Showing posts with label Poppins Book Nook. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Poppins Book Nook. Show all posts

Monday, September 28, 2015

The Sign Of The Beaver (Newbery Honor Winner) - Learning About Native Americans

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Newbery Honor Books" Keep reading to learn more about the book we read and grab some great resources. To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This month we read "The Sign of the Beaver". This was our second time reading this book. We chose to read it again because it ties in nicely with the Native American fieldtrips we have over the next few months. The book teaches children about what life was like during the 1700's for pioneers and Native Americanrs. It examines the relationship between two boys from different cultures who come to appreciate each other. In this fantastic survival story children learn details about living in the wilderness and the relationships that formed between white settlers and Indians. With each turn of the page came more excitement and the children begged me yet again to keep reading. Who says books aren't just as good the second time around?

Here are a few of the things we learned about: Maine, natural remedies, relationships, survival, Beaver Clan, stereotypes, cause and effect, values, story elements and more.

Additional Resources:
-Sign of the Beaver movie
-Pan Flute Craft
-Make Your Own Native American Instruments
-Native American Lesson Resources

Native American Journal Page:
I created this journal page to compliment an event we had earlier this year with Chipa Wolf. This FREE Native American Journal Page can be utilized with any Native American event or studies.
Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:


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Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Comparing and Contrasting Books That Were Made Into Movies

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Books That Were Made Into Movies" Keep reading to learn more about the book we read, movies we watched and grab some great resources. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This month we read The Prince and the Pauper. I am sure you are well aware of this classic Mark Twain story that was originally written in 1882. The story takes place in Tudor England. A young ragged peasant boy wanders the streets begging for money. As he passes the golden gates of the Westminster Palace he bumps into the prince who just happens to look just like him. It is a moment that will change both of their lives, forever...

The adaptation we read is part of the Usborne Young Reading collection. The book is 63 pages with large easy to read text and beautiful illustrations.

Picture of Prince and the Pauper, The - YR2

After we read the book we discussed adaptations both in books and movies. Then we watched several movie adaptations of The Prince and the Pauper.




After reading the story and watching a few movie adaptations we completed a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast them. Download a FREE Movie/Novel Venn Diagram.

https://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Venn-Diagram-to-compare-Novel-and-Movie/original-237224-1.jpg


Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:







Books That Were Turned Into Movies Bundle Giveaway!
Hollywood glitz and glamour means nothing without a good story. Some of the places that these block buster movies come from is straight from the pages of our favorite books. This month one lucky entrant will win the Books That Were Turned Into Movies Bundle Giveaway. The winner will receive one copy of each of these storybooks that were turned into movies: The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-PoohCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryCharlotte's Web, and The Gruffalo. So pop some popcorn, jump in your comfy chair, and get ready to enjoy books that were turned into movies this month with the Poppins Book Nook! 

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here.





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Monday, July 27, 2015

Brundibar Story and Opera - Overcoming Adversity

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Composers" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read, craft we made and grab your FREE journal page. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This month we read Brundibar by Maurice Sendak. This book is based on the Czech opera of the same name (which is slang for Bumblebee), with libretto  by Adolf Hoffmeister, set to music by Hans Krasa. The opera was completed in 1938, and performed 55 times by the children of Terezin, a Nazi concentration camp. Krasa who was Jewish, was also imprisoned in Terezin. He died in Auschwitz in 1944.

Brundibar is a great story and a good way to introduce children to the holocaust since the composer was a Jew who lived and died in a concentration camp. The story however is not about the holocaust and teaches important lessons on bullying, friendship, self esteem, overcoming evil and more.

The story itself is a simple one. It is a story of two children who must find help for their sick mother in impossible circumstances. The town bully, Brundibar, prevents them from reaching their goal until a bird, a cat, and a dog advise them to join with their friends and work together to defeat the bully. The children join together, and good wins the day. This is not high drama.

We also utilized our Usborne Geography Encyclopedia to learn more about Germany and the Czech Republic.

Other book recommendations:

-Second World War Cards
-Second World War Sticker Book
-Story of the Second World War
-The World Wars


FREE Resources:
Here are some further resources for learning about this book as well as the holocaust.

-Brundibar lesson plan
-PBS - Brundibar and holocaust lessons
-WWII films for children
-Brundibár - The Children Opera - Holocaust Survivors back on stage!!!
-Original footage -Hans Krása: Brundibár - children's opera and Brundibar Clip   
-Brundibar: A Children's Opera

Crafts:
For our craft we made friendship necklaces since friendship and sticking together is one of the important lessons learned from the book.

