Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Book Talks: Graphic Novels

Mrs. Kennedy joined us today to talk graphic novels.
I admit it; when I first started teaching I was a bit snobbish about graphic novels. I looked down on them and didn't appreciate their value in the classroom.
Since then, I've watched as year after year, reluctant readers beome inspired by and hooked on graphic novels.
Here's the list of titles that Mrs. Kennedy presented today:
Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
The Storm in the Barn
The Secret World of Arietty

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

WildAid: Shark Conservation


"Saving the Great White Monster," an article from our "animals" mini-unit about shark conservation, introduced us to the organization WildAid.
We watched several of WildAid's commercials from their campaign to end the overfishing of sharks (here, here and here).

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

A Bunch of Animals!

Any glimpse into the life of an animal quickens our own and makes it so much the larger and better in every way. — John Muir

We launched a thematic mini-unit on human/animal interaction by discussing the above quote.
Next, we read a short story by Eliot Schrefer called "Animal Distress Calls" about a teen's life changing encounter with a sick ostrich in a zoo.
It was then on to Gary Paulsen's "Caesar the Giant," in which the well known author tells of his experiences with an adopted Great Dane.
Also on tap is a non fiction article about Great White Sharks and the practice of hunting them for shark fin soup.