Recommended Reading:  The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer illustrations by Steve Johnsonfiction Grades: Preschool-2nd Lexile Level: AD440L Selected because: Stunning illustrations. A child finds a salamander and brings it home where an invisible parent asks life needs questions (where will it sleep, what will it eat?). With each response, more of the salamander's complex ecosystem ends up in the child's room until instead of a salamander being transported into a bedroom, the bed winds up in a forest. Suggested activities: This guided reading plan from Achieve the Core culminates in a persuasive letter demonstrating understanding of habitat, though we recommend that the persuasive letter be about a wild animal native to Virginia instead of a pet as illustrated in the lesson example. The plan also includes a companion text set with suggested activities. Note: This is aligned with Common Core 1st
grade skills, but can be easily scaffolded to 3rd grade reading and is recommended for use with English Language Learners.  Olinguito, From A to Z by Lulu Delacrenon-fiction Grades: 2-3rd Lexile Level: AD730L Selected because: Bilingual (Spanish/English) alphabet book describes organisms and interactions of the cloud forest. Alliterative focus is on Spanish text. A glossary of organisms and additional information included at the end. *This is a favorite of Emily Ford. Suggested activities: Superb teacher's guide (PDF) (with curriculum connection suggestions) and activity kit (PDF) available at the publisher's website. Observe and identify organisms in the school habitat. Create alliterative sentences for each organisms, translate into another language (work with school resources or a middle/high school language class for translation).  non-fiction Grades: 3-6 Lexile Level: 900L Selected because: Suggested activities: This is part of the National Science Teachers' Association (NSTA) "Next Time You See a..." series. Activities designed by NSTA include a "Pill Bug Anticipation Guide" (PDF) and "Pill Bug Checkpoint Lab" (PDF). We also recommend using this in conjunction with the following book, Hank's Big Day: The Story of a Bug, to allow students to compare fiction and nonfiction.  fiction Grades: K-3 Lexile Level: AD550L Selected because: The "bug's" eye view (if you read the non-fiction Next Time You See a Pill Bug, you know that Hank is an isopod, a type of non-insect arthropod also known as a terrestrial crustacean) challenges readers to view the world through the perspective of a tiny creature. Hank's adventures through the book include vivid verb and adjective choice, and interactions with multiple parts of the habitat. The primary human character is a strong, adventurous girl, and Hank's best friend. Suggested activities: We recommend using this in conjunction with the above book, Next Time You See a Pillbug, to allow students to compare fiction and nonfiction. |
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