Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey

(Image taken from Lexile.com)

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey

Burns, L. & Harasimowicz, E. (2014). Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey. Minneapolis, MN: Millbrook Press/Minneapolis.

Reading Level: 850L

Why Should You Read This Book?

- Depending on your location in the country, the book deals with the Museum of Science in Boston, MA, which is a location that students can take a field trip to and receive a more hands-on learning experience.
- The photography is stunning and captures minuscule details on the butterflies.
- The steps of the butterfly's life cycle are clearly outlined.
- There are large photographs and colored captions which make the text aesthetically pleasing and perhaps more enjoyable for the reader.
- The book has text features to help the reader become more familiar with nonfiction formatting and locate specific information in the text.

Handle with Care: An Unusual Butterfly Journey would make a marvelous read in any setting, small group, read aloud, or individual read. I can see myself using this book in a small group and then having a project follow. 

Online Resources:
San Diego Zoo.Kids has activities, facts, and images for the students to view on an attractive website (complete with rain forest sounds)!
http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/insects/butterfly#animals

Science Kids has facts, activities, and projects regarding butterflies. It can be useful for student, parent, and teacher.
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/butterfly.html

Keywords
Science, Informational, Insects, Animals, Symmetry

Vocabulary:
Chrysalis: synonym to "pupa"; the third stage of a butterfly's life
Metamorphosis: changes in an insect's body over the course of its life
Larva: the second stage of a butterfly's life where it is a caterpillar
Pupa: the third stage of a butterfly's life where it is in the chrysalis
Entomologist: someone who studies insects
Butterfly: An insect with a small body and wings that goes through the process of metamorphosis.

Reading Strategy:
Before reading, build off students' schema by asking students what they already know about butterflies.
During reading, have students take notes on what they are learning about butterflies.
After reading, add the new butterfly vocabulary to the word wall in class.

Writing Strategy:
Students can write their own informational text while utilizing text features, such as headings, captions, glossary, and index. Handle with Care can serve as a model for students to follow.

The Man Who Named the Clouds

The Man Who Named the Clouds

(Image taken from Lexile.com)

The Man Who Named the Clouds

Hannah, J., & Holub, J. (2006). The Man Who Named the Clouds (pp. 1-40). Morton Grove, Illinois: Albert Whitman and Company, Morton Grove, IL.

Reading Level: AD910L

Why Should You Read This Book?
- There is an informative background on Luke Howard (the man who named the clouds).
- There are captivating images that have been integrated into the text, which make the book more compelling.
- A unique formatting is used which holds the reader's attention.
- A few historical events that happened during Howard's lifetime are covered.
- A substantial amount of the material covered in this text can be easily integrated into a lesson. 

The Man Who Named the Clouds would make a marvelous read aloud,

Online Resources: 

Weather Wiz Kids has images, questions and answers, and games for kids to learn about the weather that can be helpful before reading. Using this website will make students familiar with weather before hearing the story. http://www.weatherwizkids.com/#

Science Kids has many resources for teaching different sciences, such as projects, games, and lesson plans. This website can be useful for after reading to help the students put what they read into practice. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/weather/clouds.html

Keywords
Science, Earth, Weather, History, Informational

Vocabulary
Classifying: to arrange or organize
Brainstorming: solving problems through creative thinking and developing new ideas through spontaneous participation in discussion
Inflating: to puff out
Revisions: going back over something
Precipitation: falling products of condensation (rain/snow)
Barometer: an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure

Reading Strategy:
Before reading, build off schema by asking the students what they already know about clouds.
During reading, ask questions such as "Can you tell me how Luke Howard learned about the clouds? and "What concerns did the people of Howard's time have over his cloud-naming?"
After reading, use exit slips to have students fill out two things they learned about clouds from the reading.

Writing Strategy: Have students create their own weather journals and write about what causes weather to behave how it does. They can use their background research, make predictions, and research to create this journal.