Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: Don’t Know Much About the Presidents

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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Don’t Know Much About the Presidents is a great resource for kids to explore the lives of the presidents and their families by learning fun and interesting facts.  The author, Kenneth C. Davis, begins the book with an introduction to the presidency and what the President does.  The book then goes through each President from George Washington to Barack Obama giving questions and answers about the President and a time-line of important events that happened during his presidency.  Facts are organized under headings in the form of questions like “What did Eisenhower do that was out of this world?” or “How was James Madison a father if he didn’t have any children?”  Readers learn trivia they wouldn’t learn in a history book like “At 332 pounds, William Howard Taft was America’s heaviest President.  A new bathtub – one big enough to fit four regular-sized men – had to be installed just for him.”  The illustrations, by Pedro Martin, include a portrait as well as comical interpretations of the facts being presented.

Curriculum Connections

This book can be used in K-5 instruction to identify the President as the leader of our country (K.9) and describe the contributions of the Presidents to our country (1.2, 2.11, 3.11c, VS.6a,b).  It can also be used to make connections between past and present (USI.1b, USII.1b).  For younger children, this book would be helpful for identifying the Presidents as the people honored by President’s Day (K.1b, 1.3) and for fostering patriotism by teaching students about our Presidents and some of the symbols of our country (1.11).

Additional Resources

1. Students can celebrate Presidents Day every day with crafts, activities, games, and more information about the Presidents.
2. View pictures of Presidential pets.
3. Print and color portraits of the Presidents or Presidential Seal.

General Information

Book: Don’t Know Much About the Presidents
Author: Kenneth C. Davis
Illustrator: Pedro Martin
Publisher: Collins
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 64
Grade Range: K-5
ISBN: 0061718238

 

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Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: The Civil War

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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The Civil War, written by Georgene Poulakidas is a chronological record of events leading up to and throughout the Civil War.  The book starts off with a well written explanation of “One Country, Two Ways of Life”.  Throughout the book examples are given for each side of the war, the North (Union) and the South (Confederate) with their beliefs and what they fought for.   The book concludes with President Lincoln’s assassination at Fords’ Theatre where he was celebrating the end of the Civil War. 

Curriculum Connections:

This is a very detailed book with just the right amount of material for a child to grasp.  Great vocabulary words are highlighted with a definition following (outstanding teaching aid).  The Civil War would be a great teaching aid for The Civil War (SOL I.9 a,b,c,d,e & f).  The book can introduce the events of The Civil War or be used at the end of the lesson for all of the SOL’s there were taught.   There is a Timeline and a Glossary in the book to aid with highlighted words that are defined in the content of the pages.

 Additional Resources:

1) Students can color a picture of Grant & Lee as they learn about the end of The Civil War.  
2) Civil War activity worksheets are a great teaching supplement with the following worksheets:
    Fill-in-the-blank, Word Search & A Civil War Diary.
3) A Map of 1861 will help students visually see what states were apart of the Union, Confederacy & the territories that were not yet states in 1861.

General Information:

Book: The Civil War
Author: Georgene Poulakidas
Illustrator: N/A
Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 24
Grade Range: 2-4
ISBN: 1-4042-2684-2

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Teaching Civics With Children’s Literature: Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon tells the story of a little girl who gets teased a lot by all of her classmates. Author Patty Lovell and illustrator David Catrow write a story where Molly Lou Melon is teased for her buck teeth, short stature, funny voice, and her clumsiness. Molly Lou Melon learns a great deal from her Grandmother who gives her great advice. The grandmother tells Molly Lou Melon, “Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you.” But, when Molly Lou Melon has to move to a new town, far away from her Grandmother, she has to learn how to handle a situation where one of her new classmates bullies her.  Molly Lou Melon has a different ways of doing things. After she scored the winning touchdown for football at recess and showing her class how to make the biggest snowflake out of paper and scissors, Molly Lou Melon shows her bully, Ronald, how to be a good friend!

Curriculum Connections
This book will show students how to be friendly, how to be yourself, and how to honest. This book can be used with young children to help them think about practicing honesty, self-control, and kindness to others (VA SOL K.8 e). With older students it can be used to talk about a range of ideas related to good citizenship, including fair-play, helping others, honesty, and more (VA SOL 1.10a,b,d,e).
Additional Resources

  • Lesson Plan Ideas– This website offers a lesson plan that corresponds with the book to show the uniqueness of each student.
  • Coloring Pages-This site offers coloring pages for young children about core morales and values such as honesty, caring, respect, and being kind.
  • Detailed Lesson Plan– This site offers a more detailed lesson plan that incorporates this book as well as others. It provides before and background information for teachers, instructional methods, extensions such as emotion cards and family connections, as well as an assessment plan.

