by mrsmiliano
Mr. Bloom’s third graders visited the library on Monday to hear about some new books in the library. The following books were introduced:
- Little Horse and Little Horse on His Own by Betsy Byars: These two short chapter books are perfect for horse-lovers! Little Horse has many exciting adventures when he is swept away from the Valley of Little Horses (book 1) and as he tries to make his way back home (book 2).
- The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpetby Tony Abbott: This is the first book in fantasy series, “The Secrets of Droon.” The story begins with Eric and two friends finding a door to a magical closet under the basement stairs. When the three friends go into the closet and close the door, a staircase magically appears. It takes the friends into the world of Droon where meet Princess Keeah and the evil Lord Sparr. What an adventure!
- Gooney Bird and the Room Motherby Lois Lowry: Gooney Bird Greene is back! Now she wants to be the star in the class Thanksgiving pageant! She promises to find a room mother for her second grade class even though no one seems to want the job. Can Gooney Bird Greene help her teacher by finding a room mother for second grade? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
- “Elephant and Piggie” books by Mo Willems: Gerald the Elephant and Piggie are very different, but they are best friends. The four tales of these two hilarious characters are bound to make you laugh! Be sure to read There is a Bird on Your Head, I am Invited to a Party, My Friend is Sad, and Today I Will Fly.
Booktalks Grade 3
by mrsmiliano
Fifth grader Rachel was the first to submit the correct answer to the question about past U.S. presidents. Martin Van Buren was president in 1840 and Franklin D. Roosevelt held the office in 1940. Congratulations, Rachel!
Library Contests Online Contests
by mrsmiliano
Since we honor the past presidents of our country on Presidents Day this month, our tenth online contest is about presidents. Who was president in 1840 and who was president 100 years later (1940)? First person to submit the correct two-part answer will be the winner!
One website that has information about the presidents is “White House Kids” and it can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents/.
Library Contests Online Contests
by mrsmiliano
In January and February, the kindergarten and first grade classes have been enjoying some of the books nominated for the 2007-2008 Chickadee Award (Maine’s children’s choice award). Each week a new book is featured. Often there is a follow-up activity. The students keep track of the books they have experienced by gluing a photo of the book cover in their “Chickadee Booklets.” In March, each student will vote for his/her favorite book from among those pictured in his/her Chickadee Booklet. We will tally the votes, announce our local winner, and send our results to the state level. Once the tallying from across the state is done, the Chickadee Award will be given to the book with the most votes. The announcement will be made April 1, 2008.
The Chickadee Award nominees we have read so far are:
- An Egg is Quiet written by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long
- After reading this beautiful nonfiction book about eggs, the children talked about animals that hatched from eggs.
- Duck & Goose written and illustrated by Tad Hills
- In this funny story, a duck and a goose find a ball, but they think it is an egg! The children played a bean bag variation of the classic game “Duck, Duck, Goose” and then decorated paper eggs with crayons. The first graders added drawings of animals that hatch from eggs on the back of their decorated eggs.
- Library Lion written by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
- The students went on a “Lion Hunt” immediately after reading the book. They were in hopes of finding a lion for our library! After the lion hunt, the kindergartners received lion finger puppets and the first graders made lion stick puppets.
- Tunjur! Tunjur! Tunjur! A Palestinian Folktale retold by Margaret Read MacDonald, Ibrahim Muhawi, and Sahrif Kananah; illustrated by Alik Arzoumanian
- The children helped to retell this funny folktale about a little pot that does not know the difference between right and wrong.
Classroom News Grade 1 Grade K
by mrsmiliano
The competition for the week of February 11th was a geography contest. Students were given a map of eastern Asia and asked to label 5 countries (Japan, North Korea, South Korea, China and Russia) and 2 bodies of water (Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan). A list of labels was provided and the use of atlases or the globe was allowed. Correctly labeled maps were entered in a drawing for an origami kit. The lucky winner is fifth grader Jonathon W. Congratulations, Jonathon!
Library Contests