April 2019 – Jackson Elementary Library

Last week in the Jackson Library, second grade learned about compound words. After reading Walton’s Once I Was a Bull…Frog book, the kids came up to the poster to match the second half of the word to the first. It helped to put the picture of the compound word on the second half. (ESL modification) At the tables, they created compound words with plastic egg halves. This part of the lesson is from The Lesson Plan Diva. I gave each group the same words written on plastic Easter egg halves and when the timer started, they had to put them together to create compound words. The first two winning groups to put all of their eggs together correctly received graphic novel/magazine passes. Check out the video of the kids at work!

compound words game from The Lesson Plan Diva

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April 23, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Fiction or Nonfiction?

Posted in nonfiction lesson

Last week in the Jackson Library, second graders learned about the differences between fiction books and nonfiction books. We used Shannon Miller‘s Cantada series Fiction or Nonfiction ? book and listened to the song. Then the kids practiced categorizing different magnetic mini book covers using the dry erase easel. At the tables, the kids cut and categorized different book titles. Learning about different types of books is fun!

fiction or nonfiction

fiction or nonfiction book

Kahoot Assessment

April 22, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Seeds of Kindness

Posted in character education, picture book lesson, and technology

I had second grade predict what the rabbit and mouse would do when the threatening birds approached in the gorgeous book, If You Plant a Seed. They are happily munching away on the fruits and vegetables from their garden when the birds approach with menacing looks. Among the ‘hide your fruits and vegetables’ and ‘hurry and eat them’, a couple of kids thought of the idea to share them. We discussed the power of a kind deed and brainstormed ways they could show an act of kindness before they left school that day. I gave them the maple seed model pattern and they were to write an act of kindness on that seed and then they let the seeds float up and away. Hopefully, it gave them something to think about as they ended their day in the library.

act of kindness

looping forward/backward video by Boomerang

1 Make a Whirly Seed

2 Write a kind deed you can do on the seed

3 send it flying into the world

Spinning Seed Instructions

Make a Seed Spinner

NASA Rotor Motor Seed Pattern

Technology Station

April 20, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Fun with Chris P. Bacon

Posted in nonfiction lesson, and picture book lesson

Last week in the Jackson Library, first grade had fun reading a nonfiction book about the cutest pig ever, Chris P. Bacon! The true story of Chris P. Bacon explains how this pig born without back legs was rescued by a kind veterinarian. We read the book Dr. Len wrote himself and learned how he designed a wheelchair for the pig using K’Nex toys. Chris P. Bacon inspired us by showing us that it is good to be ‘unique’!

CPB

video

Time To Play video

PBS

Technology Station

comment on CPB post

April 18, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Thank You

Posted in fun events

Thank you to the outstanding Instructional Specialists at Jackson Elementary for making National Library Week awesome! It’s a gift just to work at Jackson!

April 14, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Our OK Book

Posted in picture book lesson, and technology

The week before STAAR testing, first graders created their own digital book based on Rosenthal and Lichtenheld’s book, The OK Book. The book shows the stick figure shaped like the letters ‘OK’ attempting different hobbies and activities. The figure isn’t very good at these activities yet, but that is ‘ok’ and one day they will find their favorite hobby and talent. The kids used DoodleBuddy to create their pictures and AnyFlip to publish. Check out first grade’s book!

LINK

The OK Book collage

April 10, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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What Will Hatch?

Posted in nonfiction lesson, and picture book lesson

Last week in the Jackson Library, kindergarteners listened to Jennifer Ward’s What Will Hatch? They were surprised to see a crocodile and a platypus in this nonfiction book! They drew lines to match the animal to its egg at the tables and decorated an egg at the computer station.

What will Hatch – connect type of egg to type of animal

What Animals Lay Eggs? video

What will hatch match

April 7, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Little Blue and Little Yellow

Posted in picture book lesson

Kindergarten loved the Lionni story, Little Blue and Little Yellow. We discussed what a ‘classic’ book is and how this book is still loved even though it is very old. At the tables, they tore pieces from yellow and blue squares to create their own little yellow and little blue and then they drew a game for them to play together. Check out our library bulletin board!

Little Blue and Little Yellow

Little Blue/Little Yellow Art/Writing Activity

Spa Pequeno Azul y Pequeno Amarillo Actividad

Little blue and little yellow bulletin board

bull bd

Little Blue and Little Yellow Safeshare

Spanish

April 2, 2019

Amy Kincaid

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Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks

Posted in picture book lesson, reading skills, and TTESS 1819

Third grade had fun drawing conclusions, using prefixes, choosing the correct definition from a dictionary excerpt, and using context clues during the story, Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks today in the Jackson Library. Before the story, we discussed important vocabulary words like dojo, wok, and menace, and we watched a video of kids practicing Ninjutsu. After the story, they played a Kahoot game in pairs and then we danced to Kung Fu Fighting. Fun!

Ninja Chicks