Thunder Underground (Jane Yolen)

Title:  Thunder Underground

Author:  Jane Yolen

Illustrator:   Josee Masse

Target Ages:  5-10

Genre:  Poetry

Publisher Summary: 

What is under your feet?

Ant cities

Fox dens

Rabbit warrens

Now dig deeper.

Subways

Forgotten towns

Fossilized bones

What other secrets hide deeper still beneath your shoes?

Favorite Poem:

“Corny Conversations”

It sounds too odd

for us to hear,

corn plants can talk,

not mouth to ear.

But with a strange

and clicking sound,

their taproots speak

beneath the ground.

We don’t know what

corn rootlings say

when they communicate

this way.

But scientific studies

show

they do this as they

grow and grow

and grow.

Evaluation:

I am drawn to poetry that brings out the wonder of the world, utilizes imaginative language, and teaches a little science at the same time.  It makes me wish I was still an elementary teacher.  Poetry brings out the spectacle and awe of the world that science textbooks sorely lack.

Thunder Underground can be used along with several science units to start a lesson or to prompt writing across the curriculum:

• Insects
• Plants
• Paleontology/Dinosaurs
• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Archeology
• Geology

Yolen uses a variety of poetry styles from haiku to free verse.  Each one brings out a new angle about the hidden world below from the natural to the man-made (subway, basement).  Some of the information is common knowledge for adults, but not necessarily so for children.  Other fascinating facts will surprise many like plants communicating with each other and the sound of beetles walking underground. 

I love Josee Masse’s illustrations.  Each page turn offers a sweeping look at the world—both above and below the surface—with deep colors and stunning depictions. Two inquisitive children (a boy and a girl) are often pictured observing and inquiring. 

Poetry and science collide to make a wondrous experience in Thunder Underground.  It is a must have for an elementary school classroom or home collection.  These poems are sure to encourage children to think about the many unseen and unknown aspects of the world. 

For more great poems and poetry book selections, visit this week's Poetry Friday.

The Bad Seed (by Jory John)

Title:  The Bad Seed

Author:  Jory John

Illustrator:  Pete Oswald

Target Ages:  4 and up

Genre:  Picture Book Fiction

Publisher Summary:

There is a bad seed. 

A baaaaaaaad seed. 

How bad? 

Do you really want to know? 

He lies about pointless stuff. 

He cuts in line.  Every time. 

He never washes his hands….or his feet. 

And he does lots of other bad things too. 

But what happens when a bad seed doesn’t want to be bad anymore? 

Can a bad seed change his baaaaaaaad ways?

First Lines: 

I am a bad seed. 

A baaaaaaaad seed. 

Oh, yeah. It’s true. 

The other seeds, they look at me, and they say,

“That seed is so bad!”

Memorable Moment: 

I’ve made a big decision.

I’ve decided I don’t want to be

a bad seed anymore.

I’m ready to be happy.

It’s hard to be good when

you’re so used to being bad.

But I’m trying.

I’m taking it one day at a time.

Evaluation: 

Generally speaking, a good book should not about “teaching lesson,” but it should prompt insight and reflection.  A Bad Seed is a simple picture book exploring a common cliché in a creative way.  However, the truths it depicts are multi-faceted.

The narrative begins with the bad seed repeating what others say about him.  The attitude of parents and peers is clear, in spoken word as well as body language.  The seeds do everything from shield their children from the bad seed’s actions to expressing fear, dismay, and shock.  They point at him and keep a distance.  Illustrator Pete Oswald does a brilliant job conveying these emotions and others with simple drawings in muted neutral colors. The book effectively depicts the impact of a group’s attitudes and actions on a person (or seed, in this case).

Next, the seed recounts all the “bad” things he has done.  These awful deeds range from never washing his hands or putting things back to lying about pointless stuff and cutting in line.  The reason he does these things:  He is a bad seed.  Sadly, he is convinced (like so many children) it is just who he is.

The final contributing factor to his “badness” is experience.  When he drops from a flower, he is raked up and put in a package of sunflower seeds.  Then, he is almost eaten by a giant (a human).  The seed allows his circumstances to jade him.  

