Summer Reading: RICBA Books

Kids going into grades 3-6 will be eligible to vote for the Rhode Island Children's Book Award if they read 3 of the 20 nominees.

I've read all of them and encourage students to do the same ... why not get started over the summer? If you read one of the RICBA books, add a comment below to tell other kids what you thought. Include your last year's room number and initials if you would like, but not your full name.

Here are a few that I would have a hard time deciding between if I were allowed to vote:

Applegate, Katherine. The One and Only Ivan Inspired by the true story of a gorilla who spent 30 years alone in a cage at an indoor zoo in a mall, this beautifully written book is told from the point of view of Ivan, the Gorilla. Follow his struggle to free himself and a baby elephant from his down and out “domain.”

Graff, Lisa. Double Dog Dare Fourth grade students Francine and Kansas are in a double dare contest to win the morning announcer spot for their school. These dares are out of control until the two enemies discover their common secret.

Nielsen, Jennifer. The False Prince When Sage is taken from his orphanage by a nobleman, his life completely changes. He soon discovers that he is part of a plot to impersonate the long lost prince of the kingdom. Since only one boy will be chosen, defiant Sage has to be the one ... or it could mean his death.

Palacio, R.J. Wonder August Pullman was born with a craniofacial abnormality—a genetic defect that caused his facial features to be severely deformed. Told from multiple perspectives, this is the tale of August’s transition from home school to private middle school. Will he make friends? Will he decide to stay at the school? And can the people around him learn to see past his appearance? 

Turnage, Sheila. Three Times Lucky Eleven years ago during a hurricane, “Mo” was rescued by the Colonel, and her “Upstream Mother” has yet to claim her! Now a neighbor has been murdered, her best friend Dale’s family is in turmoil, the Colonel is missing, and another hurricane is beginning to blow!

Weiner, Ellis. The Templeton Twins Have an Idea This hilarious adventure features genius inventors, nefarious kidnappers, and a pair of very clever 12-year-old twins. The narrator makes you laugh out loud with his snarky comments.

A Collection of Nouns

Fourth-graders learned about collective nouns, which describe a group of people, places, or things. Some are general - a class of students or a team of players. But others can be quirky and actually work like adjectives - a splash of mermaids or a crash of rhinos. They might describe a noun's appearance, characteristics, habitat, actions, or sound.

They used the dictionary and their brains to figure out how some terms go together:

gaggle of geese	a gaggle is a noisy group, and geese are not known for being quiet
skulk of foxes	skulk means to be sneaky, and foxes are described as "sly"
charm of butterflies	charming can mean graceful and beautiful

Then the kids came up with collective adjectives for themselves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

14 Card Flickr - Room 6

Credit: Secret Tenerife

There was a cat that was going to jump ... oh no!

Credit: Brett Levin

The cat fell into the car and started driving it.

Credit: arran et

Then a tiger came and attacked the cat and started driving the car.

Credit: U.S. Army

Then the U.S. Army saw the tiger speeding; they shot it. Then a robot came and rescued the tiger and the robot drove the car.

Credit: Tony Hisgett

Then the dragonfly flew into the car and tickled the robot, which drove off a cliff. The dragonfly went down to the car, which was indestructible, and started driving.

Credit: TOMI TAPIOK

The cat saw the car and ran into it and ate the dragonfly. The cat is now driving the car and crashed into a brick wall.

Credit: waqas am siddiqui

The cat went to the new car and started driving to the beach.

Credit: Bruce McKay

The bird saw the random car with a cat driving it. The cat looked its way and decided to try to eat it, but failed.

Credit: Foto Sleuth

After the cat ate the bird, he decided to park in front of a public restaurant.

Credit: Weekly Dig

When the cat went inside the restaurant, he saw some guy playing music. Then the guy looked at the cat and called the security guards to get the cat out of the restaurant.

Credit: Andrew Malone

Then they stopped to eat cotton candy, and the cat fell down the stairs. So the cat got back in its car and wanted to find Waldo. So he found Waldo, and Waldo was a penguin who beat up the cat and stole the car.

Credit: Miggs Lives

Then he threw some poisonous Arizona at this head. And then they all died.

Credit: Keith Allison

So then, Derek Rose found the indestructible car and decided to show it to Lebron James. Then Derek Rose takes Lebron James, and they give Waldo CPR.

Credit: Ewen Roberts

Then Derek Rose drove Waldo to a museum, and Waldo ate a skeleton and turned into a dinosaur.

Dig Into Reading - Kickoff Event June 6

Planet Research

The first and second graders practiced using a table of contents and index; they were each assigned a planet for which they had to find out three facts.

The next week, second graders worked with partners to find the same three facts for ALL EIGHT planets and put them into table format.

First graders got to take it easy and listen to a readaloud about why Pluto is no longer considered planet number nine. A few of them drew pictures of the solar system while they listened:

What Am I?

The third graders are working on making inferences. What do YOU think this riddle poem is about?

Fitting In

I fit inside your door just right
wherever you reside.
But put me in your neighbor's door
and you'll still be outside.

There's just one hole that I fit in
made specially for me.
There's just one door, one safe,
one skate and one locked diary,

which makes me feel real special.
like I am one of a kind.
Of course, sometimes folks copy me
in case I'm hard to find.

I share a ring with others
of my type; I'm rarely single.
But that's okay 'cause when we
touch each other, then we jingle.

WHAT AM I?
(C) 1998, Arden Davidson