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2008 Bluebonnet Webliography

This version was saved 16 years, 1 month ago View current version     Page history
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on February 16, 2008 at 8:26:45 pm
 

 

 

This Webliography was created by Karen Kessel, Mary Pruitt, and Debra Marshall

for the Bluebonnet Master List and presented at TCEA in February 2008.

 

 

 

 

 

One-Handed Catch

 

 

 

 

Auch, Mary Jane. 2006. One-Handed Catch. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

 

Sixth grader Norm’s future plans are built around being either a pitcher or an artist, but when he loses his hand helping his father by grinding meat for a customer, his hopes are shattered. Norm must find the strength to not give up on his dreams. 

 

 

 

M.J. Auch

 

http://mjauch.com/Welcome.html

Check out the author’s website. 

 

 

 

Baseball:

Major League Baseball

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/kids/index.jsp

 

The official kids site of Major League Baseball.

 

 

PBS Baseball

 

http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/

 

PBS provides this site as a companion to the film, "Baseball." Enjoy "The Wisdom of Yogi Berra," vintage pictures of players, video clips, and more on America's pasttime.

 

 

BAM!  Body and Mind

 

http://www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/activitycards_baseball.html

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides baseball information on the kind of equipment you will need to get started, how to play it safe, some fun facts, and a quick tip guide to help you hit, throw, and catch the ball.

 

 

 

 

Baseball and Science

 

http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/

Site provides very interesting information about the science behind baseball. Learn about the history and some necessary tools that you need to be a super baseball player. Send players back in time and compute their statistics relevant to that time period.

 

The Why Files:  Science of Baseball

http://whyfiles.org/152baseball/index.html

An interesting study of the science underlying baseball, containing links to pages which describe the effects of varying atmospheric conditions, as well as an explanation for why the curve ball curves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disabilities 

 

 

KidsQuest:  Athletes with Disabilities

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/kmalpage.htm

Can a kid in a wheelchair be an athlete? By completing this Web quest you will find out the answer to this question and hopefully be more knowledgable about folks with disabilities.

 

 

 

Americans with Disabilities

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adafaces.htm

This site has individual stories and pictures of people personally affected by the implementation of the ADA of 1990. Good introduction to the law and what it was designed to accomplish.

 

 

 

 

Meeting Friends with Disabilities

http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_friends_hints

This site from Easter Seals lists hints for children to consider when meeting someone with a disability. These hints are provided because it's easy to neglect the individuals feelings or be overly conscious of them upon interacting.

 

 

World War II

 

BBC Children of World War 2

 

Find out what it was like for children growing up during World War 2.  Animated; perfect for upper elementary students.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/

 

 

Kids view of World War 2 and the 1940’s era

The site includes letters, a timeline, memorabilia, a suggested reading list and more. 

http://usd230.k12.ks.us/espictt/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atherton: the House of Power

 

 

 

 

Carman, Patrick. 2007. Atherton: the House of Power. New York: Little, Brown and Company.  

 

 

Edgar lives in a place of three distinct worlds: The Highlands, Tabletop, and The Flatlands. He has a vague memory of a voice telling him that there is something hidden in the rock walls separating The Highlands of Atherton from Tabletop. When he finds the message, he knows that he may be the only one who can save Atherton from destruction.

 

 

Patrick Carmen

 

Author’s website

 

http://www.patrickcarman.com/main/index.html

 

 

Need a great book talk??  Click here to show the trailer for the book!  Plus, there are news clips, book tour videos and more!

 

http://www.patrickcarman.com/main/audioVideo.cfm#

 

 

Teacher’s Guide

 

This 6 page teachers guide includes discussion questions and the following centers:  social studies, language arts, music and drama, science and art and visual.

 

http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/library/Atherton_Curric_WEB.pdf

 

 

 

Conservation

 

The conservation fund

http://www.conservationfund.org/

 

 

 

Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint

http://www.carbonfootprint.com/

 

 

 

Trees

 

This site allows has information for students and lesson plans for teachers about trees.  http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/tree_kit/

 

 

 

This site is interactive and has information about trees in English and Spanish.  A teacher’s guide is also available on the site.

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees2/index.html

 

 

 

This site provides a fun and challenging trivia quiz. Will test your knowledge of trees. Grades 4-8.  http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/cool/treetriv.htm

 

 

 

 

 

Rabbits

 

This site gives an in-depth description of a rabbit, including its behavior, appearance, reproduction, and classification. The site includes photos and illustrations and an interactive quiz to test your understanding.

 

 http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/rabbit.htm

 

 

This site contains basic facts about rabbits along with numerous links to a host of topics related to rabbits. Behavior, care, and health, are just a few of the topics you can explore.

 

http://www.rabbit.org/care/facts.html

 

 

Sheep

 

Sheep101.info

 

This site includes information about sheep as well as how to raise them, what they eat and other interesting facts.

