Cookies Make Everything Better

     I recently discovered Sesame Street's parody of Carly Rae Jepson's recent hit song, "Call Me Maybe." I don't know why but it was so humorous and cute that, for just a couple of minutes, I forgot about the recent worries and setbacks that have been occurring in my life lately.

Story Time Moment: The Volcano

Okay, so I love writing. I love it just as much as I love reading – which is a lot! Looking back, I wrote some strange stories, such as Gothic tales of Snow White and Hansel and Gretel, to New York surviving a mega hurricane consisting of two former hurricanes. Sadly, the above examples have long since been lost, but one of the few stories I still have in my possession was written when I was in the fifth grade. This is that story!

The Volcano

     On Saturday, my friend and I went to Wheeler Street, to see a couple of friends at a volcano. When we got there, we walked around the volcano a couple of times then they wanted one of us to go inside the volcano.

     When no one volunteered to go inside the volcano they started arguing and fighting. Even though I felt scared, I volunteered to go inside the volcano to stop the fighting and arguing.

     When I stepped down into the volcano it was pitch black. I took out my flashlight and saw a tunnel. I went in the tunnel and saw this ten foot snake jumping out at me! I jumped on a vine and jumped into another tunnel as fast as I could.

     I looked as hard as I could and saw a skeleton coming at me. I didn’t know what to do so I fainted. When I woke up I was on a piece of land.

     I got up and saw a big crack in the land coming at me. I couldn’t go anywhere or move. Then one of my friends threw me a rope and pulled me up.

     When I got up they all asked me questions about how I liked it being inside the volcano and how scary was it. I told them it wasn’t much to it just tunnels and creatures and that it was a dangerous place.

Image source: Microsoft Word

 

Titanic's 100th Anniversary

Image: The Titanic; Wikipedia

     Well, today marks the 100th anniversary since the tragic night on April 14, 1912, in which the ship called "The Titanic" collided into an iceberg and sank into the Atlantic Ocean. In actually, the ship sank in the early morning of April 15th, but the events that led to its sinking began during the night of April 14th. For information, you might enjoy reading here and here! A lot has been said about this ship since its tragic ending a century ago, that the truth has now merged into myths, legends, and conspiracy theories! To me, the story of Titanic, from the ship itself to the people and the aftermath, plays out like a Greek tragedy. Today, the fascination with this ship is mainly driven by countless books, T.V. specials, artifact displays, die-hard fans and, especially, multiple movies!

     I became a fan of the ship Titanic when the 1997 film (of the same name), by James Cameron, was making its way around theaters. I was in the 5th grade, and my school was so fascinated by the actual story that the school gave out bookmarks which advertised a museum event in honor of the actual ship. At first, I didn't comprehend the bookmark - all I understood was that it was about a ship that sank a very long time ago...Then, one night, there was a special on T.V. which promoted the James Cameron movie, while also sharing stories from actual eye witnesses and showing actual parts of the sunken ship underwater. (That same special would later be included onto the movie's special anniversary DVD). I don't know why, but seeing the sunken ship intrigued me, and the tragic story of the ship played on my heartstrings! While most of the other 5th grade boys enjoyed the James Cameron movie for a certain scene with Kate Winslet, I enjoyed the movie because of the ship itself, and especially its "final moments" afloat. To me, The Titanic was its own character, and I wanted to see it meet its end by watching it collide with the iceberg, flood, break in half and, ultimately, land on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! For a better example, my wanting to watch Titanic just to see the ship sink is equivalent to wanting to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 just to watch Harry walk into the Forbidden Forest and sacrifice himself to Voldemort!

     Since then, I've seen almost every T.V. special on its sinking, and have heard some ridiculous conspiracy theories from them! I've also seen several movie depictions aside from the James Cameron version (some were good, and some have been terrible). Even as a high school graduation gift, my mother took me and my sister to a Mosi expedition of the ship, where we got to see an actual part of the ship, view how the night sky looked on April 14, 1912, and do a walk-about through rooms showcasing artifacts and details about passengers. And, I've occasionally read books about the ship, however, because I was younger, most of the books were Scholastic editions! It seems silly to admit this, but my fascination with the actual ship kind of made me fall in love with history just like Harry Potter got me to fall in love with reading fiction! Afterwards, I looked at history differently than just boring events and facts, and soon started reading about the Romans, the Spartans, the citizens of Pompeii, and similar subjects.

