Books for entire year
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
by Dr. Seuss
We will read this book at the beginning of the year.
Introduction:
Does anyone want to go on an adventure? This book tells of a journey that you all will embark on someday!
Discussion Questions:
If you could travel anywhere in the whole world, where would you go and why?
What would you do when you got there?
If you could take anyone with you, who would it be?
(Online) Activity:
Students can research real places online. (Providing a list of places that include both urban and rural areas may be helpful.) Ask them to e-mail you or post on a certain social network the images of a location where they would like to go. As extra credit, they can try to make a rhyme or two that describes their feelings about the place.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
by Simms Taback
We will read this book at the start of our poetry unit
Award: Caldecott Honor
Introduction: This book of poetry is one that young students will love! This book is about the old lady who swallowed a fly, a spider, a bird, and so many other strange things. Paired with the hilarious illustrations, students will have fun anticipating what the old lady will eat next!
Discussion Questions: What rhyming patterns did you notice in the book? Why do you think the old lady kept trying to swallow different animals?
Activity: Dramatize the story! Allow the students to make the animals in the book into masks or posters and act out the story! This is a fun way to get the students active in the classroom and a fun way to channel their energy into something productive!
Revolting Rhymes
by Roald Dahl
This book will be great to read in the midst of the poetry unit and the fiction unit. It will help the students identify rhymes and characters.
Introduction: Revolting Rhymes twists classic fairy tales and alters their storylines in funny, unexpected ways. Dahl's rhymes create whimsical new versions of these tales, which will not only surprise your young listeners but also thrill them. Because this book is made up of revamped classic fairy tales, you can discuss the differences between the stories and what the students like about each version.
Discussion questions:
If you could change the ending of any fairy tale, which would you pick and what would you change? Why do you think that imagination is important?
Activity:
Once you have read a few of Dahl's poems, ask your students to write or draw their version of a classic fairy tale. Once the students are done creating their pictures or stories, hang them up on a bulletin board to share with the rest of the class.
Turkey Trouble
Wendi Silvano
We will read this book around Thanksgiving. This book will help the students understand fiction.
Introduction: We will read Turkey Trouble because it is a humorous, fictional telling of a turkey saving himself from becoming dinner.
Discussion questions: Why do you think the turkey dressed up as each animal? If you were the turkey, what would you dress up as?
Activity: Draw and design your own turkey with a costume on it.
The Leaves are Falling One by One
Steve Metzger
This book will go with the Thanksgiving unit. It will also be a good addition to the poetry unit.
Introduction: We will read this book because it uses rhyming words to describe the fall season and it will be great for engaging resistant readers.
Discussion Questions: What is the rhyming pattern used on each page? What words rhyme with what? What is your favorite thing about Fall?
Activity: We will get everyone in a circle and have them make their own poem. I will start with one word describing fall, then they will have to name another word that rhymes with it.
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving
Eric Metaxas
This book will close our Thanksgiving unit. It will be a good transition into our nonfiction unit.
Introduction: We will read this nonfiction book about the true story of Thanksgiving. This book will help the students understand why we celebrate this holiday.
Discussion Questions: How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? What are you thankful for? Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? Who was the main character?
Activity: We will do readers theatre. We can also draw the Indians. This will help the students understand another culture.
I, Too, Am American
by Langston Hughes
This book would be great to follow up after Squanto. This will help the students learn more about minorities.
Awards:
Coretta Scott King Award
Introduction: The story travels from South to North and from old to new, ending in Harlem, where a contemporary African-American mother rides in a subway car, her son gazing out the window. In the next spread, he’s seen in startling closeup, parting and peering between the stripes of an all-but-invisible American flag. “I, too, am America,” he says. It’s a powerful metaphor for looking at African-American history—and the issue of race in America—from the inside out.
Discussion Questions: How does this poem make you think about what it means to be an American?
How is "America" presented in this poem, and how does it make you feel about America?
Activity:
I would get a giant piece of paper and make it into the American flag. I then would let each student write their favorite thing about America on a stripe of their choosing. This activity would be great to teach on patriotism or I would have each student write a short essay about their experience as an American, specifically the highlights of it.
The Name Jar
by Yangsook Choi
We would read this book after I, Too am American, because this is also about a different culture.
Introduction: This book deals with multicultural differences in names. Unhei is a new student that has just moved from Korea. She was afraid that the American kids wouldn't like her and decided to choose a new name instead of giving them her own. She was anxious that they wouldn't be able to pronounce her name. They decide to fill up a glass jar with names for her to choose. However, one of her classmates discovers her real name and the meaning behind it. She then proudly tells the class her real name.
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think Unhei was afraid the American kids wouldn't like her? Would you have been nervous if you were Unhei? What could you have done to make her feel more included in the classroom?
Could you? Would you?
by: Trudy White
Introduction: This wonderful book allows children to imagine the things they would do if they could. This is a story everyone can relate to, no matter his or her background. This is a rather long book so I would use it to cover two weeks. It would be a great book to end our diversity unit.
We Are Best Friends
by: Aliki
This story will follow the previous one. We will learn about the importance of friendship.
In this story, Robert and Peter struggle with how they can remain best friends after Peter moves away. Aliki’s simple illustrations and text capture the boys’ loneliness while sending a reassuring message that your child will appreciate.
Perfect for: Kids who like making friends.
Tuff Fluff: The Case of Duckie’s Missing Brain
by: Scott Nash
This book would be a great way to end the year with. The whole point of the class was to show children different genres, to help them discover what they like, so what better way to end than with a mistery?
When Duckie, resident storytelling toy of Los Attic, loses some of his brainy stuffing and can’t tell tales anymore, Tuff Fluff, Private Investigator, is on the case. Creative surgery and sharing between friends puts Duckie back in action. Case closed.
Perfect for: Kids who like mysteries.