 

http://www.sheep101.info/

 

 

Lesson Planet

 

Over 500 lesson plans including sheep topics are located at this site.

 

http://www.lessonplanet.com/search/search?keywords=Sheep

 

 

Earthquakes

 

National Geographics site explores earthquakes.  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/earthquakes/earthquakes.html

 

 

Embedded animations helps students learn about earthquakes on this site.

 

http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/eq.htm

 

 

How to Make a Sling

 

Be like Isabel and Edgar and find out how to make your very own sling on this site. 

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sling

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Middle of Somewhere

 

 

 

 

Cheaney, J. B. 2007. The Middle of Somewhere. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.  

 

 

Twelve-year-old Ronnie wants to see the world.  The opportunity for her and her brother to travel with their wind prospector grandfather in his camper comes when her mother is injured in a hilarious romp through the house chasing a squirrel. The fact that her grandfather doesn’t really want company and her brother is hyperactive just adds to the adventure.

 

 

J.B. Cheaney

 

Includes a “writing tip of the month” and an announcement of her book on the Texas Bluebonnet List!

 

http://www.jbcheaney.com/

 

 

Publisher’s site for the book, includes a link to a book talk.

 

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375837906

 

 

Kansas

 

Kansas

 

Watch a video, order a free travel guide online, find out about things to do and places to visit on the official travel site of the state of Kansas. 

 

http://www.travelks.com/

 

 

Kansas Kids

 

This site is student friendly with information about the state of Kansas as well as classroom aides. 

 

http://www.kssos.org/resources/kansas_kids.html

 

 

Travel

 

Travel and Transportation

 

First, click on the type of transportation you are interested in, then click on a museum that will provide some history for that mode: air, boats, trolleys, and railroads.

 

http://routesinternational.com/museum.htm

 

 

Scholastic: Global Trek

 

Around the world in 80 seconds! Create your own virtual travel journal as you explore the pyramids of Egypt, the fjords of Norway, the rain forests of Brazil, and the Great Wall of China. A fun and interactive way to discover the world!

 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/index.htm

 

 

Traveling USA

 

This site discussing the pros and cons of life on the road in an RV, gives food suggestions and places to stay.  An entire section is donated to RV travel.  What’s it like?

 

http://www.travelingusa.com/

 

RV.net

 

This site includes information on RV’s, a trip planner, RV community information and much more. 

 

http://www.rv.net/links/index.cfm?groupID=4

 

 

 

 

 

 


Tall Tales

 

 

 

 

Day, Karen. 2007. Tall Tales. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.  

 

 

      Sixth grade is the year Meg finally makes a friend after having to move time-after-time as her alcoholic father is constantly trying to make a fresh start. She is afraid to tell Grace her family secrets, so she makes up stories of a wished-for life. As the truth comes out, Meg discovers what friendship is about.

 

 

Karen Day

 

Author’s official website

 

www.klday.com

 

 

Author’s Blog

 

Find out what’s going on with Karen Day on a regular basis and respond to her at her blog!

 

http://www.klday.com/blog/

 

 

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375837739

 

 

Book Talk

 

Use this quick book talk to get other’s excited about Tall Tales.

 

http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/librarians/BookTalk_TallTales.htm

 

 

An Interview with Karen Day

 

http://www.mitaliblog.com/2007/05/tall-tales-interview-with-karen-day.html

 

 

Lying

 

Lying Quotes

 

Use these quotes related to lying to start discussion related to Tall Tales.

 

http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_lying.html

 

 

How to Detect Lies

 

This site include body language and other cues to help detect lying. 

 

http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php

 

 

Tall Tales      

 

American Folklore

 

This site is a complete listing of annotated tall tales.  Click on the title and read your favorite!

 

http://americanfolklore.net/tt.html#Tall

 

 

 

 

Tall Tales Lesson Plan

 

Is your class studying tall tales? This lesson plan is a great way to wrap up a unit with students creating their own tall tale, and presenting them to the class. Provides an assessment rubric, an extension idea, and a list of resources. (For many of the links you will need Adobe Acrobat to access them.)

 

http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2267/

 

 

John Henry

 

Use this site to inspire your students to write tall tales.  This site has eleven short summaries about John Henry written by students for students. Each summary has a picture with it.

 

http://www.towson.edu/csme/mctp/StudentProjects/TallTales/page3.html

 

 

 

Alcohol

 

Kids Health:  Kids and Alcohol

 

You've probably been warned of the dangers of alcohol before. You, no doubt, know that drinking alcohol, especially at such a young age, is not a good idea. Read on for some reasons not to drink, a description of alcoholism, and what to do if someone you know has a problem with alcohol.

