CURRICULUM CONNECTION

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "CURRICULUM CONNECTION"

Reynard Lyons
5 years ago
Views:

Title: Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores Author: James Howe Illustrator: Amy Walrod Publication Date: 2003 Genre: Animal Fiction Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores is set in a mouse town made of

1 Title: Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores Author: James Howe Illustrator: Amy Walrod Publication Date: 2003 Genre: Animal Fiction Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores is set in a mouse town made of recyclables and other objects. Dolores the main character is faced with a conflict when Horace and Morris her truest of friends decide to join a boys only club because A boys gotta do what a boys gotta do. This was really hard on Dolores because her and her friends did everything together and lived life to the fullest, and now she had to choose between being herself or doing what a girls gotta do and joining a girls only club. The climax comes when after doing the same dull thing every day in the girls club Dolores stands up and proclaims they go on an adventure and when the girls deny her request she quits and another little mouse follows. Finally the story is resolved when Dolores being her self goes to get her old friends and like old times return to being adventurers. This book has many great qualities. It s a timeless story, this story is about being yourself and not what others want you to be and everyone, it helps expand the awareness that no matter how old needs to be reminded of that every now and then especially children which is why this book is so relatable for them. The illustrations are unique as well, it uses some mixed media in that the pictures include print from a variety of texts and appears to have other material like tape, and textured papers incorporated into the images. 1. Students can have a discussion about what it means to be you and what are true friends. (Intermediate) 2. For an art project students can use a variety of mixed medias to create images about them selves and who they truly are. (Primary)

Title: Children Make Terrible Pets Author: Peter Brown Illustrator: Peter Brown Publication Date: 2010 Genre: Animal Fiction & Intermediate Children Make Terrible Pets is set in a forest.

2 Title: Children Make Terrible Pets Author: Peter Brown Illustrator: Peter Brown Publication Date: 2010 Genre: Animal Fiction & Intermediate Children Make Terrible Pets is set in a forest. Lucy, a little bear that loves all creatures is the main character in the story. The plot begins with Lucy skipping through the forest one day, when she comes across a little boy. She takes the boy home and asks to keep him but is warned by her mother "children make terrible pets" and "He's your responsibility". Lucy and Squeaker her new pet do everything together, but the literary conflict starts when things take a turn for the worst. Squeaker can't be potty trained, he's destructive, and has bad manners at tea parties. The climax of the story happens when... he disappears, without a trace. Lucy searches the while forest for Squeaker and the resolution is bitter sweet. He is with his family and Lucy knows this is where he belongs and must say goodbye. The theme of the story is that just because you find a stray creature does not mean it will make a good pet. Children Make Terrible Pets has many elements of quality. The illustrations first of all bring the story to life, it s done in a retro style and the use of the borders helps you focus on what is happening in the illustration. As well it is very enjoyable for and relatable to children. Children are able to see what might happen if they bring home a found creature and it shows that every creature has a family too. As well they will learn that you need be responsible to have a pet. Also, it is an original story considering that a bear finds a boy to keep as pet and that doesn't happen very often. S 1.Students could think of other animals that might make bad pets and what they might do to cause trouble. This could tie into a project about animals and their behaviors. (Primary) 2. Students could learn about responsibility and how much it takes to take care of pet. This could tie into the Six Pillars of Character. (Intermediate)

Title: Anansi the Spider Author: Gerald McDermott Illustrator: Gerald McDermott Publication Date: 1986 Genre: Traditional Literature: Tale The plot of Anansi the Spider is Anansi six sons save him

Each of his sons has a special talent, that helps them to rescue him. After being rescued Anansi wants to reward the son that saved him with a glowing orb he found, but doesn t know who to give it to.

3 Title: Anansi the Spider Author: Gerald McDermott Illustrator: Gerald McDermott Publication Date: 1986 Genre: Traditional Literature: Tale The plot of Anansi the Spider is Anansi six sons save him from being eaten by a fish. Anansi is in danger of being eaten by fish and is sons are trying to help. The climax is when the rescue happens. Each of his sons has a special talent, that helps them to rescue him. After being rescued Anansi wants to reward the son that saved him with a glowing orb he found, but doesn t know who to give it to. Since Anansi could not decide which son deserved the orb it is being help in the sky and it is what we call out moon. 1. Students can make a paper spider and fill in things they know about spires or learned form the story (Primary) 2. Student will create their own tale about how something (like the moon) was created Title: Where the Wild Things Are Author: Bob Shea Illustrator: Lance Smith Publication Date: 2008 Genre: Fantasy The plot begins with a little boy sitting in a corner and he has BIG plans and he wants every one to know. He talks about how he is going to get all fancied up, march to the highest peak and shout to the world that he has big plans. On his way he recruits a mynah bird an finds a luck stinky hat. As he presses on he bosses people around, becomes mayor, even president that is the climax. The resolution to the story happens when he writes on the moon, but then you find you that after all this adventure he has been sitting in the same chair the entire book and we were looking into his thoughts. We never do discover his big plans

