Sandra Markle's Blog, page 15

What A WOW Week of Scholastic School Visits in Michigan!

It was a blast!

5 days....10 schools.

THOUSANDS of "AAAHS!"

And too many smiles to count.



Click to CHECK IT OUT!

GO BATTY for BATS!

I'm BATTY for BATS! Bet by the time you finish these activities you will be too!



Besides Halloween is coming so it's the perfect time to go totally batty! 

I've written 4 books about bats...so far. Check them out!
About the biggest and littlest bats...and bats with really big or little features that help them thrive.


The "true" story of how an orphaned baby bat is adopted by a new mother. Mexican free-tailed bats really do adopt orphaned babies. 
All about bats and how their bodies are amazingly built for flight.


Why some bats are in trouble--plus how scientists are working to help bats survive.
Of course, that wasn't enough bats for me. So I also put bats in two of my Scholastic WHAT IF YOU HAD!? series. Look inside these to find the bats! 




NOW have some batty fun!
Visit My Cave
What's it like to live like a bat? FIND OUT!  
Cover a table on three sides with a blanket or paper to create a cave.  Have your family or a group of friends crawl inside your pretend cave with you. While you're there with this group, think about these questions.
WHAT DO YOU THINK!?
Why is a cave a good home for small bats, like Mexican Free-tailed Bats? Why do you think big bats, like Grey-Headed Flying Foxes, camp in the open in trees instead of in caves?What are some problems to sharing a cave with other bats?
What Good Are Bats? Check out the hand-like structure of a bat's wings.
Try this to find out.  
Take a large bowl of popcorn kernels to the gym or outdoors to a paved area of the playground.  Scatter 50 popped kernels on the floor or ground.  Count to ten. Then have people dash around placing two more popcorn kernels next to each original kernel.  This is as if the insect pests have multiplied.  



Now pretend you are an insect-hunting bat. Have four others pretend they are too.  While someone counts to five, have each “bat” pick up all of the insects (popcorn) they can carry.  Then have other children place two popcorn kernels next to each remaining kernel.  

Repeat these steps two more times, having “bats” collect “insects”.   Then have the remaining “insects” multiply.  

WHAT DO YOU THINK!?How much of an effect did the “bats” have on the “insect” population?What limited how much of an effect the bats could have on the insects? What do you think would happen to populations of insect pests if there weren’t any bats?
Bats for Good Measure Again, here's a good chance to see the arm and hand-like structure of a bat's wing.
The wingspan of the largest flying foxes can be up to 6 feet. Now, measure each of these things.  Find out how much longer or shorter each is compared to a large flying fox’s wingspan. 

Your bedYour heightYour armspan (from fingertip to fingertip with both arms stretched out)
The wingspan of the Bumblebee bat is 6 inches.  Take a piece of string that length.  Find out how much longer or shorter each is compared to a Bumblebee Bat’s wingspan.
Your pencilYour footYour right hand span (from thumb to little finger with your hand spread wide).  Draw around your hand span on a piece of paper. Then compare to your bat wing measuring string.And to wrap up the batty fun. Here are a few bat riddles.  
Q: Which circus performers can see in the dark?
A: The acro-bats.
Q: What is the first thing a bat learns at school?
A: The alphabat.
Q: Where to young bats go potty?
A: In the batroom.

AUGUST IS CRAYON MONTH--GET COLORFUL!

It's back to school time. 
Let's make this a colorful year!




How perfect that August has been declared NATIONAL CRAYON COLLECTION MONTH. The idea launched by Sheila Morovati, President and Founder of Crayon Collection is to help insure every child going back to school has a supply of crayons to fuel their creativity. The source of this valuable resource is all of those local restaurants who provide crayons for children to color while waiting for dinner. I think it's brilliant for three reasons:1. Children get crayons to make their school life colorful.2. Teachers who spend their own money adding supplies to what's provided in their classrooms save money, which they'll probably spend on other things for their classrooms. Teachers do that I know from personal experience. :-)3. Ever wonder where all the old restaurant crayons go? To landfills! So this helps the environment.


So if you take this challenge, here are some restaurants to contact to collect crayons. Of course, you'll need to make the commitment to visit monthly for a few months and collect what they save for you.For some great ideas (divided into grade level groups) for putting those crayons to use check out this site Crayon Collection Curriculum. You can share photos of your crayon collections and crayon art by using #GotCrayons on social media to encourage others to participate and to show how simply you can gain access to thousands of crayons.  Kid Friendly Restaurants IHOP                                          Denny’s
Applebees                                  BJ’s
Cracker Barrel                            Olive Garden
California Pizza Kitchen            Outback
Island’s Restaurants                   Buffalo Wild Wings
Bubba GumpAnd, of course, being National Crayon Collection Month, August is the perfect time to share several of my favorite children's books that star crayons.
Of course, I have to include the story of Crayola Crayons' Invention. The Crayon Man (Natascha Biebow/HMH Books for young readers, 2019)


Red: A Crayon's Story (Michael Hall/Greenwillow Books, 2015)

Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue! This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.

