VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Virginia Readers’ Choice
2012-2013
Extension Activities
Janice Raspen, NBCT
Stafford County Public Schools
[email protected]
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Bad News for Outlaws
Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
Websites:
https://www.lernerbooks.com/badnews/
Includes discussion guide, bookmarks, podcasts with author and illustrator
http://www.gas-art.com/
Illustrator’s website
https://childrenslit-socialstudies.wikispaces.com/Bad+News+for+Outlaws+Reinforcing+Activity
Social Studies lesson plan with extension activities
http://www.state.lib.la.us/images/stories/Bad_News_For_Outlaws_Study_Guide.doc
Louisiana Young Readers’ Choice study guide
http://scasl.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/2011-2012-Activity-Guides.pdf
South Carolina Book Award study guide
http://www.islma.org/2012BluestemResources/BadNewsOutlaws.pdf
Illinois Bluestem Award
Activities:
Create a biocube from readwritethink.org
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/cube_creator/media/planning_bio.pdf
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/bio_cube/
Figurative Language:
From http://lspechin.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html
Simile: Page 7, “Bass took to guns like a bear to honey…”
Simile: Page 6, “And he was as honest as the day is long.”
Simile: Page 15, “But Bass was right as rain from the boot heals up.”
Simile: Page 24, “Belle was about as far from tender as boot leather.”
Metaphor: Page 7, “Even as a youngster, his star shone bright.”
Sophisticated language: Page 10, “The territory became a haven for the West’s most notorious
outlaws.”
Symbolism through illustration: Bass Reeves’ large black hat demonstrates authority
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Blue Chameleon
Emily Gravett
Websites:
http://www.emilygravett.com/
Author’s website—includes chameleon coloring page (under activities)
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/04/blue-chameleon.html#axzz2ApjU9Yzh
Good ideas for ESL students
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Emily-Gravett/35393029?mcd=cd_GoodReads
Official publisher page
Activities:
*be sure students know what a chameleon is before reading
*discuss the concepts of fitting in, being happy with who you are, etc.
*have students move their bodies in the shapes the chameleon tries
*discuss how the chameleon is literally and figuratively blue
*discuss adjectives and nouns
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
City Dog, Country Frog
Mo Willems
Websites:
http://www.teachingchildrenphilosophy.org/wiki/City_Dog,_Country_Frog
Discussion ideas for different age groups
http://charlotteaward.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/resources-for-city-dog-country-frog/
New York State Reading Award ideas
www.mowillems.com
Author’s website
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/jon-j-muth
Illustrator’s biography
http://www.texaslibrarian.com/picture-books/city-dog-country-frog-by-mo-willems/
Lesson idea with seasons
http://ncteacherstuff.blogspot.com/2010/08/city-dog-country-frog.html
Review and thoughts about reading the book to different age groups
http://teacherthinktank.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/city-dog-country-frog/
Lesson plan from Teacher Think Tank
http://margodill.com/blog/2010/10/20/city-dog-country-frog/
Margo Dill’s blog with discussion questions
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=8308e3ed-29d1-4457-8242-cd1d8f64787d Smart
Exchange—you’ll have to create a free account—Smartboard lesson
http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=4066531&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
Story behind the story—interesting for us!
http://unosummer2011childrenslit.wikispaces.com/City+Dog%2C+Country+Frog
UNO Wiki
http://all4mychild.com/city-dog-country-frog/
All4mychild blog—discussion questions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5co8FZXz0o
Interview with Mo Willems about the book
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
www.ilfonline.org%2Fclientuploads%2F20122013%2520YHBA%2520Picture%2520Book%2520Resources%2FActivity_sheet_CityDogCountryFrog.do
cx.doc
from Indiana Library Federation
http://www.rif.org/us/literacy-resources/multicultural/city-dog-country-frog.htm
RIF resources
Activities:
*discussion of seasons
*discussion of what happens to the frog? Some children will believe he is still hibernating; others will
think he has died or moved away.
*create a Readers’ Theatre for the dog, frog, chipmunk, and several narrators
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime
Bob Shea
Websites:
http://vimeo.com/1658533
author reading aloud the book
http://bobshea.com/index.html
Author’s website
http://www.nickjr.com/kids-videos/storytime-dinosaur-vs-bedtime.html
Nick, Jr.—storytime video
http://www.childcarelounge.com/general-themes/dinosaurs.php
lots of rhymes, poems, and crafts
http://thevoicesinsidemyheadphones.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/flannelfriday-craft-dinosaur-vs/
Dinosaur vs. __________ writing/drawing activity
http://molib.org/awards/buildingblock/nominees/nominees.html
Two separate activity sheets from the Missouri Library Association
Activities:
Rhyming
“Five Funny Dinosaurs”
Five funny dinosaurs letting out a roar.