Materials:
  • Yarn
  • Connecting puzzle pieces (we used what we had on hand...I would recommend getting blank ones like these)
  • Markers
  • Scissors
  • Hole Punch
Instructions:
  1. Decorate the puzzle pieces and write "best friends," "friends forever," etc on the pieces.
  2. Punch a hole at the top of the pieces.
  3. String a piece of yarn through the hole.
  4. Give one piece to a friend. 

Free Journal Pages:
Here is a biography journal page and music journal page which both complement this book nicely. Download your copy by clicking on the the pictures below.




Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:







Note the Score with your Favorite Composer Giveaway!
Composers are important to music because they write the music the musician play in their orchestras, bands, and groups. This month the Poppins Book Nook is bringing Composer themed storybooks to life with fun activities and more! Every month this group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win the Note the Score with your Favorite Composer Giveaway. The winner will receive one copy of The Story of the Orchestra by Robert Levine. So let’s all get our instruments ready and bring composer themed storybooks to life in this month with the Poppins Book Nook!

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here


Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:




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Monday, June 29, 2015

Exploring The Amazon Rain Forest

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.\


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Forests and Woods" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read, craft we made and grab your FREE journal page. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This month we read Afternoon on the Amazon which is book #6 in the Magic Tree House series. In Afternoon on the Amazon Jack and Annie are whisked away to the Amazon River where they get lost. During their journey they encounter vampire bats, killer ants and man eating fish. Will they ever find their way back to the tree house? Or will they be stuck in the rain forest forever? The book was a great way to teach the children about forests. They learned about the different forest levels, where the Amazon Rain Forest is located and more.

We also utilized our Usborne Geography Encyclopedia to learn more about South America. This book goes along great with the journal page below.

Other book recommendations:
-Rainforests
-Secrets of the Rain Forest
-Rain Forest to Color
-Magic Treehouse Rain Forests Research Guide
-Rain Forest Colors National Geographic
-If I Ran A Rain Forest (Dr. Seuss)
-National Geographic Kids Funny Fill-in: My Rain Forest Adventure 


Crafts:
For our craft we did a mixed media art project to learn more about the rain forest levels.

Materials:
  • White cardstock
  • Green tissue paper (different shades)
  • Corrugated cardboard
  • Markers
  • Scissors
  • Construction paper (optional)
  • Green and brown pipe cleaners (optional)
Instructions:
  1. Cut strips of corrugated cardboard for the tree trunks. You will need 3 different lengths which will represent the emergent layer, canopy layer and understory layer. Glue the cardboard onto the white cardstock. Be sure to leave enough space on the side to label the rain forest layers
  2. Color the top of the cardstock blue for the sky.
  3. Tear little pieces of tissue paper and glue the pieces to the top of the trees.
  4. Use a marker to add the forest floor. Color any remaining white background areas green. 
  5. Label the 4 rain forest layers:  emergent layer, canopy layer, understory layer and forest floor.
  6. Optional: Add pipe cleaners for vines and draw some animals:

Free Journal Pages:
Here is the geography journal page that will help children explore South America more. Download your copy here or click the picture below.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:







Enter the Woods with The Gruffalo Bundle Giveaway!
Get ready for some fun in the woods with this month’s Gruffalo Bundle Giveaway! The Gruffalo is a fun children’s book set in the woods and has a very funny, yet easy to follow story. This month the Poppins Book Nook group has partnered with NCircle Entertainment to offer readers a chance to win a brand new copy of The Gruffalo storybookThe Gruffalo DVD, and the Gruffalo’s Child DVD. This month’s lucky winner will enjoy all this woods themed family storybook and DVD fun with their family compliments of NCircle Entertainment and the Poppins Book Nook cohosts.

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here

Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:





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Monday, May 25, 2015

Adventures in Africa

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Caldecott Award Winners" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read, craft we made and grab your FREE science geography journal page. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This months theme was Caldecott award winners. We are huge fans of Caldecott Award books and love that our library actually puts all of the award winner books in one section because it makes it really easy to find them. However the particular book we choose was one that we had sitting on our own bookcase, Ashanti to Zulu African Traditions.

This book was published in 1976 and takes children on a trip through Africa one letter at a time. With each alphabet letter children learn about an African Tribe and their customs and traditions. The illustrations are gorgeous and include lots of details. I loved that each tribe has the phonetic pronunciation listed too. In the back of the book is a map of Africa which has all the tribe locations marked.

We also utilized our Usborne Geography Encyclopedia to learn more about Africa.

Picture of Geography Encyclopedia

Crafts:
We made two fun crafts to go along with this book. The first is a collar necklace that would be worn by women in Central Africa. It is generally made from metal but can also be made from cloth. These necklaces have been worn for hundreds of years.

Materials:
  • Paper plate
  • Markers
  • Scissors
Instructions:
  1. Color the ribbing on the paper plate using different designs, shapes and colors.
  2. Cut a straight line down the top part of the paper plate and then cut the inside circle of the plate out so that only the ribbing portion is left. 
  3. Slip the paper plate necklace around your neck to wear it.

The second craft we made is called a grigri charm. Grigri charms are made and worn by people in tribes all over Africa. Grigris are made from leather, ivory, fibers, bone, metal and sometimes even gold. These necklaces are said to have magical qualities of luck, protection and happiness.

Materials:
  • Leather, cork, fabric
  • Twine, string or cord
  • Markers
  • Hole punch
  • Scissors
Instructions:
  1. Draw and color a design on a piece of leather, cork or fabric. 
  2. Cut out the grigri with scissors.
  3. Punch a hole in the top and thread a piece of string or cord through the hole.
  4. Tie the grigri around your neck and wear it everyday to have good luck, protection and happiness.

Free Journal Pages:
Here is the geography journal page that goes along great with this book. Download your copy here or click the picture below.

Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:








Bring a Caldecott Honor Book to Life Giveaway!
Why not have some fun crafting your way through some pretty yarn fun crafts while bringing a Caldecott Honor Book to life this month in the Poppins Book Nook! Every month this group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win the Bring a Caldecott Honor Book to Life Giveaway. The winner will enjoy two fun Caldecott Honor Book themed learning items. The two items that they will win is the Extra Yarn storybook by author Mac Barnett and a fun Yarn Craft kit by Alex Toys. So let’s all get to reading to Bring a Caldecott Honor Book to Life this month with the Poppins Book Nook!

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Mom who is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here

Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:




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Monday, April 27, 2015

Down On The Farm - Books, Seed Experiment and More

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Farms" Keep reading to learn more about the books we read, experiment we did and to grab your FREE science experiment journal page. There is also a giveaway at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This months theme was farms and we read two different books. The first book we read is a classic, The Little Red Hen. This book is about Little Red Hen and her farm animal friends and teaches a valuable lesson about teamwork. It is one of my favorite folktales and fit nicely with the farm theme.

The second book read was In The Barn (Historic Communities). In the Barn shows how the barn was the center of activity on a busy settler farm. Types of barns, barn tools, barnyard animals, children's chores, the barn through the seasons, and more are covered in this fun book. 

More great books about farms you should check out include: The Complete Book of Farmyard Tales, Peek Inside The Farm,  and 1001 Things To Spot On The Farm.

Picture of 1001 Things to Spot on the Farm Sticker Book

Experiment:
We did a fun experiment this month to go along with our farm books. Since Spring is here and we learned about different types of crops we thought watching seeds germinate would be a fun experiment. We planted corn seeds and beans in ours, but you could do other seed types. 


Materials:
  • Large plastic cup
  • Paper towel folded about 10 inches x 10 inches (thick brown paper towel works best)
  • Seeds
  • Water
  • Soil
Instructions:
  1. Fold the paper towel in half to make it thicker (it should be about 5 inches x 10 inches). Place the paper towel inside the cup so that it is circling the inside, 
  2. Fill the cup on the inside of the paper towel with soil.
  3. Add 3/4 cup of tap water to the container and wait 5 minutes for the water to saturate the paper towel.
  4. Add seeds in between the plastic cup and paper towel, about 1 inch below the edge of the paper. 
  5. Sit back and watch the seeds grow.
  6. When the top edge of the paper becomes dry add more water.
Have fun and experiment with different types of seeds. Observe the roots, stems, leaves, etc as the plant grows.


YouTube Video About Corn:


Free Journal Pages:
Here is the Science Experiment journal page that goes along great with the seed experiment. Download your copy here or click the picture below.


Free Farm Lapbook:
Head over to Enchanted Homeschooling Mom to grab a Free Farm Lapbook!


