Teaching Science with Picture Books - The Story of Snow

The Story of Snow, by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson, Ph.D., is a beautiful book and captures the wonder of winter and snow.  Perfect reading for winter days and your exploration of winter, weather and science.  The book teaches about snow crystals and the many shapes they can take.  The book also includes instructions for catching those snowflakes... a great way to get kids and young scientists outside exploring.

Click HERE to get your teacher's guide to explore the science of snow.

See these short  videos  about SNOWFLAKES

Here is a great website with lots of information about snow.  Click HERE to see!   It's called snowcrystals.com. and it has books, science facts, videos, and activities.  It is a great resource.   The author of this website is Kenneth G. Libbrecht.  He is a professor of physics at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech).  He studies the molecular dynamics of crystal growth, including how ice crystals grow from water vapor, which is essentially the physics of snowflakes.  

Picture Books to Teach Science

Hibernation Station

by Michelle Meadows

Illustrated by Kurt Cyrus

The artwork on the cover grabs the children's attention right away... and the rhyming text delights them on every page.  Children listen to all the rhymes and enjoy the beautiful artwork.  A fun book to teach about animals, winter and hibernation.  

Pattern, rhyme and beautiful pictures.  

Winter Wonderland Door Contest - Merry Christmas

We decorated our classroom door and got 2nd place

 in our 'winter wonderland' door contest !

Children were so happy to create, draw, paint,  make snowflakes;  and then a bit lucky to win.   It was great fun....first, we used green and blue inks mixed with gesso and sponge-painted the background... next, we looked at some real-life cardinals in nature.  Easy to find on the internet.  Each student received a block of mixed-media paper to draw and color their birds.  Just colored with red crayons and a bit of black for beaks and eyes.  We talked about covering every white spot everywhere.  Dark, dark, red, red!  Then they made a branch for their cardinal to sit upon...  we placed the cardinals on our background of blue-green white sponge painting.  

And lastly, we made our snowflakes, so many.  This was snow-much fun!

It was easy to cut out individual blocks of cardinals, snowflakes and branches so each child could bring home their artwork to hang in a window at home.

Merry Christmas from Lucky Room 13!

Thanksgiving Literacy Pack

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some fun pages for your students at Thanksgiving time.  I made the clip art and hope to make some more for my resources and pages.  Check back for some Christmas designs....

 Included in this Thanksgiving literacy pack are a writing response page for A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting.  Grab your copy below.  

Also included in the literacy pack are: 

• Four Square- to tell about the main idea and details about Thanksgiving (2 clip art designs)
• general writing pages about Pilgrims (choice of boy or girl clipart)
• Sequence page - "How to Make Pumpkin Pie" First, Next, Then, Finally
• Writing facts about the First Thanksgiving
• Then and Now Page - t-chart
• Making New Words - make new words from the word Thanksgiving - students cut out letters and move them around their desks to make new words, next they record their words on their paper

                    A Turkey for Thanksgiving 
by Eve Bunting

All the animal friends are invited by Mr. and Mrs. Moose for Thanksgiving dinner, but the only one missing is Turkey.  They set out to find their friend, Turkey.  Of course, Turkey thinks he will be ON THE TABLE, but he learns he has true friends and they all want him at their table.  I wonder what they have for Thanksgiving dinner.  Great read aloud at Thanksgiving time.

You can purchase this book from Amazon.com HERE  then click HERE  to use the writing response below with your students. Students will write or draw about the characters in the story, the setting, the problem and solution.  Great lesson on story elements.

If you would like the entire Thanksgiving Literacy Pack click HERE!

 Fun Thanksgiving clip art for your own resources and pages click HERE!

See my new clip art for Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Nest for Celeste

A Nest for Celeste

by Henry Cole

This story is a great read aloud..... 

 Set in the early 1800s on a plantation in the bayou country of Louisiana.  Beautifully illustrated with the flora and fauna of the area, Henry Cole’s novel brings Celeste and her friends to life in this story about art, inspiration, and the meaning of home.   Cole  grabs the children's attention right from the beginning.  Celeste is a mouse who lives underneath the floorboards of the dining room.  One day she ventures out to the world above where she dodges a hungry cat and witnesses the art of hunting for the first time.  She makes friends with a singing thrush named Cornelius.  She meets an osprey who likes to talk and Joseph, Audubon's young apprentice.  

Illustrations are WONDERFUL pencil sketches

All the while Celeste is looking for a new home.  Where will she find one?  In the toe of a worn boot? in Joseph's pocket? or in a dollhouse in the attic, which is complete with mouse-size furniture!  In the end, Celeste discovers the true meaning of 'home' and your students will learn the true meaning of friendship.  

