Book Database

Class Topic	Book #	Title	Author	Genre	Interest/ Grade Level	Theme/Topic	Use in the Classroom	2 Bloom's Questions	2 Curricular Areas of use
Old Favorite	1	Harry Potter Series	JK Rowling	Fantasy	3rd-8th	Harry finds out that he is a wizard and he has a lot to learn about the new world he is living in. He makes great friends and fights the evil Lord Voldemort.	I would use this book in the classroom to discuss banned books and why books are often banned.	1. Develop a proposal which would prove to the school board why this book should be allowed in schools. 2. Could events in this book have happened in the real world?	1. Character education- have students act out scenes from the book that demonstrate good and bad character. 2. Geography- find the places mentioned on a map (the real ones) and create maps for the imaginary places.
Caldecott Winners/Honors	2	Where the Wild Things Are	Maurice Sendak	Fantasy	K-2nd	A trouble making boy is sent to his room where he makes up his own island that he is king over. Later he returns to his room.	I would use this book in the classroom to discuss the difference between fact and fiction.	1. How would you have handled being sent to your room? 2. How is this story similar to your life?	1. Character education- We could discuss the bucket filling and bucket dipping behaviors of Max. 2. Art-We would use different mediums to create our own wild things.
	3	The Invention of Hugo Cabret	Brian Selznick	Historical Fiction	5th-8th	An orphan encounters a famous old filmmaker and befriends his granddaughter. He is building a clockwork invention.	I would use this book in the classroom as a read aloud to discuss Caldecott winning books and do assignments with the images.	1. If you could design a clockwork robot, what would it do and what would it look like? 2. How would you feel if you were an orphan like Hugo?	1. History- we would discuss the time period this book takes place in. 2. Math- activities around telling time, since that is a major part of the setting.
	4	Tuesday	David Weisner	Fantasy	K-2nd	There are no words in this book. On a Tuesday frogs start flying on their lilly pads through town.	I would use this book in the classroom to learn about making predictions. We would make predictions as to what we think will happen on each page.	1.What would you have done if you had seen the frogs flying? 2. Can you create words to go with this story?	1. Art- we will create our own versions of this book using illustrations. 2. Math- activities telling time and time in sequence.
	5	The Polar Express	Chris Van Allsburg	Fantasy	K-2nd	A boy takes a train to the north pole and meets Santa Clause.	I would use this book in the classroom to study the author Chris Van Allsburg.	1. Do you think believing in Santa is a good or bad thing? 2. How was the book similar to the movie?	1. Music- we will sing holiday songs from different cultures. 2. Science- study the seasons.
	6	The Snowy Day	Ezra Jack Keats	Realistic Fiction	K-2nd	A child is playing in the snow.	I would use this book in the classroom to introduce literature discussion groups to my students.	1. Describe what happened in the snow. 2. Could this story have happened in Hawaii?	1. Science- Discussion of the seasons. 2. Art- Create a snowy scene using different materials.
Picture Books	7	Thunder Cake	Patricia Polacco	Realistic Fiction	2nd-4th	A small girl is afraid of the thunder, but her grandmother helps distract her from her fears by making thunder cake.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach writing with the five senses and making connections to the text.	1. What is something you are afraid of? 2. What differences exist between the characters grandmother and your grandmother?	1. Science- measurement and fractions baking the thunder cake in class. 2. History- talk about the time period the grandmother lived in and her culture.
	8	La Luna	Enrico Casarosa	Fantasy	K-3rd	A boy goes with his father and grandfather to work and clean up the moon.	I would use this book in the classroom to compare and contrast the book and the movie.	1. Can you design a better way to clean up the moon? 2. How is this story similar to the actual phases of the moon?	1. Science- discuss what really causes the moon's phases. 2. Character- talk about bravery and good character when trying something new
	9	The Very Hungry Caterpillar	Eric Carle	Fiction	K-2nd	A caterpillar eats a lot of food and then proceeds to turn into a butterfly.	I would use this book in the classroom to talk about cause and effect.	1.Can you name all the food the caterpillar ate? 2. Can you group the food he ate by characteristics?	1. Science- talk about the life cycle of a butterfly. 2. Nutrition- talk about healthy food to eat.
	10	Zoom	Istvan Banyai	Fiction	K-3rd	There are no words in this book. It zooms out from a rooster all the way to the whole earth.	I would use this book in the classroom to promote descriptive word use.	1. Can you write words for this story? 2. What questions would you ask the author of this story?	1. Character education- use as a get to know you activity. Copy the pages of the book onto individual cards and have students communicate with one another to put the pictures in order. Emphasis on communication skills. 2. Math- calculate the scale of the pictures starting at the end with the world and working your way down.
