Entry # 5 - Review Children's Books

Amber Brown is Not a Crayon By Paula Danzinger

This text is full of figurative language which not only would be difficult for ELL learners but also students with minimal background knowledge.

1.  They ate in China not on china.  - Bring in a piece of china and also a world map (highlight the country China) - Have a discussion - could be a compare contrast graphic - first have student read a  small paragraph on how porcelain plates became known as china and another short paragraph on the history of the country china. 

2. The vocabulary word "fortune" - bring in fortune cookies for each student, have a discussion on different types of good luck charms and superstitions i.e.. find a penny,good luck rabbits foot, step on a crack break your mother's back etc...- list them on the board, then have students select one and write a short paragraph on whether or not they believe in any of the good luck charms and why.

3.passport - Discuss passports and the need for them as documentation when they enter or leave a country.  Make pretend passports with the class, get pictures from homeroom teachers and stamp them everyday during the reading of this book as students enter and depart the classroom.when the students complete the reading questions.

4.  The vocabulary word realtor - After discussion of what job the realtor does have students role play being the seller, the buyer and the realtor - If you can purchase a suit coat from goodwill to have the realtor  wear this will add to their understanding that this is a job and that the realtor is a profession. Play money can also be used. 

Tut Tut, Lost...and Found  By-Judy Donnely

1.  Hieroglyphics - On line find the figures and the letters - students turn their own names into the figures and make a cartouche to wear during the reading of the book.

2.  To get the students to realize that the book takes place during a different time - purchase inexpensive yards of material and have students make headdress , allow them to wear them during reading- you can add motivation by handing out jewels (plastic) that they can attach to their headdress when they correctly answer the discussion questions.

3.  To help students understand the belief of  "The Land of the Dead" find a short video clip from National Geographic and play for students, follow up with a discussion again could be a compare and contrast with what we do and believe now and what they believed and did in the past.

4.  Use National Geographic magazines help students to understand the type the process of mummification.