Carol Peterson

BOOKS BY OTHER AUTHORS RECOMMENDED BY CAROL:

The following are a few great books by some of my collegues who also write for children.

These authors have provided a summary of their book along with an activity that relates to the book's subject matter in a way that will make learning fun for kids. They are listed in alphabetical order by author's last name. Their contact links are at the left-hand side of this page.

To print an individual activity, select the text (left mouse click and drag). Then right click to select print or click on the print button on your browser. Then left click "selection." Then "print."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

INDEX OF ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND THE BOOKS THAT INSPIRED THEM
(Alpha by author)


Kris Bordessa GREAT COLONIAL AMERICA PROJECTS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF
Click here to enjoy this activity.

Diane Danzig BABIES DON'T EAT PIZZA Click here to enjoy this activity.

Joy Hulme
*WILD FIBONACCI Click here to enjoy this activity.
*COUNTING BY KANGAROOS Click here to enjoy this activity.
*HOW TO WRITE, RECITE & DELIGHT IN ALL KINDS OF POETRY (Joy N. Hulme and Donna Guthrie) Click here to enjoy this activity.
*SEA SQUARES Click here to enjoy this activity.
*SEA SUMS Click here to enjoy this activity.

Koehler-Pentacoff, Elizabeth; Illustrated by Karl Swanson
JOHN MUIR AND STICKEEN: AN ALASKAN ADVENTURE
Click here to enjoy this activity.

Patricia Newman JINGLE THE BRASS Click here to enjoy this activity.

ACTIVITIES


GREAT COLONIAL AMERICA PROJECTS
YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF
Kris Bordessa
Ages 9-12, non-fiction, history

Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself (Nomad Press, 2006
ISBN: 09771294-0-3) introduces readers ages 9¡V12 to colonial America through hands-on building projects that use common household supplies. From dyeing and spinning yarn to weaving cloth, from creating tin plates and lanterns to learning wattle and daub construction,Great Colonial America Projects You Can Build Yourself gives readers a chance to experience how colonial Americans lived, cooked, entertained themselves, and interacted with their neighbors. Detailed step-by-step instructions, diagrams, and templates for creating each project combine with historical facts and anecdotes, biographies, and trivia for the real-life models of each project. Together they give kids a first-hand look at the daily life of our American ancestors.

MAKE YOUR OWN MOBCAP
During colonial times, it was considered improper to go about without a head covering - leaving the house without a hat was like going out only partially dressed! Most women and girls wore mobcaps, which were plain and gathered around the head with a tie. The caps served a practical purpose, too. Covering up the hair prevented it from becoming soiled from all of the daily work. Smoke from fires, dust, and grease from cooking would all take its toll on hair. In a society where bathing was infrequent - it was thought to be unhealthy to wash hair too often - it
was easier to put on a clean cap. Just as the caps kept one's hair clean, the opposite was true as well. Ladies who powdered, greased and perfumed their hair - as was the style - slept with a mobcap in order to protect the bed linens from all of their cosmetics. Mobcaps were also worn under fancier bonnets and head pieces.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
One-half yard of cotton fabric or an old pillowcase
Pencil
Scissors
Safety pin
A 3' length of narrow ribbon
Tape
Lace (optional)
Glue/needle and thread

WHAT TO DO:
1. Cut an 18" circle from the fabric (if there¡¦s a large platter in your house, this might work as a template to trace around).
2. Use a pencil to lightly mark a line 3" in from the cut edge, all the way around. Use your scissors to snip holes large enough to slip a safety pin through, about 2 inches apart all along this line.
3. Pin a safety pin to the end of the ribbon.
4. Starting at any hole, push the safety pin up through one hole and down through the next one. To prevent the ribbon from pulling all the way through, use a bit of tape to secure the ribbon's end to the fabric. Follow this up and down pattern all the way around the cap until you are within two inches of your starting place. Make certain that your last stitch leaves the tail of the ribbon out on the same side of the fabric as your starting ribbon.
5. Lightly gather the fabric along the ribbon, and make sure that the ribbon tails are of equal length. Tie a knot about 4" from the end of each ribbon to prevent the ribbon from accidentally being pulled out. If you'd like, you can glue lace around the edge of your mobcap.
6. To wear your mobcap, place it on your head and pull the ribbon to make it fit snugly on your head. Tie the ribbons in a bow to hold it in place.