	11	Goodnight Moon	Margaret Wise Brown	Fiction	K-2nd	The narrator is saying goodnight to all the objects in their bedroom.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach poetry	1. What do you think might happen next in the story? 2. Could you write a Good Morning Sun story that is like Goodnight Moon?	1. Science- phases of the moon. 2. Art- activities with recognition of basic colors
	12	Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus	Mo Williems	Fiction	K-3rd	A pigeon really wants to drive a bus. He begs and begs and begs.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach persuasive writing.	1. Why did the pigeon want to drive the bus? 2. Describe the point of view in this story?	1. Music- sing the wheels on the bus. 2. Art- create a bus out of handprints.
	13	The Lorax	Dr. Seuss	Fantasy	1st-5th	The Oncelor cuts down all the truffula trees and then sees the environmental ramifications.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach rhyme scheme.	1. What are some solutions to the main problem in the book? 2.What might happen if we stopped cutting down all trees?	1. Science- ecology and deforestation. 2. Character- standing up for other people and doing what is right.
	14	The Junkyard Wonders	Patricia Polacco	Realistic Fiction	3rd-5th	Tricia deals with other kids in school. She has a wonderful teacher that calls the class a junkyard (but in a good way.)	I would use this book in the classroom to talk about personal narrative.	1. How would you have felt if you were Tricia? 2. If you were Tricia's friend what would you have told her to do?	1. Character education- discussion of bullying and being a good friend. 2. Music- We would act out scenes of this book.
	15	Knuffle Bunny	Mo Willems	Realistic Fiction	1st-3rd	A toddler loses her stuffed animal knuffle bunny and tries to get it back.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach realistic fiction.	1. What was your childhood favorite toy? Why that? 2. What would you have told the little girl to help her feel better about losing her toy?	1. Music- Have students create a skit to act our the story. 2. Writing- Have students write about their favorite childhood toy.
	16	Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day	Judith Viorst	Realistic Fiction	1st-5th	Alexander has a terrible day. But then again, everyone has bad days.	I would use this book in the classroom to introduce adjectives.	1. Have you ever had a day like Alexander? 2. If your friend was having a day like Alexander what would you do to help them?	1. Character education- talk about what to do when you are having a bad day. 2. Math- money and purchasing things.
	17	Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs	Judi Barrett	Fantasy	K-5th	The town of Chewandswallow has no grocery stores because it rains food. But all of a sudden the food starts coming down too much and the food gets bigger and bigger.	I would use this book in the classroom to compare and contrast fact from fiction.	1. If it could rain any food, which food would you pick? 2. Pick a food that falls from the sky in the story and make up a new and tasty recipe you could cook.	1. Science- distinguish the difference between what is real science and what is fake. 2. Nutrition- talk about what foods they have in chewandswallow that are good to eat and which are not.
	18	The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore	William Joyce	Fantasy	3rd-5th	A man finds an amazing place full of living books that teach him a lot.	I would use this book in the classroom to promote a love of reading and books in my students.	1. What is your all time favorite book? 2. If it could speak to you, what would that book say?	1. Art- give students freedom to create an art project using the theme of books and using books as art supplies themselves. 2. History- Discuss different afterlife beliefs from different cultures.
	19	The Mysteries of Harris Burdick	Chris Van Allsburg	Fiction	3rd-5th	There are several pictures with titles and captions that all have mysterious stories that go with them.	I would use this book in the classroom for creative writing. Put up a picture and have the students write a story to go with the image and caption.	1.What stories could have gone with the pictures in the book? 2. Why do you think Harris Burdick never came back?	1. Art- Allow students to draw their own single picture from a story to go in a class Harris Burdick book. 2. History- research people from Mr. Burdick's time period and see if any such person as Harris Burdick might have actually existed.
	20	When Lightning Come in a Jar	Patricia Polacco	Realistic Fiction	2nd-5th	Tricia has a family reunion and her grandmother teaches her how to catch lightning in a jar	I would use this book in the classroom to teach personal narrative.	1. What do you think about family reunions? 2. What changes would you recommend to Tricia's family reunion to make it better?	1. Science- research fireflies and create a project about them. 2. Science- research lightning and make an art project about it.