Book: Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Author: Patty Lovell
Illustrator: David Catrow
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Publication Date: 2001
Pages: 32 pages
Grade Range: K-1
ISBN: 0399234160

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Teaching Life Science with Children’s Literature: The Great Kapok Tree

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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The Great Kapok Tree written by Lynne Cherry takes place in the Amazon Rain Forest where two men arrive at the great Kapok tree with the determination to chop it down.  The older man points out this particular Kapok tree and walks out of the Rain Forest leaving the younger man to finish the job.  After a few swings of the ax, the man becomes tired and sits at the bottom of the tree and falls asleep.  While he sleeps, all different types of animals come down from the tree and whisper to the young man not to destroy their home.  A giant boa constrictor whispers that many generations of his family have lived in this tree.  A group of tree frogs make their way down to tell the man that chopping down this tree will leave many homeless.  Tree porcupines find the man to tell him that animals and humans need oxygen to live, and that trees produce oxygen.  When the man finally awakes he is surrounded by all the animals that came to visit him during his nap.  He gets up slowly taking in all the beautiful sights and smells, and begins to raise his ax to resume chopping.  But instead, he drops the ax and walks out of the rain forest.

Curriculum Connections
The Great Kapok Tree is a great book that would show students that animals need food, water, shelter, air, and space to survive (SOL Va K.7a).  With all the images of the animals, it would be a great visual aid to demonstrate that animals and their offspring are similar but not identical in appearance ( SOL Va K.7d). The Great Kapok Tree could also be used as an introduction to classifying animals and incests(SOL Va 1.5a,b,c).  The rain forest is also an excellent example of a habitat and what an animal needs from the habitat they live in(SOL Va 2.5a,b,&c).
Additional Resources

  • Here is a lesson plan that can be used with the book.
  • This website uses simple math games to learn about the rain forest.
  • This website has a webquest about the rain forest.
  • The last two pages of the book have a world map highlighting the locations of rain forests around the world, and is bordered by pictures of animals in the book and also in the rain forest.

Book: The Great Kapok Tree
Author: Lynne Cherry
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: 1990
Pages: 40 pages
Grade Range: K-2
ISBN-10: 015200520X

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Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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 Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln  by Doreen Rappaport is a non-fiction picture book that walks vividly, with illustrations by Kadir Nelson, through the life of the 16th president of the United States. It begins with his childhood in the wilderness of Kentucky and continues to show that he moved to the free state Indiana. Abraham was a boy who loved to read and craved to be told stories by his father. As he grew older he made moves southward on the Mississippi River where he was able to see the wickedness of slavery in action. As a young man he worked quite a few jobs and read many books. He viewed education as the most important “subject which we as people can be engaged in.” As he continued to learn he expressed an interest in becoming a lawyer so he studied hard and gave public speeches. The first time he ran for Illinois state legislature he lost the election but he was persistent and won the second time he ran. When he was elected he gave speeches to bring the evilness of slavery to people’s attention. He lost the election for the position of senator, however he again persistent and ran for President of the United States of America. The book ends with the important events of the Civil War and discusses the freeing of the slaves.

Curriculum Connections: 

Abe’s Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln   is a great resource for teaching about Abraham Lincoln because it explains his contributions to American history in an understandable way. (3.11b) The information in the book correlates mostly with the 3rd grade curriculum for civics in Virginia as it covers topics like individual rights to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and equality under the law. (3.11a)  Talking about slavery and the political matters behind their attaining freedom will teach students what it meant to Abraham Lincoln and the majority of the American people. Lincoln was civically engaged and was persistent in his dreams which can be an example of taking part in your government. (3.11d) Overall, with the use of this book, students will be able to explain the guiding principles of a republican form of government and to recogize the contributions of our 16th President. (3.11)

Additional Resources: 

Educational Crossword puzzle– This could be a creative way to do a summative assessment.

Creating Timeline– Lesson plan with great worksheets that guide students in making a timeline of Lincoln’s life.

To Tell the Truth: Abraham Lincoln–  a gameshow to play in class that can be used as a formative assessment tool.