One went away, and then there were four.
Four funny dinosaurs munching on a tree.
One went away, and then there were three.
Three funny dinosaurs didn’t know what to do.
One went away, and then there were two.
Two funny dinosaurs having lots of fun.
One went away, and then there was one.
One funny dinosaur afraid to be a hero.
He went away, and then there was zero.
“Dinosaur, Dinosaur”
Dinosaur, dinosaur, turn around
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch the ground
Dinosaur, dinosaur, reach up high
Dinosaur, dinosaur, wink one eye
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch your nose
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch your toes
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Dinosaur, dinosaur, slap your knees
Dinosaur, dinosaur, sit down please
Ideas from margodill.com:
1. Your students or child will have fun thinking of other things our little dinosaur friend can challenge
and beat. What are some things in their daily lives that they might find challenging? Getting on the
school bus? Eating peas? Sharing with a sibling? Ask students to draw themselves as a dinosaur versus
a challenge in their lives. Then ask them to draw themselves defeating their opponents.
2. Your students will love reading this book with you. It is a great book for shared reading because of
the repeatable text and all the roaring that goes on. Once you read the book through one time, your
students or your child will probably be able to read right along with you.
3. What animal would your students or child like to pretend they are? As a shared writing activity, you
can change the animal from a dinosaur to a tiger or dog or whatever animal your students choose.
Instead of roaring, will they bark or growl? Have fun with the text, and create your own version of
Dinosaur vs. Bedtime for your classroom
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
The Fox in the Dark
Alison Green
Websites:
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/paperbag/
paperbag puppets
http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/paper_bag.htm
more paperbag puppets
http://www.abcteach.com/directory/fun-activities-crafts-paper-bag-puppets-3528-2-1
some more…
http://cbolding.wikispaces.com/file/view/Alphabet+puppets.pdf
this is where I got the duck
http://www.alabamaaitc.org/uploadedFiles/File/threebagsfull.pdf
this is where I got the sheep
http://www.deborahallwright.com/
Illustrator’s website
Activities:
Make paperbag puppets to act out the story:
Rabbit
Duck
Mouse
Lamb
Fox (baby and mom)
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Goal!
Mina Javaherbin
Websites:
http://www.chickadeeaward.org/2011-2012/Booklet2012.pdf
Activity sheet from the Maine book award
http://minajavaherbin.com/blog/?page_id=82
http://minajavaherbin.com
Author’s website
http://californiayoungreadermedal.org/ResourceGuide2011_2012/10PBOR.pdf
California Young Reader Medal ideas
http://www.teachmentortexts.com/2011/11/goal.html#axzz2AvpPP243
blog post from teachmentortexts
http://www.agfordillustration.com/main.html
Illustrator’s website
Activities:
http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/soccer_crafts.htm - A website with a variety of soccer related crafts
including soccer ball beanbags and soccer player finger puppets.
http://crafts.kaboose.com/paper-plate-soccer-plaque.html - Make a paper plate soccer plaque
From the Texas Bluebonnet list:
1. Self to text-- Venn Diagrams (hoola hoops and real life diagrams) comparing this book and students’
lives. Possible topics:
a. Similarities and differences between this book and my life
b. My Soccer (or other outdoor game they like to play) and Soccer in the book
c. Some items to consider:
i. Water
ii. Alley
iii. Homework
iv. Bucket
v. Soccer
vi. Fear
vii. Football
viii. Cry-babies
ix. Goal
x. World Cup
xi. Bullies
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
xii. Do over
xiii. Drawing sticks
xiv. Steal
xv. Corner Kick
xvi. Dribble
2. Setting: Look for text and visual keys about the setting. Compare with information on the geography
of South Africa to see if this is authentic information. Sources: Culturegrams and the CIA Handbook:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html