	21	Come On, Rain!	Karen Hesse	Fiction	K-3rd	A young girl is waiting for the rain to come	I would use this book in the classroom for poetic devices such as alliteration, onomatopoeia, and metaphors.	1. What poetic devices are used in this story? 2. What is the author's purpose of this story?	1. History- find where the little girl lives on a map and look up what the weather is usually like there. 2. Art- history of art, find another artist with similar illustration style.
Newberry/Honor Books	22	Crispin: The Cross of Lead	Avi	Historic Fiction	5th-8th	A boy is wrongly accused of murder and runs away where he finds out great and mysterious things about his life.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach the importance of the historical time period.	1. Do you believe in Crispin's beliefs? 2. What was the turning point in this story?	1. Geography- find the places Crispin goes on a map and track his progress throughout the story. 2. History- Discuss this time period.
	23	The View from Saturday	EL Konigsburg	Realistic Fiction	4th-6th	Some middle school kiddos compete in an academic bowl competition	I would use this book in the classroom to teach personal narrative and realistic fiction.	1. Would you want to be on their academic bowl team? Why or why not? 2. Mrs. Draper says she left teaching because students stopped asking "Now what?" and began asking "So what?" What does that mean?	1. Science- research the sea turtles that they help save. 2. History- compare and contrast the wedding in the book to that of other cultures.
	24	A Ring of Endless Light	Madeleine L'Engle	Realistic Fiction	6th-8th	Vicky is staying with her grandfather for the summer. She has a very special thing going with dolphins.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach poetry since the main character is a poet.	1. What is the author's purpose? 2. How would you feel if you were Vicky?	1. Science- Research dolphins and give a creative presentation. 2. Science- Look up what a marine biologist does and contact one for an interview.
Chapter Books	25	Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library	Chris Grabenstein	Fiction	4th-5th	A new state-of-the-art library is opening in town and there is a competition to spend the night in the library. Then kids must play the game in order to escape from the library.	I would use this book in the classroom to promote a love of reading and books in my students.	1. Is there a board game you like to play? 2. Would you have tried to escape from the library? Would you have played the game?	1. Social Studies- There are lots of trivia questions in this book. Compile a list of all the answers you come across. 2. Character- Discuss how the main character put in a minimal amount of effort at the beginning and it back-fired on him.
	26	The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe	CS Lewis	Fantasy	3rd-8th	Lucy and her siblings find a door into a magical world of talking animals and mysterious creatures.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach fantasy and imagination to my students.	1. Have you ever done something that you knew was the right thing to do, even if nobody was listening to you? 2. What would have happened if Lucy hadn't wandered into the wardrobe?	1. Geography- Create a map of Narnia and the surrounding countries. 2. Math- calculate how time works in Narnia compared to our world.
	27	The School Story	Andrew Clements	Realistic Fiction	3rd-5th	A girl writes a story and submits it to a publisher. They agree to publish it without knowing the author is a young girl.	I would use this book in the classroom to talk about writing and publishing with my students.	1. What is something you want to do but you think it is impossible (like publishing a book?) 2. What is Natalie's motive for wanting to publish a book?	1. Character- Talk about our life goals and how we can help each other with them. 2. Writing- Write our own "school stories."
	28	The BFG	Roald Dahl	Fantasy	3rd-5th	Sophie meets a big friendly giant and has to save England from all the other people-eating giants. She even gets help from the Queen.	I would use this book in the classroom to discuss nonsense words with my students.	1. How would you have handled being kidnapped by a giant? 2. What is another way Sophie could have come up with to handle the bad giants?	1. History- Research the Queen of England and write a paragraph biography about her. 2. Science- research dreams and find out how they work scientifically.
	29	Dark Life	Kat Falls	Fiction	5th-8th	In the future the ocean has risen and people have taken to living on the bottom of the ocean. The sea floor has it's bad guys roaming as well.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach the concept of dystopia and utopia.	1. What would your utopia look like? 2. Does everyone in the story think the same way that Ty does? Why or why not?	1. Technology- Make a list of all the technologies they use in the book to live life the way they do. 2. Science- Examine all the different kinds of fish and ocean life we come across in the book.