For further information about Kris's books or school and library visits:
Author website: www.krisbordessa.com
Author email: kris@krisbordessa.com

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



BABIES DON’T EAT PIZZA –
A BIG KIDS’ BOOK ABOUT BABY BROTHERS AND BABY SISTERS
Author Dianne Danzig
Non-fiction Picture Book, Ages 3-8
Sibling Preparation for a New Baby / Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Illustrator Debbie Tilley
Dutton Children’s Books, Penguin Group (USA)
ISBN 978-0-525-47441-8
www.BabiesDontEatPizza.com
Pub date: January 22, 2009

A complete, fun, and whimsical book for children expecting new babies in their families. About “Babies Don’t Eat Pizza”
• for 3-8 year olds
• offers a fun, humorous, and sensitive approach to kids’ questions and concerns
• features multicultural families
• covers anticipating a new baby and baby development from fetus to toddler
• focuses on the older child’s perspective
• references adoption, vaginal and c-section deliveries, special needs babies
• shows breast and bottle feeding, twins
• includes playing, helping, older children’s feelings, and Parents’ Tips page
• written by sibling preparation nurse educator for over 2,000 children
Buy the book:
Pre-order now at www.amazon.com/ Babies-Dont-Pizza-Dianne-Danzig/dp/0525474412
or
Contact Dutton Children’s Books, Penguin Group USA
tel: 1.800.847.5515
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/html/aboutus/contactus.html#bookorders
Contact Dianne Danzig:
dmdanzig@comcast.net
Dianne@BabiesDontEatPizza.com

How can you use Babies Don’t Eat Pizza for a library activity?
Hold a fun "Big Brother - Big Sister" or "Sibling Celebration" class!

Babies Don’t Eat Pizza –
A Big Kids’ Book About Baby Brothers and Baby Sisters
“Big Brother – Big Sister Class” or “Sibling Preparation Class” or “Sibling Celebration”
Time: 30-45 minutes
Set up and Supplies:
1) Need enough floor space for 15 children and at least one adult per child, with a blanket spread out on the floor in front of them. Ideal number of children is 10 maximum. Recommend no more than 15 children.
2) Disposable diapers for each child’s “baby.” Regular newborn size is OK, but some children have very tiny dolls. Pampers Swaddlers Preemies diapers fit small dolls and are available in some stores and from www.diapers.com.
3) Optional - “Big Brother” and “Big Sister” certificates – with child’s name filled in as the Big Brother or Big Sister. You will need to create your own. Recommend colored paper.
4) Optional - “I’m a Big Brother” and “I’m a Big Sister” stickers or lapel buttons. Find stickers at http://www.noodlesoup.com/bigbrotherbigsisterstickers.aspx
Find buttons online, largest source is Café Press. Key in “brother” and “sister” separately.
CafePress.com http://buttons.cafepress.com/big-brother_pin-back-buttons-10-pack
5) Ask children to bring a photo of themselves as babies, a baby blanket, and their pretend babies (stuffed animals or dolls) to class.
Content:
1) Have fun! Librarian, children, and parents sit on the floor. You do not need to sit in a circle.
* For Intro and Icebreaker – Librarian introduces self and each child.
* Ask children to raise hands if they’re going to have a “baby brother,” “baby sister,” or “baby surprise.” Ask how many they’ll have, in case someone’s having multiple siblings.
2) Show illustrations and read to the children from Babies Don’t Eat Pizza Intro page,
*“Not so long ago, you were a tiny baby…” through the first paragraph on the next page.
* Ask children to share their photos and talk about them. Remind children of their importance.
3) Show and read to the children the Babies Don’t Pizza page "Baby Burritos."
* Ask children to spread their blankets on the floor, then lay their babies on the blankets.
* Demonstrate and have children practice with a grown-up how to:
(1) put a diaper on their baby and (2) wrap the baby up like a burrito.
(* if needed, see demo at http://video.about.com/babyparenting/How-to-Swaddle-a-Baby.htm)
4) Show and read the Babies Don’t Eat Pizza page "Wiggle and Squiggle.”
* Demonstrate and practice holding the babies safely.
* Continue holding the babies and sing them to sleep with “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
5) Present the new big brothers and big sisters to the group of their clapping and cheering grown-ups, then introduce and give each child a “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” certificate and/or “Big Brother” or “Big Sister” sticker or button. Children take home the used diapers.
Watch for www.BabiesDontEatPizza.com baby care demonstrations by children to be posted by Feb., 2009. Contact Dianne Danzig at Dianne@BabiesDontEatPizza.com. © 2008 Dianne Danzig

