Ringo1st GraderLindsey Cater

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs-Judi Barret

Taken from Amazon.com This is one of the most celebrated and beloved children's books of all-time. It

has sold over three million copies and a movie version will soon be released-- which I can hardly wait to see.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs begins with Grandpa making pancakes for the family breakfast, and accidently flips a pancake onto his grandson's head. That evening, while still thinking about the pancake episode, Grandpa tells the children a tall tale about a town that has very unusual weather conditions. It's called the town of Chewandswallow.

In the town of Chewandswallow it rains soup and juice and snows mashed potatoes. The people of the town get their food from whatever the weather brings forth that day. Sometimes it even produces hamburgers and meatballs and all kinds of other good food.

This is an imaginative children's book that delights children of all ages with its creative narrative and expressive illustrations. No wonder it's being made into a movie! Absolutely delightful!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs Activity

1. Read the book to the students.2. With the students list the similarities of the

weather patterns in the book to weather patterns we see.

3. Have the students draw their own town with their own weather patterns. Have them describe it to the class.

Science1.2.6- Describe and compare objects in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion.

Science1.5.3- Observe and describe similar patterns, such as shapes, designs, and events that may show up in nature like honeycombs, sunflowers, or shells. See similar patterns in things people make like quilts, baskets, or pottery.

Language Arts 1.7.1- Comprehension: Listen attentively.

Gardner’s: Interpersonal, Verbal- Linguistic

A Rainbow of My Own-Don Freeman

Taken from Amazon.comA small boy imagines what it

would be like to have his own rainbow to play with.

A Rainbow of My Own Activity1. Read the book to the students.2. Ask the students where they see

rainbows. Ask them how they are similar and different to a real rainbow.

3. Go over the colors of the rainbow. Teach roy g biv.

4. Have the students make their own rainbows using different colored yarn, markers, crowns, etc.

Standard 1.2.6- Describe and compare objects in terms of number, shape, texture, size, weight, color, and motion.

Gardner’s: Visual- Spatial, Bodily- Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal

Are You Ready to Play Outside?-Mo Willems

Taken from Amazon.com PreSchool-Grade 2—In a refreshing reversal of their usual roles, the often-

despondent Gerald proves to be a valuable friend to exuberant Piggie when her own naturally sunny disposition fails her. Fretful about the sudden rain that threatens to ruin an afternoon of running, skipping, and jumping, Piggie declares emphatically that she is "not a happy pig." Poor Gerald patiently weathers the rain and her brief tantrum and, as readers might expect, the pair soon make the most of the situation. Alive with movement and feeling, the illustrations tell the story, setting the tone and adding depth to the simple text. The words themselves are manageable for young readers, and these endearing and distinctly developed characters have great child appeal. With a cameo appearance by the Pigeon on the final endpaper, this is a winning addition to the author's canon.—Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Are You Ready to Play Outside? Activity

1. Read the book to the students2. Ask the students what they like to do outside? 3. Have the students draw what they like to do

outside.4. Explain the water cycle and over a few days show

how water evaporates from a paper cup. Have them keep track of this in their science journals.Standard 1.3.1 -Recognize and explain that water can be a liquid or a solid and can go

back and forth from one form to the other. Investigate by observing that if water is turned into ice and then the ice is allowed to melt, the amount of water is the same as it was before freezing.

Standard 1.3.2 -Investigate by observing and then describe that water left in an open container disappears, but water in a closed container does not disappear.

Gardner’s: Verbal-Linguistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic

Widget-Lyn Rossiter McFarland

Taken From Amazon.com From Publishers Weekly In this when-in-Rome story, a stray dog alters his canine ways to appease

half-a-dozen grouchy cats. Widget, a scruffy Westie, wanders into a farmhouse where he finds "six cats, six warm beds, and six bowls of hot food." The well-fed cats glare at him. "I wish you could stay," says the grandmotherly caretaker, Mrs. Diggs. "But I'm afraid the girls just can't stand dogs." Widget utters a hopeful "Meow?" Thereafter, he adopts feline ways, until the inevitable emergency ("Mrs. Diggs... fell down. She didn't move") compels him to bark and save the day. The McFarlands, who imagined a teddy bear mimicking a bird in The Pirate's Parrot, once again depict an adaptable outsider. Widget's name aptly suggests an unspecific, versatile object. In Jim McFarland's pen-and-ink and watercolor wash illustrations, the ingratiating dog appears the same size as his adoptive sisters, with pointed ears and a scruffy, upraised tail; he even casts a cat-shaped shadow. This story line offers no surprises, but it gives a fond account of cross-species conciliation, and, at their best, the pictures of the hero attempting to adapt to his housemates' behavior hint at the sly wit of James Stevenson's artwork. Ages 3-6.

Widget Activity

1. Read the book to the students.2. Ask the students if they have any

pets.3. Ask what kind of sounds they make.4. Ask what each looks like and have

them use descriptive words.Language Arts- 1.7.8 Relate an important life event or personal experience in a

simple sequence.

Science-1.1.2-Investigate and make observations to seek answers to questions about the world, such as "In what ways do animals move?"

Gardner’s: Verbal-Linguistic, Interpersonal

Bear Snores On-Karma Wilson Taken From Amazon.com Amazon.com Review On a cold windy night, an itty-bitty mouse "pitter-pat, tip-toe, creep-

crawls" into a sleeping bear's cozy lair, looking for relief from the bitter winter weather. Soon he is joined by a veritable menagerie of woodland animals, and the party begins. Popping corn, brewing tea, tweeting, and chatting, the critters enjoy themselves thoroughly while the bear slumbers through it all. Until, that is, an errant pepper flake from the simmering stew wakes him up with a giant sneeze. As the bear goes from ferocious snarls and rumbles to pitiful whimpers, his uninvited guests realize what the problem is.

You've snuck in my lairand you've all had fun!But me? I was sleepingand...I have had none!Not to worry. Mouse knows just what to do. First-time author Karma Wilson and artist Jane

Bear Snores On Activity1. Read the book aloud to the students one

time.2. Have the students read the book with you

the second time, pausing so you can have a rhythm set to it.

3. Have the students pick out words that rhyme.4. Have the students count how many animals

come to visit.Language Arts-1.1.15-Read aloud smoothly and easily in familiar text

Math-1.1.1-Count, read, and write whole numbers up to 100.

Music- 1.5.1- Read and perform simple four-beat patterns with quarter-notes, eighth notes, and quarter-rests using rhythm syllables.

Gardner’s: Verbal-Linguistic, Musical, Interpersonal

Emily’s First 100 Days of School-Rosemary Wells

Taken From Amazon.com Amazon.com Review On the first day of school, Emily's teacher, Miss Cribbage, tells

the class that they will make a new number friend every day for the first 100 days of school. Everyone will have a number book in which to write numerical discoveries and musings. Eager Emily dives right into the project. On the second day of school, Miss Cribbage teaches a song called "Tea for Two." On day three, Emily writes about her school bus, No. 3. In square dancing, Emily learns that there are four corners to a dancing square. She picks five different vegetables from her garden for her father to use in his tomato-zucchini-pepper-carrot-eggplant soup. From day one to day 100, Emily and her classmates expand their creative and mathematical skills as they immerse themselves in the exciting early days of school. Rosemary Wells, beloved author

Emily’s First 100 Day’s of School Activity

1. Read the book to the students.2. Together create a fact book

using facts found in the book.3. Make sure they are grouped

together in categories.Language Arts-1.1.18-Classify categories of words.

Math-1.1.1-Count, read, and write whole numbers up to 100.

Gardner’s- Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Interpersonal

Is A Worry Worrying You?-Frieda Wolff

Taken From Amazon.comThis critically acclaimed title addresses common

childhood worries--a bully, a first day at school, and a monster residing under the bed--with the not-so-common worries--an eagle making a nest in your hair, a rhino walking down the street, and a herd of elephants waiting for their tea. This entertaining and humor use of perspective and creative problem-solving will appeal to children and parents looking for help in dealing with a universal issue.