General Information:

Book:  Abe's Honest Words: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
Author: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrator: Kadir Nelson
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 48 pages
Grade Range: 2nd- 4th grade
ISBN: 978-1-4231-0408-7

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Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: How We Crossed the West

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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In the book How We Crossed the West The Adventures of Lewis & Clark, President Thomas Jefferson and the Congress of the United States asked Captain Lewis to explore the Western rivers across North America to the western ocean.  Lewis asked friend, William Clark to help lead the Corps of discovery on a journey that would lead to many new discoveries. The expeditition began on May 1, 1804. Throughout the two year journey the corps of discovery accomplished new detailed maps, plants and animals unknown to science, and established peaceful relations with the Indians. On Sunday September 21, 1806, the explores successfully returned to St. Louis with new discoveries from their two year long journey.

Curriculum Connections
How We Crossed the West can be used for K through 5th grade students. This book describes the route Lewis & Clark took from Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. On their route to the Pacific ocean they discovered unknown plants and animals. Also they learned the customs, languages, and artifacts of western Indian nations. The children are able to learn new types of plants discovered by the corps like osage orange, salmonberry, and prairie apple. A teacher can include maps of the routes Lewis & Clark discovered on their expedition. (VA SOL 2.10a,d,e; 3.10b; 3.11d)

Additional Resources

Book: How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis & Clark
Author: Rosalyn Schanzer
Plublisher: National Geographic Society
Publication Date: 2002
Pages: 1-37
Grades: K-5
ISBN: 0-7922-3738-2

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Teaching Life Science with Children’s Literature: This Is Your Life Cycle

Posted on February 1, 2010 by openwidearchive

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Introduction and Summary
This Is Your Life Cycle written by Heather Lynn Miller and illustrated by Michael Chesworth, is about the life cycle of a dragonfly. The book is set up like a game show with host Bob Beetle. Bob interviews his special guest, Dahlia the Dragonfly as they go through the events in her life beginning as an egg and leading up to the molten stage where she becomes an adult dragonfly and tries to eat the audience!

“We all know how that goes- right, audience? It’s the story of an insect’s life. We hatch, we grow, we mate, we die!”

Curriculum Connections
This is a great book to introduce middle elementary students to the life cycles of insects. Many teachers have used it to introduce key vocabulary such as egg, nymph, molt, and exoskeleton. It describes the series of orderly changes in an insect’s life as they mature and grow (SOL 2.4a). This would be an amusing review for upper elementary students. It has also been suggested to be performed as a theatrical reading.

Additional Resources

  • This is Your Life Cycle Lesson Plan  : This is a lesson plan about insect life cycles geared grades 2-6 using the book This is Your Life Cycle 
  • Life Cycle Lessons : This is a great website about the life cycle of a dragonfly complete with actual photos of these insects in each stage of life
  • Dragonfly Handout:   This is a handout that explains the incomplete metamorphesis of a dragonfly

Book: This Is Your Life Cycle
Author: Heather Lynn Miller
Illustrator: Michael Chesworth
Publisher:  Clarion Books
Publication Date: 1998
Pages:  32 pages
Grade Range: 2nd-5th grade
ISBN: 0618724850

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Teaching Civics with Children’s Literature: A Picture Book of George Washington

Posted on January 31, 2010 by openwidearchive

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A Picture Book of George Washington, written by David A. Adler, illustrated by John & Alexandra Wallner is a simple biography about George Washington.  It provides important facts and dates relevant to a student in the lower elementary grades.  It covers basic information about the "Father of Our Country" from his birth on February 22, 1732 in a simple Virginia farmhouse to his death in 1799.  It includes information about George as a young boy who "liked to fish and go boating" and "most of all liked to ride his horse".  Then it goes on to describe George in school and that "his favorite subject was arithmetic".  This helps children relate to the man who was so important to the founding of our country.  The book continues on through several parts of George's life including such events as leading Virginia soldiers against the French in the French and Indian War, marrying Martha Custis, and George being elected the first president of the United States of America in 1789.  The book ends perfectly with,

George Washington was a great leader.  He has been
called the "Father of Our Country."  It has been said that
George Washington was "First in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen."

The illustrations are colorful and engaging.  They are a good representation of what life would have looked like when George Washington was alive.  The student can get a visual idea of clothing, homes, hair styles, and transportation in the 1700s.  The end of the book includes an “Important Dates” time line that is a good overview of the main events in George Washington's life.