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


WILD FIBONACCI
Nature's Secret Code Revealed
Joy N. Hulme

Non-Fiction, math/science/language K-adult

ISBN 1-58246-154-6

Published by Tricycle Press in 2005, Wild Fibonacci introduces the Fibonacci number sequence and explains how it relates to life-saving features of animals. The beautiful illustrations by award-winning artist, Carol Schwartz, will delight very young children and they will soon learn to count the animals on each page. They will enjoy hearing the verses that describe them. As the children get older, they will understand how the numbers are determined and how they relate to the life-saving features they are already familiar with. Teachers might introduce this sequence in fourth or fifth grade and will expand it to include its relationship to qualities of many plants. It then becomes fascinating to look for other examples in nature. Fibonacci numbers are also found in music and poetry, art and architecture, science and technology.

ACTIVITIES with Fibonacci numbers: Count the number of needles in a pine needle (1,2,3 or 5 depending on the species) or the number of petals on a flower. Many blooms have five petals: buttercups, pansies, violets, hibiscus, geraniums, primroses, apples, pears, apricots, berries, cherries, etc. Cosmos have eight and daisies have 13, 21, 34, 55 or 89 depending on the variety. The number of sections in seed pods are often Fibonacci numbers. Notice how the bracts on palm trees, artichokes, pineapple and pine- cones spiral in two directions. In each case, the number of spirals is one Fibonacci number in one direction and the next number in the sequence the other way.

Check out how the leaves on corn plants, pussy willows and many trees are arranged in a spiral around the stem so that none of the leaves shade the ones below from the sunshine they need to grow. Look for equiangular spirals on shells, opening fern fronds, ocean waves, mature sunflower heads and animal features identified in Wild Fibonacci. Examine art books and identify how the golden proportion relates. Notice how many times 2, 3, 5, and 8 are found in music.

Check my website www.joynhulme.com to see the cover of this book. It is available at Tricycle Press. Contact me joyhulme@verizon.net.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



COUNTING BY KANGAROOS
A Multiplication Concept Book
Joy N. Hulme

Fiction/non-fiction, math/science/language/social studies K-6

ISBN 0-7167-6602-7

Published by W. H. Freeman and Company in 1995, Counting By Kangaroos is used by math teachers for units on patterning or to introduce times tables. Real animals and accurate numbers are combined in a silly fictional story written in verse that was described by one critic ¡§as jingly as jump rope rhyme. When three hippity hoppity kangaroos come by to visit Fae and Sue, three kangaroo pockets were poking out with lumpity bumps that squiggled about, critters all cramped and crowded inside, Australian animals hitching a ride. Before the sisters know it the animals, crawl, leap, spring out of the three pouches - three, six, nine squirrel gliders, four, eight, twelve koalas, 15 bandicoots, 18 wombats, 21 quokkas, 27 echidnas, 24 numbats, 30 wallabys until the house is filled with 159 marsupials. (three kangaroos and 156 passengers) So what did Fae say? What did Sue do? The last page will tell you. While it is a stretch of the imagination (as well as the pouch) that 52 animals could fit in each sac, if the marsupials were new-born they probably could fit in a large kangaroo pouch since babies are all born so prematurely that some are as small as a raisin or a grape. But then they are to young to jump out.

