Welcome to Summer Reading, Week 2: NATURE!
- Begin your exploration by following the links and listening to one of these summer-themed books:
- PreK-Grade 5: “If You Plant a Seed” by Kadir Nelson. Listen for the simple story. Then, think about the bigger message. What is the author trying to say about life, not just about gardens? Grades 4 & 5, try to make a connection between this book and current world events centered around social equity and justice. If You Plant a Seed
- Grades 2-5: “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt” by Kate Messner (author) and Christopher Silas Neal (illustrator). What can you learn about gardens and the creatures who live and work in them? How does the life in a garden change throughout the year? Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
2. Continue your exploration by doing some nature-themed reading from two of our reference collections. Go to the PXES Library Guide Home Page and choose either Pebble Go (PreK-2) or Brittanica Kids (3-5).
- PreK-Grade 2: Go to the PebbleGo Animals, Science, and Dinosaurs database:
- Choose Science
- Choose Earth and Space
- Choose Earth Science
- Choose Ecosystems
- Read about coral reefs, deserts, grasslands, temperate forests, tropical rain forests, tundra, and wetlands.
- Grades 3-5: Go to Britannica online:
- Choose Elementary
- Choose Articles
- Choose Science and Mathematics
- Choose Life Sciences
- Choose Ecology
- Choose at least three topics which interest you, such as badlands, moor, or parasite.
3. Get arty, using nature as your guide. Watch this video about observing nature as part of protecting a city’s water supply. Then, go for your own nature walk, make your own observations, collect some sticks, leaves, blossoms, or seeds, and make some art. Will you make a monkey emoji like Owen, or something else just as fun? Start Here: Summer STEAM Challenge, Nature Observations
4. Play Games: Use our digital magazines to play a visual puzzle game. Start on the PXES Library Guide Home Page, linked above in #2. Choose the third tab, “Early Elementary Magazines.” Click on National Geographic Kids. Choose the March, 2020 issue. Use the forward arrows on the right to go to page 28-29 and play “Down Underwater.” What will you discover in the Great Barrier Reef? Use the “Zoom” feature to enlarge the image and play hidden pictures!
If you explore this issue, you’ll find a short article entitled, “30 Cool Things About China.” How many of them did you already know?? My favorite is the fact about green bean popsicles 🙂
5. Go Further:
Grades PreK-2: Listen to “Garden Giants” at Unite for Literacy. Go to Unite for Literacy, linked here: Unite for Literacy, Garden Giants Listen to “Garden Giants” by Holly Hartman in both English and Mandarin.
Grades 3-5: View and consider the work of Caldecott Award artist Kadir Nelson, here: Kadir Nelson Web Site What subjects does Mr. Nelson often paint? What magazine features covers painted by Mr. Nelson? How would you describe his work?
6. Write About It: What is your most favorite place in nature? For me, it is probably a Texas bluebonnet field. Write a short description of your most favorite place and explain why it means so much to you. Try to convey the colors, sounds, and textures to your readers. Do you have a special memory of this place, or perhaps a tradition associated with this place? Illustrate your writing then share it with someone in your family.
7. Beyond the Books: There are many places to get information besides books, magazines, and newspapers. What can you learn about your breakfast from this infographic on pollinators? Chicago Botanic Garden, Pollinators Infographic Could you make your own infographic? Use information that you learned from your reading this week, add visuals, and share.
Before you go: As always, please adapt these activities to your own resources, languages, and children’s interests. I hope that you have enjoyed our second week’s nature theme. Look for another collection of reading and activity suggestions next week. I’d love to hear your preferences for themes or topics!
Your Friend in the Library, Miss Betty