3. On a world map find South Africa.
4. On the same map mark the countries that have won the world cup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Cup_Trophy
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
I Need My Monster
Amanda Noll
Websites:
http://www.amandanoll.com/
Author’s website
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkJrw4YuvHs
Book readaloud on YouTube by Sara Jackson Chan
http://flashlightpress.com/Make_a_Monster.html
Make your own monster
http://www.schooltube.com/video/339fd760f8433912a72a/
Readaloud by libraryman
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-I-Need-My-Monster-Writing-Activity
Graphic organizer for writing
http://shannonsbooknook.com/?p=2969
Some craftsy ideas
http://www.flashlightpress.com/I_Need_My_Monster_Activity_Guide.html
Lesson ideas from publisher’s website
http://www.whiteboardblog.co.uk/2009/02/make-a-monster/
Make a monster—Interactive White Board activity
http://www.teachersnotebook.com/
Mentor text unit, $5
http://www.gips.org/district-services/technology/student-projects/gsower1213/golden-sower-20112012/primary-nominees4/monster
Lesson ideas from Grand Island, Nebraska
Activities:
After reading the story, have students draw “their” monster. Write a description of the monster. Trade
the description with a friend and have the friend draw the monster from the description. Compare the
two monsters. Compile all the monsters into a class book.
Students pair off and one sits with his/her back to the other who has a piece of paper and pencil. The
student facing away from the other is the "describer" who describes his/her perfect monster and the
other student draws the monster as the describer dictates. This forces the "describer" to use all kinds
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
of detailed information and adjectives like: "It has a very large egg shaped head that is mostly bald with
a few spikes of long dark hair near the front of its head. Its eyes are about midway down the head and
are small, beady and close together with very thick eyebrows just above the eyes and shaped almost
like a straight line with a little droop near the end on the outer part of each eye." This kind of exercise
will increase awareness in descriptive detail and adjective awareness. It will also help to increase the
imaginative awareness of the "describer" and the "drawer." An extension of this activity would be to
use just adjectives to describe the monsters on each page. This activity will encourage the kids to
develop a great list of descriptive words that will hopefully be incorporated into their writing
assignments.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
I Want My Hat Back
Jon Klassen
Websites:
http://teachingwithpicturebooks.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/i-want-my-hat-back-by-jon-klassen/
Lesson plan
http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/11/i-want-my-hat-back.html
Lesson plan
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=143084778&m=14308
4767
Daniel Pinkwater reads it aloud
http://www.scribd.com/doc/63664405/I-Want-My-Hat-Back-Activity-Sheet
Make Your Own Hat Activity Sheet
http://vimeo.com/26020662
Book Trailer
Activities:
Create a Readers’ Theatre with the bear and other animals. Students can work in small groups while
reading it together (so all can participate)
From the PrimaryLibraryLessons wiki at http://primarylibrarylessons.wikispaces.com/
Materials:
1. Sentence strips with phrases “OK. Thank you anyway.” and “Have you seen my hat?” written in
black and “No. I haven’t seen your hat.” written in red.
2. Smart document with t-chart with headings “How do you predict bear will solve his problem?”
and “How bear really solves his problem.”
3. Smart document with t-chart with headings “In my opinion, I like how the story ends” and “In
my opinion, I do NOT like how a story ends.”
Procedure:
1. Ask students to think of one special item they have that they would be very sad to find was
missing. After 5 seconds of thinking in their heads, they should turn-and-talk to a partner.
2. Introduce the book I Want My Hat Back by John Klassen and begin reading. Stop after a few
pages to fill in Main Character, Setting, and Problem on smart board. While reading, encourage
students to read repetitive phrases chorally. Use sentence strips to provide visual support.
3. Just before the surprise ending, ask students to predict how the bear is going to solve the
problem. Record a few ideas on t-chart.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
4. Read surprise ending. Discuss what happens. They will need to infer the ending based on the
illustration. Refer to the t-chart and write (or reveal) the real solution.
5. Then ask students to develop an opinion about whether they like the way the story ended and
why. Think for 30 seconds and then turn-and-talk with a partner.
6. Then, one at a time, students come to the board to vote for either “In my opinion, I like the way
the story ends.” or “In my opinion, I do NOT like the way the story ends.”
7. If time permits, play “Have you seen my hat? Game” (source: www.candlewick.com “Read to
Us! Story-Hour Kit”, Fall 2011). Model this activity after the well-known game “Hot Potato.”
Find an object to represent bear’s hat. It could be something in the shape of a triangle or any
item that is red. Have children sit in a circle. Begin by giving one child the item. Explain that the
child with the item should turn to the person on his or her right and ask, “Have you seen my
hat?” The other child should respond, “No.” The first child should say, “Okay. Thank you,
anyway” and hand the item to the child who said “No.” Have children continue this routine
until you say, “Stop.” The child left holding the item when you say “Stop” must sit in the center
of the circle. At the end of the next round, the child left holding the “hat” should take his or her
place in the center of the circle, and the process is repeated until the game is over.
