Magic Tree House #40: Eve of the Emperor Penguin

Antarctica, Penguins & Magic!

My first experience with Magic Tree House books was a success! The pictures throughout Eve of the Emperor Penguin and other Magic Tree House books are very welcoming to reluctant readers and who could pass up an exciting adventure with Jack and Annie? In this Magic Tree House book, Jack and Annie are off to find the last secret to help Merlin find happiness. They find themselves in Antarctica the land of penguins, snow and adventure! Mixed up in a group of scientists and reporters, Jack and Annie must hide their identity lest they be found out to be children. They have no idea how they will tackle their mission with all these adults around, but they know they must try their hardest... pick up this book to learn a little bit more about Antarctica, penguins and the Magic Tree House saga by Mary Pope Osborne.

Teachers: Here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this book from the Magic Tree House series...


Web Resources:

• Teacher's Guide: This guide has lots off great ideas for reading activities as well as across the content area in Math, Social Studies and Science. This guide also has ideas that go along with Penguins and Antarctica: A Nonfiction Companion to Eve of the Emperor Penguin. If you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page there are print outs available as well.
• Partner Reading: This is an article by Reading Rockets about Paired/Partner Reading. It's a great strategy for students who lack fluency. Eve of the Emperor Penguin is one book suggested to use with this strategy.
• Magic Tree House: Bookmark this website on your classroom's computer to let students explore the Magic Tree House series.

Vocabulary: Here are some words you may need to preteach: alas, cavern, compassion, deserted, dignity, dread, eerie, enchanter, expedition, fiery, fragile, frantic, hovered, immense, preserve, ravine, slab, squall, streak, summit, urgent, usher

Activities:
Before Reading: Sometimes a KWL doesn't work well with a fiction selection, but being that there is a lot of nonfiction information in this book, you may choose to do a KWL about Antarctica for this book.

During Reading: Jack and Annie face some tough decisions throughout their time in Antarctica. Choose a decision they make a write an entry in your journal explaining if you would make the same decision. Explain why or why not. If you wouldn't make the same decision, explain what you would do differently.

After Reading: Finish the KWL chart. Research (as a class or in groups) to find the answers to the questions you were not able to answer by reading Eve of the Emperor Penguin.

Across the Curriculum: Click here to visit the Magic Tree House teacher's resource for Eve of the Emperor Penguin where you will find connections to Science, Math and Social Studies


Osborne, Mary Pope. Eve of the Emperor penguin . New York, NY: Random House Children's Books :, 2008. Print.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Because of Winn-Dixie

A dog can provide much more than companionship

Kate DiCamillo (author of the Mercy Watson series, which I love!) brings us a touching story about a girl named Opal and a dog she finds and names Winn-Dixie. Who knew a dog could bring you so much clarity and happiness? Opal knows how much a dog can do after spending only a little time with Winn-Dixie, a dog who smiles so hard he sneezes and is so scared of thunder he scurries around the trailer without purpose until the storm is over. Opal makes friends with the people in her new neighborhood and begins to appreciate her father, the minister, with help from her new dog in Because of Winn-Dixie. Anyone who has ever questioned their past, wondered about their future or loved a pet will relate to and love this story!

Teachers... here are some resources and ideas to help you to use this book in your classroom (If you buy the most recently released Scholastic version pictured above, there are discussion questions and activities in the back of the book.)

Web Resources: 

•  Class Guide: This website is a teacher's guide to teaching Because of Winn-Dixie. There are many links to facts about various aspects of the stories that can help expand the curriculum around this books such as the dangers of alcohol, facts about prison and even recipes from the book. There are also quizzes for every few chapters which will show if students are comprehending on a literal level (there are very few inferential questions).
• Interactive: This website is from Scholastic and shows an interactive map of Naomi. Each building brings up a new activity. The activities include: reader's theater, scrap book, the writing process, information about the author, stills of the movie, a maze game and more! This website would be great to bookmark on a classroom computer.

