Investigating Natural Disasters Through Children's Literature


Book Description

Natural disasters enthrall with their potency, might, and devastation. Tap into students' inherent awe of storms, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, avalanches, landslides, and tsunamis to open their minds to the wonders and power of the natural world. Using quality children's literature as a springboard to learning, this guide extends the understanding of science concepts through short activities, longer projects, and adventures. This participatory approach keeps the focus on the processes of science and promotes a personal response to learning. Students can use the literature and activities not just to better understand the forces of nature, but to grasp the implications of that potency on the lives of people near and far. Grades 3-6.




Natural Disasters


Book Description

When natural disasters happen they grab headlines around the world. People, creatures, and the environment are all impacted when nature gets out of control. Natural disasters can be upsetting to live through, but scientists today better understand their causes and how we can protect ourselves and others. Natural Disasters: Investigate Earth’s Most Destructive Forces with 25 Projects teaches readers about some of the natural disasters throughout history, what caused them, their impact on civilizations, and how people today cope with natural disasters. Readers of this book will make their own shake tables, create a cake batter lava flow, invent a wind tunnel, and experiment with avalanches. These hands-on activities engage readers and add depth to the text while ensuring that the learning is made lasting and fun.




The Natural World Through Children's Literature


Book Description

In a similar treatment to their previous books about science and literature, the authors consider over 25 picture books (both new and classic, but all new to this volume) that provide examples in nature (topics include living things, earth and stars, and natural changes) for children to observe, describe, and appreciate. Summaries of each book are included as are extensive vocabulary lists, science concepts, puzzles, and integrated activities in math, language arts, writing, social studies, science, and art. The book also offers integrated activities in the area of information literacy to help hone student skills.




Much More Social Studies Through Children's Literature


Book Description

Fredericks presents hundreds of hands-on, minds-on projects that actively engage students in positive learning experiences. Each of the units offers book summaries, social studies topic areas, critical thinking questions, classroom resources, and lots of easy-to-do activities for every grade level. The author also provides practical guidelines for collaborative ventures with school librarians, tips for integrating literature across the curriculum, lists of relevant web sites useful in social studies curriculum. Everything is linked to the social studies standards.




Unforgettable Natural Disasters


Book Description

Traces the effects of the powers of nature on the world, including disasters from earthquakes to droughts.




MORE Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre


Book Description

In this book, funny tales and rhymes are presented as readers theatre scripts, specifically written to motivate beginning readers. Readers theatre continues to be popular with teachers and librarians endeavoring to enhance reading fluency. Humorous scripts are particularly in demand. In MORE Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre, bestselling author Tony Fredericks presents all-new scripts based on fractured fairy and folk tales. Building on the delightful and wildly humorous stories of his Tadpole Tales and Other Totally Terrific Treats for Readers Theatre, Fredericks offers more than two dozen reproducible, satirical, and downright funny scripts that will reinvigorate and reenergize the elementary language arts curriculum. Specifically targeted at beginning readers, his sidesplitting send-ups and wacky, fractured tales are guaranteed to bring snickers, chuckles, and belly laughs into any classroom, get everyone involved in production—and motivate kids to love reading.




The Teacher's Handbook


Book Description

This book_an all-in-one sourcebook of practical ideas and solutions_provides simple, convenient strategies for every classroom teacher. A creative range of 'inside information' is offered for teachers to dip into and savor for their professional and personal pursuits.




Nonfiction Readers Theatre for Beginning Readers


Book Description

Teachers and librarians are continually looking for an interesting, fun way to input content knowledge to build that background information which will help push up student expository reading scores. Nonfiction readers theatre is one way to accomplish this. Professor Fredericks offers 30 short nonfiction readers theatre plays for the young reader (grades 1-3) on topics ranging from earth and natural science to community helpers, holidays, and government. Test scores across the country show American students are far more able to read narrative than nonfiction text. Some research speculates this is due to a great lack in the background knowledge of many children. Librarians are beginning to realize that a unique fit for the school librarian is as a provider of background knowledge materials for teachers to use.




Mother Goose Readers Theatre for Beginning Readers


Book Description

Written for children reading at first and second grade levels, this readers theatre book uses Mother Goose rhymes as its basis, making it especially valuable to teachers and librarians working on building fluency skills in their beginning readers. The book offers plays based on well-known rhymes, complete with presentation and instructional follow up suggestions. The author also offers staging diagrams that enable teachers to use each script with entire classrooms of students, and he includes lists of further teaching resources for each play as well. Reading levels are based on accepted readability formulas. Several of the scripts feature simultaneous Spanish translations—a real plus for ELL programs. An introductory chapter discusses the educational value of using readers theatre with young readers and ELL students. Grades 1 and 2.




Science with Storytelling


Book Description

This book is about the intersection of storytelling and science. Recognizing that humans are hard-wired for narrative, this collection of new essays integrates the two in a special way to teach science in the K-6 classroom. As science education changes its focus to concepts that bridge various disciplines, along with science and engineering practices, storytelling offers opportunities to enhance the science classroom. Lesson plans are provided, each presenting a story, its alignment with science (Next Generation Science Standards), language arts (Common Core State Standards) and theater arts standards (National Core Arts Standards). Instructional plans include a rationale, preparation, activities and assessment.