     Well, enough about the past! Because it's been a century since the unfortunate night of April 14, 1912, and because the ABC network is premiering its Titanic miniseries tonight, I thought it would be fun to showcase some of the movie trailers from movies which have had The Titanic as its hidden main star!

Clip from Atlantic (1929):

I never knew this movie existed!

Trailer for Titanic (1953):

I saw this version, and it was okay...

Trailer for A Night to Remember (1958):

This is a top-notch version, very good!

Trailer for Raise the Titanic (1980):

Sure, it's an absurd notion, but the little parts I saw on T.V., when I was younger, made me excited that these characters were actually raising a sunken ship! Of course, Robert Ballard showed the world that it was impossible to raise the ship in its entirety, since he discovered that the ship was broken in half, with the back half completely destroyed!

Trailer for Titanic (1996):

I didn't see this in 1996 (I was too preoccupied being a kid!), but I saw the rerun in 2000 or 2001 on the CBS network. This mini-series wasn't that great and I just couldn't help comparing it to James Cameron's version.

Trailer for Titanic (1997):

I think it's one of the better versions, with a really good story and great acting and great special effects.

Trailer for the Re-release of Titanic (1997/2012):

It's the same 1997 version, only in 3D and showing in theaters for the 100th anniversary acknowledgement.

Trailer for Titanic (2012):

This is the mini-series special premiering tonight on the ABC network. It's from the creator of the PBS series, Downton Abbey. I hope it's good, but a part of me thinks it'll only fail in comparison to Cameron's version, and be cheesy like the 1996 mini-series version!

Another Summer Memory

     Back when I first started writing entries on this blog, I made an entry where I talked about a particular summer when I stayed with my great-grandmother. If you want to first read that entry before continuing with this one, you can read it here. During that summer, I had recently finished the second grade and was probably 8 1/2 years old (I turned 9 that September) and, unfortunately, I was having problems with my tonsils (which later led to my tonsillitis during the third grade).

     In the past entry, I also mentioned how I became fascinated with country music videos, and would schedule a specific time in the mornings to watch a certain country music video station on the TV. Well, aside from the examples in that blog entry, there are other examples that I would also like to add to that list.

     I was thinking about a particular song the other day, which led me to searching YouTube for the music video and its sequel. The artist was named Travis Tritt and, during that particular summer in Georgia, the country music channel that I watched would constantly play his two videos: "Anymore" and "Tell Me I Was Dreaming." I don't know why, but I became hooked on those videos! I don't know if it was due to the angst in the lyrics, or that the two were like a mini-movie - because "TMIWD" was the sequel to "Anymore" - but you couldn't stop me from watching those videos when they came on the TV!

     I remember one day, after having a terrible sore throat, my great-grandmother decided to take me to the doctor. Right before we left the house, "TMIWD" came on and I just had to watch it before walking out the door - that's how bad the obsession was! I remember, while at the doctor's office, I couldn't stop replaying the song in my head, especially when the doctor decided my visit warranted a shot! That added to the angst I felt about the song. I don't really know why I loved those videos, but I know I was captivated by the tragedy within them. While one begins with tragedy and closes with a happy ending, the other begins happy and ends in tragedy. I don't really know why an 8 1/2 year-old would find a morbid video so intriguing.

     Although, I think the morbidity in the message was why I sort of liked the videos, because the only reason why I also liked watching Shania Twain's "Any Man of Mine" video that summer was because my cousin, Sylvia, kept telling me Shania Twain had died shortly after making the video, and the morbid idea of seeing a post-humus video from an artist was kind of cool and tragic! I remember this because I kept asking myself, "Gee, I wonder how she died?" (Shania Twain really didn't die...she's still living!)