	30	The Lightning Thief	Rick Riordian	Fantasy/Mythology	3rd-8th	Percy finds out that he is a demigod and has to deal with gods who think he has stolen Zeus' master lightning bolt.	I would use this book in the classroom to connect our modern world to ancient Greek and Roman studies.	1. Which god are you most like? 2. Which magic power would you want to have and why?	1. History- relate the book to the Greek, Roman and Egyptian mythology that goes with it. 2. Language- Percy is learning Latin. Learn a little bit of Latin.
	31	Everest: The Contest	Gordon Korman	Realistic Fiction	4th-6th	A bunch of kids are training to climb mount Everest, trying to be the youngest one to summit.	I would use this book in the classroom to encourage my boys to read more and learn to love reading through this awesome adventure book.	1. What is your "Everest" in your life? 2. Could you design an easier way to get to the top of mount Everest?	1. Geography- Take a video field trip to Mount Everest and explore what you find. 2. Character- talk about perseverance and how the characters in the story never quit reaching for their dreams.
	32	Tuesdays at the Castle	Jessica Day George	Fantasy	2nd-4th	The Princess is living in Castle Glower, a living and changing castle. It is a great fantasy world.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach fantasy.	1. If you could have anything you wanted in your room what would it be and why? 2. Would you want to be friends with the princess? Why or why not?	1. Math- Students will all create their own scale model floor plans of the Castle Glower or their own made up castle. 2. Science- Come up with scientific explanations of how the castle could do what it does.
	33	From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler	EL Konigsburg	Realistic Fiction	4th-6th	Two kids run away from home and decide to live in a museum.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach realistic fiction.	1. Would this story be possible if it took place now instead of many years ago? Why or why not? 2. Where would you run away to?	1. Science- Research different exhibits in the museum to learn about what Claudia was learning about. 2. Math- talk about inflation and how the money they spent back then would be much more money now.
	34	The Magic Finger	Roald Dahl	Fantasy	1st-3rd	An eight-year-old girl discovers she has magical powers. She changes people into cats and ducks and teaches them a lesson.	I would use this book in the classroom to talk about Roald Dahl and compare and contrast his many novels.	1. How is this book like Dahl's other novels? 2. Which of his books is your favorite? Why that one?	1. Science- Study ducks. 2. Math- look up and learn what the teacher was teaching before she got turned into a cat.
	35	Peter and the Starcatchers	Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson	Fantasy	4th-8th	This is a prequel to Peter Pan. It explains how Peter came to be, how he came to fly, and why he never grows up.	I would use this book in the classroom to compare and contrast the many different Peter Pan stories.	1. How is this story like the Peter Pan story? How is it different? 2. Would you want to be Peter and never grow older? Why or why not?	1. Geography- Create a map of the areas in the story. 2. Art- using glitter, make an artistic representation of the story.
	36	Savvy	Ingrid Law	Fantasy	4th-6th	Kids discover they have magical powers, a savvy. They need to learn how to use their powers for good and not evil!	I would use this book in the classroom to teach fantasy.	1. What do the character's savvy's say about them? 2. What are the consequences of having those savvys?	1. Science- Have students come up with scientific inventions to replicate certain savvys (science not magic.) 2. Music- have students make up songs/ skits about their desired savvy.
Poetry	37	A Light in the Attic	Shel Silverstein	Poetry	1st-5th	This is a book full of poems and drawings about lots of different things.	I would use this book in the classroom to discuss poetry and rhyme scheme.	1. Could Silverstein's poems happen in real life? 2. Which poem is your favorite? Why?	1. Science- have students write a poem about whatever science concept we happen to be learning about. 2. Math- challenge my math students to write poetry about math concepts.
	38	Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars	Douglas Florian	Poetry	1st-5th	There are all informative and scientifically accurate poems about space.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach astronomy and poetry.	1. How are astronomy and poetry alike and different? 2. Can you select a science topic to write poems about?	1. Science- have students write a poem about astronomy. 2. History- have students write a poem about whatever history topic we are learning about.
	39	A Pizza the Size of the Sun	Jack Prelutsky	Poetry	1st-5th	This is a book of poems about random things.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach poetry.	1. What is a metaphor or simile that describes you? 2. What is a metaphor or simile that describes school for you?	1. History- learn about Jack Prelutsky's life and create a biography. 2. Math- find the diameter and circumference of a pizza.