“I have long been an admirer of Henry Cole’s contribution to children’s literature. With this first novel, he weaves a tale that, in addition to his delightful illustrations, has all the best ingredients—a sense of history, time-honored themes, and just the right amount of imagination.” —Julie Andrews

Click below for comprehension questions and teacher guide

Teacher Guide and Comprehension Questions

 for A Nest for Celeste

A Brand New Year!

A Brand New Year!

It's always so exciting to begin a brand new year!

Here are three photos of our classroom...ready and waiting!  Monday morning twenty-three new third graders will begin a brand new year of school...their 3rd grade year.  New books, new pencils and new friends! 

Classroom environment ... is it important?    

Classroom environment can create warmth and in turn promotes a sense of comfort.   Adding color can bring life to a room.  Organization and order give learners security and belonging; physical space and time are important to the school day.  Where do I find ......? What time do I ....?  Who will ....?  What do I do when...?  How will I ....?  When will I...?
All of these are important to children.  When the elementary classroom provides the answers to these questions, then the student is ready to learn and grow. 

Carpet space provides the place to have morning meetings, to practice listening, to read books, to build class community, to address classroom etiquette and to interact and grow socially. An organized classroom library inspires reading and book choice.  Carpet space also provides a great place for partner reading and movement.   Tables around the room invite group work and a change of pace from desks.

Bright, bold and colorful bulletin boards are essential for teaching the big concepts.  This board invites students to read their way around the world.  How many continents can you read about?  How many countries can you visit?  

Desks are arranged in cluster groups.  This encourages cooperative learning, builds a sense of class community and makes the best use of space.  Ideal desk arrangements create opportunities for students to become actively engaged in learning.  Tables around the the room allow space for movement during different times of the day.  Group work at tables.  Independent work at seats. Smart teachers move furniture when students need a change.

Enjoy the brand new year!

Enjoy reading new stories and books!

Enjoy learning new science!

Enjoy learning about people and places!

Read, think, reflect!

Ask questions, to get answers, to ask more questions!

Continue...

PeterRabbit

Peter Rabbit

by Beatrix Potter

read by Mrs. Quimby

Peter is an adventurous bunny who learns a lesson.  It is best to listen to your Mom.

After you listen to the story, you may want to do these pages.

Happy Listening!

You may download these pages HERE

Bedtime for Frances

Bedtime for Frances

by Russell Hoban

Pictures by Garth Williams

read by Mrs. Quimby

Listen to Bedtime for Frances .  

Happy Listening!

clipart by my cute graphics

***Reading aloud is widely recognized as the single most important activity leading to language development. Among other things, reading aloud builds word-sound awareness in children, a potent predictor of reading success.***

If you wish, here are some pages to color about the book.

What color is a badger?

Don't forget to brush your teeth!

You may get your "to do pages"  HERE. 

Drop Everything And Read!

Teaching Science and Social Studies - Great Read Alouds

Read this awesome book by this awesome artist-writer!
Anyone who knows me knows that I love collage and Giles LaRoche is king when it comes to collage.  I was lucky enough to see him in person and I am happy to see he continues to make his art and books for children.  This book would be perfect for social studies and learning about the different homes around the world.
Imagine living inside a mountain, or in a home where you could catch fish from your bedroom window.  This book takes you all over the world, showing you the coolest of houses! Which house would you choose to be your favorite?  LaRoche's book is full of intricately designed collage work showing houses around the world.  This book would be a springboard to learning about architecture, people and why and how they design their homes.  It is a must read!  and so beautiful to look at...more than once.

Click HERE for a pdf from Reading Is Fundamental to use with If You Lived Here... by Giles LaRoche.  This pdf presents ideas and lessons you might do after reading this book. 

And, yet, another great book by Giles LaRoche is 

Inside pages:

Most would agree that books have always taken us places.  These books by Giles LaRoche take you to places in the world in a most beautiful way.  Don't take my word for it, get your hands on these books and share them with your students...young or old!

Rufus M.

Rufus M.

Have you read Rufus M?  ... Where is he going?  Why is there a book on his head? What kind of bike is that?   Some great questions to ask before starting this book adventure.....  And then, when you get to meet Rufus Moffat...well, you haven't quite met anyone like him.  He gets things done, but he does them in his own way. When he wants to check out a library book, he teaches himself to write even though he doesn't yet know how to read.  

He plants some very special "Rufus beans" that actually grow...despite his digging them up every day to check on them.  