                                                                                    

For a children’s book, so much truth is illustrated in those three layers.  Truth vital for all ages:  We cannot allow others to define us.  We should not label and ostracize people who act differently.  We are not inherently “bad” (or good for that matter).  We decide how to respond to experiences—either to learn and to grow or to be bitter and to stagnate.  There are multiple discussion possibilities from this one short picture book. 

The best part is when the seed makes a choice.  He does not want to be bad anymore.  With that choice comes changes in his actions.  Eventually, the other seeds begin to see him in a new light.  More importantly, he views himself differently.

A Bad Seed defies the common belief that people are who they are.  In other words, they cannot help how they feel, think, and act. To me, there is nothing more defeating than believing you are a tiger who cannot change his stripes.  I love this book because it empowers children with the belief that they can change.  It might be hard at first.  They will have set backs.  However, they can change with a commitment to shift their attitude and alter their actions. 

This books can be read and enjoyed by all ages.  I highly recommend A Bad Seed to teach manners, self-reflection, empathy, and empowerment.

Check out the book trailer!

Now, Prove It! — Theme with Evidence
Students analyze key ideas, gather supporting quotes, and use structured sentence starters to explain how the evidence proves a theme. This resource helps readers practice moving from what happens in the story to what it means.  Get your copy of Now, Prove It: The Bad Seed.

Ideas for Extension Activities at Home or Lesson Plans for Teachers:

• Art:  The bad seed comes from a sunflower.  There are many sunflower activities online. This post has a Sunflower Hand Craft that is adorable.
• Choices:  Discuss the bad seed’s choices and their impact on others.  Ask children to consider their choices and impact—both immediate and long term (reputation).  Even if they have a good reputation, they can hurt it with bad choices.  Those with a "bad" reputation can fix it with lots of wise ones.  
• Clichés:  The expression “a bad seed” is a cliché.  Discuss what a cliché is.  Expand to discuss other common clichés. 
• Manners:  The bad seed illustrates the impact of bad manners both on the him (the rule breaker) and others.  Use the book as part of a unit on manners.
• Feelings:  Identify all the characters' feelings in various situations.  Connect feelings to actions and thinking.  
• Interactive Reading:  Click here for an interactive reading session with the book.
• Reading:  Click here for a reading of the book.
• Science:  Use the book as part of a study on plants or seeds.  Click here for suggestions on books about seeds.   
• Self-Reflection:  For younger children,  ask questions that prompt self-reflection: Am I acting ____  way? How do others feel when I ______?  How can I change ____?  For older students, parallel the story to their performance in a specific area.  I teach writing.  I could ask questions about how what others have said about their writing, what they say about themselves as a writer (self-talk), and how their experiences writing have impacted them.  Then, move to the next part:  How can they make changes to progress in their writing?
• Symbolism:  This book is ideal to use when teaching symbolism for all ages.  Grab my Teaching Symbolism with Picture Book Activity.
• Theme:  Teach theme with The Bad Seed.

For more Perfect Picture Book suggestions, visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog round up.

Picture Books (Science): Life Cycles

At my local library, there is an exciting new science series exploring the life cycles of plant and animals (both vertebrates and non-vertebrates).  They are written by L.L. Owens and published by The Child’s World.  Of course, the series covers the most commonly researched life cycles like butterflies and frogs, but they also delve into others like a fern, a clown fish, and a chicken.  I checked out The Life Cycle of an Earthworm and The Life Cycle of a Snail. 

Each book begins with a general overview defining a life cycle.  Then, it delves into background information about the subject.  There are so many fascinating facts about snails in the book, such as how they move, sense, and eat.  Even though children will likely be more familiar with earthworms, there is still much to learn.  For instance, they use their skin to detect light and to breath air.  Next, their origins, early lives, and adulthood are described, which includes their habits and predators.  Finally, the reproductive process is explained.  Interestingly, snails and earthworms have both parts necessary to reproduce.   Each book is rounded out with a colorful 2-page summary of the life cycle. 