     Well, to get back on track, I was up early the other morning and I decided to search for some songs on YouTube to listen to until it was time to start the day. Travis Tritt's two videos immediately came into mind for some reason, so I searched them up and found a particular video that not only had the first two together but also a third video, "If I Lost You," that I had never seen before! Looking back, I love the trilogy even more today because the artist was telling a tragic story about a man going through hardships, only to find a happy ending in the end! You can watch the linked trilogy music video(s) below:

     Since we're going down memory lane during this particular summer, and speaking about country music videos...Another memorable music video was Tim McGraw's "Don't Take The Girl." I think the main reason this video got my attention was due to me saying to myself, "Someday I'll have to get married and have a kid...but all I want to do now is play with my toy cars!" I adored the video, even though I hated music videos about young lovers because, as an 8 year-old, it meant that I was slowly growing up and would eventually fall in love! (I guess the thought of responsibility was frightening!) You can watch the linked video below:
   


  
     Oh, how strange I was, but I can honestly say that I was a country music video junkie during that summer I spent with my great-grandmother! Although, maybe an 8 year-old shouldn't be watching country music videos, especially during summer vacation where he, instead, should be playing in the dirt and enjoying being a child! Of course, I did play and have adventures, but watching country music videos in the morning was to me as a cup of coffee is to an adult before starting the day!

If Easter Had A First Newspaper

I felt inspired to write something for the Easter holiday, so I wondered what it would be like if there was a newspaper article during the time of Jesus Christ's arrest, sentencing, and death...and then some! It's meant to be fun, but also make you think about what it would be like during that time with the news media involved.

You can read the "article" here!

Children's Books on Multicutlturalism and Diversity

I read a lot of children’s books for class assignments during 2010 - thus the life of an aspiring elementary educator! For one assignment, for my Empowering ESOL Teachers class, I had to read and compile a list of 25 books that would express the idea of multiculturalism. Of course, the main thing to include was books that were about different languages and cultures, but, I went further and included books that contained topics such as adoption, disabilities, and different folktales. The following were ones I enjoyed reading, ones I knew kids would enjoy reading too, and ones I could see myself having in my classroom library (providing I had the funds and actual classroom for the library)! I also suggested grade levels and content area in which they could be incorporated into the classroom curriculum.

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       1.      Castaneda, O. S. Abuela’s Weave. (1993). New York: Lee & Low Books Inc.

     Abuela’s Weave is a story about a young girl (Esperanza) and her grandmother (Abuela) creating special items and attempting to sell those items at the village square, in the midst of other sellers. It’s a great picture book for a lesson on Guatemala. Grade: 3. Content Area: Social Studies.

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        2.      Cheng, A. (2000). Grandfather Counts. New York: Lee & Low Books Inc.

     Grandfather Counts is a story about a grandfather (Gong Gong) moving in with his daughter’s family in America and bonding with one of his grandchildren (Helen). Together, through counting, Gong Gong and Helen put aside the language barrier and learn each other’s language. It’s a nice story about adapting to a different language and overcoming the obstacles through simple things. It's a great story when doing a lesson about people from China coming to America and finding simple ways, like counting, to make things simpler with language. Grade: 3 – 4. Content Area: Language Arts.

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3.      Chocolate, D. (2009). El Barrio. New York: Christy Ottaviano Books.

     El Barrio is a story of a young boy who gives a tour of his neighborhood and shares the town’s Latino culture while everyone gathers to celebrate his sister’s quinceanera birthday party. This story is good for discussing the Hispanic culture all around us. Grade: 2 – 3. Content Area: Social Studies.

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      4.      Chocolate, D. (1995). On the Day I Was Born. New York: Scholastic Inc.

     On the Day I Was Born is about the birth of a newborn baby boy, and the traditions his family did to celebrate the news of his birth. This short picture book is great for grades K-2. Because the book is about African traditions, it would be good for a social studies lesson on customs. Grade: K-2. Content Area: Social Studies.    

