Author Archives: openwidearchive

Teaching Geography With Children’s Literature: Follow That Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills

  "Do you know how to find a hidden treasure?  Do you know how far your house is from the candy store?  Do you know the way to your favorite ride at the amusement park?  It's easy!  Join the friends … Continue reading

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Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Electricity

Electricity, a DK Eyewitness book written by Steve Parker, is a great introduction to electricity.  The book is written in short sections with one topic per two page spread.  There are lots of pictures which make the book very visually … Continue reading

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Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Wow! Said the Owl

There is no shortage of books about colors, but Tim Hopgood has written and illustrated a particularly satisfying story with Wow! Said the Owl.  One curious little owl takes a long nap at night (“instead of staying awake all night … Continue reading

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Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Properties

Introduction and Summary: Properties by DeltaScienceReaders is a beginning reader book that is set up in the style of a textbook but in a much small version. The first page is the table of contents and asks the student to … Continue reading

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Teaching Physical Science With Children’s Literature: If You Find a Rock

 “If you find a rock, a nice flat, rounded rock that sits just right in the crook of your finger, then you have found a skipping rock.” Or, “Maybe you find a soft white rock a rock that feels dusty … Continue reading

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Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Elephants Aloft

Elephants Aloft, written by Kathi Appelt and illustrated by Keith Baker, is a beautiful children's picture book that uses just one word on most pages to tell the story of the young Asian elephants' travels to visit their Auntie Rwanda … Continue reading

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Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: The Patchwork Path

The Patchwork Path is written by Bettye Stround and illustrated by Erin Susanna Bennett.  The story is told by Hannah, a ten year old girl, who is a slave on a Georgia plantation.  When the story begins, Hannah’s sister has … Continue reading

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Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: What The World Eats

 Introduction and Summary What The World Eats is a very informative factual book written by Faith D’Aluisio. The book provides a snapshot of what people around the world eat. It is a very enlightening book that really engages the reader … Continue reading

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Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Travels with Charlie: Travelin’ the Northeast

  Introduction and Summary Travels with Charlie: Travelin’ the Northeast written by Miles Backer and illustrated by Chuck Nitzberg, is all about the Northeast United States. It includes the 12 states from Maine to Ohio to Maryland. The book features … Continue reading

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Teaching Geography With Children’s Literature: The Santa Fe Trail

  Introduction and Summary The Santa Fe Trail by Judy Alter is a book about settlers traveling West in order to find a better life in the United States.  However, much of what is talked about in the book is … Continue reading

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