As an adult, I found myself expanding my own schema of knowledge, but the information is written in a manner that youngster will understand.  The text is well-written and appealing.   One of the highlights is the large, vibrant photographs of their stages and behaviors.  Many are rare action shots like a mole eating a worm or a snail laying eggs. 

I recommend this Life Cycle series for ages 7 and up.  In addition to the earthworm and snail, the following living things are covered: butterfly, chicken, clown fish, daisy, fern, frog, human, ladybug, polar bear, and snake. These books are a wonderful supplement or extension of a science curriculum.  Many families will, also, find them to be educational leisure reading.  

This post is linked up with Science Sunday at Adventures of Mommydom.  

Picture Book (Science): Look Once, Look Again Series

I love perusing through the books in the library.  During one of my library explorations, I found an amazing book set for science exploration called Look Once, Look Again (by David M. Schwartz).  There are 24 books in the series broken into two subsets: Exploring Habitats and Exploring Plants & Animals.  I previewed three of them:  At the Pond, Underfoot, and In the Park.

The books follow a pattern.  For the Look Once page, a close-up picture of some part of an animal or plant is shown with a riddle of sorts.   In the Pond, for example, begins with a photograph of two connected circles with smaller circles inside them.  The riddle is:  “This insect has enormous eyes.  Some people think it is as scary as a dragon.”  Then, the reader/listener has the opportunity to guess what is depicted.   On the back page is the Look Again  picture with a dragonfly depicted and a few details about it (The Look Once picture is an extreme close-up of the dragonfly's eyes).  The facing page on the right has a new Look Once picture.  The Look Once, Look Again pattern continues until the end.  The final pages offer an opportunity for review. 

I like this series because it prompts reader/listener interaction and critical thinking skills.  Young children will have fun predicting what living thing is revealed in word and photograph as well as the joy of success as they get it right (if not the first time, in successive reading sessions).   Another great aspect of the series is that it encourages children to look carefully at the world around them and to make their own observations about it.   The captivating and vivid photographs by Dwight Kuhn, also, make this series worthwhile.  Every page feels like a new discovery and wonder. 

There is a book for many of the most common early childhood science experiences.  The titles are:  Among the Flowers, Animal Ears, Animal Eyes, Animal Feathers and Fur, Animal Feet, Animal Mouths, Animal Noses, Animal Skin & Scales,  Animal Tails, At the Farm, At the Pond, At the Seashore, At the Zoo, Fruit & Seeds, In a Tree, In the Desert, In the Forest, In the Garden, In the Meadow, In the Park, Plant Blossoms, Plant Leaves, Plant Stems & Roots, and Underfoot.   I recommend utilizing this series before visiting or studying these locations/subjects.  The Look Once, Look Again series is ideal for ages 3-8. 

This post is linked up with Science Sunday at Adventures of Mommydom where there are always dozens of amazing science-related posts.  

Picture Books (Science): Plants

I have enjoyed reading about seeds and plants with my fourth grader.  This week, I am planning some fun activities to go along with this study.  If you have any ideas or links, please share them in the comment section.  Here are my favorite trade books on the subject of plant growth, beginning with simple and moving to more complex. 

Seeds Stems Leaves and Flowers (ages 2-7) by Gail Saunders-Smith  

This selection is actually four separate mini-books, ideal for small hands.  Foundational information and science terms (chlorophyll, pollen, stamen, pistol, photosynthesis, and so forth) are built through the straightforward text.  The large print, spacing, vocabulary, and sentence groups (2-4 on each page) make this series an excellent option for early independent readers.  Vibrant photographs illustrated and accompany the text.   This series is perfect for preschoolers and early readers.

The Tiny Seed (ages 3-8) by Eric Carle 

Using his beloved illustration style, Eric Carle depicts the life of a single seed.  A narrative style describes the tiny seed, along with many others, gliding through the air and encountering obstacles.  Many seeds never even get the chance to fall to fertile ground.  One tiny seed makes it, just in time for winter hibernation.  When the spring heat and rains return, the tiny seed begins to grow amidst other plants that are not so lucky to survive for long.  The tiny seed/plant makes it to autumn season when it repeats the cycle and sends out its own seeds for the next spring bloom.  The Tiny Seed is a quality blend of narrative and non-fiction. 