And Rufus has friends that other people don't even know exist! He discovers the only invisible piano player in town, has his own personal flying horse for a day, and tours the town with the Cardboard Boy, his dearest friend-and enemy.
Rufus isn't just the youngest Moffat, he's also the cleverest, the funniest, and the most unforgettable book character.  Below are 2 pages you might use while reading this book; I found them at totallyterrificintexas.blogspot.com  One page lists the many traits characters might have and a graphic organizer to complete for the incredible Rufus M.  

Character Traits Reader Response Pages

Do Not Open This Book!

What is Your Prediction?

If you can find this book, it is a great one to teach 'making a prediction'....and a great cover.  Who wouldn't want to open the book?  

The author is Joy Cowley. It's titled, Do Not Open This Book!  Now that's a different message.  But you can predict what will happen, can't you?  Yes, the kids will want you to open the book, but I wouldn't open it right away until they really want you to... happy reading!

And the poor rat keeps trying to keep you from turning each page, warning you that something dreadful will happen if you do. Each page has further clues. So, the children keep making more predictions based on the visual clues. Perfect for first graders!

Children read it over and over again. 

I say it's especially loved. And just look at that mouse character. You know, children's literature is magical.  Find good books and read to your children and class often. It is simply joyful seeing children so excited about reading!

I predict that you will start searching for this book; especially if you love to read to children. Remember, Meg Ryan in the movie, "You've Got Mail" and she has that adorable Children's Book Shop...Around the Corner...she knew the magic!

What literature is on your shelves? What books make your kids come closer and closer?  Comment below and let's make a list of favorite read-alouds...

For the Love of Autumn: Reading Response Journals

This book is a tender and sweet story.  When Miss Parks' cat disappears on a stormy night, your students' eyes will be wide with anticipation. There has been talk about a mountain lion and Miss Parks' and her students fear the worst.   This book captures their attention and it is an excellent springboard for predictions.  Read it aloud to your class.  They will love it!

Miss Parks just loves her new home, her new teaching job, and all her new students. But most of all, she loves Autumn, her perfect little kitten. Then one night, during a terrible storm, Autumn runs away. Miss Parks' students band together to search for Autumn with no luck. Hope is lost until Autumn turns up.  Autumn jumps off the trellis into Mrs. Parks' arms!  Yet,  with a brand new collar and a bandage on her tail. Someone has been taking care of Autumn!

With the help of her students, Miss Parks unravels the mystery of Autumn's disappearance and finds true love along the way, Polacco style. 

READING RESPONSE JOURNALS

Reading Response journals are a place where students can record 

their thoughts, reactions, feelings, and questions about a book. 

Use the following prompts to encourage your students to think 

critically about the  book, For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco. 

• What does the story make you think about?

• What feelings do you experience?

• Does this book remind you of anything else?

• What did you really like about this book?

• How do you feel about the characters in this book?

• In what ways can you identify with the main character?

• Were there any real life issues that made you think?

You can find a reading response page HERE to use with this book or any other book. 

Back to School

To visit my TPT store, click HERE

Life Lessons My Students Taught Me : CRASH COURSE

Crash Course
The Life Lessons My Students Taught Me

by Kim Bearden

  I learned about this book by Kim Bearden during my last blog hop; just clicked it to my ipad...and it's a great story.  I haven't finished reading it but I can already recommend this book...a good read.  We all have students like the ones Kim describes.   I love true stories that can help my teaching.  We learn so much from each other. and sometimes it's so helpful to realize that our classrooms and students are similar no matter what part of the country we teach in.  This book unfolds the real reasons why we chose to teach and what matters most in your everyday routines in the classroom.  a great read!

What book are you reading this summer?  Leave a comment with your recommendation.

The inspiring true story of a teacher’s experiences with her students and the life lessons she learned that can help others find joy and success.

Crash Course chronicles the life lessons that Kim Bearden has learned during an award-winning career in education that has spanned three decades. Kim has taught more than 2,000 students, and each has shown her something about the world and the abundant capacity for love, resilience, and appreciation that we all possess. By sharing her students’ stories, she teaches their inspiring lessons to us all.

Throughout the ups and downs of her professional and personal life, Kim found that her students were the light that illuminated her path; they were her sanctuary in the storm. From her challenges as a first year teacher, to her triumphs as the cofounder of the highly acclaimed Ron Clark Academy, Kim shares how children can teach each of us the importance of building relationships, abandoning fear, embracing one’s unique gifts, and living with passion.

Full of honesty, humor, heartbreak, and humanity, Kim’s experiences show how children can help any one of us, despite life’s obstacles, find the joy and significance in both our personal and professional lives.

You may grab a copy right HERE.