 

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/alcohol.html

 

 

Suitable for upper elementary and up, this is a thorough explanation of what alcohol does to the body and nervous system. Includes information about fetal alcohol syndrome and links to further information.

 

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


One Potato, Two Potato

 

 

 

DeFelice, Cynthia. 2006. One Potato, Two Potato.   Illustrated by Andrea U’Ren. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

 

 

 

      Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are so poor that they have had to share one coat, one blanket, and one potato each day, but they don’t mind.  When Mr. O’Grady is digging for potatoes and finds a pot with the magical power of doubling any object put into it, they have the chance to make big changes in their simple life.

 

 

 

Author Cynthia DeFelice’s website

http://www.cynthiadefelice.com/

 

 

 

Potato Experiment

Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This one is a great example of phototropism in plants.

http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/pages/potatoes.htm

 

Irish Potato Famine

 

Students can learn about the Irish Potato Famine on this interactive site. 

 

http://www.irishpotatofamine.org/

 

 

The Potato Then and Now

 

Potatoes are a staple agricultural product of Prince Edward Island. This site describes the history of the potato, the Irish Potato Famine, how the potato came to P.E.I., the biology of the potato, farming techniques and challenges, and the potato industry. Throughout the site there are interesting fun potato facts. The resource section has curriculum connections and lesson plans for Grades 3-5 and Grade 9.

 

http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/potato/default.htm

 

           

 

Science News for Kids

 

Potato farmers spend billions of dollars every year to fight blight - a disease that can wipe out potato crops. Now scientists have discovered a wild variety of potato that is immune to blight. See the advantages and possible disadvantages in growing these potato crops.

 

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20030723/Note2.asp

 

 

American Folklore

 

This site is a complete listing of annotated tall tales.  Click on the title and read your favorite!

 

http://americanfolklore.net/tt.html#Tall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings

 

 

 

Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.   

 

 

      Verse, paintings and scientific facts bring the marvels of the Universe to life. The changing of Pluto’s status as a planet is included.

 

 

 

 

Douglas Florian

http://www.storybookart.com/dflorian.html

 

Author’s website.

 

 

 

An interview with Douglas Florian

http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_florian.asp

 

 

 

Douglas Florian:  Teacher Resource File

 

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/florian.htm

 

 

 

Reading is Fundamental

 

http://www.rif.org/art/illustrators/florian.mspx

Meet Douglas Florian. 

 

 

 

Zoo Who

 

http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=2392

Douglas Florian reads from Zoo Who in this podcast. 

 

 

 

Poems and Rhymes for Children

 

http://www.windowsill.net/poetry.html

Love Poems and Rhymes?  This site is a wonderful bibliography of poetry books for children. 

 

 

 

Scholastic: Journey into Space

 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/space/

"Science Explorations put authentic learning in students’ hands. The rich, interactive content, developed by Scholastic in partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, supports curriculum standards and teaches skills like observation, finding and predicting patterns, classification, and inference." The site includes articles from Science World and Super Science magazine, interactive online activities, and a space library. The teacher's guide includes lesson plans and handouts to enhance the learning experience.

 

 

 

American Museum of Natural History:  Science Explorations – Space Resources

 

http://amnh.org/education/resources/scholastic/space.php?src=schol_space

"Explore the Universe, from the Big Bang to our solar system. This special collection provides articles and activities related to astronomy, meteorites, the Earth, and the forces that make collisions happen."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids Astronomy

http://www.kidsastronomy.com/deep_space.htm

Use this site to learn about the different parts of the universe. Includes pictures and links to other relevant sites. Elements such as solar system, black holes, galaxies, and nebulas are explained clearly at a level appropriate for elementary school students.

 

 

 

The Space Shuttle

http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/SpaceShuttle/SpaceShuttle.htm

Students can see actual photos of a space shuttle launching from earth as well as the people who now could go because of technology. Learn about some of the equipment and vehicles used to make it happen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriel’s Horses

 

 

 

 

Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s Horses. 2007. Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers.

 

 

Though twelve-year-old Gabriel’s father is a free black man, his mother is a slave; thus he is also a slave.  His father trains thoroughbred race horses, and it is Gabriel’s desire to be a jockey some day. When his father joins the Union Army to earn money to buy his family’s freedom, it becomes Gabriel’s job to protect the horses from the new trainer and a band of Confederate raiders

 

 

 

Alison Hart

 

http://www.childrensbookguild.org/hart.html

 

Hart’s webpage from the Children’s Book Guild.  Includes listing of her books and a link to Peachtree Publishing, the publisher of Gabriel’s Horses and the Racing to Freedom trilogy.

 

 

Horse Racing

 

Call to the Derby Post - History of Horse  Racing in Kentucky

http://www.derbypost.com/kentucky.html

 

A brief history, beginning in post-Revolutionary War times, including the impact of the railroad and influx if immigrants into Kentucky made on the sport.