Vocabulary: Here are some words that may need to be pretaught or could be used for word study: preacher, produce, missionary, sermon, exception, orphan, installment plan, pathological, criminal, shame (as a verb), ignorant, enlist, vermin, sorrow, melancholy, myth

Activities:

Before Reading: Ask students if they have ever had a pet. This could be used as a writing prompt or in a think/pair/share format. This will help students focus on pets as pets are an important part of this story.

During Reading: 

• Before Opal brings Winn-Dixie home: What do you think Opal's dad is going to say about Winn Dixie? Will he let her keep him? Will her father like Winn-Dixie?
• After Winn-Dixie is allowed in church, at the library, in the pet store, etc. Why do you think Winn-Dixie is allowed into places where dogs are usually not allowed?

After Reading/Writing: 

• How does the relationship between Opal and her father change from the beginning of the book to the end? Give at least 3 examples of this change and what made the change occur.
• Write a list of 10 qualities that describe who you are. Use the list of things about Opal's mom to help you get started.

Check out the Because of Winn-Dixie movie (& leave a comment to let me know how it is!)

DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie . Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2000. Print.
Newbery Honor Book

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Ella Enchanted

A (Cinder)ella to fall in love with

Gail Carson Levine brings us a new take on the classic fairytale Cinderella in Ella Enchanted. Ella is a funny, strong, assertive and continuously perplexed girl with a curse that has haunted her from birth. She has been commanded not to tell anyone of her curse which leaves her with little to do when she starts acting strange and has no explanation for her actions. A tale of fairies, ogres, gnomes, elves, giants and of course a handsome prince gives us the best adaptation (in my opinion) of Cinderella. It rings through with parts of the original brought to us by Grimm and Perrault with a few hints of Disney and a whole lot of Gail Carson Levine. An absolute must read for girls (and guys)!

Teachers... here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this book.

Web Resources:

• Quizzes and Activities: This site is a unit plan set up by a teacher. It has quizzes for every 3 chapters of Ella Enchanted. It also provides activities to align with the book. Finally, there are activities that go along with another book entitled, The Castle in the Attic (Haven't read this one yet, but will let you know if I do).
• Discussion Guide: Brought to you from Scholastic.
• Lesson: This lesson, also from Scholastic, offers a lesson that teaches students about the elements of a fairytale and compares/contrasts different versions of Cinderella. Great worksheets are included!

Vocabulary: Here are some words that may need to be pretaught: curse, bestow, obedience, docile, candelabra, spectacle, tarry, doublet, impertinence, epithets, odious, diplomat, pantomime, enchanted, besot, solicitude, felicity, courtier, squalor, cotillion, zeal, heinous, stalwart, scullery, chicanery, queue, tedium
In addition, there are many words that we may consider to be from old English. For this reasons, any students you think may have trouble with context clues should probably read this book with a dictionary beside them. Trust me, these words do not take away from the excellence of this novel!

Activities:
Before Reading: Have you ever heard the fairytale Cinderella or watched a movie that was based around the story of Cinderella? Write down what you remember from the story or movie. Include characters, plot, themes, etc.

During Reading:

• As you read, write down parts of the novel that remind you of the fairytale of Cinderella.
• Pretend you have the curse Ella has. What would you do to prevent the curse from affecting you? How do you think it would affect you? How would it make you feel?

After Reading:

• Write your own version of the Cinderella fairytale.
• Do you think there was any other way Ella could have broken the curse?

This book also has a movie (which I haven't yet checked out myself but I'll let you know when I do)!

Levine, G. C. (1997). Ella Enchanted . New York: Harper Collins Publishers.


Happy Reading (& Running) =)

Judy Moody Goes to College

Because elementary school is soooo old skool!