Curriculum Connections

This book is suitable for any age and would be a good addition to any Kindergarten to third grade classroom library.  It can be used to introduce or reinforce any lesson related to George Washington and/or President's Day.  It would be particularly useful in support of the Standard of Learning which states the student will identify George Washington, among others, as an American whose contributions improved the lives of other Americans.  (VA SOL 1.2, VA SOL 2.11, 3.11b)  The book also illustrates what things looked like in the past & how life was different when George Washington was alive.  This could lead to good discussions and comparisons of past and present.  (VA SOL K.2, 1.1, 2.3)  Or it can be used to recognize that history describes people of other times such as George Washington (VA SOL K.1a) or identify people honored by the holiday of Presidents’ Day. (VA SOL K.1b, 1.3)  This is a book the teacher can read aloud to the students and many beginning readers can also read independently.

Additional Resources

General Information

Book:  A Picture Book of George Washington
Author: David A. Adler
Illustrator: John & Alexandra Wallner
Publisher: Holiday House
Publication Date: 1990
Pages: 32
Grade Range: PreK-3
ISBN-10: 0823408000
ISBN-13:  978-0823408009

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Teaching Life Science With Children’s Literature: Grrr! A Book About Big Cats

Posted on January 31, 2010 by openwidearchive

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“And big cats do not purr.  They roar!  GRRR!”  GRRR!  A Book About Big Cats is a chapter book all about the various types of big cats.  There are chapters on lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, and jaguars.    Each chapter discusses habitat, diet, and other interesting facts about the cats.  There are also bolded words and definitions of new vocabulary words.

Curriculum Connections

This book could be used in the instruction of the life science to young students (target grade 1-2).  It teaches that animals have distinct needs and defining characteristics (1.4.B).  It could be nicely tied to a unit on the animal kingdom. It could also coincide with a social studies unit about the continents.  Where the animals live could be discussed (ex. lions in Africa).  A discussion about animal extinction and protection would also be appropriate when reading this book.

Resources

This “creature feature”  ,provided by National Geographic for Kids,  has facts, videos, and photos about lions appropriate for kids.

A fact sheet about leopards that could be used for research or report writing.

This teacher’s website contains a lesson plan for teaching about jaguars.

Book:  Grrr!  A Book About Big Cats

Author:  Melvin and Gilda Berger

Publisher: Scholastic Inc

Publication Date:2002

Pages: 1-40

Grade Range:  1-2

ISBN:0-439-33408-X

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Teaching Life Science with Children’s Literature: A Log’s Life

Posted on January 30, 2010 by openwidearchive

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A Log’s Life, written by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Robin Brickman, tells about the life cycle of an oak tree.  In the beginning, a large oak tree stands in the forest.  Pfeffer tells us how the tree supports many different living things such as, porcupines, squirrels, woodpeckers, beetles, slugs, snails and fungi.  Then one day a storm causes the oak tree to fall and the tree becomes a log.  Pfeffer continues to explain how the log supports other lifeforms such as, millipedes, termites, ants, and salamanders.  The log provides food and shelter for many years until it is broken down into nothing but a rich bed of soil.  In the end, an acorn falls and a squirrel buries it in the rich soil.  Soon after, another oak tree is born only one day to become another log.

The illustrations by Brickman are amazing in this book and would appeal to children, especially those who have not seen some of the creatures that Pfeffer and Brickman bring to our attention.

Curriculum Connections
A Log’s Life would be an excellent book for children who are in kindergarten through the third grade.  The book describes the life cycle of an oak tree, and how once the tree is dead, it is still an important part of our ecological system. (VA SOL 2.5a-c)  Children will learn how something as simple as a log provides food and shelter to many different species of living organisms. (VA SOL 1.5a)  Children will also discover how another oak tree is reproduced. (VA SOL K.7c)  Young children will love the illustrations and will be introduced to knew types of wildlife such as, salamanders, millipedes, and termites.  Older students should be able to read this book in a guided reading session and learn how important trees are to our environment.  A teacher may incorporate why it is important for the human race to protect or plant trees.  (VA SOL 3.5 b&d and 3.10a)

Additional Resources

  • The Decomposition link explains how and why living things decompose and why it is important to the earth’s ecological system.  It includes a slide show on decomposition.
  • This Living in a Tree link gives a lesson plan for teachers of early elementary students on the characteristics of animals that live in trees.
  • Animal Inn is a link that provides an outdoor activity for students who are searching for evidence in the wild of how animals use dead and living trees.
  • Trees: A Tremendous Renewable Resource takes you to the Kids F.A.C.E. website.  Kids can learn how we depend on trees to live and how planting trees is good for the environment.

Book: A Log’s Life
Author: Wendy Pfeffer
Illustrator: Robin Brickman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 1997
Pages: 32 pages
Grade Range: K-3
ISBN: 0-689-80636-1

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