From Seed to Plant (ages 4-8) by Gail Gibbons  

The process of pollination and plant growth is laid out in an uncomplicated manner.  The large, colorful illustrations are often labeled and briefly described.  Youngster will become familiar with the parts of the plant (stigma, pollen, pistil, and stamen), watch as bees and birds spread pollen, and follow the process of pollination.  Next, the seeds fall.  Various ways they travel are briefly covered.  Finally, observe as a seed begins to germinate and eventually blossoms into a beautiful plants.   The pictures are adequate, but the information is explained well.  From Seed to Plant is a fine introductory resource for young children.

Seed Soil Sun (ages 7 and up) by Cris Peterson  

Visually, this book is stunning.   Bright photographs are skillfully laid out on the pages with a short section of text.  Many of the illustrations are close ups for close examination.  Children are often part of the photos, providing a human connection with the nature’s growth and productivity. The process of plant development is described in an engaging manner through the framework of the Earth’s recipe for food.  Each part—sun, soil, air, and seed—is explained.  The importance of creatures (earthworms, amoebas, moles) as well as decomposition and microscopic one-celled bacteria are all revealed.  A concise explaination of the role of the sun and photosynthesis is illuminated.  Seed Soil Sun is a beautiful and well-written resource.    

How a Plant Grows (ages 8 and up) by Bobbie Kalman 

This book is the most informative of the resources listed.  It begins with defining what a plant is and delves into areas like parts of a plant, photosynthesis, pollination, plant reproduction, and seed scattering.  Author Bobbie Kalman also incorporates information on plants without seeds, meat eating plants, and the importance of plants.  Three experiment ideas are offered at the conclusion of the book.  Most of the illustrations are photographs, but there are also some nice drawings.  I recommend How a Plant Grows for older learners or those who want to delve in deeper to the subject.

Today's post is linked with Science Sunday at Adventures in Mommydom.  Check out some inspiring science related posts HERE.

NonFiction Monday: Seeds! Seeds! Seeds!

I never realized that studying seeds could be so fascinating—until now!  I am learning and reviewing a lot about this fascinating subject.   Here are the Top Five Seed Books:

Seeds! Seeds! Seeds!  (ages 3-7) by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace 

One March morning, Buddy (a bunny) receives a package from his grandfather.  There are five sealed bags inside with instructions to open one each day.  The activities teach Buddy to sort and label seeds, to identify the stages of plant growth from a seed, to create a bird feeder, to make a picture frame with seed decorations, and to grow a plant from a seed.  Author Nancy Elizabeth Wallace always does an outstanding job explaining scientific information in a manner that is engaging and understandable to young children.  Buddy’s daily activities are sure to inspire parents and teachers to create their own fun seed exploration ideas.  Teaching Opportunities:  Seeds, Sorting, Art, Plant Growth

Oh Say Can You Seed?  (ages 3-8) by Bonnie Worth  

Using characters and rhyming text made popular by Dr. Seuss, children learn all about seeds and plants.   The Cat in the Hat, Thing 1, and Thing 2 teach two children (a boy and a girl) about the parts of a seed, or baby plant.  Next, they watch as a seed begins to grow into a plant.   Next, the parts of a full grown plant are identified and labeled along with types of roots and their purpose.  The amusing trio even covers photosynthesis and pollination in an easy, comprehendible manner.  The playful rhyming text is ideal for young listeners and early readers.  Teaching Opportunities:  Rhyme, Seeds, Plant Growth, Plant Parts, Pollination, Photosynthesis

Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move (ages 3-9) by JoAnn Early Macken  