Craftsy Things:
From playingbythebook.net
So here’s what we did. M and J draw round saucers on coloured card…
…then cut out their circles.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
They put a dot in the middle (or thereabouts) of their circle and draw “a large pizza slice” to cut out.
The pac-man shaped card was turned into a cone, sellotaped shut and then a little bit of elastic was
threaded through two holes made by a hole punch.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Hats were decorated with stickers (and lavender sticks!) and then proudly worn by all sorts of
sartorially savvy animals.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Immi’s Gift
Karin Littlewood
Websites:
http://totallytots.blogspot.com/2011/04/now-i-know-my-abcs-ii-is-for-igloo.html
Igloo handwriting page & igloo craft
http://childrenschoiceaward.wikispaces.com/file/detail/Immi's+Gift.docx
From the Washington Children’s Choice Picture Book Award
http://teacherweb.com/FL/ShoreAcresElementary/MrsClement/gallery3.aspx
Main idea writing activity
http://www.spelloutloud.com/2011/04/salt-dough-necklaces/
Salt dough necklaces activity
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/ThemeIndianCraftsTribeInuit.html
Inuit crafts
www.pocketwatchgames.com/d/Lesson%202%20-%20Inuit.pdf
From Pocketwatch games
http://www.ehow.com/info_7835252_primary-school-eskimo-activities.html
Primary school Eskimo activities
http://www.crayola.com/for-educators/lesson-plans/lesson-plan/stone--bone-inuit-carvings.aspx
Stone & bone carvings with Crayola products
Activities:
1. Create salt dough necklaces like Immi’s in the book. This is a good recipe:
1 cup salt
2 cups flour
1 cup water
I found that I needed to refrigerate the dough to be able to cut the shapes and transfer to
cookie sheets. The dough hardens in 24-36 hours, or you can bake it for 2-3 hours at 200
degrees F. You can paint the shapes after the dough is dried, using acrylic paint.
2. Fishing with letter I words like Immi fishing in the book. Use a stick or dowel for a fishing pole,
attach a string with a magnet on the end. Put a paperclip on the I word cards and let the students fish
for a word and then say it, write it, match it, whatever…
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Mirror, Mirror: A Book of Reversible Verse
Marilyn Singer
Websites:
http://teachingwithpicturebooks.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/mirror-mirror-a-book-of-reversibleverse-by-marilyn-singer/
Blog post
http://vwlitblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/mirror-mirror-book-of-reversible-verse.html
Blog post
http://sixtraitgurus.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/mirror-mirror-a-book-of-reversible-verse/
Blog post
http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/images/yr/pdf/LessonPlans_MirrorMirror.pdf
Publisher’s Guide for Educators
www.chickadeeaward.org/2011-2012/Booklet2012.pdf
Maine’s State Award booklet with ideas
http://www.atpe.org/resources/educators/bookclubfiles/11Sept3-6_Questions.pdf
Association of Texas Professional Educators
www.grandcanyonreaderaward.org/resources/NCCBABooklet2012.pdf
North Carolina Children’s Book Award
Activities:
The publisher’s guide and other states’ Awards packets have lots of good ideas for sharing this book of
poetry.
I plan to have pairs of students choose their favorite poem from the book to practice and then perform
for the class.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Say Hello to Zorro
Carter Goodrich
Websites:
http://books.simonandschuster.net/Say-Hello-to-Zorro!/Carter-Goodrich/9781416938934 Publisher’s
website for teachers
http://authors.simonandschuster.ca/Carter-Goodrich/20453853
Publisher’s official author website
Activities:
From http://hnewmanart.blogspot.com:
Mr. Bud has his schedule and it's a schedule he loves. Write up a plan for the day with your child. Is it
the same every day? What changes and why? Write up a schedule for a day where anything is possible!
Flying lessons with a Pteranodon? Right after breakfast. Swimming with a mermaid? Two o'clock in the
afternoon.
Call your local animal shelter or wildlife rescue facility and see what they have on their wish list. Have a
classroom or neighborhood fundraiser to help provide supplies for the animals that don't have homes.
What kinds of activities does your child like to do with a friend? What do they like to do alone? Why?
What makes some things more fun to do with a friend?
If you have a dog, take him out for a walk!
