The Statue of Liberty! One of America’s most well known landmarks, Lady Liberty has stood on her own island in the New York Harbor just southwest of Manhattan Island since 1886, and she has welcomed countless visitors and millions of immigrants to a new life in a new country. She has witnessed changes, joys, and even heartaches—yet she has stood the test of time and continues to be a beacon of hope and a representation for freedom for all Americans.

Did You Know?

Almost everyone knows that the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and their common quests for freedom. But did you know that the French sculptor, Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, originally had the concept of placing the statue of a woman at the opening of the Suez Canal? Did you know that the Statue of Liberty functioned as a lighthouse from 1886 to 1902? Did you know that Lady Liberty’s right arm and torch were on display in Madison Square Park for six years while efforts to raise money to finance the statue and base? Did you know that the statue’s complete name is Liberty Enlightening the World?

Lady In Green
Here’s another neat fact. The Statue of Liberty is actually made of copper, but over the years hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon atoms from various substances in the air have combined with the copper atoms in the statue to make copper hydroxycarbonate (From Exploring Creation With Physical Science by Jay Wile). In other words, the copper has oxidized, and this chemical reaction has created a nice patina—or a green coating on the statue.

Changes
Trivia about the history of this famous landmark and statue statistics of the Lady are vast. Surprisingly, I experienced firsthand one of the changes the Statue of Liberty underwent back in 1984. When my high school classmates and I went to Washington and New York for our Junior-Senior trip, we were unable to disembark from our ferry onto Liberty Island and visit the statue because she was closed for repair and renovations. All of our photos showed the Lady from afar, encased in scaffolding. And although we were disappointed, we knew we were also witnessing a piece of history we would never forget! The Statue of Liberty National Monument reopened in 1986.

The Statue of Liberty was also closed after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. The monument reopened in 2004, and the crown and interior finally reopened last year (2009) on July 4th.

Resources About the Statue of Liberty
For a family activity, study the history and significance of the Statue of Liberty and the importance of her role in American culture. Below are some website/book suggestions:

Statue of Liberty National Monument website
Essential Big Apple: Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (Step Into Reading series) by Lucille Recht Penner

Lady Liberty: A Biography by Doreen Rappaport

The Story of the Statue of Liberty by Betsy Maestro

Building Liberty: A Statue Is Born by Serge Hochain

Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen

Written by Amy M. O’Quinn/Originally posted on the National Writing for Children website

Our Awesome America: Historic Symbols

by Amy M. O’Quinn/Originally posted at the National Writing For Children Center website

Picnics, parades, patriotism and fireworks are on everyone’s mind as the Fourth of July approaches, and Americans everywhere will proudly fly the Stars and Stripes to commemorate our country’s quest for independence and freedom!

Yes, Old Glory will definitely be the star of the show in July since it is America’s most well-known icon, but there are many more symbols that represent this great country of ours as well—the Statue of Liberty, the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, the Great Seal of the United States, the Bald Eagle, etc. We can also include the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Pledge of Allegiance, our National Anthem, the Supreme Court, and of course, Uncle Sam. The list goes on and on, but how many historic American symbols, landmarks, documents, songs, or organizations can your children name? How many can YOU name?

Do You Know. . .

How much do you really know about the Great Seal of the United States? According to information on the Great Seal website, America needed an official symbol of sovereignty to seal and authenticate her international treaties and transactions. The new nation needed a symbolic signature others would recognize and honor. Thus, the Great Seal was created in 1792, the mid-way point between the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Here is a bit of Mount Rushmore trivia from the Mount Rushmore National Park website. Did you know that the monument designer originally put Thomas Jefferson on George Washington’s right, but after eighteen months of work, he changed plans, dynamited Jefferson off the mountain, and placed him on the left? Did you know that Teddy Roosevelt, the most controversial choice on Mount Rushmore, had died only eight years before work on the monument began?

Find Out!

For a fun family project, why not explore and research American’s symbols and landmarks to learn more about these famous icons and why they are so important in our country’s history?

To get started, check out Capstone’s Picture Window Books series on American symbols. A few of the titles include:

Mount Rushmore by Thomas Kingsley Troupe

Our American Flag by Mary Lynn Firestone

The Great Seal of the United States by Norman Pearl

The U.S. Supreme Court by Anastasia Suen

The Declaration of Independence by Lori Ann Mortensen

Dig into America’s past, and you might just be surprised to discover many fascinating facts you never knew!



Children love the unusual! So why not surprise them with a science exploration after dark?

Discover Nature at Sundown by Elizabeth P. Lawlor

There are all kinds of enjoyable learning opportunities just waiting in the shadows, and everyone will have fun—all while experiencing the nocturnal side of nature!

Time for Kids: Spiders by the Editors of Time for Kids

Spiders, especially wolf spiders, are very common and easy to spot in your yard at night. According to the experts at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, the spiders have a green ‘eye shine’ that is caused “by a tapetum in the eye which reflects light rays back through the eye retina and probably enhances the spider’s night vision.” For a neat activity, use a flashlight or small light that straps around the forehead and walk slowly through your yard, casting the beam towards the ground. You will be amazed at all the beautiful jewel-like glitters you’ll see. These are actually the spiders’ eyes! Shine the light closer to the ‘glitters’ and you’ll probably find a spider. Is it a wolf spider or some other kind? Find out!

Fireflies by Megan E. Bryant

Fireflies or lightning bugs are fascinating creatures that sparkle and flicker in the summer woods. Light production in fireflies is due to a type of chemical reaction called bioluminescence, and the bugs light up to attract a mate. For a fun activity, catch and place several fireflies in a jar with a mesh top for a few minutes. Children love to examine these extraordinary insects and are captivated and delighted by their ability to produce cold light. Discuss the phenomena of bioluminescence before gently releasing the fireflies.

A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky by Michael Driscoll

Few things are lovelier than a clear night sky filled with twinkling stars. In addition, studying the heavens with a young stargazer makes for a priceless memory. Although there is a plethora of scientific information concerning navigation, the atmosphere, telling time by the stars, mythology, or seasonal changes that would be interesting to pursue, simply looking upward at the stars and finding constellations or ‘pictures in the sky’ is a pleasurable pastime. How many constellations can you identify? Check out a book or find a relevant website and start gazing at the stars.

Hear and There Book: Night Sounds by Frank Gallo

Whooo, whooo do you hear hooting or calling out in the night? Owls, spring peepers, frogs, crickets and katydids all make interesting sounds that are fun to identify. As you walk around outside in the evening, do you hear noises that are familiar? Now, listen really hard. Do you hear animal calls or sounds that you may not have noticed before? Find out what they are and read about the insect or animal you have identified!

Forest Bright, Forest Night by Jennifer Ward

Exploring at night is an awesome way to generate enthusiasm, creativity and a love of the outdoors. While in the dark, you might just shed some light on a new way to learn and spark the interest of your child to find out more about nature at night!

Written by Amy M. O’Quinn/Originally posted on the National Writing for Children website

Kids in the Kitchen: Fun AND Learning

by Amy M. O’Quinn/Originally posted at the National Writing For Children website

Children learn by doing! This age-old maxim is certainly true, and the theory works in the kitchen as well as in the classroom. Almost all children, especially when they are young, enjoy helping their parents cook and dish up yummy culinary delights. Yes, it can be messy. Yes, you could probably do the job in a fraction of the time without little helpers underfoot. However, consider the rewards of letting your kids don an apron and wield a whisk:

1. First and foremost, children learn about teamwork and how to follow directions. And most importantly, you are not just creating meals together—you are creating memories!
2. Children learn about safety and cleanliness, but they also learn about good nutrition. With childhood obesity becoming an ever-growing epidemic, children need to be exposed to healthy foods and habits.
3. Surprisingly, many young adults do not know their way around a kitchen. Children who learn important culinary skills at a young age are already one-step ahead of the crowd. Cooking is a life skill that will pay off big dividends in the years to come. Learning how to be self-sufficient is also a big booster to self-confidence. Moreover, learning how to chop, stir, mix, roll, pour, and cut, etc. develops fine motor skills and hand/eye coordination.
4. The kitchen is a classroom!

Below is a list of just a few educational things children learn while cooking:

History: Many families heartily embrace their culture and heritage, and learning to cook ethnic foods that the family has enjoyed for generations is a way to connect the present with the past, while ensuring knowledge for the future. Children can also learn about the history and origin of various other foods as well. In essence, cooking is universal.

Science: Cooking is really a science in itself. Children will learn first-hand about chemical reactions, how temperature affects food and cookware, what ingredients will combine well and those that will not. They also learn about the different food groups and how to classify. In addition, the five senses will get a good workout as the children learn about eye-appealing colors and combinations, or tastes/smells such as sweet, salty, bitter, bland, sour, pungent, sharp, and textures such as smooth, rough, grainy, soft, etc.

Math: Many parents discover that cooking is a great way to teach fractions, measuring, weighing, ordinal numbers, counting, geometrical shapes, symmetry, etc.

Creativity/Art: When children are allowed to experiment and try new skills in the kitchen, they develop creativity. An appreciation for pleasing colors, composition, and presentation is also fostered. Who knows, you might just be training a future chef, baker, or food artist.

Reading/Literature: Studying a recipe definitely enhances reading skills and comprehension and emphasizes the importance of following directions. But there are also many ways to incorporate great literature while learning to cook. For example, after reading Homer Price, make doughnuts. How To Make An Apple Pie and See the World is a great lead-in for baking pies. The Duchess Bakes A Cake might inspire cake baking and learning about yeast. And the Little House on the Prairie books definitely inspire learning about good old-fashioned vittles and down-home cooking. It might also be fun to plan a ‘theme’ meal and use relevant recipes and cooking skills to prepare for a special memory-making occasion. The ideas are endless!

Here are a few more suggestions for books that lend themselves to cooking activities, but you can find a whole list of books that contain recipes at Cooking Up Reading:

-Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

-If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff

-If You Give a Moose A Muffin by Laura Numeroff

-Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

-Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel

-Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

-Country Bear’s Good Neighbor by Larry Dane Brimner

Other Books/Resources/Websites:

Earth’s Kids – Cooking For Kids

Modern Mom – Cooking Projects for Kids

Fork and Bottle – Books and Cookbooks for Kids

Children’s Recipes

Family Fun – Cooking With Kids

Cooking With Kids Website

PBS – Parent Helpers

Nick Jr. – Recipes

Scholastic’s List of Kid Cookbooks

Kid’s Cooking Activities Website – List of Best Kid Cookbooks

Mollie Katzen – Kid’s Page

Cooking With Children Can Be Easy (Kathy O’Reilly)

So now that you know that cooking with kids can be educational as well as fun, what are you waiting for? Grab your apron, preheat the oven, round up your kids. . . and start cooking!

Written by Amy M. O’Quinn/Originally posted on the National Writing for Children website

Why Learning Guides Are Important

Authors write books. Educators purchase many of those books to use in the classroom or for other instructional purposes. It is a wonderful partnership, and everyone benefits—the author, the teacher, the students, and the publisher. But there is something else to consider.

Teachers are increasingly using more and more trade books in the classroom along with or in lieu of traditional textbooks to teach everything from A to Z. There are books on every subject or topic imaginable, and these ‘real’ books written by (usually) one author who is passionate about the topic appeal to students on many levels. Whereas textbooks can be a bit dry and tend to summarize, ‘real’ books are exciting, compelling, informative, and immediate.

However, teachers (and librarians) often want some sort of learning guide or additional instructional activities to go along with the books they have chosen. Many authors and publishers are catching on to this trend, and they are delivering just what ‘the teacher ordered.’ They are discovering that if they create learning guides for their book(s), they will probably sell more copies to teachers and librarians. Again, everyone benefits!

I’ve noticed that many children’s authors, especially those who write non-fiction, have all kinds of links, activities, and lesson plans to coordinate with their books right on their websites. And some publishers, such as Sylvan Dell, are doing the same. In fact, Sylvan Dell provides a page on their website that aligns all their titles to science and math standards for every state.

So if you are an author, consider creating a simple learning guide or some instructional activities to go with your book(s). These can be as basic or as complex as you want to make them, and you can easily make these available to educators via your website. Perhaps you can even include links to resources you found during your research. Carla McClafferty’s website is an excellent example. Just remember, teachers love it when much of the educational legwork is done for them. Instead of starting from scratch, they get to do what they do best—teach!

Teachers Can Also Create Learning Guides

However, if learning guides are not available from an author or publisher, teachers can still create their own to align with state standards.

1. First, review a list of standards for your state. Most educators are already very familiar with these standards, and they can easily be found online as well. Since I live in Georgia, I went to the georgiastandards.org website and chose to review educational standards for fourth grade. For residents of other states, you can simply go to your state’s Department of Education and follow the links to the appropriate grade level.
2. Next, you can match up specific standards with a book or books that apply. Or if you have a special book you really like, you can probably find a standard that correlates, especially in the areas of language arts and social studies. Most of the time, the spectrum is rather broad.
3. Have fun coming up with activities and lesson plans that will enhance the book’s content, reinforce learning concepts, and provide an enjoyable alternative to run of the mill worksheets.

An Example of a Learning Guide/Instructional Activities for Fourth Grade

A Fourth of July on the Plains

Written by Jean Van Leeuwen

Illustrated by Henri Sorenson

Pre-Reading Activities:

Meet the Author: Jean Van Leeuwen  (Give brief biographical information about the author and perhaps look at her website.)

Meet the Illustrator: Henri Sorenson (Give brief biographical information about the illustrator.) Show a few illustrations from the book and discuss the medium used.

Story Summary (from the publisher): Young Jesse and his family are with a wagon train traveling from Indiana to Oregon when they stop to celebrate the Fourth of July, but Jesse is too young to go hunting with the men, so he comes up with his own contribution to the festivities.

Background: This story is based on an account of a July 4^th celebration along the Oregon trail in 1852, as recalled in the Diary of E.W. Conyers, 1905 and combined with the lively memories of Jesse A. Applegate, a seven-year-old traveler, as told in Recollections of My Boyhood, 1914.

Set the Scene: Discuss the setting of the story and view photographs of a plain. Discuss the Oregon Trail and geographical features encountered along the journey.

Vocabulary Words: Introduce new vocabulary words/terms.

Meet the Characters: Introduce characters and give their ages if relevant.

Reading:

Read the book aloud or let students alternate reading orally in small groups.

Discussion:

What was it like to travel in a wagon train? Talk about and make a list of some of the things Henry and the other travelers experienced. What were some of the dangers? How long had they been traveling? Would the students be willing to face the hardships of such a journey, regardless of the adventure? Why or why not?

Patriotism: Why was a Fourth of July celebration so important to the travelers? What are some things we do to celebrate in modern times? What did the travelers do to celebrate the day? How did Henry and his friends participate? What happened to make Henry declare that they got their cannons after all?

Creative Writing: Have students pretend they are part of Henry’s wagon train and write a diary entry about the Fourth of July celebration—including all five senses.

Summarizing/Sequencing: Discuss the events of the story. Let students orally narrate what happened. What was the climax? Make a list of the events in the order they occurred.

Map Work/Math:

Trace the route of the Oregon Trail on a U.S. map. Pinpoint the general area of the story. Identify the states along the trail and calculate the number of miles covered in the journey. If the wagon train traveled an average of fourteen miles per day, how long would the trip take, etc.?

In Conclusion

The suggestions above are just a sampling of learning opportunities or instructional activities that can be used with the book, A Fourth of July on the Plains by Jean Van Leeuwen. Notice how well they correspond to the Georgia educational standards for fourth grade listed below. And there are many more standards I could have chosen as well.

SS4H6 The student will explain westward expansion of America between 1801 and 1861.

a. Describe territorial expansion with emphasis on the Louisiana Purchase, the Lewis and Clark expedition, and the acquisitions of Texas (the Alamo and independence), Oregon (Oregon Trail), and California (Gold Rush and the development of mining towns).

SS4CG5 The student will name positive character traits of key historical figures and government leaders (honesty, patriotism, courage, trustworthiness).

ELA4R3 The student understands and acquires new vocabulary and uses it correctly in reading and writing.

ELA4LSV1 The student participates in student-to-teacher, student-to-student,

and group verbal interactions.

SS4G1 The student will be able to locate important physical and man-made features in the United States.

SS4G2 The student will describe how physical systems affect human systems.

e. Describe physical barriers that hindered and physical gateways that benefited territorial expansion from 1801 to 1861 (SS4H6a).

SS4CG4 The student will explain the importance of Americans sharing certain central democratic beliefs and principles, both personal and civic.

SS4CG5 The student will name positive character traits of key historical figures and government leaders (honesty, patriotism, courage, trustworthiness).

M4P1. Students will solve problems (using appropriate technology).

Map and Globe Skills

If you are an author, creating a learning guide is a great idea. It does not have to be complex, but you know your book(s) better than anyone else does, and you can provide teachers with some guidance for using your work in the classroom. Moreover, you increase your chances for more sales if you have additional resources for educators and librarians.

If you are a teacher, the sky is the limit. Using trade books in the classroom is a refreshing change for both you and your students. You can easily align your choices to state educational standards, all while choosing books that are fun and interesting to reinforce or introduce new topics or events. With just a little bit of planning, you can create learning opportunities and activities that your students will remember for years!

I received the following press release from Caroline Harris, publicist for Sylvan Dell, and wanted to share! To celebrate TV Turnoff Week and Earth Day, Sylvan Dell is giving schools, libraries and families free access to their 50 eBooks for the week of April 19-25.

What a great opporunity…so check it out and spread the word!

Lose that Remote and Seize the Day!

TV Turnoff Week Overlaps with Earth Day this Year

Mount Pleasant, SC (April 13, 2010) – Join Sylvan Dell in celebrating national TV Turnoff Week April 19-25 and Earth Day, April 22. Every year this week challenges families to turn off their television sets and find an alternate form of entertainment. Earth Day, celebrating its 40^th year, happens to fall right in the middle of TV Turnoff Week this year and provides a perfect excuse to turn off the television and learn about the earth. 

So, instead of channel surfing, do something good for the Earth. Here are some suggestions:

• Visit an animal rehabilitation center near you. Ask what types of animals do they help? Are any of these animals endangered or threatened? What can you do to help?
• Take a trip to the zoo or your local aquarium. Turn it into a learning activity. Draw or make a list of the ways the animals are alike or different.
• Go hiking in a nature reserve. Collect leaves, shells and flower petals. Draw a tree or make a nature journal.
• Visit a nature museum. Quiz yourself after, what do you remember? Write down what you learned.
• Read a book like “Where Should Turtle Be?” or “What’s New At the Zoo?” Sylvan Dell books are great educational resources that promote awareness and appreciation for animals and the environment.

Sylvan Dell is participating by giving schools, libraries and families free access to their 50 eBooks for the week of April 19-25.  More than 40 of these eBooks explore Earth Day related themes including marine animals, habitats, wildlife, zoo animals, earth and physical science, birds, and astronomy. So, before deciding to turn on the TV, read an eBook and learn about the wonders of the Earth!

For more information about Earth Day, visit http://www.earthday.net/earthday2010

For more information about “TV Turnoff Week,” visit: http://tvturnoff.org/

For more information about Sylvan Dell Publishing, visit: http://SylvanDellPublishing.com

eBook access instructions are located on the Sylvan Dell website at: http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/TVTurnOffWeek.htm

 About Sylvan Dell Publishing

Sylvan Dell Publishing’s mission is to excite children’s imaginations with artistically spectacular science, math and nature themed stories. Founded in November of 2004, Sylvan Dell has grown to include more than 75 authors and illustrators, in the U.S. and Canada, and 50 titles – honored as finalists or winners of more than 70 book awards. Our Science and Math Through Literature Program integrates reading, science, math, geography, character skills, and language learning through fun, cross-curricular activities. Sylvan Dell provides more online educator resources than any other publisher in the U.S. We offer schools, homeschooling families and public libraries a free one-year access to our ebook site license featuring the most technologically advanced eBooks each with Auto-Flip, Auto-Read, 3D page curling, and selectable English and Spanish text and audio through our School Resource Grant program. For more information, visit http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com.

It’s  Non-Fiction Monday, and today’s round-up is hosted by Lerner Books Blog. The following review is one I previously had published at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine website on their product/curriculum reviews page. I have also reviewed a lot of Sylvan Dell books at the National Writing for Children website.

A Day in the Salt Marsh

By Kevin Kurtz

Sylvan Dell Publishing

976 Houston Northcutt Blvd., Suite 3

Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

1-877-958-2600

www.sylvandellpublishing.com

In our homeschool, we enjoy using whole “living” books as much as possible, especially in the area of science. A Day in the Salt Marsh by Kevin Kurtz is a delightful picture book that certainly falls into that category!

This high-quality, soft cover book (aimed at ages 4-8) gives the reader a peek into the ecology of a salt marsh, and it also introduces the various plants and animals that live in this particular habitat. The ‘focus’ of the book is showing children how a salt marsh can change hour by hour, depending on whether the tide is coming in or going out.

The rhyming verse format of the book is lively and fun, but the scientific information included is far from being ‘fluff’! On the contrary, even I learned about new things such as Spartina grass which is covered by salt water every day, but has special glands to ‘spit’ the salt back out! And the full color illustrations by Consie Powell are outstanding. There are ‘inset’ drawings within the larger drawings, providing the reader with greater detail to view, examine, and study. They give lots of scope for the imagination, yet they are very realistic as well.

There is an educational section at the end of the book called ‘For Creative Minds’ that provides multiple choice questions to check the child’s comprehension if the parent desires to use it. There is also a ‘Tide Animals Activity’ and more information about what causes tides, why salt marshes are important, and an extra page about Spartina grass and its adaptations. Of course, all these extras are optional, and the ‘story’ itself is very enjoyable and can stand alone.

Overall, I highly recommend the book A Day in the Salt Marsh. We have personally had the opportunity to visit a salt marsh in the past, and this book certainly reinforces and expands upon what we learned there. But if you have never had the opportunity to visit one, Mr. Kurtz’s book will allow you to ‘experience’ a salt marsh from the comfort of your own home. And who knows…after reading this book, you may decide that a field trip to a salt marsh needs to be on your homeschool agenda!

*Be sure to visit Lerner Books Blog to check out more Non-Fiction Monday entries!

Good readers get the big picture. They comprehend the meaning of the text and better understand what the author is trying to convey. In addition, learning to identify a character’s point of view in a simple picture book or story is a great way to introduce  children to an important aspect of being a good reader.

It will also prepare them for heavier literature when they get older when identifying a character’s point of view is vital to understanding the plot and the underlying meaning or theme of the story. It is a skill to develop through the years, and having a basic working knowledge of this device will also help students learn about the first person, second person, third person, omniscient, and limited omniscient points of view as they mature as readers and writers.

Point of View (POV):

POV is simply the standpoint or position from which the reader gets to observe, consider, or ‘hear’ the story. For this particular article, I would like to concentrate on a first person narrative POV from a well-known children’s story.

A Simple Way To Teach POV:

Almost everyone knows the story of The Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. The pigs are the victims and the wolf is the villain. We ‘hear’ the story from the viewpoint of the three little pigs, and we feel sorry for them—right down to the hairs on their chinny-chin-chins! The wolf is a mean, evil character, and we are happy to see justice served in the end. Obviously, he deserves what he gets!

So gather your students around and read the traditional story of The Three Little Pigs. Or have them act out the story with parts—using appropriate voices and simple costumes if possible. My children always use a high, squeaky voice for the pigs and a low, growly voice for the wolf. Discuss the elements of the story and the perspectives of the characters. Who is ‘good’ and who is ‘bad’? Who is right and who is wrong? How did the pigs feel and react when the wolf came to each of their doors?

A Twist:

But what if there is a chance that the traditional tale we all know and love might not be the ‘real’ story! What if the wolf has a different version of the story to tell? What about his POV?

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs:

Here is where the fun begins! Purchase or check out Jon Scieszka’s hilarious book, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs from your local library and read it to the students. As Alexander T. Wolf, the narrator, tells his audience on the very first page:

“Everybody knows the story of the Three Little Pigs. Or at least they think they do. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. Nobody knows the real story, because nobody has ever heard my side of the story.”

Of course, in this version, we hear from Alexander T. Wolf. He claims that he had a cold and all that he wanted to do was borrow a cup of sugar from one of his neighbors when all the trouble began. According to him, he was framed!

Now discuss the differences in the two stories and the POVs. Compare and contrast. Make a comparison chart if possible.

The Verdict:

So who is telling the truth, the pigs or the wolf? Who is more believable? Why? Should Alexander T. Wolf have been put in jail?

No matter whose side the students choose, they should all be able to determine the differences in the POV of the characters in the two tales and how it changes the whole story, depending on WHO is doing the telling or whose side is championed!

If you like using the idea of the Big Bad Wolf versus The Three Little Pigs to teach POV, you might also find the book, The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, by Eugene Trivizas to be another great resource to use with this lesson. As the title implies, the roles of the characters, as well as the POVs, have been switched. Another fun read!