Flip, Float, Fly:  Seeds on the Move illustrates various types of seeds using beautiful pictures and fun language.  The text and illustrations reveal how seeds move so they may sprout and flourish in new locations.  The importance of animals, insects, water, and weather in seed travel and growth is impressed upon the reader.  Using energetic words and onomatopoeia, the life of a seed comes across as exciting and invigorating.  For instance, we learn:  “The seed straightens out when it rains.  WIGGLE!  Jump! One way, then another.  It works its way into the ground.” All those action verbs are perfect for learning about verbs or may inspire your youngsters to act out the transformation of the seed.  Teaching Opportunities:  Seeds, Onomatopoeia, Verbs, Alliteration

A Seed is Sleepy (ages 6 and up) by Dianna Hutts Aston 

This selection uses a unique format to teach about seeds.  Each two-page spread is a different characteristic about seeds—secretive, adventurous, fruitful, inventive, and so forth.   In short paragraphs, readers learn how seeds fulfill the descriptive words.   Many less commonly known ones are illustrated in vibrant colors, such as the papaya, Texas Mountain Laurel, swamp palm, Japanese maple, and milkweed.   In addition, there are growth charts for several different seeds.  Teaching Opportunities:  Seeds, Adjectives, Plant Growth

Seeds (ages 6 and up) by Ken Robbins  

Fruit, plant, tree, flower, and weed seeds are all highlighted in this book with stunning photography of vibrant plants.   I learned about some items I did not realize were seeds such as sticktights, coconuts, and wheat.  The short, tidbits of text reveal how seeds move and grow.  From the mysterious lotus flower to the common oak tree, readers will learn about the diversity and movement of seeds.  Teaching Opportunities:  Seeds, Plant Growth

Honorable Mention
Plant Fruits & Seeds (ages 3-8) by David M. Schwartz
Using visual and written clues, readers guess seed types and learn additional facts about them.  Plant Fruits & Seeds is fun and interactive.

Check out all the blogs participating in Non-Fiction Monday HERE.

Picture Book: Weslandia by Paul Fleischman

Summary of Weslandia:  

Wesley is an outcast in his rigid suburban-like civilization.   He is not interested in the same hobbies, styles, and foods as his peers.  Fleeing his many tormentors is a daily occurrence.   A single idea from school—each civilization has a staple crop--sets Wesley off on a summer project.   After a chance incident, the backyard transforms into garden with an unusual-looking fruit.   Wesley is fascinated by this new plant for which there is no previous documentation.  Using various parts of the plant and different preparation techniques, he is able to produce all the food he needs.  He uses other parts of the plant to create clothes and a hat.  The plant's seeds produce an oil, effective as a sunscreen and an insect repellent.  Wesley begins selling the oil to his neighbors.  Soon, the inquisitive neighborhood children begin to participate in his newly-formed recreational activities.  Much of his time, though, is spent building and creating the items he needs for daily living.  Topping off all his inventions, Wesley develops his own 80-letter alphabet to record the history of his civilization.  In the fall when he returns to school, he has no shortage of friends (or followers). 

Evaluation:

Weslandia (by Paul Fleischman) is an excellent book for recreational or educational purposes.  The illustrations are vibrant and inviting.  The story is well-written and imaginative.  Weslandia is ideal for a multitude of teaching opportunities.   First, use it to accompany a study of ancient civilizations or communities.   Students can be challenged to make parallels to the formation of Weslandia and other early cultures as well as to create their own culture or some aspect of it (writing, sports, foods).  Next, like Stand Tall Molly Lou Mellon, this narrative depicts a boy who is bullied for being different.  Instead of becoming bitter or discouraged, he uses his unique talents and interests to create something that others want to be a part of.   Finally, Wesley exhibits many character qualities worthy of study and discussion.  He is hard-working, persevering, and forgiving.  Ingenuity and business smarts are also depicted in his summer project.  Children can identify these (and other) character qualities and examples of them in the story. 

Lesson Plans and Activities for Weslandia: 

Multitude of Activities from Home School Share

Classroom Activities from Trumpet

Cross the Curriculum Activities

Class or Group Activity

Lessons about Bullying

Math Connections

Teaching Social Studies Blog Activities

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Lesson Plan for 4^th Grade Social Studies

Lesson Plan for 5^th Grade Social Studies

Lesson Plan for 6^th Grade Social Studies