In typical Judy Moody fashion, this hilarious story by Megan McDonald (illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds) will keep you laughing and wondering, what's next? In Judy Moody Goes to College, Judy's Moody's mat-i-tude with her substitute teacher lands her with a college tutor. Judy thinks tutoring will mean baby things like flashcards and counting. Instead, Judy meets a college student named Chloe who is 'the bomb' and Judy starts to think that most of her 3rd grade life is 'old skool.' Judy doesn't only work on her math in college, but she works on her attitude as well and ends up with much more of a glad-i-tude. You will find yourself asking for more Judy Moody when you finish this book.

Teachers... here are some resources and activities to help you teach this book...

Web Resources:

• Math Activities: Improve your class's math-i-tude with these math activities that connect directly to Judy Moody Goes to College.
• More Judy!: If your students LOVE Judy, here is a teacher's guide to the Judy Moody series with ideas that go along with other Judy Moody books.
• Even More Judy: Here are even more activities and information about the Judy Moody series.

Vocabulary: These words may need to be pretaught: tarentella, hogshead, tutor, crucial, sashay, maniac, attitude, latitude, peace, yoga, psycho, philosophy, navel, gratitude, honorable mention

Activities:
Before Reading: Discussion Questions: Why do you think Judy Moody is going to college? What do you think college is like? If you were Judy Moody what would you expect your first time going to college?

During Reading: What are some slang words that you may use? Do you use any of the words Judy learns while she is at college with Chloe? Make a list of slang words you use as well as a list of words Judy uses and what they mean.

After Reading/Writing:

• Make a list of pros and cons for college and elementary school.
• Write a letter to Chloe asking any questions you might have about college that weren't answered in this book.

Across the Curriculum:
Check out the Math Link (also above) and let Judy Moody help improve the math-i-tude of your class!

McDonald, M. (2008). Judy Moody goes to college . Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

Hoot

A fight between your heart and your brain

Roy Eberhardt is a new kid in Florida and immediately has to deal with the typical bullies that he has encountered everywhere else he lived. However, his dealings with Dana Matherson, a bully on his school bus, become very unusual. Dana is out to get Roy, but Roy is more concerned with the running boy he saw one day while sitting on the bus. The boy looked about his age but had no back pack, no books and no shoes. Roy sets out to find him and ends up encountering more than he bargained for. A few random encounters with a police officer and acts of vandalism on the lot of a future pancake house lead Roy to the involvement of saving the burrowing owls living on the lot. His heart tells him to help, but his brain is afraid he might get into trouble. What will Roy Eberhardt choose? Carl Hiaasen takes us through a journey of right and wrong and teaches us to ask questions about what people are allowed to do to the environment in Hoot.

Teachers: here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this novel...

Web Resources:

• Burrowing Owls: A Burrowing Owl Biology.
• Fun Facts: Facts about Burrowing Owls. 
• Hoot Resources: Here you will find online quizzes, printable quizzes, activities and vocabulary (within the activities link) by chapter for Hoot.
• Scholastic: Here are lesson ideas from Scholastic.com

Vocabulary: Here are some words that may need to be pretaught: vandalism, nark, reproachfully, leniency, sinewy, errant, wayward, tetanus, delinquents, cowls, truancy, reconnaissance, derelict, crusade, jurisdiction, standoff, protest, demonstration, impromptu

Activities: 
Before Reading:  This story focuses on burrowing owls which are protected in Florida. Find a plant or animal that is protected in your state and learn a little bit about them. Share your findings with your classmates. Be sure to explain why this animal is protected.

During Reading: 

• Before Roy meets the running boy, write a character sketch of him predicting what you think he is like.
• After Roy has met the running boy and Beatrice has told Roy about Mullet Boy's situation, write an actual character sketch and then compare the two. Were any of your predictions correct?

After Reading: Think of an environmental concern either in your town or that you have heard about. Write a letter to a local government official explaining your concerns and what you think should be done to fix the issue. If it is an environmental concern that is still prominent in your area, you may want to consider sending the students' letters to government officials to help students feel involved in saving the environment.

Across the Curriculum:
Science: You can connect this book to learning about ecosystems, burrowing owls, cottonmouths, etc. You can also use Hoot to teach about endangered animals.
Social Studies: Use this book to teach students that their voice is important too! Like Roy, if they have an environmental concern, they can voice it to a local governmental official (see after reading activity).

Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot . New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 
Newbery Honor Book


Happy Reading (&Running) =)

The BFG

The Big Friendly Giant

When Sophie is snatched out of her window by a giant she is lucky to find the giant who took her is not a killer giant but instead he is a big, friendly giant. If Sophie had been taken by Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater, Bonecruncher or any of the other giants, she would have been dinner. Instead she is taken by a fun loving, dream spreading giant who wants his fellow giants to stop eating children. With the help of Sophie and his bottled dreams, he is able to brew up a dream that might be able to help stop the giants from eating humans. Will they be able to do it? Roald Dahl takes us into an imaginary land in The BFG.

Teachers... here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this novel.

Web Resources:

• Reader's Theater: A 10 minute Reader's Theater for the BFG
• Activities: A few activities to use with the BFG.

Vocabulary: Here are some words that may need to be pretaught: dormitory, desolate, brute, colossal, preposterous, transfigured, perambulator, winsome, reverberate, diabolical, contemptuous, absurd, petrified, beseechingly, fiasco, ravenous.

Activities:
Before Reading: If you have ever read any Roald Dahl books, what type of fantasy story do you predict will happen in this novel based on the cover of the book and what you know about other books written by Roald Dahl. Think/Pair/Share and discuss your predictions.

During Reading:

• Take a passage that you have read up to this point. Translate what the BFG says to Sophie so that it is in proper English.
• After reading the Dreams chapter, have students create a dream recipe.

After Reading: What do you think would have happened if the dream for the Queen did not work? Write a new ending to the novel.

Dahl, R. (1982). The BFG . New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.

Happy Reading (&Running) =)

When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

A carnival sideshow or a new friend?

In Toby's small Texas town, Antler, nothing exciting ever happens and summers usually consist of he and Cal on the roof of the bowling alley eating candy and talking. The most exciting thing that happens each summer is the ladybug waltz on Cal's family's farm. But this summer, his mom leaves to go to Tennessee to become a famous singer and Cal's older brother is in Vietnam. Just when it seems the summer couldn't get any worse, Zachary Beaver shows up in a trailer and tickets are being sold to see the fattest boy in the world. Toby and Cal try to see what is behind the front Zachary puts up to discover the real Zachary Beaver. Kimberly Willis Holt gives us a boy we aren't sure whether to love or hate in When Zachary Beaver Came to Town.

Teachers... here are some resources and ideas to help you teach this novel.

Web Resources:

• Teacher's Guide: Awesome guide with activity ideas as well as journal prompts and other ideas to go along with this novel.
• Literature Circle: This site offers discussion questions and enrichment activities to go along with this novel.

Vocabulary: Some words that may need to be pretaught: biddy, revival, cotton gin, destiny, emphysema, loan shark, sideshow, minor, transistor radio, stingy, verdict, baptism, foster home, juvenille home, pathological liar, hermit, reverend, shriners, dinghy, concordance, ordinance

Activities:
Before Reading: Have you ever been to a carnival or seen a sideshow? What was it like? Did you see anything unusual? What do you think the sideshow in this story will be like?

During Reading: Discuss after the first time Toby and Cal bring food to Zachary. Do you think Toby and Cal will become friends with Zachary? Predict what you think will happen. Think/Pair/Share.

After Reading/Writing: Pretend you are either Toby and Cal and write a letter to Zachary telling him about their life after he left. How is school going? Did Toby's mom come home? etc. Or, pretend you are Zachary and write to Toby and Cal telling them how life was for him after he left. Is he still touring as the fattest boy in the world? Are there any other acts in the show? etc.

There is a movie version of this book, I have not seen it (clearly I need to catch up on my movie viewing) but in case you want to check it out...

Holt, K. W. (1999). When Zachary Beaver came to town . New York: Holt.
National Book Award Winner

Happy Reading (&Running) =)