Inside: This is an updated post. It’s a review of I Want My Hat Back and includes suggestions for story extensions, as well as an instant download freebie. This is the first story in Jon Klassen’s Hat trilogy. It’s unusual and entertaining and I absolutely love it! I Want My Hat Back Jon Klassen Candlewick Press (September 2011) Picture Book/Fiction … Read more
I just discovered this fabulous new-to-me book: A Camping Spree With Mr. Magee. This is one of those little treasures that makes me wonder how on earth I missed seeing it when it first came out. If you’re not familiar with Mr. Magee then please check it out. And if you already are, then hopefully some of my book extensions … Read more
Inside: Directions for making teddy bear pop art. Our school is making art cards for one of our fundraisers. Each class is creating beautiful, non-seasonal art that will be professionally reduced into greeting cards. I was a bit uncertain what we were going to do at first, but after talking to some very talented teachers in my school I came … Read more
Inside: Lots of bear activities for first grade. We have now wrapped up our Bear unit. Well, except for our biscuit bears which we’ll do next week. We’re going to add a red hot heart to their lil’ bodies to tie it in with Valentine’s Day. On to the bear activities. Art My teaching partner had the kids make these … Read more
Inside: Lots of bear activities for a primary class. We’re learning about bears again! This is one of my favourite units because there are just so many fun things to do. We jump-started the unit with a visit from our local Conservation Officer. The kids were thrilled with his visit and learned LOTS, including many safety tips. The highlight of … Read more
Happy Boxing Day! I hope everyone had a happy and peaceful Christmas. Just before our holiday break we wrapped up our bear unit with these trioramas. My fabulous TOC supervised (I was home sick). I thought the kids did an amazing job! Their task was to draw their bear’s habitat. I think maybe the polar bears under the Northern Lights … Read more
We’ve been hard at work on a bear unit. We spent a week working on bear posters. The kids worked in groups of their choice to learn more about polar bears, panda bears, black bears or brown bears. First we graphed their favourite bears: Then they spent a week gathering information and writing their sloppy copies: Finally they turned out … Read more
Inside: Book review of Snow Bear, video link to polar bears and a round-up of some fabulous polar bear art activities. Hi Everybody! Brrr…it’s actually starting to get cold now in my part of the world. I was half-expecting to see snow on the Malahat. We can see the tippy-top of the small mountain range from our kitchen window. But … Read more
My choice today for Susanna’s Perfect Picture Book Friday is The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland. Publisher: Scholastic, 2008 Audience: 3 and up Genre: Juvenile Fiction Topic: Bears, Hibernation, Humour Opening Lines: In the Jingle Jangle Jungle on a cold and rainy day, four little friends found a perfect place to play. Moose had marvelous antlers and Lion, a … Read more