4 1. Students can write a sequel to the book of what they think his big pans might be and share their stories to the class (Intermediate) 2. Students can brainstorm together and come up with one large class plan of what they can do in the future or what the boy s plans might be and illustrate it on a large poster. (Primary) Title: The Lion and the Mouse Author: Jerry Pinkney Illustrator: Jerry Pinkney Publication Date: 1976 Genre: Wordless Picture Book Recommended Grade: The lion and the Mouse is a touching story set in the savannah. The plot begins with Mouse, the main character, in the grips of the lion s strong paws. Out of kindness the lion decides to let he mouse free. The climax happens when the lion become trapped high about the ground, in a hunter s net. The little mouse that he had spared came to the lions rescue and chewed him out of the net so he could be free. The story is resolved with the lion and the mouse now having a new friend ship and someone they can count on. 1. Students can make their own wordless picture books individually or as a group and tell a story about them selves. (Intermediate)

2. As a class or in pairs students can think of other animal opposites (like mouse and lion) and think of way they could benefit form each other like they did.

(primary) Title: Where the Wild Things Are Author: Maurice Sendak Illustrator: Maurice Sendak Publication Date: 1963 Genre: Fantasy 1.

5 2. As a class or in pairs students can think of other animal opposites (like mouse and lion) and think of way they could benefit form each other like they did. Or even how you might show random acts of kindness in your community. (primary) Title: Where the Wild Things Are Author: Maurice Sendak Illustrator: Maurice Sendak Publication Date: 1963 Genre: Fantasy 1. Students can act out Where the Wild Things Are and get into character and try to feel how Max the wild things felt. Title: Alice the Fairy Author: David Shannon Illustrator: David Shannon Publication Date: 2004 Genre: Fantasy Alice, the main character in Alice the Fairy, is a little girl who believes she is a fairy in training. The story is set in Alice s home where she is practicing to become a real fairy. She uses her wand to turn her dad into a horse, she talks to her magic mirror, and she refers to her parents and the Duke and the Duchess. The story starts to climax when she starts talking about all the stuff she wished she could, like turning her bath water into

jello. Alice resolves her own issues when she decides that its ok to be a temporary fairy and that she wont be a permanent fairy. 1. 2.

Soentpiet Publication Date: 1995 Genre: Historical Non-Fiction Recommended Grade: Booked, the main character, is a young arican American that does not know ho to read Title: Math Curse Author: Jon

6 jello. Alice resolves her own issues when she decides that its ok to be a temporary fairy and that she wont be a permanent fairy lk Title: More Than Anything Else Author: Marie Bradley Illustrator: Chris K. Soentpiet Publication Date: 1995 Genre: Historical Non-Fiction Recommended Grade: Booked, the main character, is a young arican American that does not know ho to read Title: Math Curse Author: Jon Scieszka Illustrator: Lane Smith Publication Date: 1995 Genre: Recommended Grade: Intermediate and Secondary Math Curse is set in young girls crazy math infused world. The plot begins when the young girl, our unnamed main character, is in class and her teacher says, "You know, almost everything in life can be considered a math problem." When the student wakes up the next morning everything she sees and does is in math, she has become like a math zombie. The climax happens when she falls into bed at the end of the day and winds up stuck in a blackboard. Her issues are resolved when she escapes the blackboard and awakens to find out that she can now solve any problem and her curse is broken.

7 1. Students can use the book to help them find different way to use math, around the house and in daily life, as a homework assignment (primary) 2. Students can use the book to help them find different way to use math, around the house and in daily life, as a project and really get into the math and the details and why certain math concepts apply. (Intermediate) Title: Black and White Author: David Macaulay Illustrator: David Macaulay Publication Date: 1990 Genre: Recommended Grade: Intermediate and Secondary Black and White is one story told in four different perspectives. There is no main character but the setting revolves around the train station and the train itself. The plot of the story begins with a robber, cows, a boy on a train, and people waiting at the train station. As the story progresses you see that the robber is hiding in the escaped cows. The story hits its climax when you find out that the cows are what s keep the train from reaching that station and the parents introduced later in the story were waiting for the train. It is resolved when the boy on the train finally makes it home, the cows are returned, and peace returns to an unusual day. 1. Student will be separated into 5 groups (A,B,C,D,E) A-D will follow each individual story and E will follow all of the stories and then will discuss their perspective of the book with the other groups. 2. Students will Title: A Sick Day for Amos McGee Author: Philip C. Stead