 

 

The Virtual Library of Sport – Horse Racing

http://sportsvl.com/rest/horse%20racing.htm

 

All things related to the sport can be found here.  Website links to history, jockeys, trainers, types of horse racing, both in the United States and around the world.

 

 

The Jockeys Room – How do I become a jockey?

http://www.jockeysroom.com/msg4.htm

 

Think you’ve got what it takes to be a world class jockey?  Find out in this informative article.

 

 

Northern Racing College – A day in the life of a jockey

http://www.northernracingcollege.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=171

 

Not for the faint of heart,  this article is designed to give potential jockeys the low-down about whether they can make the grade.

 

 

Seabiscuit

 

PBS

 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/seabiscuit/index.html

 

Website for the American Experience episode about one of the greatest race horses that ever lived. Hear vintage radio broadcasts of Seabiscuit’s races, find a timeline of his life, and a teacher’s guide.

 

 

African American Soldiers in the Civil War

Home of Heroes.com – Sergeant Carney’s Flag

http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfa_hist5carney.html

 

William Carney was the first African American to be honored with the Medal of Freedom for his part as a Union soldier at the battle of Fort Wagner in 1863.  This historic account of the battle also includes information about African American Civil War soldiers.

 

 

 

54th Massachusetts Infantry

 

About.Com

 

http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/soldiers/a/54mass_infantry.htm

A history of the most well-known regiment of African American soldiers.

 

Civil War

National Park Service – Gettysburg National Military Park Kid’s Page

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/gettkidz/kidzindex.htm

 

Kids are invited to search this site to learn all about the causes of the war, life of the Civil War soldier, and the historic events that happened at Gettysburg.

 

 

Music of the War Between the States

http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/index.html

 

Music was a large part of the war, here you’ll find song lyrics and hear the melodies of the songs dear to each side of the war effort.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


How To Steal a Dog

 

 

 

 

O’Connor, Barbara. 2007. How to Steal a Dog. New York: Francis Foster Books, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

 

 

 

One secret that Georgina plans to keep from everyone, including her best friend, is that her father left; now she, her mother and her little brother, Toby, are homeless. When she sees a sign offering a $500.00 reward for a lost dog, she sees a way out of her troubles. Now she just has to steal a dog..

 

 

 

Barbara O’Connor

 

http://www.barboconnor.com/

 

Official site – be sure and look in the “For Teachers” section for a book guide to How to Steal a Dog, and show your students the author’s blog.

 

 

http://www.barboconnor.com/books/novels/bk_steal.html

 

Book synopsis, awards listing, book discussion guide, and reviews for How to Steal a Dog.

 

 

Animal Care

ASPCA’s Animaland

 

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home

 

Interactive highly-graphical website designed to inform and educate kids about all types of animals.  Includes advice on pet care, anticruelty information, cartoons, activities, animal careers, and the ability to email a question and have it answered by an expert.

 

 

Homelessness

National Coalition for the Homeless

http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts.html

 

Facts and issues relating to the homeless in the United States, including why so many people are homeless. 

 

 

HUD – Homeless

 

http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm

 

Homeless assistance information, how to help the homeless, and other information from HUD.  A link on the page translates the information into Spanish for the Spanish reader.

 

 

Lost Pets

About.com: Dogs – Help, my dog is missing!

http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/a/missing_dog.htm

 

What to do if your dog gets lost, including a printer-friendly checklist.

 

 

 

 

Missing Pet Network – Finding a lost pet; where to start

 

http://www.missingpet.net/advice/index.html

 

Another great site with information on finding a lost pet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Grace

 

 

 

 

Harper, Charise Mericle. 2007. Just Grace. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

 

 

 

There are four girls named Grace in the same third grade class. When Miss Lois asks Grace what she wants to be called, her reply is, “just Grace”--and the name stuck. Grace prides herself in empathizing with others, but her attempt at helping her neighbor feel better about her lost cat backfires.

 

 

 

Charise Mericle Harper

 

http://chariseharper.com

 

Author’s official website.

 

 

Cats

 

Animal Planet

 

http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/cats.html

 

Guide to lots of information about cats, including a cat guide, cat anatomy, life stages of the cat, cat proofing your home, and cat care 101.

 

 

National Geographic

 

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/cats/

 

The story of cats, inside and out.

 

 

World Almanac for Kids

http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/WAKI-ViewArticle.aspx?pin=wwwwak-074&article_id=17&chapter_id=1&chapter_title=Animals&article_title=Cat_(Domestic)

 

From origin of the species to showing and judging show cats, this is the guide for all things cat.

 

 

National Geogrpahic Video

 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060928-cats-land-video.html

 

Watch this video to learn why cats always land on their feet.