The Day The Crayons Quit (Drew Daywalt/Philomela Books, 2013)

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. And Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking—each believes he is the true color of the sun.

What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best?


AND MORE CRAYON FUNPlus there's lots more ways kids can be creative with crayons. Check out these websites.

35 Things to do with Crayons

27 New Uses for Old Crayons

Six Projects That Reuse Broken Crayons
Whatever you do with all of those recycled crayons is bound to make this new school year super colorful!

ONE BOOK'S BIRTH STORY

I always think summers are a time to do something different. So I want to share the story of one book's journey. Trust me, books--mine at least--take more than 9 months from inspiration to birth (aka publication).  

This is the story of Toad Weather . 


As I look back on my different versions of that story, it goes all the way back to 2002 when I first wrote a version of it. Truth-be-told the idea sparked in my brain a few years ahead of that. I remember being in New York City on a rainy day. I was impressed with how the rain changed the city sounds and smells--not in a bad, stinky way but a heightened-interestingly different way. I loved watching the raindrops plopping, rivers swirling along the curbs, people splashing through puddles. And I remember thinking that I hadn't read a children's picture book about exploring a rainy day. 





Along about 2002 after the images of NYC on that rainy day kept popping up in my mind, I wrote the first version of what I called Rain, Rain, Come Again! Not a very original title but OK for WIP. And the opening went like this:


I watched the raindrops wiggling down the window and thought of all the things I couldn’t do.
“What’s this long face?” Mom asked.“Can’t you see it’s a perfectly, wonderful rainy day?”
When I said, “No,” she bundled us both up in slickers and boots.
Then we went down the elevator,through the apartment building’s lobby,out the revolving door,and into the rainy city. 
I tried to sell my brand new book but it didn't sell. Still, the idea stuck with me. Kept niggling my imagination to try another version.
Who knows how many versions I did try after that but some time later by September 29, 2011 I was calling it Rain Come Again! By now, I was visualizing the illustrations in my head and dividing the text into left-right page spreads. And here was what the opening had become.
L-R pp. 2-3Raindrops slip,slither,race down the window.Outside, the whole world is sloppy wet.“I hate rainy days,” I say. 
Mom says, “Come with me. I’ve something to show you.”
LR pp 4-5She bundles us up in slickers and boots.Then we go down the elevator, out the door,and into the rainy city.
Still didn't sell.  SIGH!!!!  

But I wasn't giving up. Or this story wasn't giving up on me. Both would be true. 
I don't see any versions from 2012 so I must have left it to brew in my brain in between working on other projects. And life in general.




But brew it did. 









Here's the beginning again from where I was with the story on August 20, 2013 (In case you haven't picked it up by now, I date every version so I know what's current. Also lets me go back if I think I might have had a better bit a while back.) Title is still Rain Come Again!
L-R pp. 2-3In the gloomy-gray of that March eveningwhile the spring rain that started yesterday keeps falling,
I sit on the window seat and watch the wet city.“I hate rainy days,” I say.
Behind me, Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
Then Mama bursts into our apartment.

L-R pp 4-5
She’s beaming. “I rushed home to get you,” Mama says. “Come on, Alli. You too, Grandma. We’re going outside. I’ve something to show you.”
“Is it safe to go out in the rain?” I ask. 
“It’s getting dark,” Grandma says.
“It’s still light enough and it’s not lightning,” Mama says. “Now get ready. This surprise is too good to miss.”
“I think I’ll stay home,” Grandma says. But Mama bundles us both into slickers and boots. Then we go down the stairs, out the door, and into the rainy-day city.

Hey! I'm liking the feel of this. There's that poetic prose beat that just sings to my soul starting to get in there. I've introduced a new character-Grandma. I like her. She has a bit of a grumpy attitude that's a nice foil for upbeat Mama. Okay--worth polishing this version a bit and then send it back out in the world for consideration. 

Shoot off the fireworks! 
Some time in mid-2013--and probably a solid 20-something versions later--Peachtree Publishers blessed me by deciding to publish my exploring a rainy day picture book. They felt it had potential. But--and I agreed--it still needed some work because it needed a hook--something to discover besides that a rainy day is cool.

I went digging for my hook. What in the world happens that is really special on a rainy day? Or maybe happens once a year on a rainy day? OK--maybe I'm onto something there. 
I did some digging into that second possibility because I remembered reading something about toads while working on another book Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs. Of course, being about toads it hadn't made it into that book but HEY!  

