Ellwyn Autumn's Blog, page 5
September 11, 2023
International Dot Day
September 15thmarks International Dot Day. An international festivity tocelebrate the imaginative spark within us all.
It allstarted over 10 years ago on September 15, 2009, when teacher Terry Shayintroduced his students to Robert H. Reynold’s book The Dot.
Image by Gordon Johnson from PixabayBook Blurb:
Herteacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting gluedto her chair in front of a blank piece of paper.
Thewords of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashtican’t draw - she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheetof paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says.
Thatone little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise andself-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds’s delicatefable about the creative spirit in all of us.
To bebrave and take a chance on herself, Vashti needed encouragement. She was givena nudge by her teacher to discover her own creative spark.
CelebrateInternational Dot Day with your children by trying out these dotty activities!
List of Dot Essentials:Q-tips
Paint Dotters
Hole Punchers
Doilies
Circle tracers
Markers
Paint
Watercolors
Scissors
Buttons
Toilet Paper Rolls
Circle Labeling Stickers
Image by Andrés Carlo from PixabayDot Day Activities:
*Thisactivity is easy - just use Q-tips to paint. Equip your students with Q-tips,paint, and paper. Invite them to make dots with the Q-tips or paint any type ofpicture they choose.
*Studentscan either recreate Vashti's paintings or create their own using watercolors.
*Paintdots- Children can simply use the dotters to watch the circles appear or maketheir own style of pictures with them.
Image by Prashant Sharma from Pixabay*Make a dot mural- Gather all your dotmaking items and let your kiddos collaborate.
*Circle collage- Students cut and tracecircles and make a collage with them.
*Go on a Dot Hunt- Search for polka dots, pictures of ladybugs, dice, circles around the classroom or school building, chocolate chip cookies, dalmatians, leopards, hyenas, and more!
*Watch this video about International Dot Day!
Image by GSLCMedia from PixabayResources:
https://www.fablevisionlearning.com/blog/dotday/2021
https://www.themerrillsedu.com/blog-1/2021/9/5/international-dot-day-activities
Image by austinthaijam from PixabayWhen all the art is done have an art show to honor all the creativity. How will you and your kiddos celebrate International Dot Day?
August 30, 2023
Pookie and Tushka Find A Little Piano Book Review
Available on AmazonAuthor: Jorge
Illustrator:Jorge
Publisher:Pers
Released:July 11, 2023
Format:Kindle, Paperback
ISBN:978-1932179019
Reviewer:Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4 LemonDrops
Music and friendship bring two special characters together in harmony!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Oneday, two friends named Pookie and Tushka find a little blue piano in the frozenwaters of the magic Icelands.
Despite feeling anxious about rescuing the piano,Tushka watches as Pookie jumps in and pushes it to shore.
After a little teamwork, the pair haul thepiano into their House of Ice.
Pookie is enthusiastic about playing the piano tocreate cheerful music instead of sad.
After playing the piano, the littlepenguin comes to the realization that he can only write melancholic songs nomatter how hard he tries.
Tushkatries his hand at the piano too but ultimately realizes he is more talented withthe drums.
Pookie encourages Tushka to join him on the piano once he gets thehang of the drum.
As the two play, Pookie realizes for the first time that he’splaying cheerful music because he isn’t playing alone.
Opinion:Thedelightful story of Pookie and TushkaFind a Little Piano shows howfriendship can balance two very different personalities.
Pookie is the level-headed,fearless, and empathetic type, while Tushka is constantly anxious and preparingfor the worst-case scenario.
Tushkaovercomes his fears and enjoys the moment with Pookie's support.
Mutual trustis the foundation of a healthy friendship, as demonstrated in the story. Tushkahas complete trust in Pookie because he has shown himself to be trustworthy.
The watercolor backgrounds created by Jorge are a visual treat. He painted thebackground using a combination of blue and purple hues.
Pastel shades providethe perfect amount of storybook charm to attract children. Pookie and Tushka'sbolder colors offer another level of contrast that's effortlessly visible toreaders.
Thebook has a great educational feature that provides factual information aboutthe Arctic, Antarctic, Polar Bears, and Penguins.
In my role as a teacher, Idiscovered this to be very beneficial for facilitating future discussions aboutanimal habitats, especially regarding the incompatibility of penguins and polarbears in the same area.