 

Animaland Pet Care Guide: Cats

http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_pc_cat_411

 

Learn all about cats and how to properly care for them. This site also includes several cartoons demonstrating how to care for your cat.

 

 

Photography
Virtual Field Trip: Photography

 

http://www.field-trips.org/cross/photo/index.htm

 

Travel on a Virtual Field Trip to learn more about Photography. You will discover the history of photography, how to use a camera, the elements of composition and how photography relates to other subject areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marvelous Mattie: how Margaret E. Knight became an inventor

 

 

 

 

McCully, Emily Arnold. 2006.  Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

 

 

 

Inventor, Margaret Knight, was not the usual 19th century young woman. Her first inventions were for her brothers, and at age twelve she invented a shuttle-guard that prevented many mill injuries. She became part of history when a man stole her invention for making square bottomed paper bags, and she had to go to court to prove herself as the inventor to obtain the patent..

 

 

 

Emily Arnold McCully

 

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-mccully-emily-arnold.asp

 

Author profile from kidsread.com.

 

 

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/mccully.htm

 

Internet School Library Media Center Teacher Resource file page for McCully. Includes lesson plans for many of her books, and other websites of note.

 

 

 

Margaret E. Knight

 

Cal Poly Pomona

 

http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/inventors/knight.html

 

Provides a brief history of Knight’s life and inventions, includes a detailed diagram of her paper bag folding machine, and lists additional websites about the inventor.

 

 

About.com

 

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blknight.htm

 

Brief biography of Knight, and listing of all her inventions and the date they received their patent.

 

 

Women Inventors

Cal Poly Pomona

 

http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/inventors/

 

List of women inventors included in the university’s website. Each listing is a link to that person’s webpage giving a brief biography of the person, as well as a detailed drawing and description of their invention.

 

 

About.com

 

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors

 

Want to know who invented such items as the bra, disposable diaper, Kevlar, or even Nystatin, the world’s first useful antifungal medicine?  Then take a look at this exhaustive collection of websites, and the alphabetical listing with links to women inventors.  There’s also a trivia quiz to test your knowledge of the Mothers of Invention.

 

 


Paper Sack Industry

 

Eurosac

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.eurosac.org/uk/history.htm

 

Read a brief history of the paper sack.

 

 

http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.eurosac.org/uk/history.htm

 

In case you didn’t know there are different types of paper sacks, read all about them at this informative webpage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Thing About Georgie

 

 

 

 

Graff, Lisa. 2006. The Thing About Georgie. New York: Laura Geringer Books.

 

 

 

Georgie is a Little Person, and for the most part he is happy with his life. However, finding out he is about to become a brother, dealing with Jeanie the Meanie, and having a major fight with his best friend all converge during his fourth-grade year. Georgie has to learn that growing up is not a height issue.

 

 

 

Lisa Graff

 

http://www.lisagraff.com/

 

Includes a link to the author’s blog, questions and answer section, biography, and link to her books.

 

 

Little People of America

 

www.lpaonline.org

 

Information of dwarfs and dwarfism.

 

 

Symphony Orchestra

 

Dallas Symphony Orchestra: I am a Musician

 

http://www.dsokids.com/IAmMusician/index.html

Click on instruments in the orchestra to find out information about the members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. This is part of a larger website sponsored by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to open the world of music to students.

 

 

 

ThinkQuest: The Symphony, An Interactive Guide

 

http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/

Listen to symphonies in live performances, then read about their history and use a Listener’s Guide to learn more about the music.  Detailed biographies of composers are included, as well as, a timeline of important events, and take a crash course in symphonic form.

 

 

 

Dallas Symphony Orchestra: Kids

 

http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/

This interactive site offers students resource for learning about composers, their works, the logistics of orchestra seating, the functions of different instruments, and the like.  At this link, you may enter either the student side or the teacher’s side.

 

 

 

ThinkQuest:  Energy is in the Air, Sounds from the Orchestra

 

http://library.thinkquest.org/5116

Click on an instrument section to learn and hear more about that instrument and what it’s sound contributes to the entire symphony.  The Sound section explains sound waves and how instruments use energy to create their unique sound.  Be sure and take the quiz at the end of the sections.

 

Human Body

Life cycles

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/lifecycles/

A lesson plan for K-5, the student objectives are to define the terms "genes" and "heredity"; identify learned and inherited behaviors; and describe and compare family traits and characteristics.

 

Italy and speaking Italian

 

Travel for Kids: Italy

 

http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Italy/italy.htm

Learn all about this country, where to visit, and even great books you can read with either an Italian setting, or character who is Italian.

 

Internet Public Library KidSpace – Say Hello in Italian

 

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/hello/italian.html

Learn words in English from the Italian language, and sites to see in Italy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable Stingray,

 

 a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic

 

 

 

 

Jenkins, Emily. 2006. Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable stingray, a Toughy Little Buffalo, and Someone Called Plastic. Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky. New York: Schwartz & Wade Books.

