Its Book Fair TIme again!

So busy, busy, busy. We just had a super successful Bluebonnet Breakfast-our best ever! Every student from 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade met the requirements to attend. Way to go! I was so proud of the kids.

Tomorrow we kick off our spring Scholastic Book Fair and it is going to be fantastic. Mayor Joe Adame of Corpus Christi is going to be a guest reader at our first family event. 

Our theme is Book Fair Carnival and I have organized some fun carnival theme games and have borrowed a huge Spin and Win game wheel. The kids will be so thrilled when they see the Spin and Win wheel. With the help of Scholastic, we have assembled a great selection to offer to our elementary students and also for our university teacher education students. 

It all comes down to planning and I have planned for a long time. It is going to be the very best fair ever!

Texas Bluebonnet Award book activities

Texas Bluebonnet Award book activities, book trailers and lesson plans
quick link to Kids Book Club. People are always asking "What is that website you use to teach about the Bluebonnet books?" I know the url is too long, but we don't mind because it says what it is-a kids book club.

Speaking of new Bluebonnet books-view this beautifully crafted book trailer for The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau authored and illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. I will introduce this book to students by showing this book trailer and tie it in with a "book pair" lesson on biographies. The second biography will be Manfish: The Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne.

Both books are perfect for introducing students to the amazingly serene and beautiful world that exists below the oceans of the world. In a time when our oceans are being violated and assaulted by humans, we need to remember how important Jacques Cousteau's message is "People protect what they love."

Another great pairing with The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau is a second Bluebonnet Award nominated book called Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steve Jenkins. This impressive book explores the depths and layers of the ocean to places where exotic and monstrously beautiful creatures exist.

Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominees-2010-2011

I have been so wrapped up in organizing lesson plans for upcoming Texas Bluebonnet Award nominated books that I have neglected my poor ole Bookegg Blog. Each school year, Texas students in grades 3-6 read from a selection of twenty high quality children's books and vote on their favorite. Students must read a minimum of five of the nominated books to be eligible to participate in the Texas Bluebonnet Award voting process. Books are nominated by a panel of librarians, teachers, students, and parents. View the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list for 2010-2011 and learn more about the TBA program.

This upcoming school year's crop of Bluebonnet books are terrific! I was disappointed at first, classically judging a few of the books by their covers. Boy was I wrong! I have been so amazed by the beauty of 14 Cows for America and really kept hope alive in Home of the Brave. I am predicting both Mudshark and Calvin Coconut Trouble Magnet to be kid favorites. The sweet story of Sparrow Girl is one of my top contenders too. This crop is ripe for learning opportunities. Take a look at a wikispace web site that I designed to help me present Bluebonnet Books to my students. Kids Book Club Click on the 2010-2011 Bluebonnet Book Club link on the left side of the page. Lots of video clips and story connection activities. Share what you have with me and take what you need from me. Collaboration is a great tool. (bluebonnet photo: Julee Murphy/2010)

The Ocean is a Home

What a fun time we had learning about Ocean families. Today we created a colorful jelly fish and sang the Mr. Jellyfish song. I read the book "I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean" by Kevin Sherry.

This short, yet clever book tells the tale of a positive thinking giant squid who compares himself to other sea creatures to prove that he is bigger than they are, in fact, he believes himself to be the biggest thing in the ocean until.....well, you will need to read the rest yourself. Children smile all the way through this very sweet story which makes for a great read and take activity.

I have a growth chart poster that came with my book and I measure the children to see how tall they are and then let them compare themselves to other sea creatures that might be bigger or smaller than they are. Have each student lie down on a sheet of butcher paper and draw their outline. Cut out the outline and let them compare themselves to real size outlines of a shrimp, a crab, a jellyfish, a shark, etc.

Here is another "The Ocean is a Home" activity

Read a book about jellyfish and allow children to share what they know about jellyfish.
Sing the Mr. Jellyfish song to the tune of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.

Mr. Jellyfish Song
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Ocean
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Sea
Mr. Jellyfish lives in the Ocean
Please, Mr. Jellyfish don't sting me!

Easy Jellyfish make and take:

Materials:

Cheap paper plates without coating which makes it easier to color

crepe paper (I use pink and white)

glue scissors crayons yarn if you wish to hang jellyfish

1. Take a regular size paper plate and cut it in half.

2. Have children color both sides of the half plate. I let them scribble scrabble with many blended colors.

3. Next, student puts one glue dot on straight edge of paper plate and then stick on a strip of crepe paper. (one-to-one correspondence) Repeat process.

4. Continue alternating colors to make a pattern.

5. If desired, a piece of yarn or string can be attached to hang jellyfish from classroom.

6. Sing the Mr. Jellyfish song.

Celebrate!

La Befana fingerplay and teaching book

La Befana

La Befana rides her broom
*(sweep, sweep, sweep)

flying through the starry sky
(sweep, sweep, sweep)

looking for the Baby King
(sweep, sweep, sweep)

leaving presents for the children
(sweep, sweep, sweep)

created by Julee Murphy/2009

*La Befana Fingerplay: children act out sweeping motion while saying sweep, sweep, sweep) I act out the motions using my hands to show movement across the sky, placing my hands above my eyes to simulate looking for the Baby King, and act out setting presents out for the children.

Wonderful book for teaching Holiday Traditions Around the World

The Legend of Old Befana by Tomie DePaola.

Old Befana is a cranky, old woman who sweeps her home and walkway all day. She is not not welcoming to guests, and children do not like her. One night as Old Befana tries to sleep, a bright light floods into her bedroom. The light is a bright star that has suddenly appeared in the night sky. The next morning, a glorious procession of camels, horses, elephants, and three kings stop at her door to inquire if she know the way to Bethleham. The three kings are guided by the bright star as they search for a Baby King. Cranky Old Befana is too busy sweeping and is of no help to the kings, so they travel on their way. A little boy encourages the old woman to come with the procession in search of the Baby King who has come to change the world. Old Befana decides to follow but first bakes cookies, cakes, and candies to bring as her gift to the Baby. Upon leaving, she decides to first sweep her house clean. Old Befana has to run to try to catch up to the procession and soon tires out. The night sky is suddenly filled with angels singing about a night of miracles. Old Befana rises to her feet and begins to run, crying out to the angels to help her find her way to Bethleham. Suddenly, Old Befana begins to feel lighter as she rises up and miraculously begins runing through the night sky. Old Befana never found the Baby King but every year on the Feast of the Three Kings, January the sixth, Old Befana runs through the night sky. She brings gifts to children and then sweeps their rooms clean. She does this in hopes that one of the children might be the Baby King of Bethleham.

A perfect book for Thanksgiving

One is a Feast for a Mouse

A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox and illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler

Little mouse discovers that you should never let your eyes grow bigger than your stomach when you are hungry.
Read this charming book to find out how mouse learns a lesson about the difference between being greedy and
being thankful.

Book Trailer-Piper Reed, Navy Brat

I have decided to let my library classes (grades 3-5) decide which Piper Reed book trailer will be uploaded to Teacher Tube. Two songs both seemed to fit "Piper". One is upbeat and perky like Piper and the other has a homey and family feel about it. Hmmmm, I wonder which one will be chosen. I think I have decided on my choice.

Kids will receive a score sheet that allows them to rate the music chosen for the video.

Using a scale score from 1-3 (three being a best music-video match).

Is the music a good match for the book trailer?

Does the music fit Piper's personality?

Does the music fit the tone of the story?

Choice A-Piper Reed, Navy Brat

Choice B-Piper Reed, Navy Brat