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      5.      Choi, S.N. (1997). Yunmi and Halmoni’s Trip. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

     Yunmi and Halmoni’s Trip is about a young girl (Yunmi) who travels back to Korea with her grandmother (Halmoni) for a quick visit. At first, she enjoys seeing relatives and playing with cousins, but she soon fears that her grandmother will enjoy staying in Korea and will not want to go back to New York to live with her and her parents. Grade: 3. Content Area(s): Language Arts/Social Studies.    

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       6.      Choi, Y. (2001). The Name Jar. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

     The Name Jar is about a young girl (Unhei) who feels embarrassed about using her Korean name in America because she feels that people will make fun of her. On her first day at school, she tells her classmates that she has no name, therefore her classmates decide to use a glass jar and fill various names in it for her to choose one as her new name. Considering each one, she soon realizes that she likes her regular Korean name and, with the help of a new friend (Joey), she decides to keep it and embrace it.  This is a great book that teaches the value of our given names. Grade: 3. Content Area: Language Arts.   

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    7.      Cook, M. (2009). Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change. New York: Bloomsbury U.S.A Children’s Books.

     Our Children Can Soar is a short picture book which celebrates several African American victories as ways of paving the way for each other. Several people mentioned in the book are George Washington Carver, Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, and President Barack Obama. This special book would be good for lessons on any of the select people mentioned in the book, or for a social studies lesson during February’s Black History Month. Grade: 2-4. Content Area:  Social Studies.   

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     8.      Dahl, M. (1998). Countries of the World: China. Minnesota: Capstone Press.  

     Countries of the World: China is a short nonfiction book about the country of China. The book gives the reader a tour of the country by showing certain sight seeing places, information about the home and school life of children, information about the currency and the flag, and even learning words spoken in Chinese. It is a good book for a lesson on China. Grade: 2-3. Content Area: Social Studies.    

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     9.      Friedrich, M. (2004). You’re Not My Real Mother! New York: Little, Brown, and Company.

     You’re Not My Real Mother! is about a small girl who tells her adoptive mother that the mother is not the girl’s real mother because they have different skin colors (the girl is either African American or Hispanic, while the mother is Caucasian). The mother then responds by giving logical reasons why, even though she doesn’t look like her daughter, she is the girl's real mother, because of all things she does for the girl, and because the love is real. While this book is appropriate for grades K-2, in celebration of uniqueness and diversity, I would have to check with the parents before sharing it to the class - in the event that there could be children in my classroom who are adopted but whose parents never mentioned it. Grade: K-2. Content Area: Language Arts.    

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     10.  Geeslin, C. (2007). Clara & Senor Frog. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

     Clara and Senor Frog is about a young girl (Clara) who thinks her mother’s boyfriend looks like a tall frog (whom she refers to Senor Frog). However, as time goes by, she and Senor Frog bond with the shared ambition of painting. It is a nice book to integrate Latino art into an art lesson or language arts lesson. Grade: 2-3. Content Area: Language Arts/Art.   

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     11.  Girard, L. W. (1989). We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo. USA: Albert Whitman & Company, Niles, Illinois.

     We Adopted You, Benjamin Koo is a loveable story about a boy (Benjamin Koo Andrews) who narrates his life up to fourth grade. He discusses the issue of finding out he was adopted and came from Korea, being made fun of at school because of his appearance, and gaining a sister from Brazil. This great picture book is great to have when discussing a lesson about Korea and how sometimes kids are adopted from different countries. Grade:  3-4. Content Area: Social Studies.   

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     12.  Guback, G. (1994). Luka’s Quilt. New York: Greenwillow Books.

     Luka’s Quilt is about a small girl (Luka) whose grandmother (Tutu) makes a quilt that displeases the girl because it has no color on it.  The displeasure continues until Tutu decides to add a special gift to the quilt, and Luka decides to love the quilt with and without the added colors. It is a good book when discussing the Hawaiian culture. Grade: 2-3. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies.   

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    13.  Hector, J. (2008). The Little Matador. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

     The Little Matador is about a young matador whose ambition is to draw instead of being a bullfighter. This cute short picture book is good to show that all children have a purpose and should follow their goals, the things they are good at doing. Grade: K-1. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies/Art.    

