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Danielle And Rachel Peterson TEED 521 Winter 2008 - Themed Literature Unit
Introduction to Creating Community through Passing Knowledge Hello parents and students! This last literature unit is going to be a fun one for our class! During this unit the students will be learning how to write how-to books as well as all-about books. We will also be tackling the reading strategy of pulling out important information. The students will be exploring the features of non-fiction books, like the glossary, table of contents, headings, etc. In our Writing workshop we will be working on a service learning project for the kindergartners. The student’s will go into the kindergarten class, talk to a kindergartner, and see what he/she wants to know about first grade. With this information in mind, the students will then create a page of a book that we will give to the kindergartners titled: Everything you Need to Know About First Grade! At the end of the unit we will have a small presentation ceremony that parents and families are encouraged to attend! Good Luck! Non-fiction is a huge unit for us, but we anticipate it to be a great one! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or fresh ideas! Please be looking for something in your child’s folder explaining in more detail about the service learning celebration! I have printed out copies of the information on the above linked web sites, please let me know if you would like them! -Ms. Peterson | Helpful Resources |
Annotated Book List
Brown, L. K. (1998). How to be a Friend. UK: Little, Brown & Company.
This book will be used as a read aloud for step-by-step books and will also be available for the students to explore during choice book time. This book will give the students an opportunity to practice pulling out important information as well as serve as an example for a step-by-step book.
Bunting, E. (1989). The Wednesday Surprise. Clarion Books.
This book will be used as a read aloud, and will demonstrate to the children that no matter how old (or young) you are, you will be able to share knowledge to support people within your community.
Grifalconi, A. (2007). Ain't Nobody a Stranger to me. New York: Jump at the Sun.
This book is yet another example of how sharing knowledge can aid in the building of a community. It will be used as a read aloud for the children as well as be available for them to read during choice book time. Book is about the relationship between grandpa and grandson, and grandpa shares information about how his family gained freedom.
Mckie, D. S. (1969). My Book About Me. New York: Random House Children's Books.
This book will be used as a read aloud, as well as be available for the children to read during choice book time. Dr. Seuss does a wonderful job at getting the reader excited and motivated to write a biography about themselves. This book will be an example for our all -about books.
Moser, P. M. (1998). What You Know First. New York: Harper Collins.
This book will be used as a read aloud as well as be available for the children to read during choice book time. This book helps demonstrate the importance of sharing knowledge, past stories, and information to build a community.
Pinkney, A. D. (2007). Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra. Hyperion Books.
This book will be used as a read aloud as well as be available for students to read during choice book time. This is a great non-fiction picture book biography about jazz and Duke Ellington. This book will be used as an example of non-fiction writing, and pulling out important information.
Ringgold, F. (1996). Tar Beach. New York: Random House .
This book will be used as a read aloud as well as be available for students to read during choice book time. This story is about a girl growing up in Harlem in 1939, partly fiction and partly non-fiction, but allows the girl to look down on her neighborhood as if she were flying.
?Questions to ask your child?
Do you know the difference between non-fiction and fiction books?
Can you write a book to teach someone new information?
What would it look like?
Have we ever read a book that taught you something?