws the audience in by his impeccable details about Tom’s journey. Sy describes things such as dangers, collecting data, and finding the “ghost”. Nic Bishop was the photographer. The way the photographs are displayed in the book helps the reader understand the journey too. The way they portrayed the book truly makes you feel as if you were experiencing the journey and feeling the same emotions Tom was.
Evaluation: I like this book. I think it is a tad long, but overall knowing what scientists do in the field is extremely important. I think this would be a great book to use in the classroom because students enjoy reading about animals. I think they would find it fascinating to learn about an animal that is almost impossible to find.
Teaching Idea: When looking up some ideas on this book, Sy Montgomery had some resources that would be beneficial for teachers to use. He suggested that the students become the scientist and write about how their journey traveling to Mongolia in search of the snow leopard would look like. He then suggests that the students learn more about Mongolia and locate some of the places that were traveled to on the scientist's journey. Montgomery also suggested that students work on finding other places on a world map. The students would find those places and write down 5 facts about that place. This would help students learn about different countries as well as help them with their map skills. http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten... http://www.symontgomery.com/wp-conten... ...more
Summary: This book is about a boy named Jackson and his family and how they cope with the fact of being evicted time after time. When Jackson was a youSummary: This book is about a boy named Jackson and his family and how they cope with the fact of being evicted time after time. When Jackson was a young boy he had an imaginary friend named, Crenshaw. Crenshaw was a cat that could talk. This cat helped Jackson cope with some of the struggles that he and his family endured such as not having money for rent and being hungry. At the beginning, it scared Jackson that he could see his imaginary friend. But at the end he learns to accept the fact that he can see Crenshaw.
Evaluation: I liked this book. I thought it was funny that Jackson felt uncomfortable because he could see an imaginary friend. I also liked that this book discussed some of the feelings that Jackson faced due to growing up in poverty.
Teaching Idea: Since poverty is a major issue in the United States and other countries, it would be a great idea to do a learning project. Students could research about poverty. The could then create a poster presentation about the best strategies that they could use to help end poverty. The students could then vote on which idea they thought was the best. Reasonable ideas would be having a canned food or clothing drive. This would not only help the students be more aware of their surroundings, but it would also help them take part in solving a community problem. ...more
Summary: There was a big cat that lived alone, until one day a new little cat came along. The big cat showed the little cat how to do things. The big Summary: There was a big cat that lived alone, until one day a new little cat came along. The big cat showed the little cat how to do things. The big cat and the little cat grew up working, being wild, and dreaming. One day the big cat didn't come back, and the little cat was now the big cat. Then one day a new little cat came to live with the big cat. The big cat then showed the little cat what he had been taught.
Evaluation: This book is a very sad book. I did like how it discussed death but in a very subtle way. This book would be a good way to introduce a hard topic such as death, because it has a more positive spin on it at the end.
Teaching Idea: I think this would a be a good book to use for a writing activity. The teacher could read the book and then have the students write about a time that they felt sad or have lost something. The students could share what they wrote with the class or the teacher could read it silently. This would help some students cope with some of the emotions that they may about some life events that they have experienced. ...more
Summary: Once there was a hermit who mediated and thought about things that were big and things that were small. One day during his meditation, he sawSummary: Once there was a hermit who mediated and thought about things that were big and things that were small. One day during his meditation, he saw a mouse that was about to be eaten by a crow. The hermit saved the mouse and turned him into different animals whenever he faced a bigger predator. The final animal the mouse turned into was a tiger. When the mouse became the tiger, he became too proud. The mouse had forgotten about all the things that the hermit had done for him. The hermit had enough of the mouses’ proudness and decided to change him back to the animal he once was.
Evaluation: This book is a good culture book, however it is hard to follow at times. I think the book had a good moral and lesson that was learned. It is a good reminder to not become too proud.
Teaching Idea: One of the teaching ideas that I found was students creating a bar graph. During the story, the students would tally every time they saw an animal. The students would then count up the tallies they had for that animal and use them to create their graph. Since students love animals, this might be a good way to not only introduce a bar graph but other simple graphs as well. https://www.homeschoolshare.com/oncea... ...more
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