The Sneetches

"The Sneetches" by Dr. Seuss is a great book to read to children as an introduction to bullying or discrimination. The story follows the Star-Belly Sneetches who mistreat the Plain-Belly Sneetches. The town is thrown into chaos when Sylvester McMonkey McBean shows up and makes the Plain-Belly Sneetches Star-Belly Sneetches and the Star-Belly Sneetches Plain-Belly Sneetches. Dr. Seuss's site is a great resource for this book (as well as most of his other books), if you are looking for a full lesson, then click here.

The Giving Tree

“The Giving Tree”, by Shel Silverstein is such a beautiful story. This book can be shared a as a read-aloud for younger children, because the story presents powerful morals and life lessons. I am sure most of our viewers are familiar with this story, but is you are not here is a little background information. This book is about a personified tree that has deep love for a little boy and the little boy loves her. The boy grows older and older and every time he comes to visit her when he gets older, all he ends up doing is taking from the tree. Despite this the tree continues to love the tree and in the end they the boy is an old man and the tree is only a stump, but they end up together again.

The life lessons of love, happiness, and greed are obvious in this text. It will touch the heart of all readers young and old. It can be a text integrated for science and ELA. The book helps the reader learn about trees and what they contribute to the world and the powerful themes in the text can allow several writing prompt lessons for a third grade class. Another great idea would that would encompass writing, and science concepts, would be to also read “The Lorax”, by Dr. Seuss after reading “The Giving Tree”. Both texts present many on the same issues. Students could compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the two.

Skippyjon Jones

Skippyjon Jones author Judy Schachner has created a site a for her books. Skippyjon Jones is a series about a Siamese cat that is certain he is a Chihuahua dog and the many adventures he has. The site Skippyjonjones.com presents numerous activities for the classroom, using reader's theater or wordle.net (a site that allows the insertion of words and then creates various designs with the words) opportunities to practice Spanish, sing songs, and many printables. The Skippyjon Jones site offers many activites for students to use on-line, to help with comprehension or to dress up Skippyjon Jones in his many costumes. The Skippyjon Jones series can be used with grades 1-3. The Skippyjon Jones books are very funny and encourage students to use their imagination. The video displays a little about the Siamese cat/Chiuacha dog name Skippyjon Jones.

Mouse Paint

http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=115714

This is a video that gives you a great lesson plan for the book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh. It gives you objectives and even follow up plans. It is a great idea for an interactive lesson that children would love! This lesson would be a great introduction to primary and secondary colors.

Testing settings & features...

Hello Team-What-Can-I-Do-With-This-Book?

As you see, I've been playing with the design of your site. Of course, reject all additions and changes at will--I just wanted to see if the 'design' feature worked, and it did. I also wanted to be sure you could post so I tried my hand at a "book alert" post myself.

You'll have plenty of time to design, create, and add content in class tomorrow...

-Marta

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

I can't read this book anymore without hearing the song and seeing the faces of all of the kids I've watched perform this in reader's theater.

Have I taught it? No. I have just been trolling YouTube for examples of how primary teachers are using this book, and the more I find, the more I want to look!  It's infectious...the story is simple but the language ("Did he cry? Goodness no!") and the message ("everything's good") just grab me. It's about dealing with adversity, with a smile and a cool cat mentality.  Make the best of the next thing to come along.  Don't compromise ... but stay flexible.

I think it might be worth elevating this to "anthem" in my teaching.  Watch a great performance here and a variation on the theme by some pre-K, K, and first graders.

-Marta