 

 

 

Told in six episodic adventures, Lumpy, Stingray, and Plastic, three best friends who are toys belonging to the Little Girl, discover the dangers and adventures of life in these funny and endearing tales.

 

 

 

Emily Jenkins

 

www.emilyjenkins.com

 

Official author’s site.

 

 

http://www.emilyjenkins.com/toysgoout.html

 

Webpage for Toys go out, including reviews, link to frequently asked questions, teacher resources.

 

 

Paul O. Zelinsky

http://www.paulozelinsky.com/

 

Official author/illustrator’s site. Includes a link to Toys go out.

 

 

School Library Journal

Books Kids Will Sit Still For

 

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6378376.html

This article from School Library Journal's Curriculum Connections suggests writing exercises on point of view and dramatic play ideas. Toys Go Out is #2.

 

 

 

Buffalos

 

Columbus Zoo:  American Bison

 

http://www.columbuszoo.org/living%5Fcollection/

Brief introduction to this animal. Click on “More Information” link to get more facts.

 

 

 

National Geographic: American Bison

 

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-bison.html?nav=A-Z

This page from National Geographic provides an image, fact sheet and profile on the American Bison.

 

 

 

PBS - American Buffalo; Spirit of a Nation

 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/buffalo/

Website of the PBS special that includes a teacher’s guide, links to buffalo websites & the history that brought this animal to near extinction.


Plastic

 

Nobelprize.org – Plastics

 

http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/chemistry/plastics/index.html

Read about how plastic was discovered and the part it plays in everyday life. Play the Heating Plastics game.

 

 

 

Scope: Plastics

 

http://www.csiro.au/scope/episodes/e09.htm

 

Plastic it's everywhere! Join Dr. Rob as he explores our world of plastic. See video clips and even make your own slim.

 

 

 

 

Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab: Making Homemade Plastic

 

http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/ExpMakingPlastic.htm

In 5 simple steps, anyone can make a small batch of homemade plastic. This website not only explains why milk and vinegar, when mixed, create plastic, but also provides a brief lesson about plastic in general, which includes chemical and historical facts.

 

 

 

Stingrays

 

Columbus Zoo: Stingrays

 

http://www.columbuszoo.org/living_collection/animal.aspx?animalId=50

 

Zoo site features the Southern Stingray. Provides a brief description, fun facts, photos and more.

 

 

Knowledge Archives

http://www.marinethemes.com/knowledge.html

 

Click on the name of the marine animal to find a fact page.  You’ll find many types of stingrays listed including cowtail stingray, black stingray, & more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms, & Pajamas

 

 

 

 

Lauber, Patricia. 2006. What You Never Knew About Beds, Bedrooms, and Pajamas. Illustrated by John Manders. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

 

 

 

From The Stone Age to Modern Times the development of all that has to do with sleeping is related in an entertaining, but factual manner. No one will be able to get ready for bed in the same way again, and it might be difficult getting to sleep just thinking about beds, bedrooms, and pajamas.

 

 

 

Patricia Lauber

http://www.ledaschubert.com/

 

Includes a link to email the author

 

 

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lauber.htm

 

Internet School Library Media Center Teacher Resource file page for Lauber. Includes lesson plans for many of her books, and other websites of note.

 

 

Historic Furniture - Beds

 

The Getty Museum

 

http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/exploreArt?typ=2033073

 

Explore historic furniture, including beds, collected by the museum, and read about the history of the pieces. 

 

 

Cal Poly Pomona – Women Inventors

 

http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/inventors/goode.html

 

Sarah E. Goode, born into slavery, was the first African American woman to be granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Tradesmark Office for her invention, the cabinet bed.  The site includes detailed designs for her bed.

 

 

About.com

 

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blgoode.htm

 

Another website about Sarah E. Goode and her patented cabinet bed.

 

 

The Bed in History

http://www.marinethemes.com/knowledge.html

 

Traces the evolution of the bed from the stone age to the 1990s.

 

 

Pajamas

Wikipedia’s History of Pajamas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pajamas

 

Includes cusoms, design, fabric, and how pajamas have evolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Winner’s Walk

 

 

 

 

Patterson, Nancy Ruth. 2006. The Winner’s Walk. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. Illustrated by Thomas Yezerski. 

 

 

 

      Everyone in Case’s family has a special talent, and nine-year-old Case is determined to find his. Things are beginning to look bleak as plan after plan fails—until he finds a lost dog he names Noah. Since Noah has special abilities, he and Case find success in dog agility contests. However, Case soon discovers something else about Noah that leads him to find a special talent for caring.