I dug into my files. Found my amphibian expert. Gave him a call. Yep! I was onto something because once a year toads migrate in Roxborough, Pennsylvania. They do it every spring on a rainy night. And it's a big deal that even makes the news because people turn out to help the little toads cross a busy highway on their way to a nearby reservoir where they'll mate and leave their eggs to hatch. 
My story just moved to Roxborough, Pennsylvania and found its hook.  
It was still called Rain Come Again! but as of November 21, 2013 the story was settling in and the beginning had become this.
pages 4-5 In the gloomy-grayof a March day the spring rain keeps falling.
I press my nose to the window.But there’s nothing to see outsideexcept the rain-soaked city .
No chance to go to the park after school . Or ride my bike.Rainy days are boring.
“I hate rainy days,” I say.Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
pages 6-7 Then Mama bursts into the apartment.“Come on, Alli,” she says. “You too, Grandma. We’re going outside.I saw something on the way home. It’s not far. I want to show you.”
“Really?” I jump up.“What is it?” Grandma asks. “What’s so special that we have to get wet?”Besides, it’s getting late.”
“It’s still light enough.” Mama hands us our slickers and boots.“Come on. Get ready. And we’ll go.”
“I think I’ll stay right here, thank you,” Grandma says.
pages 8-9 But Mama says, “Please. Come with us.”So Grandma puts on her slicker too. We hurry down the stairs,and out into the rainy nearly-nighttime.


My main character who will discover what's so special out there now has a name and I'm feeling her--starting to experience the story through her.
Grandma has a permanent place in the story and is, I must say, getting saucy. But she doesn't want to miss out on the action, which adds to the momentum that's picking up nicely now in the opening. 

There were maybe another 10 versions as I tweaked and whittled and polished the words. Then the line breaks to give just the right pacing to the language. Next, the verbs to power them up. And the dialog so each character's words were just right for her--my three generations of women sharing this special rainy night discovery.

I'm not sure when the title changed but I see on my August 20, 2014 version it's now--finally-- Toad Weather. And the beginning was this.
pages 4-5 In the gloomy-grayof a March daythe spring rain keeps falling.
I press my nose to the window.But there’s nothing to see outsideexcept the rainy-weather city.
No chance to go to the park,ride my bike,or play outside with my friends.“Rainy weather makes me sad,” I say.
Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
pages 6-7 Then Mama bursts into the apartment.“Come on, Ally,” she says.“You too, Grandma. I saw something on the way home,something I want to show you.”
“Really?” I jump up.
“What’s so special that we have to get wet?”Grandma asks. “Besides, it’s getting late.”
“It’s still light enough.”Mama hands us our slickers and boots.“Come on. Get ready. Let’s go.”
“I think I’ll stay right here, thank you,” Grandma says.
But Mama says, “Please.Come with us.”So she does.
pages 8-9 Out in the rainy nearly-nighttime,streetlights are glowing.So are shop windows.But the world is soggy dreary.
All around us people are hurrying through the drizzling rain.Cold drops slip down my neck,so I pull my slicker hood over my head.Then I start to hurry too,and Grandma keeps up with me.
“Slow down, you two!” Mama says.“There are lots of interesting things to see along the way.”
“Like what?” Grandma asks.
Is that what the final language is in the  published book that was born to the world in  2015? I'll let you look and see for yourself if it changed any more.

My point--made at great length, I admit--is that a book like any baby needs time to develop. If the idea sticks with you, if you keep coming back to it because you just have to get it right, if it's something that feels a little better every version you write...Keep at it. 
For one thing, honestly, you, me, we writers grow our skills through writing, reading, listening, thinking words into the rhythm of our fiction, nonfiction and faction--that in between real and really imagined like Toad Weather.  
Let me repeat the all important message here. KEEP AT IT! 

With Very Best Wishes! Sandra Markle

SOMETHING FOR WRITERS

I always think summer is a time to take time out from sharing activities for children. Time, instead, to write something for those of you who write for children.

So I wanted to get totally personal and take you along with me on the journey of writing one of my books-- Toad Weather . 



As I look back on my different versions of that story, it goes all the way back to 2002 when I first wrote a version of it. Truth-be-told the idea sparked in my brain a few years ahead of that. I remember being in New York City on a rainy day. I was impressed with how the rain changed the city sounds and smells--not in a bad, stinky way but a heightened-interestingly different way. I loved watching the raindrops plopping, rivers swirling along the curbs, people splashing through puddles. And I remember thinking that I hadn't read a children's picture book about exploring a rainy day. 





