I Am Chinese American
Written by: Amy Lee
Illustrated by: Erin McKenna
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: 2003 by
The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. New York, NY.
ISBN# 0-8239-8092-8
GL: Primary
This is a story is about a little girl, Kim Chang, whose family has moved from
Beijing, China to San Francisco. She is the first Chinese American from her
family to be born in the U.S. Kim describes her religion, history, holidays,
clothing, cuisine, and famous artist in this delightful book.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
See if you can find all the animals of the Chinese zodiac in
this word search puzzle.
Activity #2
Print out one of our Tangram templates - either in color or
black and white - onto cardstock. Cut out very carefully along the lines. Now
use the seven pieces to make "pictures" - either inventing your own or using our
printable Tangram puzzle pages as a challenge (you will find 10 puzzle pages
below). Younger children can lay the Tangram pieces over the printed puzzle
pages and move them around until they fit; older children can just use the
printed page as guidance.
Activity #3
Each student will draw a picture of an interesting fact they
learned about China to create the Great Wall of China in the classroom of on the
bulletin board.
Illustrated by: Erin McKenna
Genre: Nonfiction
Publisher: 2003 by
The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. New York, NY.
ISBN# 0-8239-8092-8
GL: Primary
This is a story is about a little girl, Kim Chang, whose family has moved from
Beijing, China to San Francisco. She is the first Chinese American from her
family to be born in the U.S. Kim describes her religion, history, holidays,
clothing, cuisine, and famous artist in this delightful book.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
See if you can find all the animals of the Chinese zodiac in
this word search puzzle.
Activity #2
Print out one of our Tangram templates - either in color or
black and white - onto cardstock. Cut out very carefully along the lines. Now
use the seven pieces to make "pictures" - either inventing your own or using our
printable Tangram puzzle pages as a challenge (you will find 10 puzzle pages
below). Younger children can lay the Tangram pieces over the printed puzzle
pages and move them around until they fit; older children can just use the
printed page as guidance.
Activity #3
Each student will draw a picture of an interesting fact they
learned about China to create the Great Wall of China in the classroom of on the
bulletin board.
freedom river
Written by: Doreen Rappaport
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Genre:Historical Fiction
Publisher:2007 Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN#13: 9781423106340
GL:3+
This is a historical story about how a former slave, John Parker, helped other slaves to escape utilizing the Underground Railroad and the Ohio River. John encounters a male slave who is afraid to leave his family. John
has to go to great lengths to help this entire family reach freedom.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students will construct their own Freedom River out of tissue paper.
Show students one of the river illustrations from the book. Explain to the
children that they will be making their own Freedom River. Pass out various
pieces of colored-tissue paper, a sheet of construction paper and a glue stick.
Have children tear pieces of the tissue paper into long pieces to show the waves
of the river. Have them continue to tear the colored- tissue paper into long
strips and glue onto the construction paper until they complete a
river.
Activity #2
Students will write a story in the perspective of one of the main
characters. Be sure to include the dangers they face, the route they follow, the
people who help them and what happened when they reached their final
destination.
Activity #3
Have students research the illustrator, Bryan Collier and write two
questions that they have for him regarding his beautiful illustrations in
Freedom River. Have students mail or email the questions to Mr.
Collier.
Illustrated by: Bryan Collier
Genre:Historical Fiction
Publisher:2007 Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN#13: 9781423106340
GL:3+
This is a historical story about how a former slave, John Parker, helped other slaves to escape utilizing the Underground Railroad and the Ohio River. John encounters a male slave who is afraid to leave his family. John
has to go to great lengths to help this entire family reach freedom.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students will construct their own Freedom River out of tissue paper.
Show students one of the river illustrations from the book. Explain to the
children that they will be making their own Freedom River. Pass out various
pieces of colored-tissue paper, a sheet of construction paper and a glue stick.
Have children tear pieces of the tissue paper into long pieces to show the waves
of the river. Have them continue to tear the colored- tissue paper into long
strips and glue onto the construction paper until they complete a
river.
Activity #2
Students will write a story in the perspective of one of the main
characters. Be sure to include the dangers they face, the route they follow, the
people who help them and what happened when they reached their final
destination.
Activity #3
Have students research the illustrator, Bryan Collier and write two
questions that they have for him regarding his beautiful illustrations in
Freedom River. Have students mail or email the questions to Mr.
Collier.
one green apple
Written by: Eve Bunting
Illustrated by: Ted Lewin
Genre: Fiction/Multicultural
Publisher: 2006 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN#13- 9780547350110
GL: 3+
This is a story about Farah, a girl from another country who feels uncomfortable with being the new kid in school. A field trip to an apple orchard with her classmates helps Farah realize that she has more similarities in her new environment than she first realized.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Write a letter from Farah's perspective to an old friend in her home country telling her all
about her life.
