The Way to Start a Day by Byrd Baylor

The Way to Start a Day

Written by Byrd Baylor

Illustrated by Peter Parnall

Book Review

Language Arts

1. Discuss the meaning of freestyle prose and compare it to other types of poetry.

2. Vocabulary study including: east, chant, power, honor, dawn, temple, sway, sacred, pale, streak, offering, mysterious, exactly, float, salute, ceremony, shrines, mesa, magic

3. Have each child write about their start to a typical day using freestyle prose.

Social Studies

1. Individual or small group guided inquiry on a culture of their choice. This could include a presentation for the class.

2. Create a map that details all the cultures discussed in the book.  

Math

1. Calculate the distance from various places described in the book to other places discussed. For example: How many miles is it from Peru to Egypt?  From Peru to Mexico?  

This could lead to discussion about methods of travel and travel times.  For example:  How might one travel from Mexico to Egypt?  How long might those methods take?

Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Green

Written and Illustrated by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Book Trailer, etc.

Language Arts

1.  Green's simplicity prompts higher level questioning:  

Why did the author write this book? 

Why did she choose the particular green subjects she chose?  

If you were to write a book about a specific color, what would it be? Why?  

What do you think prompted the author to choose the words she used?  

What other words could she have used?

2.  Guided inquiry based on book subjects.  Students can research forests, sea turtles, limes or green fruit/vegetables, jungles, caterpillars, etc.  This research can be done individually or with a partner or small group.  Students can follow up their research by creating a presentation for the class.

3. Students can create a color book of their own using their favorite color.  Encourage them to consider cut outs similar to those used in Green as they plan for their books.  This can be done in groups or individually.  Once their books have been published, arrange for your students to partner with another class or younger grade to share their work.  Finally, books can be added to the classroom library for all to share.

A Whole Nother Story As told by Dr. Cuthbert Soup

Wonderfully Illustrated by
Jeffrey Stewart Timmons

Book Review

Book Trailer

Language Arts

1. Create compilation of all students' favorite Dr. Soup quotes. This can be a video, PowerPoint, performance, paper slide video, or any other creative expression of the preferred literary lines.


2. Writing Topics:
- Where and when would you go if you could travel through space and time?
- What would you name yourself if you could pick any name? Why? Describe your reasoning for two more new names.
-Which was your favorite villan in the book? Why? 


3. Discuss in depth the importance of each bit of advice offered by Dr. Soup. I found the advice on tattoos and time travel particularly interesting.


4. Guided inquiry based on topics students wish to know more about. For instance, the Trojan Horse as referred to on page 145. Students can then share what they learned with each other.

Dave the Potter by Laban Carrick Hill

Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Book Review

Language Arts

Biography:

1. Read aloud to class as an introduction to biographies.

2. Discuss characteristics of biographies and autobiographies.

3. Allow students to choose a biography to read independently or with a partner.

4. Have create a presentation related to the biography they chose to read. Encourage them to create multimedia presentations using videos, photos, PowerPoints, etc.

5. Students will practice listening and public speaking skills as they share their presentations.

Poetry:

1. Discuss characteristics of poetry.

2. Spend several days reading a variety of poetry as a whole group, in small groups, and independently.

3. Have students partner or create small groups based on their favorite poem or type of poetry. Students will discuss and list the reasons they prefer the specific poem or type of poetry.  They can share what they discussed with the other groups.

4. Model poem writing by working as a whole group to create poems. 

5. Small groups can create poems to share.

6. Independent writing of poems based on choice or suggested topics such as seasons or friendship.

Following Directions:

*See art activities below

Social Studies

1. Create a time line that demonstrates the elapsed time between current day and when Dave was alive.

2. Small groups can research or complete internet scavenger hunts that detail the importance of pottery throughout history. Compare past pottery with today's storage methods.

3. Upper grades can research the impact of slavery on African American families and how this theme is illustrated throughout the book.

