IY Library Activities
June 1 - June 4, 2020
Thank you for sharing stories with me this year!
June 4: Special event: KidLit Rally for Black Lives with Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, Gene Luen Yang, Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft, Renee Watson & more. The Brown Bookshelf resource page for the rally is here.
Students: Make sure you scroll down to see videos for your grade level, as well as the video for all grades!
If you'd like to recommend a book to the LS community, please use this FlipGrid.
For information on the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, click here to access the titles and click here for information on voting.
All grades: Got diverse books for the summer?
Watch this video and try out the "OurStory" search tool. Remember to log in as a guest. Share with me one book you found that you want to read after using this search tool.
3rd - 5th grade: Below are the openings of some of next year's OBOB books. Listen to these openings and see if you can find these books in our library catalog or at your local public library. We'll soon have ebooks of all of them available at OES!
5th grade, here are some author book talks for next year's OBOB books for 6th - 8th grade including a timely book to read and discuss with your families by Jewell Parker Rhodes. In fact, I hope you'll read and discuss all these books with your friends and family! Please share with me on SeeSaw a book you plan to read this summer and why.
Ghost Boys
Amina's Voice
New Kid
4th graders, listen to this picture book companion to "A Long Walk to Water."
Visit Linda Sue Park's website to learn about her other books.
Can you find any of her books to download from your local library?
And this TED Talk by Linda Sue Park, the author of "A Long Walk to Water."
Is there a book that has changed your thinking or inspired you to take action? Share your response with Ms. Lora on our shared Google Album.
May 26 - 29, 2020
If you'd like to recommend a book to the LS community, please use this FlipGrid.
For information on the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, click here to access the titles and click here for information on voting.
Third grade, if you'd like here are three videos for you to enjoy. But first, make sure you watch the videos on building your summer reading list (scroll down for these!).
Listen to "Rainbow Crow: A Lenape Tale"
Think about all the books by and/or about Native Americans that we read this spring. Remember when we did during the Coretta Scott King Award Unit and we noticed that most of the stories were historical, about heroes, or were stories of struggle? What themes did you notice in these books representing Native American cultures? What kind of stories were told? What kind of stories are missing?
Here is one version of the legend of the Bridge of the Gods
Can you find another version? What search terms did you use? What website did you find it on?
Remember to share your learning with me by placing it in the library folder in SeeSaw.
Here is the legend told through music!
"Commissioned by the Oregon Symphonic Band in Portland, Bridge of the Gods is a dramatic three-movement symphonic poem presenting the colorful legend told by the Native American Klickitatst about the origins of the volcanic mountains of the Cascade range and legendary bridge." (Michael Burch-Pesses, conductor)
All grades: Please watch the videos below and start your summer reading list.
If you're new to using Libby, watch this video for how to use Libby on an iPad.
I made this video using my Multnomah County Library, but Libby is also available for other public libraries and can be used on a phone, laptop, or desktop computer.
Watch this video on how to create a summer reading list on Libby.
If you don't have a library card or access to Libby, write your own summer reading list and share it with me!
Remember to share your list on SeeSaw!
All grades, please watch this safety reminder.
Remember: STOP, WALK, TALK. It works face to face and it works online.
Second graders, What fun it was to talk with Elizabeth Rusch last week! Thank you so much for your thoughtful questions! Here is a video of her reading "The Music of Life." Please enjoy this story and then watch the videos below to get started on a summer reading list!
5th graders, leave a Lower School legacy of a read-aloud story for LS students to enjoy all summer long!
Use this flipgrid link to make your video!
If you're excited about Alan Gratz and "Refugee," you might enjoy this Q&A video where he talks about his book.
May 18 - 21, 2020
If you'd like to recommend a book to the LS community, please use this FlipGrid.
For information on the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, click here to access the titles and click here for information on voting.
All grades, please watch this safety reminder.
Remember: STOP, WALK, TALK. It works face to face and it works online.
3rd graders: Are you noticing any themes in the books we've been reading about Native Americans? What connections can you make between these books and others you've read? Please post your response in the library folder in Seesaw.
If you missed these last week,
here are two stories both by Paul Owen Lewis
And here are two biographies.
I hope you enjoy these books!
2nd graders: this week library class is live at 12:30 on Wednesday with author Elizabeth Rusch. If you want to listen to some of her stories, scroll down to the ones I recorded last week!
4th & 5th graders: I need your help!
Here are two ways you can help:
1. Check out this video to learn how to help me and other LS students access books online.
2. Use this flipgrid link to make a readaloud video for students to enjoy all summer long!
May 11 - 15, 2020
If you'd like to recommend a book to the LS community, please use this FlipGrid.
For information on the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award, click here to access the titles and click here for information on voting.
3rd graders, here are two tales to enjoy.
Both by Paul Owen Lewis.
Second graders, after listening to Elizabeth Rusch's stories (the first three below), post a question for the author in the library folder in SeeSaw.
Listen to Ms. Lora read a book by Elizabeth Rusch. Notice the great writing in this story. Click here to listen to more information on Maria Mozart!
