There’s something about watching a traditional story in the traditional way. Last week, I went with a group of teachers on a Teacher Field Trip to see A Christmas Carol at the Player’s Ring in Portsmouth, NH. They had advertised it to have a modern twist, but in fact it was a very traditional Christmas Carol wrapped in a modern family story. That was nice.
Like I had mentioned in a previous post about Variations on A Classic, it is fun to know an original and get acquainted with other variations. These last couple weeks in December, my students have continued their study of Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Eve by Robert Frost. Among other things, we read and watched a fun version of the poem on Big Universe: Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Eve.
Big Universe also has a great version of A Christmas Carol online. It is an illustrated cartoon layout, but it contains very traditional characters and settings. My students have enjoyed reading this story in a new way and it has been fun to watch them read it.
Be sure to check out the other great holiday finds on Big Universe and share them with your students.
Original John Leech illustration for 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens.
BigUniverse.com serves up a holiday classic, a tale by English writer Charles Dickens, that’s been reworked to appeal to children and reluctant readers of all ages. Saddleback Educational Publishing, one of Big Universe Learning’s education partners, has published an illustrated comics-style version of “A Christmas Carol.”
While typically loyal to literature in its original form, I appreciate the effort to draw in new readers. The educators who reworked this Victorian Christmas story retained key phrases and some of the more quotable parts. The stingy Ebenezer Scrooge is there in all his grumpy glory, as well as Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, nephew Fred, and the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, who help sway Scrooge’s cold wintery heart and restore it to one overflowing with good will and compassion for others.
Although first published in December 1843, the story is timeless, making it a great catalyst for discussion and creative writing. Many kids want to right the wrongs of the world, so “A Christmas Carol” is a good model for students to write their own modern-day story. The online writing tool on BigUniverse.com will make such an assignment even more appealing.
I served as a children’s writing contest judge for a number of years and read many submissions that naturally addressed societies’ ills. The entrants were like little primary and middle school Dickenses, who used their words to speak about cultures’ problems and work through feelings about everything from the 911 attacks and tsunamis to bullying and the death of pets and loved ones. Just like Mr. Dickens, they used various intervention tools to render ethical and emotional transformation in their main characters. Nine times out of 10, they ended their narratives with words of hope. “…God bless us, everyone.”
Saddleback’s A Christmas Carol (Illustrated Classic) uses vocabulary from the Dale-Chall model, (F&P GR: V Lexile: 500). To acquire additional materials, the publishing company provides a study guide and activities for the interactive whiteboard. According to the Saddleback website, “IWB activities feature 19-24 lessons in 168 screens (per title average) and include an introductory audio clip from the novel; words and meanings puzzle; words and meanings antonym pairs; word search; figurative language; cause and effect; and more.”
Other miscellaneous resources:
NOTE: You may like to read Elizabeth Peterson’s Big Universe blog entry “Variations on a Classic.”
Big Universe Learning "hearts" Valentine's Day.
It’s been decades since I decorated a shoebox for Valentine’s Day. All you needed was some shiny paper, a box, scissors to cut construction paper hearts and some paste to make things stick. Of course you couldn’t forget to cut a hole in the lid. If you were an optimist you cut a mailbox slot wide enough to receive a heart-shaped lollipop or a small box of chalk-flavored candy conversation hearts…and maybe, just maybe, a chocolate heart.
Years have flown by since those elementary school days, and somehow the holiday has fallen by the wayside. As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried to sidestep blatant commercialism of holidays, but I think Cupid had me in the crosshairs of his bow this year. If I’d been paying closer attention, I probably would have heard the “Twang!” as he released his arrow.
Several valentines arrived in the mail. I got invited to a Valentine’s Day luncheon out of the blue. An extraordinary bouquet of brilliant pink carnations caught my eye at the grocery store, and soon it and two heart-adorned tea towels landed in my cart – along with some chocolate strawberry truffles. A few days later I heard the legend of Valentinus read by a librarian with a knack for storytelling.
Joy bubbled to the surface. Heart-shaped memories woke up. The kid in me responded.
Rose-colored glasses? Perhaps. But, wearing them is a lot more fun than being cynical and jaded and grumpy about gray February skies.
Valentine’s Day can be really fun if you let it be. And, it’s not too late to share time with the little ones in your life, read a book, send a note, give a hug, eat some chocolate, and tell someone you really love them.
Valentine’s Day Printables
I adore the printables for kids at the Super Teacher Worksheets website, so they get my Valentine’s Day vote of approval.
Activity Village has several cute activities too, including card and stationery templates to practice writing.
AmazingMoms.com also has some good Valentine’s Day games and party ideas. Take a look.
And, don’t forget BigUniverse.com’s Author Tool, which is the perfect vehicle for writing your own Valentine’s Day story. Use the website’s “Write” tab and click on the “Create and Publish Books!” box. To illustrate your text, simply go to the “Occasions” category in the clipart library and select “Holidays,” “Celebrations” or “Valentines.”
XOXO, Suzan
It’s a little late to celebrate National Peanut Butter Lovers’ Day which was March 1. I suppose it’s just as well – what with peanut butter allergies and such.
Yesterday, March 9, was Barbie Day, Panic Day and Get Over It Day all rolled into one 24-hour period. The juxtaposition of those three observances makes me laugh. Although today’s younger generation may be more enlightened, it parallels the phases that many women of my vintage go through. …“I love Barbie. I want to be Barbie.” (Barbie Day) “Oh, no! I’m NOT Barbie.” (Panic Day) And finally, “Looks are fleeting. There’s so much more to life than Barbie.” (Get Over It Day)
Though we may have missed a few special days, March has plenty more to offer with enough holidays and observances to enliven any classroom. Some days are silly and some designated dates laud the mundane, but every day is unique, offering a doorway to broaden a child’s horizons. I say, “Carpe diem!”
