{"id":345,"date":"2008-10-22T09:54:21","date_gmt":"2008-10-22T14:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/345"},"modified":"2008-10-22T09:54:21","modified_gmt":"2008-10-22T14:54:21","slug":"teaching-geography-with-childrens-literature-shall-i-knit-you-a-hat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/2008\/10\/22\/teaching-geography-with-childrens-literature-shall-i-knit-you-a-hat\/","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Shall I Knit You a Hat?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aspects of geography affect our lives every day. \u00a0It is likely that each day we get up and use the weather report to decide what to wear. \u00a0We may also base our decisions on what to eat and what kind of transportation we rely on due to our location and its climate. \u00a0For example, if it’s snowy, many people prefer hot chocolate to ice cold soda for refreshments. When vacationing in Alaska, most would rather stay in a warm lodge than a bamboo hut. \u00a0Kate Klise presents a similar theme in her story Shall I Knit You a Hat?<\/a>
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Klise’s Shall I Knit You a Hat?\u00a0<\/em>is a story that describes the importance of making decisions based on the way people live in their environment. \u00a0This story follows Mother Rabbit and Little Rabbit as they prepare for a blizzard that is coming on Christmas Eve.<\/p>\n

\u00a0“It will start snowing on Christmas Eve and won’t stop until the snow reaches the tallest tips of your ears.”
\n“My ears?” asked Little Rabbit. “But that will be very cold.”
\n“You’re right, ” said Mother Rabbit. “Shall I knit you a hat to keep your ears warm?”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

To ensure Little Rabbit will be secure in the storm, Mother Rabbit knits a hat that will perfectly fit Little Rabbit’s tall ears. Because Little Rabbit enjoys his hat so much, he suggests that he and his mother make more hats to help keep his friends warm too. \u00a0They visit the horse, the goose with the long neck, the stylish cat, the dog, and the deer with antlers to make measurements for their hat. \u00a0Little Rabbit and his mother stay up all night knitting and sewing each individual hat. \u00a0The next day, they decide to use a sled to deliver their presents in the market due to snow on the ground. \u00a0Just as they hand out the hats, snowflakes begin to fall from the sky! \u00a0Luckily, all the friends have their new hats for the weather!<\/p>\n

\u00a0Just look how this clever hat keeps my head warm and dry,” said the horse.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nShall I Knit You a Hat?<\/em> is a great book to introduce how\u00a0location, climate, and physical surroundings affect the way people\u00a0live (Virginia SOL 1.6). \u00a0The illustrations, by M. Sarah Klise, also serve as a great tool for teaching about geography. The scenery describes the location, displaying tall hills, full of snow with many snowflakes falling down. Due to the climate and the presence of snow, the main characters are shown dressed in warm hats. \u00a0Little Rabbit and Mother Rabbit also choose to use a sled as their form of transportation in the story. \u00a0Through these examples, it is clear their daily lives are affected by their location and climate. \u00a0It may be interesting to read another story that compares this winter setting to a warmer one and discuss how the clothing, forms of transportation, and weather are different in the stories<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n