Along about 2002 after the images of NYC on that rainy day kept popping up in my mind, I wrote the first version of what I called Rain, Rain, Come Again! Not a very original title but OK for WIP. And the opening went like this:


I watched the raindrops wiggling down the window and thought of all the things I couldn’t do.
“What’s this long face?” Mom asked.“Can’t you see it’s a perfectly, wonderful rainy day?”
When I said, “No,” she bundled us both up in slickers and boots.
Then we went down the elevator,through the apartment building’s lobby,out the revolving door,and into the rainy city. 
I tried to sell my brand new book but it didn't sell. Still, the idea stuck with me. Kept niggling my imagination to try another version.
Who knows how many versions I did try after that but some time later by September 29, 2011 I was calling it Rain Come Again! By now, I was visualizing the illustrations in my head and dividing the text into left-right page spreads. And here was what the opening had become.
L-R pp. 2-3Raindrops slip,slither,race down the window.Outside, the whole world is sloppy wet.“I hate rainy days,” I say. 
Mom says, “Come with me. I’ve something to show you.”
LR pp 4-5She bundles us up in slickers and boots.Then we go down the elevator, out the door,and into the rainy city.
Still didn't sell.  SIGH!!!!  

But I wasn't giving up. Or this story wasn't giving up on me. Both would be true. 
I don't see any versions from 2012 so I must have left it to brew in my brain in between working on other projects. And life in general.




But brew it did. 









Here's the beginning again from where I was with the story on August 20, 2013 (In case you haven't picked it up by now, I date every version so I know what's current. Also lets me go back if I think I might have had a better bit a while back.) Title is still Rain Come Again!
L-R pp. 2-3In the gloomy-gray of that March eveningwhile the spring rain that started yesterday keeps falling,
I sit on the window seat and watch the wet city.“I hate rainy days,” I say.
Behind me, Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
Then Mama bursts into our apartment.

L-R pp 4-5
She’s beaming. “I rushed home to get you,” Mama says. “Come on, Alli. You too, Grandma. We’re going outside. I’ve something to show you.”
“Is it safe to go out in the rain?” I ask. 
“It’s getting dark,” Grandma says.
“It’s still light enough and it’s not lightning,” Mama says. “Now get ready. This surprise is too good to miss.”
“I think I’ll stay home,” Grandma says. But Mama bundles us both into slickers and boots. Then we go down the stairs, out the door, and into the rainy-day city.

Hey! I'm liking the feel of this. There's that poetic prose beat that just sings to my soul starting to get in there. I've introduced a new character-Grandma. I like her. She has a bit of a grumpy attitude that's a nice foil for upbeat Mama. Okay--worth polishing this version a bit and then send it back out in the world for consideration. 

Shoot off the fireworks! 
Some time in mid-2013--and probably a solid 20-something versions later--Peachtree Publishers blessed me by deciding to publish my exploring a rainy day picture book. They felt it had potential. But--and I agreed--it still needed some work because it needed a hook--something to discover besides that a rainy day is cool.

I went digging for my hook. What in the world happens that is really special on a rainy day? Or maybe happens once a year on a rainy day? OK--maybe I'm onto something there. 
I did some digging into that second possibility because I remembered reading something about toads while working on another book Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs. Of course, being about toads it hadn't made it into that book but HEY!  

I dug into my files. Found my amphibian expert. Gave him a call. Yep! I was onto something because once a year toads migrate in Roxborough, Pennsylvania. They do it every spring on a rainy night. And it's a big deal that even makes the news because people turn out to help the little toads cross a busy highway on their way to a nearby reservoir where they'll mate and leave their eggs to hatch. 
My story just moved to Roxborough, Pennsylvania and found its hook.  
It was still called Rain Come Again! but as of November 21, 2013 the story was settling in and the beginning had become this.
pages 4-5 In the gloomy-grayof a March day the spring rain keeps falling.
I press my nose to the window.But there’s nothing to see outsideexcept the rain-soaked city .
No chance to go to the park after school . Or ride my bike.Rainy days are boring.
“I hate rainy days,” I say.Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
pages 6-7 Then Mama bursts into the apartment.“Come on, Alli,” she says. “You too, Grandma. We’re going outside.I saw something on the way home. It’s not far. I want to show you.”
“Really?” I jump up.“What is it?” Grandma asks. “What’s so special that we have to get wet?”Besides, it’s getting late.”
“It’s still light enough.” Mama hands us our slickers and boots.“Come on. Get ready. And we’ll go.”
“I think I’ll stay right here, thank you,” Grandma says.
pages 8-9 But Mama says, “Please. Come with us.”So Grandma puts on her slicker too. We hurry down the stairs,and out into the rainy nearly-nighttime.


My main character who will discover what's so special out there now has a name and I'm feeling her--starting to experience the story through her.
Grandma has a permanent place in the story and is, I must say, getting saucy. But she doesn't want to miss out on the action, which adds to the momentum that's picking up nicely now in the opening. 

There were maybe another 10 versions as I tweaked and whittled and polished the words. Then the line breaks to give just the right pacing to the language. Next, the verbs to power them up. And the dialog so each character's words were just right for her--my three generations of women sharing this special rainy night discovery.