Art

1. Students can make pinch pots. Write about the experience.

     How to Make a Pinch Pot Video

     Step by Step Pinch Pot Instructions with Pictures

2. Students can make coil pots. Write about the experience.

     Step by Step Coil Pot Instructions with Pictures

     How to Make a Coil Pot Video

3. Have students write their own instructions for each method or compare the methods and which they preferred and why.

Bink & Gollie by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee

Illustrated by Tony Fucile

Book Review

Language Arts

Writing Prompts:

1. Tell about a time when you compromised.

2. Tell about a time when you wished you would be left alone.

3. What is a pet you wish you could have? Why?

4. Tell about a time when you were jealous. What happened?

Vocabulary:

companion, gray matter, jealous, longs for/longing, inquire, furthermore, unremarkable, incapable, virtually, spectacular, desperate, extraordinary, venture, accomplishment, journey, tolerate, baffled, forth, compromise, outrageous, especially, enchantment, bonanza, bargain

There are many activities that can be done with the above words.

1. Add them to the word wall

2. Syllabicate them

3. Let them be the spelling words

4. Write a story that uses all the words (individually or as a group)

5. Give an award to the three people who use the new words the most in their daily language (use a chart to keep score)

6. Create advertisements that use the words and discuss the purpose of advertisements. Add propaganda to the list of new words

Social Studies

Have the students spin the globe then use their finger as Gollie did to find a place to research. Discover all the facts about the place and the culture of the people. Create PowerPoints or paper videos about the place. Act out what it might be like to live in the place just as Gollie did with the Andes Mountains.

Book Review

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

Book Review

Book Trailer

 Language Arts

1. Read for enjoyment and discuss.

2. Discuss story elements: plot, setting, characters, point of view, etc.

3. Rewrite the story from Cloudette's point of view.  What was she feeling? What did she learn? What are her plans for the future?

Science

Allow Cloudette to serve as an introduction for units on weather, the water cycle, cloud types, rainbows, or classification.

Math

The AWESOME grid comparison at the beginning of the book serves as a great introduction to measurement, grids, and area.  I'm mathematically challenged, so I'm sure there is more to be done with grids, but by golly, I'll be darned if I know what it is!

Social Skills and Writing

Use topics from the book as journal or writing prompts.

Example: 

     * I'm really good at.....

     * I wish I was better at.... but I'm very good at....

     * If you were Cloudette, where would you go? Why?

     * Compare the way Cloudette moved and grew to the way real clouds move and grow.

Book Review

Book Trailer

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

Book Review

First and foremost, if you teach Language Arts, collaborate with the Social Studies/History folks.  This book is a fabulous tie-in for the Civil Rights Movement in American History.


1. Create timelines that compare actual Black Panther events with those described in One Crazy Summer.  For instance, and this could be incorrect, but my understanding is that it wasn't until 1969 when the Panthers started the children's programs in Oakland.  The book is set in 1968.  Have your kids search for the truth!  


Have the timelines include some important historical events that happened in 1968 such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s death and the murder of Lil' Bobby Hutton.  Both happened in the spring of 1968 just months before the summer setting of this book.


Create a map that shows all the Black Panther Party breakfast programs.


2. Research the key players of the Black Panthers, such as Huey P. Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and Bobby Hutton.  Include other historical figures from the time period.


3. Compare and contrast the positive and negative decisions made by the Panthers.  Discuss what they did that worked and what they could have done better.


4. Compare the beliefs of Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and The Black Panthers.  How are they alike? Dislike?


5. Review poetry, music, and movies from the 1960's.  Have students write their own poetry and lyrics about things they believe strongly.  


Have a poetry slam!
Check out: The Spoken Word Revolution by Mark Eleveld.  It has a great CD with examples from past and present poetry slams. Beware - listen to this before sharing with your class.  Depending on where you work, you may need parental permission.


6. Encourage the students to write a play or make a video that demonstrates the conflicts experienced by Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern within the larger conflicts of the United States during that time.  If you do this, PLEASE send me a copy!  I'd love to see what your kids create!


Most importantly, allow a lot of time for the sharing of ideas and beliefs.  Remember, there are no wrong answers, just things that need to be considered from all points of view.


Book Review