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     14.  Kroll, V. (1992). Masai and I. New York: Four Winds Press.

          Masai and I is about a small girl who imagines what her life would be like if she were in the Masia tribe in East Africa. In the story, she imagines how her home and environment would be like, what she would eat, what kind of jobs her parents would have, etc. I think this book is good for teaching a social studies lesson on Africa. Grade: 3. Content Area: Social Studies.

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     15.  Mannis, C.D. (2002). One Leaf Rides the Wind. New York: Viking.

     One Leaf Rides the Wind is a picture book of Japanese haiku seen through the eyes of a small Japanese girl. The reader is shown several surroundings (ten total, with each page a numbered location) of Japanese culture as the girl shares special places within her garden. It is great for grades K-2: a grade K mathematics lesson, and grades 1-2 language arts lesson. Grade: K-2. Content Area: Mathematics/Language Arts.  

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     16.  Mara, W. (1999). Countries of the World: Cuba. Minnesota: Capstone Press.

     Countries of the World: Cuba is a short nonfiction book which explores the country of Cuba by giving information of the country’s flag and currency, the home and school life of Cubans, particular foods and animals, and cities and customs within the country. This book is good for a lesson on the country of Cuba. Grade: 2-3. Content Area: Social Studies.    

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    17.  Miller, J. (1996). American Indian Games. USA: Children’s Press.

     American Indian Games is a short nonfiction book about the kinds of activities young American Indian children participate with their friends and family. The book explores the classic toys and games from pastime, and shows the kinds of games American Indian children play today. This is a great book on Native American culture. Grade: 2-3. Content Area: Social Studies.    

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     18.  Patz, N. (2003). Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat? New York: Dutton Books.

     Who Was the Woman Who Wore the Hat? is about a narrator wondering about a particular hat at the Jewish Museum, and guessing what kind of person the wearer of the hat could have been. This would be a good book when doing a subject on the Holocaust.  Grade: 4-5. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies.    

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     19.  Recorvits, H. (2003). My Name is Yoon. New York: Frances Foster Books.

     My Name is Yoon is a story about a small Korean girl who moves to America with her family and struggles to make friends and accept that her name is written “Yoon” in English. In retaliation, she chooses to write her name as CAT, BIRD, and CUPCAKE (things she finds interesting) in school until she learns to value the use of written English, and makes new friends at school. This picture book is great when discussing Korea or teaching about the special meanings of our names in different languages. Grade: 1-2. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies.

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         20.  Seuss, Dr. (1961). The Sneetches and Other Stories. New York: Random House.  

     The Sneetches is a classic Dr. Seuss tale about two different groups (Sneetches with stars on their bellies, and Sneetches without stars on their bellies) who compete to be superior and unique. When their attitudes create chaos, they realize that they need to accept each other and cherish the unique features they both share. The book is perfect for a lesson on togetherness and diversity. Grade: 1-5. Content Area: Language Arts.

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     21.  Shally, C. (2007). Since We’re Friends: An Autism Picture Book. Arkansas: Awaken Specialty Press.

     Since We’re Friends is about a boy who has a friend (Matt) with autism. The boy narrates their friendship and shares certain moments that causes Matt’s behavior to change into small fits of emotion. This book is good when teaching diversity in race and in disability. Grade: 2. Content Area: Language Arts.

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     22.  Thomas, P. (2000). Don’t Call Me Special: A First Look at Disability. New York: Barron’s Educational Series, Inc.

     Don’t Call Me Special takes a look at several kinds of disabilities that children may have (from physical to mental) and  questions the reader to reflect about themselves and if they can relate to the situation. This picture book is good for teaching about diversity. Grade: K-2. Content Area: Language Arts.

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      23.  Volavkova, H. (1993). …I Never Saw Another Butterfly: Children’s Drawings and Poems from Terezin Concentration Camp, 1942-1944. New York: Schocken Books.

       I Never Saw Another Butterfly is an intimate compilation of drawings and poems of the Jewish children who were kept in the Terezin concentration camp. This would be a good book when doing a subject on the Holocaust, though I probably would inform the parents before choosing to read a few selections. Grade: 4-5. Content Area: Language Arts.