Listen to author, Elizabeth Rusch, read from her newest picture book biography! Does this book remind you of any other scientist/heroes we've read about?
Elizabeth Rusch also writes comics, non-fiction books, and more! Listen to a sample here. And check out her book "Muddy Max" on Epic!
Bonus material: If you're looking for another picture book biography, here's one. Or check out the movie of it here. There's more books like this on the Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award site.
4th and 5th grade: Watch and listen to the videos below. Then do one of the following: begin a summer reading list, read one book on EPIC connected to the theme of immigration, or visit Rosanne Parry's website to learn more about the author and her books. 5th graders share you work in SeeSaw and 4th graders share your work in our Google Album. Also, if you're interested in graphic novels, here's a video of Gene Luen Yang's presentation from the recent Everywhere Book Fest, where he talked about his two new graphic novels.
Follow up on what you learned about using different search engines.
Watch this video for finding great books to read on Epic and Junior Library Guild.
Listen to the opening of this book, which is on next year's OBOB list for grades 3-5.
Listen to the opening of this book, also by Rosanne Parry, and available on EPIC!
Happy Children's Book Week! May 4 -8, 2020
Enjoy any of the stories and activities below! You can choose the one for your grade level or listen to another. There are lots! Please post in SeeSaw which book you listened to, why you chose that one, and what you learned! Fourth-graders can post in our Google Album.
Check out some more fun activities here, as well as some videos from beloved children's book authors here.
Take care and happy reading! -Ms. Lora
4th grade: Is Google the best? Why or why not?
You are doing a lot of research and work on the internet, but how much do you know about how the internet works? And how do you know if what you find on the internet is reliable?
Watch this video on evaluating websites, then try out this activity:
Google is only one search engine. Let's try some others. Go to kidrex.org and kiddle.co. Try searching for a topic related to what you are studying in class. How do your search results compare to the same search on Google? What do you like or dislike about the different search engines.
Now try searching Mississippi ice cream on both google.com and bing.com. Are your results the same? If not, why do you think they're different.
And remember the 4th/5th Zoom Open Mic (Tuesdays 11:30-12:00)! Sign up here if you'd like to share!
Let me know what you discover and what you think of the different search engines . Post your response in our Google Album.
5th grade: Here are more excerpts from the book Schomburg. Please research one of the names, places, or events mentioned in these excerpts. Post your response to FlipGrid. Possibilities include: Cuban & Puerto Rican independence from Spain; Frederick Douglass; the Harlem Renaissance; Alain Locke; Booker T. Washington; W.E.B. Du Bois; Countee Cullen; Langston Hughes; Jessie Redmon Fauset; Arna Bontemps; Georgia Douglas Johnson; Claude McKay; or any of the other people, places, and events mentioned in these excerpts.
2nd grade: Travel to Spain to learn how nature inspired the famous architect Gaudí.
Read more about Spain on Epic! Take a virtual trip to Spain and see some of Gaudí's buildings using Google Maps. Here's a video that shows you how to do this.
You can also draw a picture of your own design inspired by nature!
2nd grade: Travel the globe with Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid, who also found inspiration in nature.
Learn more about Zaha Hadid and/or Iraq by searching Iraq on Epic!
You can also use Google Maps to visit some of her buildings, or do a Google image search to see photos of some of them.
Travel throughout the Pacific Northwest and enjoy these two trickster tales, both creation stories.
How are these two stories similar to or different from the other stories we've read about indigenous peoples?
Week of April 27 - May 1, 2020
I loved your birthday wishes so much! Here's a chance to do a suprise birthday wish for Coach Ben!
You are welcome to explore any of these activities at whatever time works best for you and your family. There are four options listed below. Enjoy!
Option 1: Open to grades 2 - 5
April is National School Library Month and last week was National Library Week. Here are some videos by different authors celebrating school and public libraries. Watch these videos then make your own video about what the school or public library means to you and post it in SeeSaw (fourth grade can post it in their Google Album).
Olympic medalists, siblings, and authors, Maia and Alex Shibutani, celebrate National Library Week! Learn more about them and their new book here.
Dav Pilkey, author of "Dog Man" and "Captain Underpants" celebrates school libraries! Here's a link for drawing with Dav Pilkey!
Jason Reynolds, author of the "Track" series and the new book "Look Both Ways" celebrates school libraries!
Megan McDonald, author of the "Judy Moody" and "Stink" series celebrates school libraries!
Option 2, 5th grade:
I invite you to listen to these excerpts from the book "Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library" and then research one of these people/places mentioned in the excerpts I read:
Arturo Schomburg and/or The Schomburg Center in New York, or Benjamin Banneker, or Phyllis Wheatley, or Toussaint Louverture, or Nat Turner
Pick one of these people to research. You can use biography.com for your search or any search engine. Let me know on SeeSaw what you discover in your search. Can you imagine going to the Schomburg Center in New York? That's what Amara does in Renee Watson's book "Some Places More than Others," traveling from Beaverton to NYC to learn more about her family and her heritage. Check it out!