From librarianschoices.blogspot.com:
This book can be used to focus on schedules, time, and chronological order. Children can list and
illustrate their own preferred schedule or order a provided list of typical daily activities. The book can
also be used to prompt a discussion about pets and their unique personalities. Or, it can lead listeners
to consider and discuss changes in their lives, such as the addition of a new sibling to the family, and
ways to positively handle these disruptions.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
Underground: Finding the Light to Freedom
Shane Evans
Websites:
http://us.macmillan.com/underground-2/ShaneEvans
Publisher’s website
http://www.shaneevans.com/underground/index.html
Author’s website
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/articlereview/889036-451/shane_w._evans_the_journey.csp
SLJ article
http://bookpage.com/interview/7-questions-with-.-.-.-shane-w.-evans
Article with author
http://pursuitoffreedom.org/resources.html
In Pursuit of Freedom
Activities:
From www.beautifulbooksforchildren.com: Activities for Kids:
Look on a map to see where the Underground Railroad traveled. If you live close enough, consider
even visiting one of the stops that still remains.
Just like in the book, we all rely on each other for help when we need it. Find one creative way to help
someone today: whether it is as simple as doing a chore for another family member, writing a letter to
a relative to cheer them up, or sending a care package to a child in another country.
Think of something that was really hard for you to do. How did you feel when you accomplished it?
Who helped you get there?
Culture Differences: This book does a great job of showing people as people and not demonizing or
undermining any group.
From classroombookshelf.blogspot.com:
Grades K-2

Emergent Literacy and Higher Level Comprehension. The simple text of this book provides a
fantastic opportunity for young students to practice high frequency words and predictable
patterns. However, simple decoding is not all this book requires. For many students, this may
be the first time they learn about slavery, let alone the Underground Railroad. The combination
of simple decoding but complex meaning-making makes this book a fantastic resource for
helping young students develop different reading skills at once. Use this book as a read aloud,
or perhaps a guided reading text with a small group, to have them work on their emergent
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
literacy skills: using picture clues, high frequency words, and predictable word and sentence
patterns to figure out the text. And of course, support students’ comprehension of the text by
engaging them in discussions about the Underground Railroad.
Grades 3 and up

Precise and Concise Language. One of the most striking features of Underground is its simple,
yet effectively terse text. Engage students in a discussion about how Evans manages to convey
so much with so few words. This may naturally involve discussions and activities involving
synonyms and deliberations about the different connotations certain synonyms have.
Encourage students to revisit some of their own writing and try revising their language with
more precise, concise, and powerful words.

Examining Mood. The mood of a story is the atmospheric and emotional impact it has on
readers (while tone is the author’s outlook and attitude on the topic). Evans employs both
language and illustration to evoke a particular mood in Underground. How might the mood of
the story be changed if he had used different words or pictures? For example, the book opens
with just two words: “The darkness.” Have students write a short story that specifically
highlights a certain mood—or have them revisit a piece they have already begun and revise it to
really emphasize the mood they want their audience to feel.

The Power of Light. Picture book illustrators often use the concept of light to accent the mood
of a story. For instance, to complement the opening sentence, the only colors on the first page
are black, blue, and scattered bits of white. Notice how Evans plays with color, shadows, lines,
and sources of light across the pages of Underground. Facilitate a discussion about the
illustrations, and conduct similar inquiries across other picture books. Jacqueline Woodson’s
Coming on Home Soon (illustrated by E. B. Lewis) and Robert Burleigh’s One Giant Leap
(illustrated by Mike Wimmer) are two examples of picture books that students can examine for
their incorporation of light to accentuate the mood of the story.
Critical Literacy

Rescuers, Bystanders, Followers, and Leaders. A whole host of people participated in the
Underground Railroad, playing different roles to ensure its success. Among those roles are
those of a rescuer, bystander, follower, and leader. But how are each of those roles
represented in children’s literature about this phenomenon? For example, are slaves depicted
as dependent on the benevolence of others, or are they shown to be self determined and
resourceful? What roles do wealthy people play, or people of other races? Gather a text set
about the Underground Railroad and survey their depictions of characters in these roles. How
might the different representations as a whole uphold or break stereotypes? And how might
the discoveries made through this activity inspire students to reconstruct some of their
knowledge about this part of American history? The titles listed in the Further Explorations
section below are useful for this activity.
VaASL Fall Conference 2012
VRC Extension Activities
From librarianchoices.blogspot.com:
CONNECTIONS
For younger readers: Darken the room and gradually increase the amount of light. Encourage children to identify
emotions they experienced throughout the process. Next, repeat the exercise but this time focus on the affect
the light has on vision.
For older readers: Evans uses light as a symbol. Identify ways that darkness and light and color choice have been
used as symbols throughout history, in literature, and in popular media.