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     24.  Walker, A. (2007). Why War is Never a Good Idea. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

     Why War is Never a Good Idea is a serious story about how war is a universal language, and that no matter which part of the world war happens, war is destructive. It is a great book, with a great message, but because of the seriousness of the message and content, I would share this book only after notifying the parents beforehand. Grade: 4-5. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies.

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    25.  Wojciechowska, M. (2007, republished). Shadow of a Bull. USA: Aladdin Books.

     Shadow of a Bull is about a young boy (Manolo Olivar) who wants to be a normal boy who has no fears, but the whole town of Arcangel expects him to become a great bullfighter like his late father. I think this novel can be used during a lesson about the country of Spain or revolving around its importance of bullfighting in their culture.  Grade: 4-5. Content Area: Language Arts/Social Studies.

ESOL Web Sites & a Lesson Plan!

Back in Spring 2010, while taking the course Empowering ESOL Teachers at my university,  I had an assignment that required me to find 15 web sites that could assist teachers who have English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classroom. These were the following web sites that I compiled into a list, in addition to a lesson plan that I had to write, using one of the web sites from my chosen list. Feel free to check out those web sites, or use the lesson plan for a science project in your classroom!

1. ABC Teach - http://abcteach.com/directory/basics/

          This web site offers tools and resources for k-8 teachers in teaching subject categories like ABCs, phonics, word walls, and word families. Some materials on the web site are only offered for registered members.

2. ESL 4 Teachers - http://www.esl4teachers.com/

    This website offers resources and lesson plan ideas for teachers who have ELL students.

3. ESL Flash Cards - http://www.eslflashcards.com/

     This website offers a wide variety of flash cards that teachers can use with ELL students.

4. ESLFlow - http://www.eslflow.com/Index.html

     This website offers countless links to websites that teachers can use to teach ELLs, and all links are categorized according to topics or subjects.

5. ESLHQ - http://www.eslhq.com/

     This website offers great resources for ESL teachers. It also is a forum so that ESL teachers from around the world can communicate together or share their own worksheets and other items.

6. ESL Teachers Board - http://www.eslteachersboard.com/

     This website offers job resources and classroom resources for ESL teachers.

7. ESL Teacher Talk - http://www.eslteachertalk.com/

     This website contains interviews, activity ideas, and tips for ESL teachers.

8. Everything ESL - http://www.everythingesl.net/

          This website offers lesson plan ideas, teaching tips, and resource links for teachers with ELL students.

9. Mark’s ESL World - http://www.marksesl.com/

     This website offers simple ESL resources from worksheets to website links and forum discussions.

10. MES-English - http://www.mes-english.com/

     This website offers free resource materials for teaching English to students.

11. Nada’s ESL Island - http://www.nadasisland.com/

     This website contains many resource materials for the ESL classroom.

12. The EFL Playhouse - http://www.esl4kids.net/games.html

     This website contains many game ideas for teachers with ELLs.

13. The Internet TESL Journal - http://iteslj.org/

     This website is for teachers with ELL students. The website consists lesson plan ideas and articles on how to become an effective ESOL teacher.

14. Tools for Educators - http://www.toolsforeducators.com/

     This website contains many resource templates for teachers to use in the classroom. There are creative templates that can be used by ESL teachers to create engaging activities that will involve their ELL students in learning.

15. UsingEnglish - http://www.usingenglish.com/teachers.html

     This website is designed to offer many ESL teacher resources in the form of lesson plans, handouts and quizzes, as well as online glossaries/dictionaries.

Lesson Plan Idea: Using the senses

Subject: Science

Grade: First Grade

Website used as a teaching tool: ESL Flash Cards - http://www.eslflashcards.com/

Objectives

Students will be able to gain first hand experience of observation by examining a pumpkin. 

Students will be able to examine a pumpkin using their five senses and record & write their observations.

Students will be able to compare their observations within cooperative groups.

Sunshine State Standards 

SC.1.N.1.2 - Using the five senses as tools, make careful observations, describe objects in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion, and compare their observations with others.