Poppins Book Nook Farms Activity Pack


Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:







Down on the Farm Bundle Giveaway!
Swing your partner round and round and come on down to the farm this month with the Poppins Book Nook! Every month this group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win the Down on the Farm Bundle. The winner will enjoy two fun farm themed learning items. The two items that they will win is the Farming storybook by author Gail Gibbons and Safari Ltd Farm Babies TOOB. Let the farm themed learning fun begin! 

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Momwho is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here

Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:



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Monday, March 30, 2015

Twisting Tornadoes - Craft, Experiment, Journal Page and More

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.


We had tons of fun with the Poppins Book Nook blog series last year and we will be continuing that fun all throughout 2015. This month's theme was, "Weather" Keep reading to learn more about the book we read, the craft we made and to grab your FREE weather journal page. There is also a giveaway is at the end of the post! To check out all of our past Poppins Book Nook posts click here.


Books:
This months theme was weather and since we are about to hit tornado season here in Georgia the kids decided to read Twisters and Other Terrible Storms which is a Magic Tree House Research Guide. The book is filled with fun facts, photos, illustrations, definitions and more about twisters, hurricanes, blizzards and storm chasers. Some of the things we learned about were how tornadoes form, what kinds of tools help predict bad storms and the different cloud types.

Free Resources:
This past Saturday while visiting the Atlanta Science Expo we found a great resource at the CDC Booth that went along perfectly with our weather theme. And guess what you can download your very own copy of Ready Wrigley Prepares For Tornadoes for FREE. This activity booklet is filled with information and activities to help children learn more about tornadoes and how to prepare for a tornado.


Craft:
For our craft we made a tornado with homemade puffy paint.


Supplies:
  • Cardstock
  • Foam shaving cream
  • Glue
  • Black glitter
  • Black paint
  • Debris (leaves, twigs, flowers)
  • Monopoly house
  • Markers
  • Paint brush
Instructions:
  1. Mix equal parts of foam shaving cream and glue. Add a little bit of black paint and mix it into the shaving cream and glue mixture. For some added fun you can add some black glitter. Don't over mix the mixture, you want it to be foamy.
  2. Use a paint brush to create a twister on the cardstock.
  3. Add some debris and a monopoly house (or two) onto the twister. The materials should stick to the glue/shaving cream mixture without any issues...but if it doesn't you can glue the pieces onto the twister.
  4. Draw a city or town at the bottom of the picture. 
  5. Let it dry.

Experiment:
What better way to learn about twisters than to create one in a jar. We have done this experiment several times and always have tones of fun with it. 



Materials:
  • Pint sized jar (small jars seemed to work better)
  • Tsp of dish soap (NOT Dawn, Dial worked much better)
  • Tsp of vinegar
  • Food coloring
Instructions:
  1. Fill a jar with warm water, add teaspoon of dish soap and a teaspoon of vinegar. You can also add some food coloring. 
  2. Put the lid on very tightly and shake in a circular motion with the jar parallel to the floor for 5-10 seconds. Ta-dah! You have made a tornado in a jar...about an F1 or F2.

Have fun and experiment with different amounts of soap, water temperature and soap types to see what combination produces a better tornado. The above mentioned materials were what worked best for us. 

Why it works:
Inside the jar, the fluid on the outside starts spinning before the fluid at the center. When you set the jar down, you see the fluid on the outside slowing down as the fluid on the inside continues to spin. You are seeing the formation of a vortex.  

Free Weather Journal Page:
Here is the Weather journal page that we used for this months theme. Download your copy here or click the picture below.


Here is a list of the wonderful bloggers participating in the Poppins Book Nook be sure to visit them for more fun ideas:









Kid’s Meterologist Bundle Giveaway!
Every month the Poppins Book Nook group will be offering readers a chance to win a brand new storybook or product that ties in with our theme for the month. This month one lucky entrant will win the Kid’s Meteorologist In The Making Bundle. The winner will enjoy two fun weather themed learning items. The two items that they will win is the Weather Tracker and National Geographic’s Kid’s Everything Weather. These two wondrous weather items can bring your children a fun weather activity or two.

Entrants must be 18 years or older and reside in a country that receives U.S. Postal mail. This giveaway is brought to you by the company Enchanted Homeschooling Momwho is owner and founder of the Poppins Book Nook. By entering this giveaway you are also acknowledging that you have read and agree to all of the PromoSimple terms & conditions as well as Enchanted Homeschooling Mom's disclosures found here

Just enter the PromoSimple below to win:



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