This is probably my best multi-dimensional children's book for classroom enrichment. In addition to its use in math, science and language, it can be valuable for social studies. An internet list includes it as one of the ten best books for teachers to use in units about Australia. The end papers show authentic aboriginal art and the illustrator has kept that flavor in her own drawings.

ACTIVITIES: List each marsupial and write down how many were in each pouch. Make adding and subtracting problems using those numbers. For instance how many quokkas and gliders? How many bandicoots, numbats and echidnas?

Do research on each animal including finding photographs to show the real appearances of the animals and compare them to the aboriginal look of the illustrations. Find other marsupials beside the ones used here. Do any of them live in the U.S.? Write and draw a book about them. Do research about Australia. Write pen pal letters to someone in Australia.

Look on my website www.joynhulme.com for a color picture of the Counting by Kangaroos cover and information about contacting me. This book is out of print but I have several copies available for the discounted price of $10.00 plus media rate postage.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



HOW TO WRITE, RECITE AND DELIGHT IN ALL KINDS OF POETRY

Joy N. Hulme and Donna Guthrie

How-to write poetry, language/social studies K-adult

ISBN 1-56294-576

Published by Millbrook Press in 1996 and illustrated with fine museum-quality art HOW TO WRITE, RECITE AND DELIGHT IN ALL KINDS OF POETRY is like a recipe book with different ways for putting words together to achieve an enjoyable goal.

Words can dance and dive and dip.
Flitter, flutter, fly and flip.
Words can jostle, jar or jolt,
Comfort calm, console, support.
Words can nudge or bump or bang,
Jingle, jangle, chime or clang.
It's up to you
What words will do.

When assonance and imagery,
Heart throb rhythms, lilting, free,
Waltzing words and sounds that sing
Combine in lines with rhymes that ring,
They'll start a tickle, tingle, thrill,
A climbing-up your backbone chill
You will delight in what you write.

Words waltz. Sounds sing. Poetry comes to life in this guide to writing, reciting and delighting in verse. The authors explain many tools and patterns that a poet has to work with such as rhyme, rhythm, and figures of speech. They introduce many ways a poet can arrange words into poems. Some rhyme, some don't. They might be shaped like a diamond, a snake, a tornado or a square box. You can write poems about almost anything all the stuff in your closet, under your bed, or crammed in your backpack, dreams for the future, even the view from your window. Verses can be long or short, serious or funny, follow a predictable pattern, make a shape, paint a picture or repeat a sound again and again. Riddles, jingles, puns, wordplay, rap, limericks, can all be a part of poetry.

More than 70 students from second grade to high school contributed poetry that was used as examples of the concepts taught in this book.

A good companion book to use in teaching poems to youngsters is WHAT IF? Just Wondering Poems by Joy N. Hulme.

ACTIVITIES: using the chapter of your choice have the children write phrases, sentences or poems using the tool described. Have them illustrate them.


Some 5 Star reviews found on Amazon.com:

I teach fourth grade and use this book as a basis for my Friday creative writing lessons. My students love it and can¡¦t wait for language class that day. If I forget they are quick to remind me it is poetry day!

This book is great for both teachers and students. It includes everything you need to teach, write and enjoy poetry. I teach 6th grade and would love to have a class set of this book. Great reference!

When my third grader came home with homework to ¡§write a poem,¡¨ this was the best book I found to teach the tools needed to write a poem.

ACTIVITY: using the chapter of your choice have the children write phrases, sentences or poems using the tool described. Have them illustrate them.