I'm not sure when the title changed but I see on my August 20, 2014 version it's now--finally-- Toad Weather. And the beginning was this.
pages 4-5 In the gloomy-grayof a March daythe spring rain keeps falling.
I press my nose to the window.But there’s nothing to see outsideexcept the rainy-weather city.
No chance to go to the park,ride my bike,or play outside with my friends.“Rainy weather makes me sad,” I say.
Grandma sighs. “Me too.”
pages 6-7 Then Mama bursts into the apartment.“Come on, Ally,” she says.“You too, Grandma. I saw something on the way home,something I want to show you.”
“Really?” I jump up.
“What’s so special that we have to get wet?”Grandma asks. “Besides, it’s getting late.”
“It’s still light enough.”Mama hands us our slickers and boots.“Come on. Get ready. Let’s go.”
“I think I’ll stay right here, thank you,” Grandma says.
But Mama says, “Please.Come with us.”So she does.
pages 8-9 Out in the rainy nearly-nighttime,streetlights are glowing.So are shop windows.But the world is soggy dreary.
All around us people are hurrying through the drizzling rain.Cold drops slip down my neck,so I pull my slicker hood over my head.Then I start to hurry too,and Grandma keeps up with me.
“Slow down, you two!” Mama says.“There are lots of interesting things to see along the way.”
“Like what?” Grandma asks.
Is that what the final language is in the  published book that was born to the world in  2015? I'll let you look and see for yourself if it changed any more.

My point--made at great length, I admit--is that a book like any baby needs time to develop. If the idea sticks with you, if you keep coming back to it because you just have to get it right, if it's something that feels a little better every version you write...Keep at it. 
For one thing, honestly, you, me, we writers grow our skills through writing, reading, listening, thinking words into the rhythm of our fiction, nonfiction and faction--that in between real and really imagined like Toad Weather.  
Let me repeat the all important message here. KEEP AT IT! 

With Very Best Wishes! Sandra Markle

JOIN MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS

ARE YOU READY FOR FUN!? And FREEBIES And MORE!!!

Then sign up for MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS




Use the comment feature to leave your name, School Name and Address, and email address.

Or email sandramarkle@yahoo.com

and share that info.




WHAT IS MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS?

It's my way of connecting with you to help you have a great experience sharing my books with readers.

I launched MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS (MBE) about four years ago. There are now more than 200 schools in 32 states whose teachers or librarians/media specialists are members. But there's room for you. 


Is it worth it?
 It's totally FREE!



Once a year to celebrate "Back To School", I mail all MBEs a FREE Goodie Pack with a flier featuring activities to use with several of my books--whichever ones I'm featuring that year. 

Like this sample.


Plus there are other freebies, such as bookmarks, reproducible activity sheets I create just for MBEs to use, and a special gift that's unique each year. Last year it was a tote bag.  


Of course, what's coming in this year's MBE Goodie Pack is a Surprise! 







AND for the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year 5 lucky MBE's will receive a free autographed book!


PLUS--throughout the school year, I welcome MBEs to reach out to me with questions from students. 


I always answer. 








Periodically, I also reach out asking for input from MBE's and their students about ideas I have for future books or what you and your students would most like to discover about topics I'm working on...because I value this input. 




I really do pay attention. Afterall, I want my books to be meaningful, memorable, and so much fun children want to read them over, and over, and over. 

And periodically, I share special activities and mail surprises for students.


If you're already a member of MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS, "hello!" And know I'm already getting ready to make 2019-2020 our best year together ever--so far!



If you aren't a member of MARKLE'S BOOK EXPLORERS yet, what are you waiting for!?  

SKYPE FUN!

Check out just a few seconds of one of my Skype Visits to share the fun. 

I can Skype Visit with your school too. My 2019-2020 calendar is open now. For details and dates, email me at sandramarkle@yahoo.com






Check out these comments.


Thank you! Yesterday went swimmingly, and the science magic time was a pleasant surprise. I had many students and teachers compliment your pacing and presentation. We are thankful for the opportunity to have met you! Nolan Elementary, Signal Mountain, TN
Thanks so much! the kids give you 5/5 stars! Rowan Elementary, Cranberry Township, PA
Thank you so much! For most of the students, it was their first time talking with an author. One 1st grader said "She's like a real-life superhero!" I agree! Laurel Springs School, Laurel Springs, NJ
Thank you for our second great session. 2nd grade loved it!! Valley Ranch Elementary, Irving, TX
That was AMAZING! Thank you so much!!!! Roosevelt Alexander Elementary, Katy, TX
My students loved it and are so excited about their new books. Claymont Elementary School, Claymont, DE 
Thank you so much! We are giving each of the students the book, What if you Had T Rex Teeth? and the students are very excited to read more of your books.  Thank you so much for your time and opening up your home to us.  River Woods Elementary, Des Moines, IA
Such an amazing @Skypewith @SANDRA_MARKLEtoday at@LiberalBulldogselementary! Never have I seen a group of 150+ kids sit and listen so intently to an author. She kept them engaged the entire time, highly recommended!!!!  Liberal R-II, Liberal, MO
Whaaooo! Awwweee! Oooooo! Some of my favorite sounds as these#VREStars1st graders learn about Science Magic from @SANDRA_MARKLE! Great author Skype Coppell Middle School East, Coppell, TX
@SANDRA_MARKLEvisited with 1st Gr. and talked about her new book, conducted science experiments and inspired readers to become authors! Valley Ranch Elementary, Coppell, TX 

MAKE APRIL AWESOME!

