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?

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

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems

Language Arts:

The greatest thing about this book is that it is designed to be read over and over again.  The primary grades will love to hear it again and again.  As we all know, it is imperative that little learners hear the same book many times.  My niece, a reader since forever, has her parents to thank, because they spent time reading her favorite books repeatedly until the covers were soft and worn and barely hanging on.  Repeated reading builds crucial synapses!

Read this book at least once a day until every child in your class has had a turn as the "Reader" to whom which Piggie and Gerald refer.  Every student will want an individual turn saying "Banana" at Piggie's prompting.  This enables those not so strong readers a chance to be a confident reader.  Thank you Mo Willems!

Invite Mo Willems to serve as the focus of your class for a week.  Bring in a variety of Mo Willems books. For a list of all Mo's books: Mo's Bibliography 

• Have the students compare and contrast the books.  
• Use Mo's Website to learn more about Mo and play some games he has to offer. 
• Chart and graph your students' favorite books and characters.
• Write letters to Mo Willems or a favorite character.
• Discuss how the illustrations are used to express feeling, tone, and mood.

Math:

Calculate the exact number of pages from page 45 when Piggie peeks to see how many pages until the book is over and page 57 when the book is over.  Discuss the different ways of finding the answer.

See chart and graph activity listed above.

Count how many times the word "Hee" or "Ha" is written in the book.

Review of We Are in a Book