Recommended Reading for Plants and Trees:  Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert fiction Grades: Preschool - 2nd Lexile Level: 460L Selected because: Leaf shapes match those found during the program at Blandy. Strong emphasis on color and shape. Incorporates an activity of collecting and/or rubbing leaves and identifying them in a field journal. Practice word and letter, shape and color recognition during read aloud. Go outside to collect leaves (or bring from home) and use them to assemble new pictures. Optional – cut leaves and/or glue in place to develop motor skills.  My Leaf Book by Monica Wellingtonnon-fiction Grades: Preschool - 2nd Lexile Level: 450L Selected because: Illustrations include leaf shapes that will be seen at Blandy. Artwork is imaginative and compelling, unique page margins. Practice word and letter, shape and color recognition during read aloud. Go outside to collect leaves (or bring leaves from home) and create a leaf book. Practice writing by labeling the leaves. (teacher will need to be comfortable identifying leaves OR make a literacy activity of describing the leaves and giving them names based on characteristics) Create leaf rubbings or prints (activities in book) Recommended Readings for Weather:  Red Rubber Boot Day by Mary Lyn Ray, illustrator Lauren Stringerfiction Grades: Preschool - 3rd Lexile Level: AD480L Selected because: Brightly colored illustrations dense with detail. Excellent descriptions of sensory experiences and weather play. Identify the senses used in the book (smell, sight, touch, hearing) Have students imagine how each of the sensory moments in the book might feel. Have students design a rainwater capturing machine, use the captured rainwater to watercolor their favorite rainy-day activity.  Come On, Rain by Karen Hesse, illustrator Jon J Muthfiction Grades: Preschool - 3rd Lexile Level: AD660L Selected because: Implies necessity of rain for people and plants. City setting with a diversity of female characters. Beautiful watercolor illustrations full of movement. Comprehension read-aloud and paired text lessons can be found at ReadWorks.org. Science and literacy connection ideas can be found at ToolOfTheWeek.org (PDF) While reading, have students make predictions and connect Tesse’s experience with their own experiences of weather (dry and hot, cooling rain, thunderstorms). Track weather over time. View and make forecasts, go outside to test weather conditions and compare them to forecasts and historical data. What patterns do students notice? As a group, compose a weather song. Practice, record, and dance just like the mamas and the children. If permitted, play in sprinkler on a hot, hot day. |
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