MAKE APRIL AWESOME!
April is famous for tricks from the weather and absolutely awesome, inspired creations from artists, scientists and curious thinkers!  

Meet Howard McWilliam the awesome illustrator ...


of our WHAT IF YOU HAD!? series.





April 1: April Fool's Day  The day is known for pranks but it started in 1564 when New Year's Day officially changed on the calendar from being April 1st to January 1st. People who continued to celebrate the year's change on April 1 were called "April Fools".

April 2: US MINT founded in 1792 in Philadelphia, PA. 
Do you know who is on each of the American coins? Guess. Then find coin samples to check. Or go to this site. 



April 3: Pony Express started and the first mail delivery started from St. Joseph, MO in 1860.
Would you want to be a Pony Express rider? Read. Then decide.


April 4: Golden Gate Park was opened in San Francisco, CA in 1870.

April 5: Joseph Lister was born in Essex, England in 1827. He became a surgeon and was the first to use antiseptics to prevent infection after surgery.

April 6: North Pole! Robert E. Peary became the first recorded person to reach the North Pole in 1909. Read about the race to be the first. If this happened today, you could blog about it. So write a two paragraph blog report of this North Pole Race.

Communication Satellite the first commercial communication satellite, called Early Bird, went into orbit in 1965.

April 7: World Health Day 

April 8: William Henry Welch was born in Norfolk, CT in 1850. He is credited with transforming American medicine.

April 9: John Presper Eckert, co-inventor of ENIAC, the first electronic computer, was born in Philadelphia PA in 1919. 
I had the amazing opportunity to have lunch with Eckert and talk with him about the invention of ENIAC. :-)

April 10: Safety Pin was patented by Walter Hunt in 1849. List at least 5 things you could do with a safety pin--even better list 10.

April 11: Jackie Robinson became the first African-American to play in major league baseball in 1947. Read two different biographies of this person. In your opinion, which is better? How do the books tell Jackie's story differently?


April 12: Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gaganin became the first man in space in 1961. The flight lasted 108 minutes. 

April 13: Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, was born in Albermarle County, VA in 1743. In this book, the author does a clever job of comparing Thomas Jefferson and another key person in history. List at least 3 ways the books tells that these men were different. How did those difference help them?


April 14: Mathematician and physicist Christian Huygens was born in Hague, Netherlands, in 1629. He discovered Saturn had rings.

April 15: Artist, inventor Leonaro da Vinci was born in Anchiano, Italy in 1452. Make a parachute, invisible ink, walk-on-water and more to follow in DaVinci's inventive footsteps. Activities are found in this book.




April16: Aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright was born in Milville, IN, in 1867. Read about the man. Then start flying your own planes--that's straw airplanes.

Click to link to directions.



April 17: Celebrate Bats Day
Read my book The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats (Millbrook/Lerner) to discover why bats are in trouble and why we need to help them.
Then follow the steps on this site to make an  origami bat.


April 18: Paul Revere and William Dawes made their "Midnight Ride" in 1775.
Read a really fun telling of this moment in history as shared by Paul Revere's horse.


And read one of my all time favorite books about this time in history.


The San Francisco earthquake and fire happened from April 18-21, 1906.
What was it like to survive this quake and fire? Here is one fun fictional story about it.



April 19: Surveyor 3 landed on the moon in 1967. This let scientists learn the surface is solid and not covered in fine powder. That opened the door for lunar landings.

April 20: RCA introduced the electron microscope in 1940, making it possible to sre the structure of very small things. 

April 21: Conservation leader and explorer John Muir born in Dunbar, Scotland, in 1838. His efforts led to the establishment of national parks. He led a successful effort to save California's giant redwoods. This is one of my favorite books. Read it to find out how this camping trip with John Muir changed the world. 

April 22: Arbor Day often observed on this date. First observed in Nebraska in 1872, by planting trees. 

You'll find loads of fun Arbor Day activities on the Arbor Day Foundation site.

And get to know trees from the Outside In.

Earth Day first observed on this day in 1970. 

April 23: First public showing of a motion picture took place in 1896 in New York City.
What is your favorite movie? Why?

April 24: Library of Congress established in 1800. It is considered the world's largest library with millions of books.

April 25: Guglielmo Marconi born in Bologna, Iltaly, in 1874. He invented the wireless telegraphy which made the radio possible.