“Seize the Day!” List for March
March 10 is Middle Name Pride Day. What’s your middle name? Mine is Elizabeth – pretty straightforward, but one I value. It’s a family name worn by my mother and grandmother, and it’s the middle name given to my second daughter. It is a tiny bit of family heritage passed down from generation to generation. Parents can share how they selected names for each child in their family. Children in the classroom can go by their middle names for a day. (Be prepared for some silliness.)
March 11 is Johnny Appleseed Day. It’s a perfect day to read a story about Johnny Appleseed, the American folk hero, and his tree-planting adventures. Tie in a discussion about fruits, vegetables and nutrition. Get a bag of apples of various colors and practice charting the numbers of each on a graph.
March 12 is Plant a Flower Day. Why not chase away the wintertime blues by offering a horticulture lesson. Read some poetry celebrating spring and the beauty of flowers, and break out the Dixie cups and potting soil. Marigolds are hardy specimens and should come up easily in a well-lit window. It’s also Girl Scout Day.
March 13 is Jewel Day. Read a book about gems and how they are formed. Help little ones string Cheerio necklaces or show older children how to repurpose pages from a magazine by turning them into paper beads that they can string into friendship bracelets or anklets. It’s also International Fanny Pack Day.
March 14 is Learn About Butterflies Day. One middle school in our town incorporated the study of butterflies into their science class. They planted a butterfly garden behind the school to attract the insects, adding beauty to the property and learning about life cycles and the importance of each creature to the ecosystem. Read “Where Butterflies Grow,” a Picture Puffins book by Joanne Ryder and Lynne Cherry, or visit the Foremost Butterflies website. It has lots of information and activities, including an easy word search about butterflies. …Oh. It’s also Potato Chip Day.
March 15 is the Ides of March. The Ides of March is most known for its mention in William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar. (“Beware the ides of March.”) While Caesar’s assassination in 44 B.C. may not be a topic for a first-grader, older students can learn about the great city of Rome, the Roman Empire and mythology. Read “Rome”by Christine Dugan, a children’s picture book featured in Big Universe’s online library, or try Saddleback’s illustrated adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” Note: The “ides” were the fifteenth days of March, May, July and October on the Roman calendar, and a festival for Mars, the god of war, was celebrated on March 15 in that culture.
March 16 is Lips Appreciation Day. Whistle a tune. Hold your breath. Discuss facial expressions and emotions. It’s also Freedom of Information Day in the United States.
March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day.This day can be celebrated formally in recognition of the patron saint of Ireland or in a more whimsical way in all its shamrocked green-hued glory.
March 18 is Awkward Moments Day. “A-a-awk-ward!” is one of this generation’s favorite expressions. It means so much more than being clumsy. It signifies things like “I’m embarrassed,” “There’s too much silence,” or “That boy just made eye contact with me.”
March 19 is San Juan Capistrano Day, the day thousands of swallows return to the old stone mission in California’s town of San Juan Capistrano.
March 20 is Corn Dog Day. It’s also the First Day of Spring. Read “Spring” by Ann Herriges and published by Bellwether.
March 21 is World Poetry Day. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared this observance in 1999 to promote the teaching, reading and writing of poetry on a global scale. National Poetry Month is celebrated in April in the United States.
March 22 is National Goof Off Day. It’s your call. Keep this one a secret until the end of the day if there’s work to be done. Or name it, claim it!
March 23 is World Meteorological Day. Read “Weather” by Teacher Created Materials Publishing. It’s also Near Miss Day. Hmmm.
March 24 is National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day. OK, I am officially in!
March 25 is Pecan Day.There will be a lot of pies cooked in the South. If I haven’t overindulged in Raisinettes, I think I’ll dig out my killer Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe.
March 26 is Hawaii’s Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day. It’s a state holiday in Hawaii. Check out “A is for Aloha,” a book by Uilani Goldsberry and illustrated by Tammy Yee. This book was the 2006 Hawaii Center for the Book selection representing the state at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. (Sleeping Bear Press)
March 27 is Skyscraper Day. Do you know which is the tallest building in the world? Is it the Empire State Building? Guess again. The tallest skyscraper is the 2717-foot Burj Khalifa building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with 160 floors. The Willis Tower in Chicago, formerly the Sears Tower, is the tallest building in the United States with 108 floors and ranks No. 8 in the world. The Empire State Building has 102 floors and ranks No. 15 globally.
March 28 is the day Olympian Jesse Owens was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. The medal is awarded to a civilian who “performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States,” according to Wikipedia. Owens won four gold medals in the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, Germany. Read “A Picture Book of Jesse Owens” by David A. Adler and Robert Casilla. Grade 5. (Scholastic)
March 29 is the Birthday of Yours Truly. Yup, it’s my birthday! Lots of candles on this one. John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States, shares the same birthday. For more birthday fun, read “Penelope and the Preposterous Birthday Party.”
March 30 is Take a Walk in the Park Day. Isn’t it time for a field trip? Read “On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks” and then visit your community park or a nearby state or national park to see what your children can discover. Government-funded parks offer a wealth of information and plenty of room to stretch energetic little legs. March 30 is also the anniversary of the signing of the Alaska Purchase treaty in 1867, and it’s National Pencil Day.
March 31 is Bunsen Burner Day. Embrace science. Read a book. Do a simple experiment. Make it fun.