 

 

 

Author information

 

Biography

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/148/Patterson-Nancy-Ruth-1944.html

 

 

 

Blogspot with Patterson—

http://marcieaf.blogspot.com/2007/05/afternoon-with-nancy-ruth-patterson.html

 

 

 

Service Dogs

 

Info on Paws with a Cause—comprehensive site for information on this non-profit organization

http://www.ismi.net/paws/mission04.html

 

 

 

Paws with a Cause homepage—has drop down menu to other links

http://www.pawswithacause.org/

 

 

 

Partners with Paws, changing lives one paw at a time—

http://www.partnerswithpawsohio.org/aboutus.htm

 

 

 

Service dogs—site briefly describes various "types" of services dogs and listed resources (books, organizations) for each

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/service.html

 

 

 

Service Dogs page with educational information on service (assistance) dogs, general dog links—

http://sdog.danawheels.net/

 

 

 

Service dog Wikipedia definition and article—

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_dog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lawn Boy

 

 

 

 

Paulsen, Gary. 2007. Lawn Boy. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.  

 

 

      On his twelfth birthday he is broke and bored, and his grandmother gives him an old riding lawnmower.  Before long he’s working everyday making $20.00 a lawn and he becomes The Lawn Boy. Then, Arnold the stockbroker comes into his life. The next thing he knows he’s got a crew working for him, he’s rich and one of his investments is the contract of prizefighter, Joey Pow. No more boring summer.

 

 

 

 

Garu Paulsen

 

Features Gary Paulsen biographical information, interviews, list of current titles, and special information for teachers

 

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/

 

 

 

Biography, bibliography, lesson plans and criticism on this page

 

http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/paulsen.htm

 

 

 

Entrepreneurship

 

A definition of entrepreneurship

http://www.quickmba.com/entre/definition/

 

 

 

Entrepreneurship Wikipedia definition and article

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entrepreneurship

 

 

 

Prizefighting

 

The history of prizefighting

http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Mallon051905.htm

 

 

 

Lawn Mowers and Lawn Care

 

Lawn mower buying guide

http://products.howstuffworks.com/lawn-mowers-buying-guide.htm

 

 

 

Photos of lawn mowers

http://www.indexstock.com/content/topsearches/Lawn%20Mower_photos.asp

 

 

 

Tips For Achieving A Great Looking Lawn, Without Being Fake Grass

http://www.lawn-mowers-and-garden-tractors.com/cutting-grass.html

 

 

 

Stock Market

 

Up to date info on today’s stock market and economy

http://finance.yahoo.com/

 

 

 

Stock Market Gamehttp://smgww.org/

The Stock Market Game™ (SMG) gives students the chance to invest a hypothetical $100,000 in an on-line portfolio. They think they're playing a game. You know they're learning economic and financial concepts they'll use for the rest of their lives.  There is a registration process and depending on Title 1 status charges may apply.  Recommended for grades 4 up. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian Selznick

 

Author biography

 

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-selznick-brian.asp

 

 

A video interview with Brian Selznick

http://www.readingrockets.org/books/interviews/selznick

 

 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

 

Book’s official website

 

http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/

 

 

A thorough, extended video interview with Brian Selznick on Adlit.org about everything from his childhood to the creation of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. You'll also be able to find the transcripts of the video interview as well as a short biography

http://www.adlit.org/authors/Selznick

 

 

Cool video

http://www.expandedbooks.com/book.php?bookid=180

 

 

DRAWN!! The Illustrating and Drawing Blog

Read other readers’ comments on Selznick’s 2008 Caldecott Medal book

http://drawn.ca/2007/12/10/brian-selznick/

 

 

An amazing Spanish language website about Hugo

 

Even if you don't speak Spanish you should check it out because there are some illustrated sequences from the book that you can watch which have been set to music, and you can download some high quality jpegs of a few drawings from the book.

http://lainvenciondehugocabret.grupo-sm.com/index.html

 

 

Fantastic Scholastic website which includes games, teaching guides, and build your own automata

 

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/flashlightreaders/main.asp?pageid=1&bookpass=9

 

 

 

Automata

This site introduces you to the world of Automata and is packed with information to help you make your own working models from wood, card and metal

http://automata.co.uk/

 

 

 

Lots of links to automata

 

http://www.kugelbahn.ch/3_link_automata.htm

 

 

A rock group called The Smashing Pumpkins made a music video a few years ago which was based on the movies of Georges Méliès.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6745077492156598900&q=smashing+pumpkins+tonight+tonight

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon

 

 

Thimmesh, Catherine. 2006. Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.  

 

 

      Everyone knows about the job of the astronauts in the space program, but most don’t realize the thousands of people it takes behind the scenes to have a successful mission. With photos from NASA and quotes from those involved in Team Moon, everyone is given their due as the Apollo 11 spacecraft takes off on its history-making moon landing.