SC.1.N.1.3 - Keep records as appropriate - such as pictorial and written records - of investigations conducted.
Anticipatory Set

Ask the students if they have had a pumpkin before. Ask them if they have ever been involved with carving the pumpkin. Inform them that they are going to observe the anatomy of a pumpkin by carving it and doing observations on it by way of using the five senses. Briefly explain the concept of the senses and how one goes about using them by showing the “Body Parts” flashcards and reading a book about the five senses.

Teaching: Input

Read the story Our Five Senses by Alyse Sweeney. (The pre-reading strategy can be connected to reviewing certain body part flash cards such as the eyes, hands, nose, ear, and mouth). During reading, have each student touch their eyes, mouth, ears, nose, and rub their hands together during parts of the story that mention the certain sense connected to the body part. Even consider holding up the particular flash card during those moments as well. After reading, discuss a moment where the students may have used one of their senses recently.
Teaching: Modeling

After reading the story and having the discussion, gather everyone around the pumpkin to observe how it sounds and smells, and what they see when the pumpkin is being carved open. Instruct the students to include careful, useful observations of the pumpkin. Divide everyone in groups and split the pulp and seeds (in containers) amongst the groups. Chop pieces of the pumpkin and distribute amongst the groups. Ask that they label their observations, the objects observed, and the senses used. (ESOL & ESE: Assist them during their observations when needed, and assign a working buddy to help record their finding if they are incapable to, or have them draw representations of what they see.)
Teaching: Checking for Understanding

Keep reinforcing the students to use their senses. Ask students (especially ESOL and ESE) what they think about an observation. Ask each group what they found in their observations. Test their knowledge of the senses by asking, “If I felt the pulp and it was squishy, would I be using the sense of hearing or touch?”
Guided Practice

Walk around the room to see if the kids are using their five senses. Keep them on target by having them writing or drawing every unique thing in their science journal.
Closure

Clean up and choose a few students to share their observations with other students from other groups.

Independent Practice

Students will work in groups to observe the pumpkin. They will individually draw their observations in their science journals and label them. They will use their senses to make detailed observations about what the pumpkin smells like, how it feels, how the pulp feels, how the seeds feel, etc.
Materials

1. Pumpkin.
2. Carving utensil.
3. Book: Our Five Senses by Alyse Sweeney found at www.readinga-z.com.
4. “Body Part Flash Cards (Set A)” found at http://www.eslflashcards.com.
5. Rubber disposable gloves for everyone.
6. Students’ science journals to record their observations
7. Document camera (optional) when reading.
8. Paper towels for cleanup.

Duration

Should take about 45 minutes in one day.

Annotated Book List of Newbery Award Winners

   

     Back in Spring 2010, when I took the class Methods of Teaching Language Arts at my university, I was assigned to a list of Newbery Award Winning books between 1956 to 1966. My assignment was to read at least five books from a list of choices between the given year-range and write an annotated bibliography detailing a synopsis of the books and my opinion of the books. Though the following books are over 50 years old, they still have decent qualities relevant to today's readings...even if there may have been one or two books that weren't my favorite. I definitely feel that just because a book is old doesn't mean it is outdated and can't entertain today's youth. Certainly, if a story is told in such a way that it can still impact readers after 50 years, then it deserves to stay alive in the hearts of new readers! The following were my five choices.

1.      Carlson, N.S. (1958). The Family Under the Bridge. USA: Harper & Row Publishers.

     Set in Paris, France, the story of The Family Under the Bridge is about an old tramp, named Armand, who discovers that a mother (Madame Calcet), her three children (Suzy, Paul, and Evelyne), and their stray dog (Jojo) are living under the bridge he usually visits. Armand becomes attached to the family and takes the children (while the mother is at work) on a tour around Paris to see all of the Christmas sights, and to beg people for money. As Christmas approaches, what the kids long for the most is for a warm, stable home to live in with no worries of being separated from their mother and their newly inducted grandfather (Armand). Therefore, it is up to Armand to make sure that the kids will not be disappointed by their wish.

