Do you have an all-time, very favorite author? This is
the first in a series of posts about teaching with books by
my all time, most very favorite author, Tomie dePaola.
I adore Tomie books and they have a very special place
in my little teacher heart!
I have so much to show you that I’ve spread it
out into several parts. And…I’ve added a giveaway,
a linky, and some freebies along the way! It’s a GIVE-A-LI-BEE!
OK, I just made that word up but if you love Tomie books
you definitely don’t want to miss the giveaway at the end of this post!
(*Update: The giveaway is now closed)
We’re working our way through my Tomie dePaola Author Study
and started out by reading Little Grunt and the Big Egg.
We spent some time discussing
story elements and created this class chart.
Later, during our literacy stations, the kids got to take their
ideas and make these movable dinosaur eggs.
To extend our discussion of story elements I had my kiddos
make these story maps.
You can download a copy {HERE}
This is a chart we made last year while working on drawing conclusions.
Since Little Grunt had a pet dinosaur, we realized he might
need some help learning how to take care of it.
So during our writing block we made these nonfiction writing templates
to write informational books on caring
for your prehistoric pets. We’ve focused lot on using informational text
and the importance and purpose of its many features
so they were pretty confident about how to go about it.
We started by doing some dinosaur research and taking notes to be able to
include truefacts in our “fictional informational” books. One of my boys was
so excited,”Mrs. Kamp! Mrs. Kamp, I think we just created a new genre!”
Don’t you just love it when that happens?
Each book included a table of contents, diagrams,
multiple headings,and illustrations
with captions.They also included a glossary at the end.
I love how these turned out! My kids took this very seriously and really tried
to include everything you would need to know to care for a prehistoric pet.
Almost all of them included a section on what to do if it had babies!
One of my little friends said, “Well, in real life you should RUN!”
We’ve been talking a lot about word choice and
shades of meaning in our writing and I thought this would be a
vivid example of how an author chooses just the right words
to help the reader “see” and “feel” the story.
Plus….my kids are OBSESSED with HOT LAVA!
After a second reading, we brainstormed words and phrases from
the text that helped us create mental images and wrote them
on these sticky notes.
I have several copies of the book and in our small groups students
found and marked passages they felt provided them with a good mental
picture of an erupting volcano. I also asked them to determine which of their
five senses added to their visualization.
They then recorded what they found.
On a side note, I’ve been doing something different with my
anchor charts this year. I love making them and my kids love it
when we use them. They can’t wait to see what the next “picture”
is going to be! But it takes time, so in an effort to work smarter
not harder,I’ve been looking for ways to reuse them! Have you seen
these glue sticks? Ummm… Yes, please! I cut out the shapes
I want or have my students do it and voila! instant sticky note!
Laminate is a valuable commodity at my school and in limited supply!
I stopped laminating charts for that reason but also because the light reflects
on the plastic and makes them hard to read from most places in my room.
I want my kiddos to refer back to them but that can’t happen
if they can’t see them!So I started using packing tape to wrap and fortify
the corners. I then staple over the tape
when I hang the charts and they don’t tear when I remove them! Ha!
My kids usually need a lot of practice writing dialogue and using
quotation marks correctly.That and the fact that they love
ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that looks like a comic book
and or is remotely related to a graphic novel we wrote Cave Kids Comics!
We compared a caveman to a modern man. I’m continually
working with my kids to go deeper and use higher level
thinking when comparing and contrasting. None of this
“They’re both boys” stuff. or “They both have hair.”
Makes me a little crazy. I asked them to think past the
“outside” and the obvious visual information on the page
and think instead about the “inside” of a modern man
and a cave man.
I was really impressed with what they came up with!
I love “goes to grocer”!Grocer was one of our spelling words
the week before(Yay! He remembered AND used it AND
spelled it correctly!) and not oneof my kiddos had ever heard it
before. It turned into one of those”you could never
have planned it if you tried” teachable moments that we all love!
We ended up talking aboutequivalent weights and
measurement. It makes myteacher heart so happy when
that happens! Did you know that the root word
of grocery is grossus? In latin it means “large, bulky, thick”.
The idea being that a grocer buys things in ‘grosses’ or large quantities
such as a ‘gross’. There’s your vocabulary lesson for the day!
I love “goes to grocer”!Grocer was one of our spelling words
the week before(Yay! He remembered AND used it AND
spelled it correctly!) and not oneof my kiddos had ever heard it
before. It turned into one of those”you could never
have planned it if you tried” teachable moments that we all love!
We ended up talking aboutequivalent weights and
measurement. It makes myteacher heart so happy when
that happens! Did you know that the root word
of grocery is grossus? In latin it means “large, bulky, thick”.
The idea being that a grocer buys things in ‘grosses’ or large quantities
such as a ‘gross’. There’s your vocabulary lesson for the day!