	40	Dogku	Andrew Clements	Poetry	1st-5th	Dogku is a book of poems about dogs in lots of different formats	I would use this book in the classroom to teach poetry.	1. What is another topic you could choose to write many poems about? 2. How would you explain Dogku?	1. Gym- create living haikus with moving students as the words. 2. Science- study dogs and write poems about them.
	41	First Food Fight this Fall	Marilyn Singer	Poetry	1st-5th	All poems about school in different formats	I would use this book in the classroom to teach poetry and also beginning of the school year procedures.	1. What is a school topic you would like to write a poem about? 2. Tell what would happen if all schools were like this school in the book.	1. Art- create food fight art. 2. Writing- students write poems about school topics.
Traditional Literature	42	Fables	Arnold Lobel	Traditional Literature	3rd-5th	A collection of fables from countries all over the world telling different stories.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach fables.	1. What does it mean for a story to be a fable? 2. What do you think could have happened next in the fables?	1. History- study the time period the fables were written in. 2. Writing- create new fables.
	43	American Tall Tales	Mary Pope Osborne	Traditional Literature	3rd-5th	A collection of stories that explain America's landscape.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach tall tales.	1. What does it mean for a story to be a tall tale? 2. Can you think of something else that needs explaining we can write a tall tale about?	1. Music- sing songs that go with tall tales. 2. Music- students act out the different tall tales.
	44	The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig	Eugene Trivizas	Traditional Literature	1st-5th	This is a three little pigs story where there is a big bad pig instead of a wolf.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach point of view.	1. What other traditional story can you give a modern twist to? 2. What is the author's purpose?	1. Music- act out this story. 2. Lang Arts- Compare and contrast this story with other little pigs stories.
	45	The True Story of the Three Little Pigs	Jon Scieszka	Traditional Literature	1st-5th	This is a three little pigs story from the perspective of the wolf. He explains what happened and how he is innocent.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach compare and contrast.	1. What is the moral of this story? 2. Did the wolf deserve to go to jail?	1. Math- using fractions and measurements look at the cake recipe the wolf was going to use. 2. Lang Arts- Compare and contrast this story with other little pigs stories.
	46	The Three Pigs	David Weisner	Traditional Literature	1st-3rd	This is a twist on the classic three little pigs story. The pigs discover how to get out of the story and into different fairy tales. They get the best of the wolf.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach students about the fourth wall.	1. Do you have a friend that helped you when you were in a situation like the pigs? 2. Is there a better solution to the end of the story?	1. Music- have students create skits that break the fourth wall. 2. Art- create a book in the style of this book.
Informational Books	47	Moonshot	Brian Floca	Informational Fiction	2nd-4th	The astronauts of Apollo 11 are getting ready to go to space.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach the history of Apollo 11.	1. Would you want to be an astronaut? Why or why not? 2. How have astronauts impacted our lives?	1. Technology- research technologies designed for space that we use every day (space spinoffs.) 2. Technology- come up with inventions to make astronauts' lives easier.
	48	Magic School Bus Sees Stars	Joanna Cole	Informational	3rd-5th	The class from walkerville elementary takes the magic school bus into space to see how stars are formed.	I would use this book in the classroom to introduce stars and astronomy.	1. What parts of this story could actually happen? 2. Is there a different way the story could have ended?	1. Math- have students calculate how much they would weigh in space. 2. Art- Have students create stars
	49	Stargazers	Gail Gibbons	Informational	K-2nd	Non-fiction text about stars.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach non-fiction text features.	1. What is the author's purpose? 2. What is the job of an astronomer?	1. Science- Students can create posters with facts about stars. 2. Science- have students create different galaxies using glitter glue.
	50	Starry, Starry Night	Wade Cooper	Informational	K-2nd	Non-fiction text about stars.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about stars.	1. Can you design a way to get to the stars? 2. What would happen if the stars were closer?	1. History- students can create their own constellations and write myths about them. 2. Science- Students can give an oral presentation about true facts about stars.