8 Illustrator: Erin E. Stead Publication Date: 2010 Genre: A Sick Day for Amos McGee is about a dedicated zookeeper who makes sure to visit his friends the elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhinoceros, and owl. The story is set in a city zoo and in the Amos McGee s, the main characters, apartment. The plot begins with Amos doing his daily routine, waking up, eating breakfast, taking the bus to the work, the city zoo, and greeting his friends. Every day he plays chess with the elephant, races the tortoise (who never loses), sits quietly with the penguin, gives a tissue to the rhino, and reads stories to the owl. Amos does the same thing everyday. The climax is when he doesn t show up for the work one day because he becomes sick and the animals worry. The resolution occurs when the animals come to Amos and make him feel better. The elephant plays a game of chess with him, he and the tortoise plays hide-and-seek, the penguin sits quietly with him as he naps, the rhino lends him a tissue, and the owl reads to him, before they all fall asleep for a good nights rest. The theme of the story is, is that if you take care of others and treat them well, and then they will do the same for you. Title: Baby Mouse Queen of the World Author: Jennifer L. Holm & Matthew Holm Illustrator: Publication Date: 2005 Genre: Animal Fiction Recommended Grade: Intermediate Baby Mouse Queen of the World is set in Baby Mouse s world. The plot begins with Baby Mouse, the main character, and her best friend Wilson in the hallway of the school. Baby Mouse is thinking of how desperately she wants to be popular like Felicia Furrypaws. She goes through multiple scenarios in her head of what her life might be like if she were popular and powerful, or even if she were just Felicia s friend. Felicia is having a slumber party and Baby Mouse is so eager to go, but the only way she would be invited is if she let Felicia turn in her paper for herself, and Baby Mouse let her. Also the sleep over was in the same night she had already made plans with Wilson to have a movie marathon. The climax happens when the sleep over is nothing like she thought it

9 might be, and Felicia was acting horrible to Baby Mouse, and Baby Mouse was wishing she had stayed with her best friend. The dilemma is resolved and the theme is revealed when baby mouse realizes she doesn t need to change herself for others to like her and that she has a best friend that accepts her for who she is, and she leaves the party to go be with Wilson. What s unique about this book, is that It a graphic novel and the illustrations are what guide the reader through the story. Although the Illustrations are in only in pink, black, and white, they allow us to see inside Baby Mouse s Head Reader can relate Title: Mufaro s Beautiful Daughters Author: John Steptoe Illustrator: John Steptoe Publication Date: 1987 Genre: Traditional Literature: Multicultural Tale Recommended Grade: Mufaro s Beautiful Daughters is a Cinderella type story set in Africa. Mufaro has two beautiful daughters, the main characters Nyasha who is caring and Manyara who is nasty. The plot The King was looking for a wife and wanted to meet the most worthy and beautiful daughters on the land. The climax happens when both girls make the journey to meet the king and along the way encounter obstacles in which Nyasha is considerate of the people she meets and Manyara does not care and is focused on herself. The story is resolved when their journey is complete the king ultimately chooses Nyasha because he knows of her kind and companionate ways along the journey Mufaro s Beautiful Daughters is an original story. It is a new take on a timeless story. The author has taken a new approach to Cinderella. By setting the story 1. Students will be asked to write their own version of a Cinderella story(intermediate)

2. Title: The Napping House Author: Audrey Wood Illustrator: Don Wood Publication Date: 1984 Genre: Fantasy The Napping House is set in a house call the napping house.

The climax of the story is when a flea lands on the mouse and bites him and everyone in a chain reaction is suddenly woken up.

10 2. Title: The Napping House Author: Audrey Wood Illustrator: Don Wood Publication Date: 1984 Genre: Fantasy The Napping House is set in a house call the napping house. The plot begins with grandma sleeping in a cozy bed, who is then joined by a child, who is joined by a dog, then a cat, and then a mouse. The climax of the story is when a flea lands on the mouse and bites him and everyone in a chain reaction is suddenly woken up. The resolution comes after they are woken up and no one is sleeping in the napping house but they are playing outside and having fun. Title: The Llama s Secret Author: Argentina Palacios Illustrator: C. Reasoner Publication Date: 1993 Genre: Traditional Literature: Legend The legend of The Llama s Secret is almost like Noah s Arch. The plot is based around a family who is dependent on their llama to get work done and harvest their crops. The trouble begins when the llama will not eat, but the llama speaks to its owner and tells him the ocean will flood and he needs to get to higher ground. The family begins the journey to the highest peak and they met different animals along the way. Soon two of each animal is following them up the mountain. The climax of the story occurs when the family and all the animals are perched on top of he peek surrounded by water. The water soon subsides and their problems are resolved.

Phrases for 2 nd -3 rd Grade Sight Words (9) for for him for my mom it is for it was for. (10) on on it on my way On the day I was on

(1) the on the bus In the school by the dog It was the cat. Phrases for 2 nd -3 rd Grade Sight Words (9) for for him for my mom it is for it was for (17) we If we go we can sit we go out Can we go? (2)