Check my website www.joynhulme.com to see the cover of these books. They should be available in libraries or used book sources. I have several rare library copies of How to Write, Recite¡Kfor sale for $25.00 (the original price) plus media-rate postage. Contact me at joyhulme@verizon.net.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



SEA SQUARES
Joy N. Hulme

Kindergarten-Sixth grade Non-fiction, math/science/language

ISBN: 13: 978-156282520-1

Published by Hyperion Books for Children in 1991 and beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist, Carol Schwartz, Sea Squares was named Outstanding Science Trade Book¡ that same year, Children's Choice in 1992, Favorite Paperback in 1993 and one of the California Collection in 1997, 2000 and 2005. It quickly became a favorite with members of the National Conference of Teachers of Math and booksellers at their conferences. It has been in print for 18 years and teachers are still its greatest fans as a whole new generation becomes acquainted with it. Sea Squares has been used by college professors, as an example of the math concept, and with emphasis on the literary quality of the language. Accurate information included in the text as well as more about each animal that is added as back matter gives this book its scientific value as well. This multi-dimensional book is a fine introduction that invites expansion in all those fields.

ACTIVITIES: School children will enjoy creating their own square number books using more sea creatures or other animal groups (birds, mammals, bugs, insects, reptiles). They can research facts about them. They can write rhymes or prose information that includes the numbers. They can draw pictures or make up stories that include numbers and facts. One sixth grade class used the text as a choral reading for a school program.

This five star review is found on Amazon.com:

Joy Hulme's Sea Squares is a fun rhyming romp that illustrates the concept of squaring numbers. The rhyme has a definite rhythm to it and the illustrations are superb. The borders of each page hint what the reader will find when the page has been turned. The gorgeous use of color in these seascapes delights the eye. I won¡¦t buy a children's book unless the illustrations are at least as good as the text. My children love the book and don't even realize it is a math book. I highly recommend adding it to your collection. (a five star review found on Amazon.com.)

Check my website www.joynhulme.com to see the cover of this book. It is still available from Hyperion Books for Children. Contact me at joyhulme@verizon.net.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



SEA SUMS
Joy N. Hulme

Kindergarten-Sixth grade Non-fiction, math/science/language

ISBN 0-439-27278-5

Published by Hyperion Books for Children in 1996 and illustrated by award-winning artist, Carol Schwartz, Sea Sums is a companion book to Sea Squares. It deals with adding and subtracting in the coral reef as the colorful animals come and go. Like its predecessor Sea Sums, it is a favorite for math teachers to use in their classrooms as a math concept. It includes accurate scientific information in the text as well as in added back matter, and is written in appealing verse. This multi-dimensional book is a fine introduction that invites expansion in all those fields.

ACTIVITIES: Let children create their own adding/subtracting books using more sea creatures or other animal groups (birds, mammals, bugs, insects, reptiles, etc.) trees, flowers, toys, etc They can research facts about them. They can write rhymes or prose information that includes the numbers. They can draw pictures or make up stories that include adding and subtracting. Since some ocean animals such as coral and sea lilies, look more like plants than animals, this is a good time to identify the distinguishing features of each.

Check my website www.joynhulme.com to see the cover of this book. It is only available from Scholastic (book club division). Contact me at joyhulme@verizon.net.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



JINGLE THE BRASS
by Patricia Newman (www.patriciamnewman.com)
Ages: Ages 4-10 Genre: Fiction Subjects: History, Jargon, Trains, Transportation, Travel, Transcontinental Railroad, Industrial Revolution, Intergenerational communication Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2004 ISBN: 0-374-33679-2 Glossary at the end includes historical details

Step back in time to Ruby's rail yard hash house and put on the nosebag with the boss hogger. He'll tell you he likes his eggs with headlights, but if you want scrambled, just order wreck on the main line. Follow him as he and his ashcat warm up engine #417 at the roundhouse, give her a drink at the water tower, and hitch her up to a jigger. Jingle the brass as the rods start flashing!