Is A Worry Worrying You? Activity

1. Read the book to the students.2. Have the students discuss what their

worries are and how they can fix them.

3. Have the students draw a picture with all the things that worry them. Then have them draw another picture on how to solve them.

Math-1.6.2-Use tools such as objects or drawings to model problems.

Gardner’s: Verbal-Linguistic, Logical-Mathematical,Visual-Spatial, Intrapersonal, Interpersonal

The Very Hungry Caterpillar-Eric Carle

Taken From Amazon.comAmazon.com ReviewWith its lovely, humorous illustrations and

wonderful narrative about a hungry caterpillar growing up to be a beautiful butterfly, Eric Carle's story touches anyone who still has some growing to do. Along with reassuring repetition--"He was still hungry ..."--the book includes some wonderful interactive moments: what youngster can resist sticking a finger through that hole in the page as his ravenous friend makes his way through various delicacies?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activity1. Read the book to the students.2. Go through the life cycle of a butterfly.3. Give the students pictures of the

different stages and have them measure the length of the caterpillar growing.

Math-1.5.1-Measure the length of objects by repeating a nonstandard unit or a standard unit.

Science-1.1.4-Use tools, such as rulers and magnifiers, to investigate the world and make observations.

Gardner’s: Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Naturalistic

Mouse Shapes-Ellen Stoll Walsh

Taken From Amazon.com From Booklist When three little mice run from a cat, they find a cluster of brightly

colored squares, triangles, rectangles, circles, ovals, and diamonds where they hide until he leaves. Soon they are moving the shapes about to create pictures: a house, a wagon, and even a cat. After the real cat pounces, they hatch a clever plan to scare him away. Just as visually appealing as Mouse Paint (1989) and Mouse Count (1991), this little book features simple, elegant page design using cut-and-torn-paper collage figures silhouetted against a clean, white background and framed by a strong black rectangle. Walsh accomplishes her purpose of teaching shapes subtly and playfully through the text and illustrations. Though the statement "any shape with three sides is a triangle" wouldn't pass muster in a geometry class, it may not raise much concern in the preschool or kindergarten classroom. Parents and teachers can easily extend the lesson and the fun by providing cutout colored-paper shapes for children to play with after the story ends. Phelan, Carolyn

Mouse Shapes Activity1. Read the book to the students.2. Cut out different shapes using scissors

and construction paper.3. Have the students create objects using

the different shapes.4. Have them glue their favorite object they

made on a larger piece of construction paper.

Math-1.4.1-Identify, describe, compare, sort, and draw triangles, rectangles, squares, and circles.

Math-1.4.6 -Arrange and describe objects in space by position and direction: near, far, under, over, up, down, behind, in front of, next to, to the left of or right of.

Gardner’s: Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal

The Shopping Basket-John Birningham

Taken From Amazon.com Amazon.com Review "Run down to the store for me, will you, Steven, and buy six eggs, five

bananas, four apples, three oranges for the baby, two doughnuts, and a bag of chips for your snack." What could possibly go wrong on a simple trip like this? Nothing resourceful Steven can't handle. In the style of the cleverest fairy-tale heroes, he outsmarts a bullying bear, a menacing monkey, a cantankerous kangaroo, and a plethora of other thugs who try to purloin his produce. In the end he arrives home only a little late, with a slightly lighter load, but victorious nonetheless. John Burningham's one-of-a-kind style has established him as one of today's most highly acclaimed author-illustrators of children's books. A two-time Kate Greenaway Medal recipient, this fantastically understated storyteller combines gently repetitive, building text with inviting pen and ink and watercolor wash illustrations. Some of his best-loved children's books include Cloudland, Mr. Gumpy's Outing, and Harvey Slumfenburger's Christmas Present. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Shopping Basket Activity

1. Read the story to the students2. Have cutouts of the objects in the

story.3. Read the story one more time to the

students and have them add things to their basket or take the things away.

Math-1.2.1-Show the meaning of addition (putting together, increasing) using objects.

Math-1.2.2-Show the meaning of subtraction (taking away, comparing, finding the difference) using objects.

Gardner’s- Logical-Mathematical, Visual-Spatial, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal