How a Seed Becomes a Tree!

Did you know that trees can grow almost anywhere? The fun and fact-filled science book, Tell Me, Tree; All About Trees for Kids by Gail Gibbons, gives a detailed look at the life cycle and characteristics of many types of trees. It is a perfect guide for children that want to learn many facts about tree growth, leaves, and various types of trees. It closely examines how a tree begins as a seed, how a root can produce fruit, and how leaves are not just for show; they help the trees to grow. Each page begins with, “Tell Me, Tree…,” and follows the life of a tree with specific examples of types of seeds, bark, leaves, and fruits. The first page explains what nutrients trees need to grow, and how they grow in all types of different climates and environments.  The next page reads,

 “Tell me, Tree… All trees, even the biggest, begin their lives as seeds. These seeds come in different shapes and sizes.”

                 

This wonderful illustration shows fourteen different species of seeds, and an adjoining illustration labeled with the root, stem, and leaf of a tree. This page is a great instructional tool to introduce plant life cycles that relates to the second grade GPS standard, S2L1. Students will investigate the life cycles of different living organisms; c. Investigate the life cycle of a plant by growing a plant from a seed and by recording changes over a period of time.

Below is a nice illustration that shows the growth of the tree, the roots that “anchor” it, and how the “stem becomes hard enough to be called wood.”   The next several pages continue with a marvelous view of the interior layers of a tree, and an underground look at how the roots soak up water and minerals from soil.  It even gives a simple explanation on photosynthesis, and how trees are so helpful to humans. It describes how the leaves mix water with carbon dioxide to feed the tree, and the leaves then release oxygen into the air that we use to live and breathe.

The next page describes the continuous life cycle of a tree. “Trees use food from their leaves to grow new wood, branches, twigs, buds, leaves, seeds, nuts, and fruit. The fruit of trees is often sweet from the sugar the leaves make. Trees need their food to stay alive and renew their growth.”

 This is a perfect, basic explanation of the progression that second graders will understand. The next several pages have great descriptions and illustrations for identifying different trees and their leaves. It concludes with the many ways trees are used; from providing wood for building houses and furniture, to providing homes for many birds and animals.

Tell Me, Tree, is a wonderful book to introduce the life cycle of a tree to students because of the excellent, simple descriptions and the detailed illustrations. Since the second grade standard referred to previously requires the students to record changes of a growing plant over a period of time, students could use this book as a reference book or dictionary to assist them with assignments or projects. The author completes this resourceful book by providing a great activity with instructions for students to create their very own tree identification book. Overall, this book goes above and beyond the expectations of an elementary level science content book.  We feel it would be a great asset to any classroom.

Rock Around The Clock!

This catchy, rhyming book Boom Chicka Rock by John Archambault is about twelve mice sneaking out in the middle of the night, trying to reach a piece of delicious chocolate birthday cake that they have spotted. The only problem they approach is the cat, Max, is sleeping in front of the cake! They have to dance around the kitchen, quiet as a mouse (get it?!), in order to get to the dessert and not wake up Max. As the mice hop out of the kitchen clock, they each represent a number on the clock (One through Twelve). They do a number of dances, from the Tango, to the Bunny Hop, as they reach closer to the birthday cake. As the clock strikes twelve, Max wakes up. The mice are frightened and must all get back to their home—the kitchen clock. In the lines and picture below it shows that each mouse gets back home and is safe and sound.  

“Every hour is home. Every number’s

tucked in.

The last stroke of twelve, now

tomorrow can begin!”

Boom Chicka Rock can be used in the first grade classroom, with a connection to the CCGPS, MCC.1.MD.3, Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analong and digital clocks. This book allows children to practice telling time by the pictures and information in the book. There are many illustrations in the books with different times shown on the clocks. Also, one page reads

"Big hand, little hand, straight up--

TWELVE O'clock.

It's midnight, tip-toe, rickety-rock.

Counting our way 'round the kitchen clock."

This picture illustrates the mice in their spots on the clock. It shows Number Twelve holding the knife and spoon straight up, presenting what the hands will show for twelve o'clock. This will give students an idea of what twelve o'clock looks like on an analog clock.

 

This charming book can be used to teach students how to tell time in a fun and interactive way. When you read the book aloud, pause on each page to change your analog clock to the time that relates to the page in the book. To have the activity be more interactive for the students, each student could make their own clock out of a paper plate, numbers, and arrows for the hands. As you read the book aloud, pause on each page that has a mouse telling a different time. Students will then move the hands on their own paper clock to the time that correlates with the page in the book. For example, when you read, “No time to wait! Said number EIGHT,” have the students move the long hand to the number twelve, and the short hand to the number eight, to show the time of eight o’clock on each of their clocks. This is a great way for students to have hands-on practice with telling time and changing the hands for different times on the clock that coorelates to the standard, MCC.1.MD.3.

 

 

All the students will be dancing along with the words of the book as they

"Boom Chicka Rock around the clock!"

 

 

 

Snakes & Pigs & Chickens, Oh My!



     In the zany and hilarious story of The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash, a little girl depicts her class field trip to an animal farm. The setting of this realistic fiction story begins at the girl’s home where she tells the daily events of the activities at the farm to her mother. The illustrations detail the setting at the farm where the chaos begins. The plot is original and believable, but the girl may have a very creative imagination, as shown in the extravagant illustrations. The story is written in the first person point of view and is expressed through dialogue with her mother. She begins by explaining that the pandemonium was set in motion by Jimmy’s pet boa constrictor that came on the field trip to meet all of the farm animals. As any mother would be, she is surprised and curious at the incredible story she is hearing. She continues by explaining a series of catastrophic events that occur when the children throw eggs in the hen house, the pigs overtake the bus and eat the student’s lunches, and the boa constrictor gets loose and scares the farmer’s wife, Mrs. Stanley. The climax is revealed when the boa constrictor consumes the farmer’s wife’s laundry, the student’s leave the farm suddenly, and Jimmy leaves the snake behind. The children, the farmer, and the farmer’s wife are all realistic characters that are consistent with the emotions and actions of real people their age. The children react silly and mischievous on the field trip causing the incidents, and the farmer’s wife reacts as any other woman would when confronted with an enormous snake! Even though it all seems like a disastrous day, everything turns out just fine because Jimmy kept the pig that was left on the bus as his new pet, and the farmer was thrilled to add the boa constrictor to his farm family! The theme of appreciation in this story is ideal for children in elementary and primary grades. It enlightens readers that people can have fun with all different types of animals, and we should respect and appreciate all living creatures of this world.

The Catastrophe in the Hen House!

Poor Mrs. Stanley!

 

This was a funny, charming story that I will definitely share. The silly antics of the children and the delightful illustrations make this a very enjoyable read. The events in the story could possibly happen on a field trip to an animal farm, but I sure hope it does not happen to me! Reading this book would be a great way to introduce young children to animal science, and follow it up by researching different names and species of animals. ~Elma

I thought this story was such a cute and entertaining piece! I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations, plot, characters, and theme. I feel like I would use this in the classroom for introducing fiction and perhaps an animal lesson (as Elma added!). The story unfolding into such a catastrophy is what keeps the reader wanting more, and I would love to add this wild and crazy book to my classroom library! --Lindsay