Featured in an article in the May 2005 issue of ALA's Booklinks magazine, Jingle the Brass was described as outstanding literature, lending [itself] to many classroom applications. This engaging picture book effectively shows how specific words are a joy to both the ear and the imagination. A Junior Library Guild Selection Publisher's Weekly says, "Newman's text unspools as a lingo-filled monologue by the wizened engineer; she smoothly weaves in more than 50 railroading words and phrases, while providing an insider's view of working on the rails. . .Readers will undoubtedly demand a return trip very soon." School Library Journal says, Michael Chesworth's pictures and the text match beautifully¡ People and machines have lots of movement, personality, and historical flavor.¨

SCHOOL VISIT INFORMATION Contact Patricia Newman at newmanbooks@live.com www.patriciamnewman.com

PRE-READING ACTIVITIES TO ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE (all ages) 1) Talk about the different people who work on a train. What are their jobs? Why are they important? Examples¡Xengineer, fireman, brakeman, track worker, conductor, dispatcher. 2) Find out how much your students know about the functions of different railroad cars. Examples¡Xlocomotive, hopper, refrigerator car, caboose, engine, oil can, livestock car. 3) Discuss why trains are important. Hypothesize how a locomotive hooks up to the rest of the train and how two locomotives might share one track.
JINGLE THE BRASS by Patricia Newman (www.patriciamnewman.com)

RAIL TALK ACTIVITY (grades 3 and up) „X Choose at least six (6) words from the Regular Words column and write a paragraph. Underline all the words that you used from the Regular Words column. Now, write a second paragraph. Replace all the underlined words with the matching railroad term from the Railroad Words column. Read your story aloud.Regular Words coal cowboys head-on crash restaurant sunny-side up eggs engine ring the bell quit work and go home eat donuts scrambled eggs pocket watch milk police at a complete stop waiting off to the side hop aboard a moving train going VERY fast Railroad Words black diamonds clover pickers cornfield meet hash house eggs with headlights hog jingle the brass pull the pin put on the nosebag rolling stock wreck on the main line ticker whitewash bulls lying dead in the hole nail her on the fly the rods are flashing WHAT'S INSIDE? LIFT-THE-FLAP BOOK ACTIVITY (grades K-2) Teachers: Trace the various train cars in Jingle the Brass in black ink and enlarge the drawings on a copier. Give your students two copies of the same train car for an outside and inside view. On the outside train car, students draw and color what the outside of their car looks like. Then they cut out this car and put it aside. On the inside train car, students draw and color what their car is carrying. They write, "This car carries ______________." under the picture. The top edge of the outside view is attached over the inside view. Bind all pages together for a lift-the-flap classroom book.

Click here to return to top of Index.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++




Koehler-Pentacoff, Elizabeth; Illustrated by Karl Swanson
JOHN MUIR AND STICKEEN: AN ALASKAN ADVENTURE
Published by Millbrook/Lerner, 2003.
ISBN 0-7613-1997-2.

Nonfiction Picture Book Curriculum Guide by KatzConnects Literacy

Before reading or discussing the book, have all children (K-5) make ecologically sound journals from reused materials. For each journal you'll need:

1) a pencil

2) a small piece (4"x6" works well) cardboard or tagboard

3) several pieces of scrap paper

4) a hole punch and 5) a rubberband.

Punch two holes at the top of the cardboard and the scrap paper. Place the pencil at the top, between the two holes and then weave the rubberband through the holes so it keeps the pencil in place.

K-2: Read JOHN MUIR AND STICKEEN to the class. Encourage students to think of "Text to Self" connections (a la Mosaic of Thought) about an adventure that they've had with a pet or on a hike. You can have them do a "think, pair, share" first.


The journal can then be used to either a) write about their nature adventure or b) take nature walks and write down observations like John Muir did. Children can sketch the trees and plants around them and then write about each one in the journal. Often, your own school campus or surrounding streets will suffice to record a variety of flora and fauna. Students can write down adjectives next to their sketches such as tall, green, pointy, etc.

3-5: Upper grade students should be able to have a more in depth discussion about "Text to Text" Connections. What other books have they read that tell the account of an adventure against the elements? Have they read other biographies about John Muir or others? In their journal, they should be able to write a either a biography (after interviewing a parent or grandparent) or an autobiographical account of a nature adventure.