     The Family Under the Bridge is a heartwarming story that has likeable characters and sends a message of love and honor. The story even has Christian undertones that even a secular reader would not mind being present. I would definitely have this book in my classroom library, and while I think it could be appropriate for all levels, I will tag this book as a great 3^rd grade novel.

2.      Enright, E. (1957). Gone-Away Lake. USA: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers.

     Gone-Away Lake is about a young girl (Portia Blake) and her brother (Foster) traveling to her cousin (Julian Jarman)’s house for the summer and embarking on a strange discovery. Portia and Julian go exploring in the woods one day when they come across a swamp surrounded by crumbled houses. It turns out that an elderly brother and sister of old time still live in two of the run-down houses and informs the kids that the swamp use to be a beautiful lake inhabited by several families. Intrigued by the swamp’s unique characteristics and the discovery of two very unique acquaintances, Portia and Julian agree to keep their new discovery a fun little secret until Foster becomes suspicious and chooses to follow them one day.

     Gone-Away Lake is a fascinating story that is very well written and has characters whom any reader will immediately want to become invested into. I definitely would consider having this novel in my classroom library. I tag this book appropriate for children between grades 4^th and 5^th.

3.      Gipson, F. (1956). Old Yeller. New York: Harper Trophy.

     Old Yeller is a frontier story about a boy who learns to love a dog at a terrible price. While Papa is away, young Travis has to become the man of the house and watch after his baby brother and mother while doing the chores. One morning he discovers that a thief has stolen his family’s pig meat, only to discover that a yellow-looking dog was the culprit. Unimpressed by the dog (and originally against his inclusion into the family), Travis eventually learns to accept the dog and value him as a loyal friend and protector. However, the dog’s loyalty and bravery leads to Travis having to make a hard decision when a rabid wolf endangers the family and Old Yeller is left injured from his battle wounds.

     You. Will. Cry. This age-old classic is notably famous for its final chapters, which will tear the reader’s heart to pieces after spending the entire story seeing the relationship between Travis and Old Yeller form and grow. The novel is a great source to use when teaching a social studies lesson of the frontier life, and it is a great source to admire the simplicity of the language used in the story (for that reason, I recommend teachers read in a southern accent). I definitely will try to have this in my classroom library, and I think it is most appropriate (because of the themes and content) for 5^th through 7^th grade students.

4.      L’Engle, M. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. USA: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

     A Wrinkle in Time is a science fiction novel about a girl (Meg Murray), her younger brother (Charles Wallace), and a friend (Calvin O’Keefe) joining three strange beings (disguised as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which) on a cosmic search for her father. While traveling through time and space, and venturing onto strange planets and worlds, the three children discover that Meg’s father is being held captive by a dark, evil force that plans to engulf their own planet (earth). Though Meg has insecurities, she must face them in order to save her father, but more importantly, also save Charles Wallace from the evil entity known as IT.

     A Wrinkle in Time has interesting characters that invites the reader to become invested in them, and the story has a nice flow in structure. However, I  personally did not like the reference in the story that seemed to include all of the other religions on the same scale as Jesus and Christianity – it seemed to mold them all together in an accepting manner. With that said, I tag this book appropriate for the 5^th to 8^th grade level.

5.      Wojciechowska, M. (1964). Shadow of a Bull. New York: Atheneum Macmillan Publishing Company.

     Shadow of a Bull is about a young boy (Manolo Olivar) who lives under his late father’s shadow. The whole town of Arcangel expects Manolo to become a great bullfighter like his father was, and he instantly becomes the town hero, though all he wants to be is a normal boy who has no fears. Though he agrees to enter a bullfighting contest, he soon discovers that his destiny probably lies outside of the bullfighting ring, and worries that he will end up disappointing his mother and townspeople by failing at what his father was best known for – being the best bullfighter around.

     Shadow of a Bull is a great novel to have in a classroom library, and I hope to have it in mine. The story was great, and the characters were all top-notch. From the very beginning, the reader cares for Manolo and hopes he succeeds in whatever he wants to do. I tag this novel as being appropriate for children in grades 4^th and 5^th.