The Very Hungry Caterpillar

What kid doesn’t love chocolate cake, ice cream cones, cupcakes or cherry pie? The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle includes all of those things AND a great science lesson, too! This book is a fantastically colorful example of how to bring children’s literature into all subject areas.

How do you think that this book could fit into a science lesson?

Billie: The main way it could be used in science is by discussing the life cycle of a caterpillar to a butterfly. This whole book is about a little bity caterpillar eating his way to becoming a very big caterpillar. Then he goes into his cocoon and a couple weeks later emerges as a big, beautiful butterfly.

Cami: Yes. And it fits perfectly with the second grade standard: S2L1. Students will investigate the life cycles of different living organisms.

Do you think that this book will be appropriate for second graders?

Cami: I think this book could be used in a second grade classroom, but some of the kids might think it’s a “baby book”. But even big bad 8 year olds can enjoy a book like this, because it’s still a fun story to read, and the illustrations are so good that they will help with keeping their attention.
Billie: That is the one draw back to using that particular standard with this book. This book was clearly written for a younger audience. I think that when used appropriately a classroom full of 2^nd graders could definitely enjoy it. It would be a great opening for a life cycle unit. But, I also don’t think it is ever too early to start exposing younger children to “older kid” standards. So I think that if you want your kids to be prepared for 2^nd grade, this book could also be used in kindergarten or 1^st grade!

What was the best part of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, in your opinion?

Billie: I feel like I always say this, but the pictures were so great! And my favorite part was when the caterpillar is eating all of his food, and each food picture has a hole in it, emulating that he took a bite out of all the food. Such a cute touch!
Cami: I agree with Billie! The illustrations in this story are just wonderful! The holes in the pictures to show what the caterpillar ate, and the vibrancy of the colors is just amazing!

How engaging was this book?
Billie: This book was short and sweet! I think it was full of great information and wonderful pictures. But it was also straight to the point. It doesn’t give kids any time to get bored or disengage at all.
Cami: I think it was very engaging, you want to keep reading to get to the end to find out what else the caterpillar will eat, or what will happen to him.   It also has a great educational component. I see this book as a win/win!

If you decide that you like how this book approaches the life cycle of a caterpillar or if you are like us and just love the book, you might be interested in checking out this pin from pinterest. A teacher decorated her door to look like The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She used construction paper and balloons... It is adorable!!!
Hungry Caterpillar Door Decoration

How far is far enough?

It can be really hard to get a classroom full of first graders interested in math. That is why it is important for teachers to include literature to help supplement their lessons. Not only does it make math fun, but it shows kids that reading is something they will always use. Keep Your Distance! is a funny story about two sisters who are forced into rooming together because of their new baby sister. The oldest sister Jen decides she wants to get as far away from her middle sister as possible! This book includes tons of fun ways to provide visual examples of specific distances.

Gail Herman wrote the book Keep Your Distance! When could this book be used in the classroom?

Cami: It could help address two standards.  The first is MCC.1.MD.1 Order three objects by length; compare the lengths of two objects indirectly by using a third object.

And the second is MCC.1.MD.2 Express the length of an object as a whole number of length units, by laying multiple copies of a shorter object (the length unit) end to end; understand that the length measurement of an object is the number of same-size length units that span it with no gaps or overlaps. Limit to contexts where the object being measured is spanned by a whole number of length units with no gaps or overlaps.
Billie: As Cami said it addresses a couple math standards, both of which relate to measurement. For example when the older sister Jen talks about Lucy needing to stay one inch away from her, the book includes a picture that shows children how big one inch is. 

The book is good at helping children understand measurements, but is it also an engaging read outside of the mathematical aspect?

Cami: Oh yes! It’s such a fun story. I think the kids would be really engaged because the two sisters, Jen and Lucy are sharing a room. Jen is fed up with Lucy always being in her way so she decides that she will start measuring how far from Lucy she can get. She even decides to go to the moon in order to get away from her little sister! (And it includes how many miles away the moon is, 240000 miles.)

Billie: Definitely! It is completely relatable for the children (especially those that have siblings.)

Did you have a favorite part of the book?

Billie: I absolutely loved the illustrations. They were so detailed and fit the story perfectly! I also really liked how the book ended, Jen stuck by her sister because that is what family does. No matter how much your little sister is annoying you, you still can love her. I think that is a great message to send to children!

Cami: I loved the ending too! As badly as Jen wanted to get far away from her she decided in the end that she wanted to stay right by her side because she loves her sister.

Do you think this book would be more beneficial in a read aloud setting or a small group setting?

Cami: I think this story would be great in a read aloud setting. It would be a fun way to introduce a lesson on measurements! You could read the story then in a small group setting you could discuss the different forms of measurement.
Billie: Personally, I think that it be beneficial in both areas. I think that it would be a great lesson introduction to get the kids excited and interested. But, I think that you could also use it again in the small group setting. I think it would help the kids to have the book in front of them, because on the bottom of the pages where distance is discussed it includes a little example box. The examples are a great tool to help kids who are more visual.