	51	What are Stars	Carmen Bredeson	Informational	K-2nd	Non-fiction text about stars.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about stars.	1. Can you clarify the difference between our sun and other stars? 2. What motive is there?	1. Science- Have students create a living galaxy where each student is a star. 2. Music- learn the shooting star song.
Biographies	52	Helen Keller: An Inspiring Life	Carol Ghiglieri	Biography	1st-3rd	This is a very basic reader with information about Helen Keller's life and legacy.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about perseverance.	1. What influence will Helen Keller have on our lives? 2. What everyday things do you do that would be difficult for Helen?	1. Character- practice empathy by being blind and deaf for an activity. 2. Art- create an art project while you can't see or hear.
	53	Who Was Walt Disney?	Whitney Stewart	Biography	2nd-5th	A children's biography of Walt Disney	I would use this book in the classroom to teach text features of biographies.	1. How has Walt impacted our lives? 2. Walt is one of my heroes. Who are yours?	1. Geography- use a map of Disneyland to practice map skills. 2. Art- watch different Disney movies and compare the artistic styles.
	54	D is for Dahl	Wendy Cooling	Biography	3rd-5th	This is an alphabet book about facts from Roald Dahl's life.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about different kinds of biographies.	1. Dahl loved chocolate. What in your life is as important to you as chocolate was to Dahl? 2. What was the biggest challenge Roald faced?	1. Science- pick a topic of interest to you and study it. Then create an ABC book about it. 2. Writing- create an ABC book for a famous person of your choosing.
	55	Abe Lincoln: The Boy Who Loved Books	Kay Winters	Biography	3rd-5th	This is a picture book story biography about Abraham Lincoln's childhood.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about different kinds of biographies.	1. Abe loved to read. What is your favorite book and why? 2. What was Lincoln's greatest accomplishment?	1. Music- act out a battle from the civil war. 2. History- have each student memorize a portion of the Gettysburg Address and recite it as a class.
	56	Leonardo and the Flying Boy	Laurence Anholt	Biography	1st-4th	A story about the life of Leonardo DiVinci.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach history.	1. How would you test one of Leonardo's inventions? 2. What is the author's purpose?	1. History- research some of Leonardo's inventions and try to recreate them. 2. Art- study the art of Leonardo.
Historical Fiction	57	Our Strange New Land	Patricia Hermes	Historical Fiction	2nd-4th	Elizabeth came over on the Mayflower and we are reading her diary of what she experienced the first year of living in America.	I would use this book in the classroom to introduce the 13 colonies to my students.	1. What would it be like to have a twin? 2. What is the point of view?	1. History- act out what it would have been like to live in this time period. 2. Writing- keep a diary like Elizabeth did pretending to be living in a different time period.
	58	The Teacher's Funeral	Richard Peck	Historical Fiction	3rd-5th	In the olden days the teacher died right before school started and the main character's sister becomes the new school teacher.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach about schools many years ago.	1. What would it have been like to go to school in this time period? 2. What was the turning point of this story?	1. History- Have school for one day like they had school in this time period. 2. History- practice memorizing things like they did in the story.
	59	The Witch of Blackbird Pond	Elizabeth George Spear	Historical Fiction	5th-8th	Kit moves to America to live with her aunt and uncle and is having a hard time adjusting to puritan life.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach character about adapting to new situations.	1. Do you think people shouldn't be persecuted for their beliefs? 2. What are some beliefs you would be willing to fight for?	1. History- Look at maps of the new world and Whethersfield at the time Kit lived there. 2. Art- create a ship like the Dolphin out of popsicle sticks.
	60	Tuck Everlasting	Natalie Babbit	Historical Fiction	3rd-5th	Winnie bumps into the Tuck family. They never get older and they never die. She is faced with the decision to join them or grow up.	I would use this book in the classroom to have literature discussion circles and discuss hard topics like immortality.	1. What would it be like to be immortal? 2. Would you drink the water?	1. History- Compare and contrast what the world was like in this time period and what it's like now. 2. Music- learn a song on the piano like Winnie plays.
	61	The Moon Over Star	Dianna Hutts Aston	Historical Fiction	2nd-4th	Apollo 11 is getting ready to go up into space and everyone is very excitedly waiting to see what will happen.	I would use this book in the classroom to teach the history of Apollo 11.	1. What do you want to be when you grow up? 2. Have you had something influence your life like Mae did?	1. Science- Learn about the Apollo 11 mission. 2. History- discuss the time period Mae grew up in.