The first Seeing Eye Dog was presented as a guide dog in 1928. Read the story about Roselle, the seeing eye dog in my book. How was this dog a hero?


April 26: Ornithologist (studier of birds) John Audubon was born in Haiti in 1785. 

April 27: Inventor Samuel Finley B. Morse was born in Charlestown, MA in 1791. He invented the telegraph. The first message ever sent was between Washington, D. and Baltimore, MD. It was "What hath God Wrought?" 

Check out the Morse Code alphabet. Then try writing a "Happy Birthday" message to your best friend in Morse Code.




April 28: First free fall parachute jump made by L.L.R. Irvin, in 1919 in Dayton, OH. 

April 29: "Separable Fastener" patented in 1913 by Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, NJ. With some tweaks, this became the zipper.  
What in the world can you do with a zipper? Find out and try some of the activities on thi site just for fun!
April 30: The Louisiana Purchase more than doubled the size of the US in 1803. Would you make the deal? Read and decide. What is your opinion?

WHAT A BLAST! My Visit To Philadelphia Area Schools

WHAT A BLAST!


From signing books...




To thinking "What If You Had T.rex Teeth!? And Other Dinosaur Parts?...

Or even ANIMAL EARS!?

I shared my books with class groups...





and with BIG School Groups







Plus I shared SCIENCE MAGIC



Lotsof SCIENCE MAGIC!
I shared the stage too...

And answered lots of questions...

 Best was sharing all the smiles...

THANK YOU, Philadelphia area schools for making me feel so WELCOMED!!!

MAKE MARCH MARVELOUS!

March is that month when winter isn't quite gone and spring isn't quite near enough. It's wildly windy, possibly stormy and definitely a great month for exploring, imagining, investigating, and wondering. 

It's also NATIONAL READING MONTH! 

Put all of that together and day-by-day   MAKE MARCH MARVELOUS!

March 1: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK was established by Congress in 1872. Covering over 2,220,000 acres of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, it became the first National Park in the US. Find Yellowstone National Park on a map. Do a little research to find out and share at least 5 facts about it. Here's one of my favorite books about the founding of US National Parks. And one of my favorite stories to tell about one very special wolf, Female #7, who was part of reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone.


HAPPY NEW YEAR--once upon a time! Ancient Romans followed a calendar just 10 months long. So the year started in March and ended in December. That's how December got its name--stands for the Latin Decem for 10. In case you're worried, there were 2 other months but these were just called "winter" instead of being January and February. 



March 2: SAM HOUSTON was born in 1793. He became the only person to serve as a congressman, senator and governor of two states: TX and TN. Read about him in two books. Compare how he's described as a man and a legend.















MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK in WA became National Park #2 in 1899.

March 3: ANNE SULLIVAN began teach blind-deaf Hellen Keller when she was six years old. 


Find out why this was such an amazing challenge.What are 3 things Helen Keller is remembered for doing?
March 4: GARRETT MORGAN was born in 1877. He later invented the gas mask, a belt fastener and an automatic traffic light. So he helped people survive wars, hold up their pants and avoid traffic accidents. :-)

INTERNATIONAL PANCAKE DAY started in 1445 in Only, England. The town's women would make pancakes to use up the fat in the house beofre Lent. then race to the church carrying a pancake in a skillet. In 1950, the residents of Liberal, KS picked up this race. Now the two town hold rival races and compare winning times. Click on this link to find out more.


You could hold your own race!

March 5: 301 DAYS remain till the end of the year.


How many days until your birthday?

March 6: MICHELANGELO was born in Italy in 1475. He began one of the world's most famous painters and sculptors. I like this focus on just one of his fabulous works. But he's an artist worthy of researching to create a timeline of his life. 



March 7: THE TELEPHONE was patented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. Everyone needs to experience the fun of a string phone at least once. So click this link for directions to build one. 

The CHALLENGE: How long can the string be and still transmit the sound?






NATIONAL CEREAL DAY  What's your favorite? Make a bar graph by asking that question of at least 20 people. And record the results.  Here are some fun cereal facts:
The cereal industry uses over 800 million pounds of sugar a yearThe average American consumes over 160 bowls of cereal a yearCheeriOats was the original name for CheeriosCorn Flakes was the first boxed cereal to offer a prize
We don't usually think of food as being an invention--but cereals were invented. 












March 8: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY was first celebrated in New York City in 1857 to honor women in the garment industry. Today it is celebrated in many countries to honor all working women.

March 9: AMERIGO VESPUCCI was born in Italy in 1454. He became a famous explorer and The Americas were named after him. Find out more about him through books and on-line. Then make a timeline of his life.




March 10: "MR. WATSON, COME HERE. I WANT YOU." became the first clearly heard telephone message. It was transmitted in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell while he was just experimenting with the telephone. Check out this link to phones through the ages. 