You can find all of this and much more in my
Tomie dePaola Author Study
Tomie dePaola Author Study
If you like these ideas why not share with your teacher friends or pin for later?
Click on the links below to see more posts in this series.
Teaching with Tomie dePaola Books: Little Grunt and the Big Egg
**This giveaway is now closed**
Win a copy of my Tomie Author Study and a 10-book set of Tomie dePaola books!
PLUS…The Art Lesson Interactive CD-ROM!
I found this little oldie but goodie on Amazon and my class LOVES it!
I loaded it onto my student computers to use during literacy centers and it’s been a huge hit!
Enter below to win!
Thanks so much for stopping by! For more ideas and activities to teach with Tomie books
visit my Tomie dePaola board on Pinterest!
visit my Tomie dePaola board on Pinterest!
I LOVE, LOVE LOVE Tomie! I was able to meet him years ago and get my book signed. He's one of my favorite authors! Hoping to add your unit to my collection. Thanks for sharing!!
Wow, what a post! I entered and I am your newest follower on your blog and pinterest (not sure why I wasn't already following) I can't wait to read more – your unit looks amazing!
Heather
Kickin' It With Class
This looks amazing! I'm your newest follower!
-Becky
Lesson Plans and Lattes
Found you via Pinterest- and you sparked my interest! This is my first year teaching first grade and I would LOVE to have all these valuable resources! I sighed up for the give-away fingers crossed 🙂 Thanks for the great ideas and inspiration!
Thanks so much for sharing this, Rosemary! The teachers in your area must love it! I wonder if he still visits schools?
I'd love to visit a gallery of his work! I'm emailing you now to get details!
Thanks, Rachel and happy birthday!!
Yay! I hope you win, Jen!
Hi Mona, I wish he would come to Arizona! Do you think he still travels and does that sort of thing? I would love to own some of his original artwork! Did you purchase it from his website?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Oh, I would LOVE to hear Tomie present! That must have been wonderful! How exciting!
Thanks so much Heidi! I'm so glad you like it and hope you can use some of the ideas and the Little Grunt story map!
Me too, Aimee! Meeting Tomie dePaola is at the very top of my bucket list!
I would love to win this! You are so creative, too!
Deb
debinderry@gmail.com
Hi Linda,
I am lucky to live and teach in New Hampshire. Tomie de Paola lives nearby. I have been able to meet him and hear him speak several times. He is always one of my "Author of the Month" stars. My kids love all of Tomie's books and like finding his stars, angels, hearts, etc. in all his books. Currently, an art gallery in the next town is having a show of Tomie's work and I need to get there soon! I would love to win your unit!
rosemarykn at comcast.net
Linda,
You are amazing! I love everything you do! This is the cutest Tomie unit EVER! 🙂 I've never won a blog giveaway, but this would be a great one to start with! I'm going to share it on my blog (probably a bad idea if I want to win, huh?) today!
Amanda
Teaching Maddeness
I love Tomie! I'd love to win this 🙂 nataliej728@gmail.com
Recess and Beyond
LOVE Tomie and LOVE this giveaway!!! My fingers are crossed 🙂
Halle
Across the Hall in 2nd Grade
I think I could become a new Tomie fan:).
Barbara
Grade ONEderful
Ruby Slippers Blog Designs
Yes, I know you are a Tomie lover like me! Check out my Tomie board :0) http://pinterest.com/lindakamp/tomie-depaola/
I'm off to find yours so I can follow!
LOVE his books!! and your creativity (so do my kiddos 😉 ) I actually met him when I was subbing in Asheville NC .. such a nice man !! This is such an awesome giveaway!!! Thanks for the chance at winning this 🙂
Karen
tommysmom0206@yahoo.com
I must win! I must WIn! =)
Rachel
this looks unbelievable!!
Wow! So many things to pin here!!!
You know I have a Tomie obsession as well 🙂 I can't wait to see the rest of the series. I think I need a Tomie board…infact I will create it right now!
Thanks for all the ideas!
Maribel
ooooh – I'm crossing all my fingers and toes!
Hi Linda,
Tomie dePaola is also my all time favorite author. I've seen him once at a book signing. He did a lesson on how to draw sheep. I also own original art work from one of his books. I'm in love with his books and his art.
I bet your students loved the prehistoric animal research. Looking forward to your next Tomie de Paola post!
Mona
LOVE THIS… I show him as a keynote speaker at Columbia University in NYC so wonderful. This unit is super!
Iteachkidsabc@gmail.com
:o) V.
Special Teacher for Special Kids
Linda,
This looks as fantastic as everything else you have created! You are amazing!
Heidi
OH.My.Gosh!! Tomie dePaola is my all time favorite children's author!! I would LOVE to win this. My life dream is to meet him!
Aimee
aimee@vanmiddlesworth.org
Pencils, Books, and Dirty Looks