Thoughts on Book Censorship

There is not a specific policy in our district. However there has been a lot of media lately about a book being challenged. It appears that if a parent has an issue with a book they can start a petition and/or contact the superintendent. It is then taken under advisement. I am glad that we do not have a policy in place, because that tells me that books do not get challenged in our district very often.

This is the recent newspaper article about a book being restricted in the district I teach in:

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_23746405/national-group-urges-adams-12-school-district-reject

I thought this was a really great excerpt from the newspaper article:

"We do understand this book has themes and content that are really challenging, but that's why it should be taught," foundation spokesman Drew Courtney said. "An important role of classrooms is to help students and young adults deal with that, to have those conversations in an intelligent way in the classrooms. Offering an alternative assignment is appropriate, but banning a prize-winning novel isn't prudence. It's censorship."

Censorship

The Harry Potter series is often challenged or banned from schools. I’m pretty sure it is banned because of the content including witchcraft. I can see where the “good intentions” behind banning these books came from: parents don’t want their kids believing this world of Harry Potter is real or investigating Wicca and witchcraft. But I think that as long as parents and teachers are talking to kids and explaining to them the difference between fact and fiction there is not a problem. Parents need to be involved with their kids’ education regardless of anything else. A trend I see in banned books is adults not wanting their kids exposed to certain content. But we cannot shield kids from the world. We have to introduce them to new things while simultaneously talking to our kids about the world around us.

I definitely think there is such a thing as a content appropriate book for children. For instance, I wouldn’t allow my third graders to read the Twilight books. I think the content isn’t appropriate for them. I believe that I as a teacher have a right to make that decision for my students. My students’ parents and my students themselves also have the right to make those decisions. But some adult in another state that doesn’t know my kids should not be able to ban a book and make that decision for them. I have not had any issues with banned books in my community or school. In fact, last week was banned books week and our library had a whole display of challenged books for kids to read. So we celebrated our freedom to read whatever we wanted.

Censorship Speech

Good Evening school stakeholders,
We are all here for the same reason: We want the best possible education for the children of our community. We want them to be successful in higher education and in life. Where we differ at this moment is our definition of what is best for the kids.

You have chosen to send your child to our school. You have put your trust in this establishment and they have entrusted that huge responsibility to me, the classroom teacher. What I teach is different every year because my students are different every year. I specifically tailor my instruction to my students. If the district were to give me a list of books I was allowed to read in my classroom, and read those books only with my class year after year, the school and I would be doing a severe disservice to your children. The district does not know your children like I do. I do not take instructional decisions lightly. A great deal of planning and forethought goes into every choice I make in the classroom.  