It'stime to shift our focus to the extra features in the book for the 20thAnniversary edition.
The extra pages are brimming with reader reviews, sketchesof Pookie and Tushka, and new characters in the series.
Additionally,Jorge included pages that were omitted from the published edition of Pookie andTushka Find A Little Piano.
Additionally, there's a preview of the prequel thathighlights how the two polar friends came together.
Ifound the synopsis to be a little confusing. It sounds less like a summary andmore like an advertisement.
I think a succinct blurb followed by a quick teaserwould be more effective.
Insummary, Pookie and Tushka Find A Piano is a feel-good tale that conveys apositive message about friendship and helping those we cherish.
I gave it 4 Lemon Drops!
ClassroomConnection:Teachers have the option to include Pookie and Tushka Find A Piano in a feweducational themes, specifically Friendship, Polar Bears & Penguins, ArcticAnimals, or Emotions.
A lot of kids will understand Tushka's nervousness about trying thingsthat seem scary.
AgeRange: Pre-K to 3rd Grade
TargetedVocabulary: confused, excitement, flippers, precious, encased, worried,spacious, timidly, pleasant
Resources:Click the pictures to reach the links.
About The Author and Illustrator:
Jorge (or Jorge Antonio Tello Aliaga for short) is awriter and illustrator born and raised in Lima, Perú.
His years of experience include designing award-winning educational children’s software and being a design manager at the world’s largest graphic software company.
He enjoys writing, drawing, composing, programming, cooking (Peruvian food), andspeaking English (with a cool accent!).
Even as a youngster, Jorge dreamed of publishing children’s books.
His other dreams include designing toys, creating a sci-fi/fantasy magazine, making cartoons, producing movies, building a theme park, becoming president of Perú, and achieving world peace (if time permits) ;)
His name is Spanish for George, and it is pronounced “HOR-heh”.
August 17, 2023
Themes To Teach In September
Valeriy Bochkarev / 500px from Getty ImagesBack toSchool can be chaotic, so it's best to have a clear understanding of whatyou're teaching.
While the curriculum provides a diverse range of lessons,incorporating special events into your classroom routine can be enjoyable.
Your lessonplans can be made more interesting with a list of special days in Septemberthat I have compiled, as well as some last-minute alternatives.
Image by chumel_nz from Pixabay
September 3-Skyscraper Day
September 4-Labor Day
National Wildlife Day
September 6-National Red a Book Day
September 8-International Literacy Day
Available on AmazonSeptember 9-National Weirdos Day
National Teddy BearDay
September10- National Swap Ideas Day
NationalGrandparent’s Day
September11- Patriot Day (9/11 Remembrance Day)
September12- National Video Games Day
National ChocolateMilkshake Day
National Day OfEncouragement Day
Boy Wearing Chef Hat · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)September13- Roald Dahl Day
Uncle Sam Day
Positive ThinkingDay
National Peanut Day
National Kids TakeOver The Kitchen Day
September14- National Cream-Filled Donut Day
National Live Creative Day
September15- Make A Hat Day
September16- Mexican Independence Day
Mayflower Day (Thiswould be a great opportunity to discuss how the Mayflower’s arrival affectedthe Indigenous people.)
National Play-Doh Day
Collect Rocks Day
International RedPanda Day
National GymnasticsDay
Image by Wynn Pointaux from PixabaySeptember17- Constitution Day
Citizenship Day
National AppleDumpling Day
September18- The U.S. Air Force Birthday
Rice CrispiesTreats Day
September19- International Talk Like A Pirate Day
National ButterscotchPudding Day
September20- National Pepperoni Pizza Day
National StringCheese Day
September21- International Day of Peace
World Gratitude Day
Miniature Golf Day
Image by Bob Bello from PixabaySeptember22- Hobbit Day
Dear Diary Day
ElephantAppreciation Day
National Ice-CreamDay
Native American Day
September23- Autumnal Equinox Day
National CheckersDay
International RabbitDay
National PublicLands Day
September24- National Punctuation Day
InternationalDaughter’s Day
Image by sindrehsoereide from PixabaySeptember25- Math Storytelling Day
National Comic BookDay
National CookingDay
National Family Day
September26- Johnny Appleseed Day
National VoterRegistration Day
September27- National Chocolate Milk Day
September28- National Good Neighbor Day
September30- National Love People Day
National ChewingGum Day
National Hot Mulled Cider Day
For a morecomprehensive list, please visit www.thespruce.com.
August 2, 2023
ABC's of Bully Prevention
Prevention, it sounds so easy, doesn't it?
Unfortunately, that's not the case in classrooms or in the community at large. As a society, we witness bullying on social media every single day.Politicians attacking the rights of everyday people and belittling them when they're brutally attacked.
School shootings, public mass shootings!
How are we supposed to prevent bullying amidst all this hate? We have to start somewhere, so it falls to parents and educators to set children on the right course.
We need an empathetic society that embraces diversity and inclusivity. One of the best ways to accomplish this feat is to read books that cover a wide range of diverse topics.
Here's a short list to get you started:
Kamyla Chung and the Classroom Bully By Ellwyn Autumn
Children Are Like Cupcakes By Ansaba Gavor
It Is Okay To Cry By Ansaba Gavor
My Friend Jake By Christine Draper
Kneading A Winning Idea By Terri Sabol
When Love Flows By Sonia Amin
Shiloh and Dande the Lion By Ciara Hill
All of these books are available on Amazon! The authors also offer lesson plans to go with their books. Many of the lessons are FREE and downloadable.
July 26, 2023
I Am The Tree Book Review
Available on Amazon
Author:Kelly Bauer
Illustrator:Stella Maris
Publisher:Seize the Moon
Released: July 1, 2023
Format:Hardcover
ISBN:979-8-9882106-0-3
Reviewer:Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 5Lemon Drops
Throughself-discovery a girl realizes her life's meaning through nature!
Ireceived a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarilychose to read and post an honest review.
Review:BookSummary:
An extraordinary little girl who lives an ordinary life craves adventure, freedom, and love. Something in her life is missing.
When the world around her turns scary, she retreats to a high mountaintop. By leaving behind society's anger and fear, the girl becomes mindful of the present moment.
Mesmerized by the natural beauty surrounding her, she uncovers hope, comfort, freedom, and self-love through her senses and the elements of nature.
A beautiful story, I Am The Tree, follows a little girl's journey to find meaning in her life by connecting with nature.
The plot exemplifies a compelling message of how humans are fundamentally linked with nature and with each other, something that many of us lack.
I appreciated Bauers' purposeful use of the four elements. This aids the protagonist in finding the peace and love that she requires-that we all require.
Her fear gets washed away by the rain. The tree comforts her and the bumble bee offers a fresh outlook on the world.
Upon completing her journey of self-discovery, the little girl understands that love is essential and that we are all united- that we are all one!
The story weaves a universal theme of interdependence that will bring comfort to readers of all ages.
Amidst high tech and false narratives, I Am The Tree reminds us to appreciate the grandeur and legitimacy of our world.
Bauer’s low key style offers children an earthy alternative to hand-held devices and clamorous social media.
Another strategy I appreciated was keeping the little girl's name anonymous.
This gives young readers the opportunity to make a deeper connection to the story by filling in the blank with their own name.
Maris's superb illustrations are sweet and tranquil. They capture the magic and serenity of the story. The pictures of the tree particularly appealed to me.
I give it 5 Lemon Drops!
IAm The Tree is an excellent example for a unit on the environment and a lessonon mindful strategies for inner peace.
Studentscould create a picture of their favorite natural element and write why itappeals to them.
AgeRange: Pre-K to 3rd Grade
TargetedVocabulary:
harmony, majestic, ordinary, silence, freedomResources:
Click the picture to reach the link.
I Am the Tree is Kelly's debut children's bookinspired by actual events that took place while she was retreating innature.
Kelly was a storyteller from the moment she could talk. She spun storiesin rhymes and songs about the adventures of her family as they traveled theUnited States.
She loves getting lost in another world, another time, andanother dimension.
Her favorite bedtime stories as a child, and inspiration towrite, came from Shel Silverstein, J. R. R. Tolkien, Beverly Cleary, andMaurice Sendak.
Aboutthe Illustrator:Stella Maris is an award winning children'sbook illustrator.
Her style is steeped in "traditional media flavor",and sports a whimsically dreamy, feathery, playful feel, befitting herfairy spirit.
July 19, 2023
Lauren The Cow Book Review
Available on Amazon
Author:T.I Frazier
Illustrator:Meritxell Andrew
Publisher:Timothy Frazier
Released:December 15, 2022
Format:Hardcover, Audio, Paperback
ISBN:978-8985903812
Reviewer:Ellwyn Autumn
Rating: 4Lemon Drops
An uplifting story that will have you reaching for the moon!
Ireceived a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarilychose to read and post an honest review.
Review:BookSummary:
Lauren,a Jersey Calf, is determined to become a jumping cow. "My dear, cows don'tjump," her mother says. Lauren ignores her mother's advice and trains hardin the farmyard every day.
She learns to jump over objects of different sizeswith the aid of her friend Tim. Jumping is not the only strength Laurenpossesses, as she discovers.
Opinion:Thestory of Lauren the Cow is a delightful and inspiring narrative that encourageskids to persist, even in the face of failure. Lauren's success demonstrates thepower of practice and encouragement.
Andrew's illustrations are attractive, colorful, and captivating. Young readers will be delighted for sure.
Igive it 4 Lemon Drops!
ClassroomConnection:
Laurenthe Cow is a perfect example for a lesson on self-esteem and persistence. Afterreading the book, children could write down a goal and strategies to accomplishit in their journal.
Thisbook would be a great addition to a Unit on Farming.
AgeRange: Pre-K to 3rd Grade
TargetedVocabulary: train, overlooking, obstacle, barreling, tumbled, determined,puzzled, chanting,
Resources:Click the pictures to reach the link.
AboutThe Author:
Children’sbook author T.I. Frazier considers himself more of a communicator than awriter.
Hisgoal, whether through his books or speaking engagements, is to change the waypeople—especially youth—think in order to leave a larger positive footprint onthe world.
Hisnewest project, an illustrated picture book titled Lauren the Cow, isabout a young calf who surpasses her dreams through self-belief andperseverance.
T.I.believes a great story is one that inspires and continues to foster personalgrowth long after the book is closed.
Hehopes his young readers come away from his book with a better understanding ofdetermination, believing in oneself, and tenacity in reaching a goal.
Theidea for Lauren the Cow was inspired by his wife, Lauren, for whom hecreated short stories of encouragement during a time of deep emotion and loss.
Aboutthe illustrator:MeritxellAndreu is a graphic designer and illustrator.
Educatedat the Faculty of Fine Arts in Barcelona, she has worked with Egmont since the1980s.
Shehas also worked on Disney children’s books and in the Princess titles, inaddition to doing promotional art for Disney.
July 17, 2023
FREE ON KINDLE
HAPPPY CORAL REEF AWARENESS WEEK!
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June 24, 2023
Unicorn Party Literacy and Math Centers
Unicorns are very popular in my classroom. They're magical and make learning basic skills fun and engaging for young learners.
Unicorn Party Literacy and Math Centers are a low prep resource designed to be quick and easy. They're chock full of interactive, hands-on activities to help your kiddos develop math and literacy skills.
You can use the centers as stand alone activities to meet your teaching objectives or use them during a unit on fairytales or unicorns.
Literacy Skills covered: Upper/lowercase Letter Recognition Pre-Writing skills- line tracing to develop fine motor and eye-hand coordination Math Skills covered- Number Recognition, Counting sets to 20, Numerical Order from 1-20, Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
May 14, 2023
Teddy Bear Tea Party Activities Freebie
My latest Freebie on TPT!
This product was created to complement my children's book Teddy Bear Tea and the other educational resources that go along with the book.
There are rhyming cards, invitations for the children to write, and math worksheets that include patterns and counting.
April 28, 2023
Rainbow Kids Literacy and Math Centers
All kids love rainbows! They're bright, cheerful, and make color identification fun.
Rainbow Kids Literacy and Math Centers are a low prep resource designed to be quick and easy.
They're chock full of interactive, hands-on activities to help your kiddos develop math and literacy skills. You can use the centers as stand alone activities to meet your teaching objectives or use them during a unit on rainbows.
Literacy Skills covered: Letter Recognition, Beginning Sounds, Rhyming, Color Identification and Color Words, Opinion Writing
Math Skills covered: Number Recognition, Counting to 30, Numerical order from1-20, Skip Counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s
Click the link to purchase.
