The Berenstain Bears Count Their Blessingsby Stan and Jan Berenstain
This delightful story takes us inside the Berenstain Bear's family treehouse during a thunderstorm. The cubs stay warm and cozy by the fire sipping hot cocoa as their parents discuss the elements of the storm as well as the importance of counting your blessings in life.
The Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children enjoyed listening to this story in the library as an actual thunderstorm was taking place outside. Rain was actually pitter-pattering on the windows throughout the reading of this story. The children's favorite part of the story was when the family was sitting on the couch together in front of the fireplace sipping hot chocolate!
Possible extensions to this story: Create a class book of 'blessings' that the students have in their lives, ie. a home, family, pets, friends, etc. Lots of weather art possibilities: watercolors, creating rainbows, fingerpainting clouds and raindrops, etc. The story also discusses 'bearbie' dolls and 'gamebear' players. Have children bring an item from their collections to show and tell.
Fairy Tale Study: Grades 1st and 2nd
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by Jim Aylesworth
This old-fashioned retelling of a classic story was a perfect addition to our study on fairy tales. While the first and second graders were listening to this story, they actively participated and predicted the text by talking in "papa bear", "mama bear", and "baby bear" voices as the action occurred.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
by James Marshall
We compared and contrasted this story with other retellings of this fairytale.
Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox
by Erin Dealey
We also extended the lesson with a reading of Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox, a story with some of the same characters as the familiar tale, but a different plot. The children's favorite part to this story is when Goldie Locks younger brother pretends to be a superhero and pesters his sick sister...
and then ends up with chicken pox as well!
Sequoyah Nominee Book Study: Grades 3rd-6th
We continued our reading of Sequoyah Nominee Books in the third
through sixth grades this week.
The third grade is reading Into the Firestorm by Deborah Hopkinson. The famous 1906 San Fransisco earthquake has just occurred and fire is quickly spreading throughout the city. Will orphan, Nicholas, help friends and a dog escape the flames? Join us next week to learn more about the adventure!
The fourth grade is reading The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood by Barb Bentler Ullman. Willa is helping her neighbor with housework one Sunday morning. She meets the friendly handyman and helps to prepare breakfast for him, before taking a walk in nature on a Sunday afternoon.
The fifth grade girls chose to read Sheep by Valerie Hobbs. The dog in the story has just been introduced to the not-so-happy lifestyle of the circus. Trials and tribulations occur as this dog tries to adapt to his new lifestyle. Told from the dog's point of view, this story is unique and heartwarming.
The fifth grade boys are reading The Mailbox by Audrey Shafer. When Gabe goes to live with his Uncle Vernon, he thinks things in his life are about to get better. But when Uncle Vernon dies suddenly, Gabe struggles to live on his own, cope with the death, and continue with his schooling. Mysteriously, someone moves the dead body and begins leaving notes in the mailbox for Gabe. Who is the mystery writer? We will have to read more to find out...
The sixth grade travels back in time to meet Satchel Paige each week by reading Satch and Me by Dan Gutman. With themes of baseball and racial inequality, this book captures the interest of each student.