Other Ideas:

Have students re-tell classic stories—but have them change the POV for some interesting twists.

Cinderella versus her stepsisters.

Little Red Riding Hood versus the wolf.

Goldilocks versus the three bears.

Resources:

http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/mff/fractured_fairy_true.htm
Scholastic’s site for fractured fairy tales and fables

http://www.shol.com/agita/wolfside.htm
Defendant Testifies: The Wolf’s side of the story

http://www.nancypolette.com/LitGuidesText/truestorypigs.htm
Literature guide to The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Nancy Polette

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/fairytales
More fractured fairy tales

http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/708.html
Lesson plans/ideas

Today is Non-Fiction Monday—and my first time participating. The host for this week’s round-up is The Miss Rumphius Effect.

We are literature-based homeschoolers, and my son has been using a Winter Promise course this year called ‘American Culture.’ We have BOTH loved it. Right now he is learning all about the Stock Market Crash of 1929, but recently he learned about immigration and the living conditions in New York City during the late 1800s and early 1900s. One of the core texts for this section was Deborah Hopkinson’s fabulous book, Shutting Out the Sky.

Shutting Out the Sky by Deborah Hopkinson

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Orchard; 1St Edition edition (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439375908
• ISBN-13: 978-0439375900

Deborah Hopkinson truly captured the immigration experience in her book. She used original writings from immigrants, and the story is told through those ‘voices’ from the past, featuring two women and three men from the countries of Belarus, Italy, Lithuania, and Romania. Those individuals came to America between the years of 1891 and 1901, and their ages at the time of immigration ranged from twelve to sixteen. Most came with family; one came alone.

Of course, I have studied about immigration in the past, but Hopkinson’s book certainly made an impression on me. As I read about the living conditions, sights, sounds, and smells of the tenements on the Lower East Side of New York City at this time in history, I was appalled and my sympathies stirred. My heart especially went out to the mothers who tried to make their home in one small room of an overcrowded building in a strange city. Most had no grasp of the language and even less money. Add to that a lack of good sanitary conditions, and you have a recipe for possible hopelessness.

Most immigrants came to America searching for a better life. They believed they were leaving behind poverty and persecution, and they sacrificed to get to the ‘promised land.’ Many were told that gold was scattered in the street, and all they needed was a shovel and a sack! Of course, this ‘golden land’ sounded like paradise.

Yet, they had no idea what actually lay ahead. Would they have still come if they had known? I believe that, yes, most would have. Because although the parents had a hard time adjusting and the conditions were deplorable, the children adapted more easily. Many had the opportunity to receive an education that had been denied them in the past and a chance to change the course of their lives in the future. Mothers and fathers were willing to sacrifice for their children, and in the end, that is what mattered.

Hopkinson has interwoven the ‘voices’ of the immigrants to create a complex, yet compelling, book. Yes, she does tell about the poverty, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions; but she also emphasizes the indomitable human spirit and the importance of family ties and traditions.

The photographs are a huge part of this book, and Hopkinson has chosen well. As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the photos of immigrant families crowded into small rooms, or the countless lines of laundry strung between tenement buildings should make us all thankful for what we have. America has truly been the land of opportunity, and I have great respect for the men and women who worked, scrimped, saved and determined to make better lives for themselves and their descendants.

My favorite paragraph in the book was about young Leonard Covello. When it was time for his family to leave Italy for America, he tiptoed into his grandmother’s room to say goodbye. He understood he’d never see her again, so he always remembered the words she whispered in his nine-year-old ears. She told him that the gold he would find in America would not be in the streets, but in the dreams he would realize—the golden dreams of the future.

If you visit Deborah Hopkinson’s website, you will find links and lesson plans to go along with Shutting Out the Sky.

This book is a fantastic historical resource, yet it touches the heart as well. Highly recommended!

I wanted to pop in and tell everyone about a great new ’round-up’ I discovered last week. It’s called Non-Fiction Monday. You can read a description of it here at Anastasia Suen’s blog. She also lists the sites that are hosting Non-Fiction Monday each week. This week’s host is Books Together.

I just love the whole idea of a non-fiction book round-up all in one place as I’m always looking for great new books to share with my children. And besides, children’s non-fiction is my main writing interest. I also hope to share in this round-up starting next week!

Check it out!