The Umbrella {Literacy and Science}

With a school wide Book of the Month for Jan Brett's The Umbrella underway, I've been working to complete a literacy companion.  This book is rich with content and aligns wonderfully with multiple core and science expectations.  

Our school theme for the year happens to be rainforest with each grade level selecting a specific continent to highlight.  In the past, we work through lessons and host a culminating event at the end of the year.  

Here's what is available in this file...

 8 featured story animals {Posters and Trading Cards}

Links provided for a class webquest on each animal!

An additional 6 rainforest animals {Posters and Trading Cards}

Links provided for class webquest on the additional rainforest animals.

Layers of the Rainforest {Posters and Trading Cards}

Interactive Notebook Activity

Links available for class webquest on Rainforest Layers

Comprehension Strategies and Response Pages Provided

There are many ways to teach this book.

This week I will be diving into my learning of The Umbrella and the rainforest.  I plan to come back and share pictures soon!  Open house is next week.  I hope to have lots of stuff up on my wall! 

The Planet Hue

I want to let you know about an adorable adventure called The Planet Hue.  This book will take students on a magical journey through a world that transforms from a dull and drab planet to a colorful vibrant place to live!

Corkey Hay DeSimone, author of Cherry Blossom Friends, has a unique perspective in celebrating diversity while using three primary colors to help teach the message.

Included in the unit:

Book Introduction pg 1
Vocabulary pgs 3-15
Think Maps pgs 16-17
Solar System pg 18
Planet Classification pgs 19-20
Planet Flashcards/Basic Facts pgs 21-22
Solar System Craft/Model pgs 23-26
Celebrating Diversity pgs 27-28
Color Wheel pgs 29-33
Complimentary Color Art pgs 34-36
Ordering Hues Center(ABC order) pgs 37-40
Rhyming Center (using book vocabulary) pgs 41-48
Out of this World Center (Time) pgs 49-58
(Time to the Hour-K/1 Time to Quarter Hour-1/2)
Planet 8 Center (Number Stings) pgs 59-77
(Match to Correct Sum-K/1)
(Match to Related Multiplication Fact- 2nd)
Planet Hue's Candy Castle (Fractions)pgs 78-90
Acknowledgments pg 91

Click image to link to the store.  Download your freebie preview.

Cherry Blossom Friends

Are you aware this year is the centennial celebration of the Cherry Blossom Trees given to the United States by Japan as a sign of friendship?  In honor of this remarkable event, Corkey DeSimone wrote a fabulous book called Cherry Blossom Friends perfect for spring.  Click image below for more information.

I love how the book features wonderful riddles perfect for primary students and rich history of the National Mall including the Tidal Basin and all the memorials of Washington DC for intermediate students.  The author also does a wonderful job of explaining the shipment of the 3800 tress from Japan to DC.

This past year, I recommended this magnificent read to my principal for one of our books of the month.  I was even more excited to hear the book was purchased for each teacher to feature in January.  My school looks so pretty decorated in pink.  I've been working with my students on a cross-curricular unit to align with the story. 

Included in the unit: Cherry Blossom Friends vocabulary flashcards, vocabulary response sheet, and vocabulary concentration, picture of schema chart and graphic images used for the chart, blossom KWL, Haiku poetry lesson, pictures of student poetry, and poetry reproducible, Non-Fiction Cherry Blossom book, Life cycle of a blossom tree poster, Non-Fiction vocabulary using Frayer Model, blossom artwork inspired by First Grade Best with graphics printable, pocket chart riddles to sequence, animal flashcards to match to riddles, pictures of the sequence activity, Monument'al Tour Guide book of all the memorials featured in Cherry Blossom Friends (written for primary and blank for intermediate classes).  

 

If you are interested in celebrating with my class, you can purchase this unit from my store.  

Click image above to link.

If you'd like more information on the 2012 Festival, link here