Activity #2
Have students break up into groups of three or four and choose a scene from the book. Together
the students will create a "still scene" or tableu from the text. The teacher or other student, will tap each student and ask them to explain what their character is thinking or feeling.
Activity #3
Have students think about their families. Have students think of 5-7 adjectives that describe
themselves, their family, their home or people who are important to them. On the
internet, have the students create a WORDLE with their adjectives and print it
out. Display students WORDLES in the classroom.
Illustrated by: Ted Lewin
Genre: Fiction/Multicultural
Publisher: 2006 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN#13- 9780547350110
GL: 3+
This is a story about Farah, a girl from another country who feels uncomfortable with being the new kid in school. A field trip to an apple orchard with her classmates helps Farah realize that she has more similarities in her new environment than she first realized.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Write a letter from Farah's perspective to an old friend in her home country telling her all
about her life.
Activity #2
Have students break up into groups of three or four and choose a scene from the book. Together
the students will create a "still scene" or tableu from the text. The teacher or other student, will tap each student and ask them to explain what their character is thinking or feeling.
Activity #3
Have students think about their families. Have students think of 5-7 adjectives that describe
themselves, their family, their home or people who are important to them. On the
internet, have the students create a WORDLE with their adjectives and print it
out. Display students WORDLES in the classroom.
thomas alva edison
Written by: Margaret Davidson
Illustrated by: No Illustrator listed
Genre: Autobiography and Biography
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
ISBN# 0-525-44750-4
GL: Pre-K - 3
This is a story about Thomas Edison who created the light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture.
This book is a great way to introduce American history to a classroom full of future inventors, scientists, and
historians.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students will create a collage of Thomas Edison and the different items that he invented. They can be as creative as they like. Students can use pictures from the book, or the internet.
Activity #2
Students will build a box with a light switch that turns on a light bulb. Have children observe the
various components that have gone into building the box. Demonstrate to the students how electric circuits work.
Activity #3
Students will create a timeline about Thomas Edison’s life. Students will highlight all the invention that Thomas Edison created. After creating the timeline students will write a paragraph about their favorite Thomas Edison invention and how it changed the world they live in.
Illustrated by: No Illustrator listed
Genre: Autobiography and Biography
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
ISBN# 0-525-44750-4
GL: Pre-K - 3
This is a story about Thomas Edison who created the light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture.
This book is a great way to introduce American history to a classroom full of future inventors, scientists, and
historians.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students will create a collage of Thomas Edison and the different items that he invented. They can be as creative as they like. Students can use pictures from the book, or the internet.
Activity #2
Students will build a box with a light switch that turns on a light bulb. Have children observe the
various components that have gone into building the box. Demonstrate to the students how electric circuits work.
Activity #3
Students will create a timeline about Thomas Edison’s life. Students will highlight all the invention that Thomas Edison created. After creating the timeline students will write a paragraph about their favorite Thomas Edison invention and how it changed the world they live in.
many nations: an alphabet of native america
Written by: Joseph Bruchac
Illustrated by: Robert F. Goetzl
Genre: Rhymes
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
ISBN# 0-439-63590-X
GL: K - 2
The Alphabet Book informs readers about different Native Americans from the Anishanable Indians to the Zuni Indians. Using each English letter a sentence is given that explains or shows about someone or something of the Native American Culture.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students are going to create a tepee about their culture. Students will use the letters of the
alphabet to decorate their tepee and show others things that pertain to different cultures.
Example: Letter G, someone in his or her culture may play a guitar. Write the letter G and then draw the picture.
Activity #2
As a class, make an alphabet book. Give each student a letter of the alphabet and have him or her write a sentence that has to do with his or her culture. Have the student illustrate their sentence. When finished have each student present their letter. The book they are making will show classroom
diversity.
Activity #3
In groups of 3 or 4 students will pick an Indian tribe from the book. The Indian tribe they pick they will find out information and either write a poem or preform a skit to show what they have learned about that
tribe.
Illustrated by: Robert F. Goetzl
Genre: Rhymes
Publisher: Scholastic Inc
ISBN# 0-439-63590-X
GL: K - 2
The Alphabet Book informs readers about different Native Americans from the Anishanable Indians to the Zuni Indians. Using each English letter a sentence is given that explains or shows about someone or something of the Native American Culture.
ACTIVITIES:
Activity #1
Students are going to create a tepee about their culture. Students will use the letters of the
alphabet to decorate their tepee and show others things that pertain to different cultures.
Example: Letter G, someone in his or her culture may play a guitar. Write the letter G and then draw the picture.
Activity #2
As a class, make an alphabet book. Give each student a letter of the alphabet and have him or her write a sentence that has to do with his or her culture. Have the student illustrate their sentence. When finished have each student present their letter. The book they are making will show classroom
diversity.
Activity #3
In groups of 3 or 4 students will pick an Indian tribe from the book. The Indian tribe they pick they will find out information and either write a poem or preform a skit to show what they have learned about that
tribe.