 

 

 

Catherine Thimmesh

 

Author’s official website

http://www.catherinethimmesh.com/

 

 

 

Author biography

http://www.childrensliteraturenetwork.org/birthbios/brthpage/09sep/9-20thimmesh.html

 

Apollo 11

Apollo 11 home page

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/Apollo/AS11/a11.htm

 

 

 

Audio/video of Apollo mission

http://www.nasm.si.edu/collections/imagery/Apollo/AS11/a11av.htm

 

 

 

Apollo 11 image gallery

http://history.nasa.gov/ap11ann/kippsphotos/apollo.html

 

 

 

The History Place website including audio, timeline, and photos

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/apollo11/index.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness

 

 

Sidman, Joyce. 2007. This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness. Illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski. Boston:  Houghton Mifflin.

 

 

 

      The assignment for this fictionalized class is to write poems of apology. It’s a hit. The students ask the recipients of the apologies to reply, and the class puts them together in a book. Through a wide variety of poetry the emotion involved in “I’m sorry” and “you’re forgiven” is presented.

 

 

 

Joyce Sidman

 

Author’s official website

http://www.joycesidman.com/

 

 

 

Poem Starters

 

The author’s suggestions and ideas for beginning writers. 

http://www.joycesidman.com/writers.html#anchor_13160

 

 

 

This is Just to Say Teacher’s Guide

 

Suggestions for 4-8 grade classes

http://www.joycesidman.com/thiisjusttosayTG.html

 

On Apologies and Forgiveness

 

International Online Training Program On Intractable Conflict

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/amnesty.htm

 

 

 

An essay discussing the meaning of the words Apology and Forgiveness http://www.jagular.com/apology.shtml

 

 

 

A knowledge-based essay

http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/apology_forgiveness/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom

 

 

 

 

Tingle, Tim. 2006. Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom. Illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.

 

 

 

      On one side of Bok Chitto is the plantation and on the other the Choctaws. If a slave could get across the river to the Choctaw tribe, there was freedom. With the aide of a Choctaw secret and a bit of magic, Little Mo’s family is able to escape to freedom in this oral tradition tale from both the Choctaw and African-American traditions.

 

 

 

Tim Tingle

 

Author’s official website

http://www.choctawstoryteller.com/

 

 

 

Author biography

http://www.2young2retire.com/timtingle.htm

 

 

 

Crossing Bok Chitto book guide from Cinco Puntos Publishers

http://www.cincopuntos.com/pdf/crossing_bok_chitto_guide.pdf

 

 

 

Chowtaw Indians

 

Choctaw Indian tribe website which includes myths, language, and media sources

http://www.choctawindian.com/

 

 

 

Many websites for history, arts and crafts, and other resources on the Choctaw nation

http://www.choctawindian.com/greene/choctaw_websites.htm

 

 

 

Choctaw culture

http://www.choctaw.org/culture/index.htm

 

 

 

Choctaw site which includes short video of music and dance

http://www.teachersdomain.org/resources/echo07/lan/stories/choctaw/index.html

 

 

 

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma traditional dress

http://www.choctawnation.com/Culture/dsp_TradDress.cfm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Way Down Deep

 

 

 

 

White, Ruth. 2007. Way Down Deep. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.  

 

 

      The town Way Down Deep is full of delightful characters; among them, Ruby a toddler found by the townspeople in the summer of 1944. Ruby lives with Miss Arbutus, the owner of the boarding house, but is raised by the entire town. She loves her life but has always wondered about her history. When she is twelve, a new family that has clues to her past moves to Way Down Deep. The discoveries lead to even more questions for Ruby who has decisions to make about the rest of her life.

 

 

Ruth White

 

Author biography

 

http://www.fsgkidsbooks.com/authordetails.asp?ID=White

 

 

Interview with author in 1995

 

http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/winter95/Cole.html

 

 

Biography by Scholastic

 

http://content.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=3021

 

 

Way Down Deep

 

Book discussion guide

 

http://www.holtzbrinckpublishers.com/images/Books/TeachersGuides/0374382514TG.pdf

 

 

Reading guide

 

http://www.teenreads.com/guides/way_down_deep1.asp

 

 

Back in the day

 

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-boarding-houses.htm

 

What is a boarding house?

 

 

http://www.infoplease.com/year/1944.html

 

411 on 1944

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Mountains

 

Overview of the Appalachian Mountains

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures

 

Selznick, Brian. 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures. New York: Scholastic Press. 

 

In this first of a kind book that is novel, picture book, graphic novel, and even film, the reader is introduced to Hugo, the orphaned son of a clockmaker in 1931 Paris. Hugo has managed to keep the secret of his father’s death by continuing the job of winding the huge clocks at the Paris train station each day. When his job is done, he works on the secret his father left him. Hugo becomes involved with a book-loving girl and an angry old man; thus, the fast paced mystery begins. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the Publisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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