Are you having a hard time getting your kids interested in measurements? This book is the perfect example of using children’s literature for engaging children in all subject areas, not just language arts. We hope that you will find this book beneficial in your classroom

My way or the highway!

Welcome back! If you were with us last week, you will remember we talked about two friends who were mice. Today, we have another story that revolves around two mice friends, as well. But there is a little twist at the end!

How did you guys like this week’s book, Chester’s Way?

Billie: I really enjoyed Chester’s Way. My favorite part of the book was when the author introduced us to Lilly, “the queen”. The book starts out with two boy mice that are best friends and they do everything the same way, but in comes Lilly. She marched to the beat of her own drum. For instance, she talked backwards to herself so other people couldn’t understand.

Cami: I thought the book was really sweet. There was a great part in the book where Lilly stands up for the boys and runs off some bullies.

What type of literature is Kevin Henkes’s book?

Billie: Chester’s Way is a work of fiction, because it is an imaginary narrative.

Cami: There are a few different types of fiction, but this book falls under fantasy. Because the story is all about talking mice! And a book just needs one “magical event” to be considered as fantasy.

Would you say there were any negatives about the book?

Cami: Repetitiveness is great for children’s books, but this one was a little much. It told the same story multiple times and it didn’t really add anything to the value of the book.

Billie: I think that because he repeated himself so much, the book dragged on and had the potential to lose children’s interest.

Do you think you might consider adding this book to your classroom library?

Billie: No.  Like I mentioned before, I don’t think kids would find it interesting.

Cami: Of course! Chester and Wilson, the boy mice, only associated with each other at the beginning of Chester’s Way. When Lilly moved in, they did not accept her at all. She was just too different and they were judgmental. Then, when Lilly saved the day, the boys learned that they could be friends with her too! So it teaches children to accept each other, even if they are different.

If you are looking for a book to help children learn about diversity and accepting others, this is a perfect book for your classroom! Children will really enjoy getting to know all three characters and can probably identify with at least one of them because they are so diverse. But because Chester’s Way is so repetitive, it is not really appropriate for the older children.

Are you content?

This week we will be talking with the girls from If You Give An Education Major A Blog. Billie and Cami will be exploring the book The Town Mouse and The Country Mouse. The ladies will talk about Paul Galdone’s book and why it is perfect example of traditional literature.

What were your overall thoughts on Paul Galdone’s adaption of the classic folk tale The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse?

Billie: I think that this story has an awesome moral to it. Kids really need to hear that it isn’t about how fancy your life is but how content you are.

Cami: I really enjoyed the story, although I have heard more modernized versions that I liked a little better. This particular version had some really amazing illustrations though.

So, what exactly is this story about?

Cami: The story starts out with two mice who are best friends. The country mouse is obviously from the country, whereas the town mouse lives at His Majesty’s Court. The town mouse was going for a visit at the country mouse’s quaint little cottage. Of course, the town mouse thinks that his friend is really missing out.

Billie: So, he invites him to visit his home! The country mouse is a little skeptical, but he finally agrees to go visit. While eating dinner in the fabulous dining hall a dog, a cat, and a huge team of servants barge in! The country mouse is completely frightened and runs all the way back home. He doesn’t understand why his friend would rather have a lot of things but constantly live in fear. The country mouse is completely content where he knows he is safe and has everything he needs.

Cami, you said you really enjoyed the illustrations. Tell us a little more about them?

Cami: Yeah, they were so colorful! I know that kids would be drawn to them. And I think that they showed a great contrast between the town mouse and the country mouse. The country mouse was in a drab brown robe whereas the town mouse was much more elaborately dressed.

Can you describe the plot in The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse?

Billie: Like most traditional literature the plot is very simple and sequential.  Each mouse is defined quickly and it gets straight to the meat of the story.

Cami: It could also be considered as cyclical, which is also a key point in making it traditional literature. I believe it is cyclical because both mice end up exactly where the started from, the town mouse in His Majesty’s Court and the country mouse in his humble cottage.

Would you consider this story to be a fable?

Billie: Most definitely! Fables are typically short fictitious stories with animals as the main characters. They also normally convey some sort of moral. And this story falls under all three of those guidelines.

Do you think that this would be a good story to use in the classroom? If so, what age group do you think would benefit the most?

Cami: I think it would be a great supplement when talking about different kinds of communities or classes of people. It really shows a good contrast between “high” and “low” class in a positive way. I think that the younger elementary school kids would take this book and run with it. It would definitely benefit them the most.

Billie: I think that this book would be great in most classroom settings! It would definitely help kids learn to be content with where they are in their lives. Like Cami mentioned before, I think that most kids would really be drawn into the pictures as well. I think that it would go well in most elementary school classrooms. The plot is relatively simple so younger kids could grasp what was going on, but there are a lot of really great vocabulary words that older kids could benefit from.

Paul Galdone took an old fable and turned into an awesome book for the classroom. It has a simple plot for kids to understand but is still engaging and motivational. It shows that two people, or mice, can be friends no matter what their background. This piece of traditional literature allows kids to identify themselves with the mice and helps teach them how to be satisfied.