*Time for kids to take a survey and make a graph. How many parents/grandparents used a rotary phone? And I'm old enough to remember having only one phone in the house (rotary) on a party line. Do I need to define that for any of you? :-)
March 11: JOHN CHAPMAN died in 1845 in MA. No one is sure when he was born but he is known for roaming the Ohio Valley planting apple trees. They called him Johnny Appleseed and this date is officially Johnny Appleseed Day!Check out my blog archives for IT'S APPLE TIME! and lots of activities.

These two biographies are a great chance to compare a first person story vs one in third person. HOW ARE THEY ALIKE? HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT? WHICH DID READERS LIKE BETTER? WHY?

First Person






















Third Person



























March 12: COCA-COLA began selling its first bottles in 1894. 

March 13: EARMUFF DAY It really is. And time to thank Chester Greenwood for creating them in 1877. He called them "Champion Ear Protectors".
Make a list of other names for this invention. Be really creative! Then create a commercial for this newly named invention.

March 14: COTTON GIN was patented in 1794 by Eli Whitney. It made it as much as 50 times faster to separate the seeds from the cotton fibers than doing that job by hand.

March 15: IDES OF MARCH is in history the day that the leader of the ancient Romanan Empire Julius Caesar was assassinated.

March 16: ROCKET AWAY! Robert Goddard launched a liquid fuel rocket in 1926. It rose more than 47 feet and traveled 184 feet in just 2.5 seconds. 
Read about this inventor. Then blast off some rockets of your own following the directions below.



Blast into rocketry with these activities from NASA



And this fun site
Then thick outside the box and try this rocket boat activity.

March 17: ST. PATRICK'S DAY honors the death of the patron saint of Ireland who died in 493.
March 18: RUSSIAN COSMONAUT ALEXI LEONOV became the first man to wear a space suit and step out of his rocket and into space. He stayed 20 minutes.

March 19: THEY'RE BACK! The swallows migrate to the San Juan Capistrano Mission in California from Mexico. They don't all come on that day but it's the day their return is celebrated.
And they're not the only birds whose annual return is celebrated.

After reading, find where these birds start and where they land on a map.
March 20: SPRING officially begins on this day or the next, depending on when the sun crosses the equator. It's also called the vernal equinox.

WORLD STORYTELLING DAY Click here to learn more about its history and get some ideas for celebrating.

March 21: Johann Sebastian Bach, the famous composer, was born in 1685.

Don't just read about him--listen to his work. Fantasia impressed Walt Disney so much it's the music in his film Fantasia. (Toccata and Fugue in D Minor)
March 22: POWER UP! In 1941, electricity was first generated by the hydroelectric plant at the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River.

Try out these fun activities using electricity--from battery power.

March 23: WERNER von BRAUN was born in Germany in 1912. After coming to the states following WWII, he would lead a team in launching the first US satellite, Explorer I.

PATRICK HENRY in 1775, gave the American Revolution a famous saying to remember, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
Of course, read about the man who made history.

Then read a fun mystery that shares this bit of history.

March 24: EXXON VALDEZ OIL SPILL happened when the oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound off Alaska, spilling 11 million gallons of oil and damaging over 45 miles of natural habitat. *When I visited this area 10 years after the spill while writing my book AFTER THE SPILL, there was still on-going clean up efforts. This spill hurt the environment and the plants and animals living there. It also seriously damaged some local native communities as young people left for the new clean up jobs and never came home.

March 25: FIRST COLOR TV SET was manufactured by RCA in 1954.

March 26: ROBERT FROST was born in 1874 in CA. He became a famous poet but he also worked as a farmer, teacher, shoemaker and editor.

Listen to one of my favorite poems--recited by the author Robert Frost.


When I was a little girl, my grandfather gave me a sleigh bell from his family's sleigh. I still have it. Still love it. It always makes me think of this poem by Robert Frost. Write a poem about something you treasure.
VACCINE TO PREVENT POLIO was announced by Jonas Salk in 1953.

March 27: US NAVY was created in 1794.

WILHELM ROENTGEN was born in 1845. He discovered X-rays.

March 28:  THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DISASTER happened in 1979, near Harrisburg, PA, when uranium in the reactor core overheated due to a cooling valve failure. Radioactive steam was released into the atmosphere. Afterwards, there was a storm of cocern over the future safety of nuclear power plants.  
March 29: EARTH HOUR was founded by the World Wide Fund for Nature in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The goal is to have people think about climate change by turning off all non-needed lights for one hour. JOIN IN THIS YEAR! 



March 30: ERASE THAT! The first pencil with an eraser on the end was patented by Hyman Lipman in 1858. Don't miss this book!




March 31: EIFFEL TOWER was completed in Paris in 1889. It was named for its architect Gustave Eiffel and built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.

Read these two books about the famous Eiffel Tower. What's different about the way they tell the story?
Which do you like better? Why?