During their weekly library visit, Mrs. McCall’s students shared a book they made about zoo animals. Each child had used the animal 
database PebbleGo to select and learn about one zoo animal. Then they recorded a couple of facts about their animals and drew pictures. The sharing was followed by Margret and H. A. Rey’s Curious George Feeds the Animals. Then the children sorted stuffed animals into two categories: zoo animals and farm animals.
More about zoo animals
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Library becomes wax museum
In the past couple of months, Mrs. Bissell’s fourth graders read many tall tales. They met such great American characters at Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, John Henry, Mike Fink, and Slue-Foot Sue. Each student selected a tall tale character to write about. Last week, the library was the location of the class’ Toe-Tappin’ Tall Tale Wax Museum. The students dressed up as their tall tale characters and “froze” in a pose. Parents and other fourth graders visited the museum. When a visitor tapped the toe of a wax figure, the character came to life and recited his/her story! Everyone who participates in this creative, interactive event seemed to enjoy the experience and learn a new tale or two.
Recognition received
Recently, two more classes have earned recognition for returning their library books. Mrs. Sturtevant’s second graders earned 1,000 points by returning 200 library books. Miss Smith’s kindergartners earned 100 stickers on their book return chart for returning 100 books. Both classes received small prizes for their efforts to be responsible library users. Keep up the good work, everyone!
Geo quiz
Last week’s library competition was a geography quiz. Students were asked to identify three countries on a map of Africa. Atlases were available for reference. Everyone who correctly labeled Libya, Angola, and Kenya on the map was entered in a drawing for a stuffed lion. Third grader Elizabeth won the lion.
Chickadee news
The Chickadee Award Program is in full swing at CJL! This week the kindergarten and first grade students listened to Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein. In this funny story, a rooster is putting his little chicken to bed. Every time the rooster starts a familiar folktale (Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little), the little red chicken interrupts the story by telling the characters how to avoid the impending danger. After the story, the kindergartners did the “chicken dance.” They also started their Chickadee Award booklets. Each time they hear a Chickadee Award nominee, they glue a picture of the book cover into the booklet. They will use the booklets to vote for their favorite book at the end of the program.
The first graders extended Interrupting Chicken by having pairs of students take on the roles of Papa and Little Red Chicken. Papa would start telling one of the folktales and Little Red Chicken would interrupt him. The children used the “Puppet Pals” app on the library’s new iPad to act out the story. They were able to record and then view their digital puppet shows!
This week the second graders listened to Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds. In this historical fiction picture book, a young African-American boy and his mother are riding at the back of the bus when Rosa Parks refuses to leave her seat at the front of the bus. Mrs. Miliano showed photos of Rosa Parks and explained which parts 
of the story are factual. The book was particularly relevant this week as our country recalled the Civil Rights Movement through the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.