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Celebrate Black History

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Celebrate Black History Month  with three great reads for grades K-2. These books are perfect to teach history, fables, and arts and crafts. I am Harriet Tub man by Brad Meltzer is a must read . It is the story of the young Harriet who plays a key role in the abolition slavery. Her courage to lead slaves up north from the south through the underground railroad helped many slaves reach freedom. The pictures are beautiful and words easy to read for young children. L ittle Red and the Crocodile by Suzan Johnson is a gem. It is the story of Little Red who v isit s her aunt in the Louisiana Swamps. Little Red must contend with a hun gry crocodile instead of a big bad wolf. Luckily, Randy the Forest Ranger saves the day for Little Red and her aunt. A heart warming story with adorable pictures and for the little ones. Tar Beach by Faith Rin g gold is a classic. It is the story of young Cassie who dreams of freedom from the roof top of her Harlem apartment in New York City. O...
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Florida Celebrates Literacy Week

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  Florida celebrates Literacy Week from January 26 to 30th. This event raises awareness of the importance of making reading a daily routine for students and families. T he theme for this year is Read, white, and blue to honor America's  250th Anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence. It's a great time to dive into history to learn about two important presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In grades K-2 read, I am George Washington  and I am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer. Here  are five (5) Fun Facts for each president.  Another exciting activity is to have the kids  dress-up as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln or they can show their spirit by wearing  red, white, and blue.  George Washington Fun Facts: Born on February 22 in Virginia Chopped down a cherry and told the truth Fearless Army General for the U.S. in three (3) wars Picture on the quarter and dollar bill First person to sign the U.S. Constitution Abraham...
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The Feast of the Epiphany/Three Kings' Day Traditions

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  The Feast of the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day , is also known as the Twelfth Day of Christmas. It’s celebrated on January 6th, marking the wise men’s journey to Bethlehem to pay homage to Jesus. Casper, Melchoir, and Balthazar bring baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The gold represents Jesus’ kingship and royalty, the frankincense symbolizes Jesus’ divinity and priesthood, and the myrrh, an expensive spice, points to Jesus’ burial. For some, the Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season. Others continue the celebrations until February 2nd for the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas. In Hispanic and Latin American countries, it is a tradition for children to leave a shoe box under the Christmas tree for the wise men. The shoe box contains grass, black coffee, and a letter. The grass is for the hungry camels, black coffee for the tired wise men, and a letter of good behavior. The shoe box is left out on the night of January 5. The next morning the childr...
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Fables, Folklore & Legends to Teach Culture

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  Why use fables, folklore, and legends to teach culture in the classroom? These stories are excellent resources to teach children about morals, traditions, and other cultures. Aesop’s Fables’ The Tortoise and the Hare and The Lion and the Mouse are laden with moral lessons. Grimm’s classic stories were written as fairy tales and folk tales inspired by local folklore. So what is folklore? People have used folklore through oral storytelling to explain history, traditions, culture, and human struggles since the beginning of time. Stories were passed down from generation to generation for posterity. Oral storytellers often worked in the king’s court as entertainers for their royal banquets. Some storytellers even used musical rhythm and repeated beats which was the beginning of ballads. Every country has its own unique folklore woven into its culture. Aesop’s Fables originated in Greece and Grimm's folklore started in Germany. The Legend of Robin Hood is from England, Romeo and ...
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Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans

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  Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans   won   the International Latino Book Award for Best Educational Themed Book and 1st place in the Purple Dragonfly Book Awards for Best Green/Environmental E-book  in 2018.   Th e  story teaches a strong message on environmental awareness, water pollution, and conservation of our blue planet. It also motivates children to care about the ocean as a habitat and natural resource for people, animals, and plants. For Ages 5-12 Mermaids on a Mission to Save the Oceans Book Activities: ​ - Ocean Oil Spill Clean Up Experiment:  https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/oil-spill-experiment/ -Story Map: https://www.readingrockets.org/sites/default/files/migrated/pdfs/storymap_complex3.pdf -Character Compare & Contrast: ​ https://teachingmadepractical.com/free-compare-contrast-printable/ -Mermaid Coloring Page:    https://yaycoloringpages.com/mermaid-coloring-pages/
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The Duckling in Boots: El patito con botas

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  The Duckling in Boots:El patito con botas written by Camelia Kuhn is an amazing tale of friendship and acceptance. Ducky lives on a big farm with his family and friends. Ducky has a little problem, he has big shiny feet, and his peers tease him. Ducky’s mother gives him boots to disguise his big shiny feet. The teasing continues until there a big storm and they lose power. Now everyone is stranded in the dark except for the bright light from Ducky’s feet illuminating the way forward. Alas, Ducky saves the day, and he’s accepted by his peers! As a retired bilingual K-2 teacher, I want to commend the author for writing such an adorable story. The story teaches a strong message of friendship, tolerance, and acceptance. It also teaches children to embrace their differences as strengths. It’s perfect to incorporate into social and emotional lesson plans. An added bonus is the book is bilingual and great for an ESOL classroom library or anyone who wants to learn Spanish. Five Shiny St...
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The Legend of Roberto Cofresi - A Puerto Rican Hero

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  The Legend of Robert Cofresi — A Puerto Rican Hero won the International Latino Book Award for Best Latino Focused Children’s Book in 2016 . It was translated into Spanish as La Leyenda de Roberto Cofresi — Un héreo de Puerto Rico by Ana Morris. In September 2017, it won 1st place in the International Latino Book Awards for the best translation. It teaches a strong message of generosity, loyalty, and cultural traditions. P.R. Pirate Book Activities: Pirate Teacher's Guide (Vocab & Reading Comp Questions): https://www.wrigglyreaders.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/pirate-teachers-guide.pdf Story Map: ​ https://www.readingrockets.org/sites/default/files/migrated/pdfs/storymap_complex3.pdf Character Compare & Contrast: ​ https://teachingmadepractical.com/free-compare-contrast-printable/ Roberto Cofresi Coloring Page: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/325033298088699610/ Pirate Cinquain Poem: https://pinterest.com/pin/325033298088699577/
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