Like Koehler-Pentacoff does so eloquently, have children be sure to incorporate "active-adjectives" (razor thin, stable, inviting) and "vivid verbs" (wind wails, snow crusts). Brainstorm lists beforehand of these kinds of words.

Social Studies K-2: Mapping skills are very important at this age. Bring out a world map, globe or atlas, depending on the grade level. Help students locate Alaska. Discuss what continent it is on then teach them the following song (*Note: The capital words or letters are emphasized so that you'll be able to read the rhythm of the chant): TELL me the CONtinents, TELL me the CONtinents, TELL me the CONtinents IF YOU CAN. NORTH America, SOUTH America, EUROPE, Asia, AFRICA, DON'T forget AustrALIA, DON'T forget AntARctica. TELL me the CONtinents, TELL me the CONtients, TELL me the CONtinents, IF YOU CAN.

Next, have a student come point to the various continents on the map as the class chants the song. 3-5: John Muir was a very important and historical figure. He was one of the key environmentalists who helped establish Yosemite and Muir Woods as National Parks. Have students research Muir himself more or other environmentalists such as James Audubon (mentioned in Koehler-Pentacoff's "About John Muir").

Teach students how to summarize and categorize notes for a research report. They can use the internet or library books to complete the project. An in class presentation, where the students dress up as their biographical character, is a fabulous culminating activity.

Science K-2: So much of JOHN MUIR AND STICKEEN is about weather, water and states of matter. Their hike was a treacherous one, involving lots of icicles. Discuss the water cycle and how icicles form (solid, liquid, gas). There are several experiments you can do to make this more "hands on, minds-on."

First, you can have students put some water in ice trays and store it overnight in the freezer. The next day, have them make observations about the changes (they could even use their journals). Then, use a pot and a hot plate to change the ice cubes back into vapor and then into liquid in front of the class.

3-5: Habitats are an interesting topic to investigate. John Muir often admired "riparian" communities, ones where trees grow right along a river. In this book; however, Muir and Stickeen need to fight the stormy, icy conditions. You can have students research the ice age, global warming or Alaska's current glacial situation. In this case, internet research might be the best resource. In addition, keeping track of local weather conditions (temperature, forecast, humidity, etc.) is an excellent compliment to the unit.

Art K-2: Either in their journals or on separate paper, students can do crayon leaf rubbings. Have them collect a variety of leaves. They then place them with the vein part up, underneath a piece of paper. Next, they rub a crayon on top of the piece of paper and watch what happens. Another project is to make snowflakes. Children take a square piece of paper and fold it into a triangle several times. They then cut different shapes out-- square, circle, rectangle, triangle. Review the basic shapes as they do this. Last, have them open their snowflake and hang them on the windows or on a bulletin board. Talk about the fact that no two snowflakes are alike.

3-5: The illustrator, Karl Swanson, used fine details in his paintings. Have students try and replicate this level of detail by doing a portrait of a classmate in a winter scene. They should first sketch it out, then use watercolors to paint it. Since snow is hard to paint, students can mix media and use chalk pastel or oil pastel for the snow. Make sure that students study perspective with you or the art teacher before attempting this. Math K-2: John Muir walked over 1,000 miles one time from Indiana to Florida. Have children do maps of their community and learn about keys and scales to figure out how far their house is from their school. 3-5: Staying with the mileage theme, older students can try out story problems that incorporate this long journey that John Muir took. How many days at how many miles per day did John travel? Although the exact data is not known, students can guest various solutions to this real life math problem.

Reviews "Mere whispers of color tint the ghostly illustrations, giving the effect of pictures coated with hoarfrost. Muir's wide-eyed stare adds to the scenes, otherworldly air. An adventure story with a dog but without sentimentality, this picture book can be used to enhance classroom units on Muir or glaciers." Booklist "dramatic retelling of an episode from renowned naturalist Muir's memoirs. . . this makes an engrossing survival tale, and provides unusual insight into Muir's character." Kirkus

Click here to return to top of Index.