Option 3 (For 2nd grade or anyone who'd like to choose this option)
We've been hearing a lot in the news about heroes in health care. Here is a story of a doctor, who's famous not for his heroics as a doctor (though he was a very good doctor), but for the beauty he brought to the world as a poet.
April is National Poetry Month. Write a poem about your hero or write a poem about what you see outside your window. If you're inspired, you could even make a collage illustration to go with it.
Post your work in SeeSaw. I'd love to see what you create!
Listen to "Jingledancers" then watch these videos:
and the last is of jingledancers at a PowWow.
Here are three prompts. Pick one to share your response on SeeSaw:
In the story, many people in Jenna's family help her to make her jingle dress. Draw or write a story about something special someone in your family has given you.
Jenna dances for people who aren't able to dance in the PowWow. What is something you've done for someone else?
The jingles on the dress give the dress a voice. Do you have a special piece of clothing like Jenna does? If that clothing had a voice, what story would it tell?
Option 4: For 3rd grade or anyone who'd like to do this activity.
Week of April 20 - 24, 2020
Wednesday, April 22, is Ms. Lora's Birthday.
If you'd like to wish her a happy birthday on FlipGrid, you can do so here.
And here's a chance to do a surprise birthday wish for another teacher. Click to find out who!
Fourth grade, please complete this survey to let me know if you'd like more Zoom library support.
Fifth grade, please complete this survey.
Third grade, please join Ms. Lora for live library class Friday, April 24, 12:30 - 1:00. If you cannot make it at that time, please enjoy one of the read alouds posted below!
Second grade: Please join us for live library class at 12:30 or listen to this recording from last week.
If you would like to read more about China or pandas, or read more biographies, check out Epic or National Geographic Kids. And if you want to share your results post it in the library folder in Seesaw.
Here's how to search Epic! Try searching China instead of Puerto Rico.
Here's how to search National Geographic Kids. Try searching pandas.
5th grade: Is Google the best? Why or why not?
You are doing a lot of research and work on the internet, but how much do you know about how the internet works? And how do you know if what you find on the internet is reliable?
Watch this video on evaluating websites, then try out this activity:
Google is only one search engine. Let's try some others. Go to kidrex.org and kiddle.co. Try searching for a topic related to what you are studying in class. Perhaps try women U.S. revolution or African Americans U.S. revolution. How do your search results compare to the same search on Google? What do you like or dislike about the different search engines.
Now try searching Mississippi ice cream on both google.com and bing.com. Are your results the same? If not, why do you think they're different.
Let me know what you discover and what you think of the different search engines . Post your response in FlipGrid here.
And remember the 4th/5th Zoom Open Mic (Tuesdays 11:30-12:00)! Sign up here if you'd like to share!
Fourth graders, Let me know what you think of these poems!
4th grade: Could you retell a fairytale as a poem?
These poems are a clever and sophisticated way of synthesizing a fairytale into two short poems, from two different perspectivies! Feel free to try it out, or just see if you could retell a favorite story as a short poem. Share what you come up with on our Google Album! You're welcome to read it at our 4th/5th Zoom Open Mic (Tuesdays 11:30-12:00)! Sign up here if you'd like to share!
April 17, 2020 For third graders and anyone else who'd like to listen to a contemporary story from the Cherokee Nation. To learn how to access other free online books through JLG, watch this video.
Enjoy this story from the Cherokee People.
Post a message in SeeSaw of what you are grateful for. Make a picture, a video, or your own story or poem!
Then listen to this interview with the author who is Cherokee.
-OR- Share your thoughts in SeeSaw about how this interview connects with what we've been talking about in library class!
Second graders, below you will find a video recording of a read aloud. If you would like to join me for a live read aloud (this one's a hero biography involving pandas!), you can join me at 12:30 at this Zoom link. Don't worry if you miss it. I'll post the recording here next week! Take care and happy reading! -Ms. Lora
April 15, 2020
Second graders, did you know that April is National School Library Month?
Listen to this story about Puerto-Rican American Librarian Pura Belpré. Then do ONE of the connecting activities:
Read a book about Puerto Rico or about another Puerto Rican hero on Epic. Here's a video to show you how to find these books.
Write or draw a thank you note for Miss Alma and upload it to this Google Album. She misses you all! I will share your thank you notes with her next Tuesday, which is National Library Workers Day. (If you post your thank you in SeeSaw, I cannot share it with Ms. Alma, so please use the Album).
Make a post in SeeSaw about what you think makes Pura Belpré a hero. Remember to be specific and give evidence from the story!
For Monday April 13 and Tuesday April 14:
Can you do a book talk in three sentences?
Could you do it as a poem? Maybe even a haiku?
4th & 5th graders, I haven't learned how to insert Google Slides into Google Site yet, so please go to 4th or 5th grade library slides. There's great stuff there! Thank you for your patience as I learn along with you! And remember our Zoom Open Mic!
Fourth grade, post your book talk to the 4th grade Google Album.
Fifth grade, post yours to your Library Folder in SeeSaw.