This year I have chosen to incorporate Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling into my curriculum for a myriad of reasons. The first is high interest. Students know Harry Potter, talk about Harry Potter, and have seen the movies. When a student is interested in the topic about which they are reading it makes a world of difference. Some can argue that Harry Potter books have done more for literacy than any other book or piece of legislation has since they were printed. They made kids want to read, myself included. In going up against the growing illiteracy rates in this country, we need the biggest and best tools we have, and Harry Potter is among them. Secondly, I teach Harry Potter as a study of literary elements. It is a perfect example of the fantasy genre. It has great themes of good triumphing over evil. The characters are inherently good and they posses morals and character that I want to encourage in my students. They are extremely loyal to their friends, brave and courageous, diligent in their studies, and firm in their quest for good. Yet these are characters students can relate to. They aren’t perfect. They struggle in school with classes and bullies. This is a story of hope for kids that are struggling with the same things. Harry Potter books have timeless messages of love, friendship, family and overcoming adversity.

            You are trying to censor this book from my classroom. In the article Is It Trash Or Insightful, the author quotes the Webster Dictionary's definition of censorship as, "examining in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable." If we follow through with this definition, we could literally censor everything. One of our basic freedoms in this country is the ability to read and write whatever we please. There are many countries around the world without such a luxury, and I think we should indulge in that freedom.

Things often get fuzzy when we bring these freedoms into schools. In Emma Harger’s article in The Signal newspaper, she argues that banned books should be taught in schools and teachers know what they should teach based on age and maturity.

A quote from a recent article in the Denver Post about censorship in the Adams 12 School District reads, "We do understand this book has themes and content that are really challenging, but that's why it should be taught," foundation spokesman Drew Courtney said. "An important role of classrooms is to help students and young adults deal with that, to have those conversations in an intelligent way in the classrooms.”

You are trying to censor this book from my classroom because of the witchcraft content. My response to that is talk to your kids and read with your kids. As long as we talk to our kids about the difference between fact and fiction, fantasy and the real world, there is no chance of them thinking they themselves are witches and wizards. I am teaching students how to think critically and analyze the world around them, with the help of this book. Neither Harry Potter nor I am teaching students what to think, we are teaching them how to think for themselves. Different books present different and diverse viewpoints on life: experiences that students could not experience for themselves but must live vicariously through the characters of a book. Children have so much to learn from these books. Please do not deny them of that.

We cannot shield our children from the world. They are in it every day. We need to walk through it with them and provide them with the tools to be able to make sense of it.

Astronomy in Language Arts Ideas

There are tons of excellent biographies having to do with my unit of astronomy. Many astronauts have inspiring stories, but one that I have recently enjoyed is about Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut from the International Space Station called #GoodMorningEarth. Chris Hadfield is a great astronaut to study because he is very relatable to kids. He is all over social media, such as youtube and twitter, and we have access to a lot of space information because of him.

An information book that I love is the book Basher Science Astronomy: Out of This World. It contains lots of different astronomy information, and define related content vocabulary words. I love all the books in this series because my students love them. They are very kid friendly while still being super informative. They all contain posters as well.

Using any of the following search engines, locate a web site that would support your Integrated Unit and that would be appropriate for its audience.

Use the worksheet found at the following link to evaluate the reliability of the web site. Submit your web site and your reactions to your facilitator.

http://www.regis.edu/content/lib/pdf/lib.handouts.internetcritical.pdf

I think that a biography would definitely lend itself to my integrated astronomy unit. There are many important people and leaders in the field of space science that would be fascinating to study. An exciting topic of research being astronaut Chris Hadfield.

I would have my students research important people in the space field using iPads and I would the opportunity to teach research skills. Studying space lends itself to studying the people responsible for the important discoveries having to do with space.

My learning Target for this activity would be “Can I research important people in space sciences using my iPad and write down important information about them using my graphic organizer?” 

Chris Hadfield’s social media sites are great resources:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cmdr_Hadfield

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstronautChrisHadfield

Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtGG8ucQgEJPeUPhJZ4M4jA

Here is NASA’s list of astronaut biographies: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/astrobio.html

The space foundation website: http://www.spacefoundation.org/