Forms of Water

Forms of Water

By: Colton Glover

            Water Changes by Brenda Parkes is a great read for young students who are learning about the many forms of water. This is a very simple yet informative book. It provides detailed pictures for the students that may struggle with reading, which assists the students in comprehending the text. I think this is a good read for children because it helps teach them the difference between solid and liquid forms of water while connecting to the CCGPS S1E2 B:  “Identifying forms of precipitation such as rain, snow, sleet, and hailstones as either solid (ice) or liquid (water)”. These forms of water are mentioned throughout Water Changes.

We learn that water comes in many forms. Water can be found as rain, snow, fog, hail, or even freeze to make ice. Not only is this an educational lesson but it also allows emergent readers to get some great practice using their reading skills. This opens up the students' minds to thinking more outside of the box. Now they are able to recognize snow as a form of water and not just a frozen white blanket that covers the ground. It also teaches them that fog is not just a low cloud but also a form of water vapor that is held in the air. Throughout Water Changes we are able to plug science into situations that we may encounter in our everyday lives.

            This book provides a simple science lesson for students. It allows students to see water in different forms that they come across on a daily basis. From this book we can apply some simple in-class experiments so the students can see and relate to the different forms. This would allow them to apply what they just read and hopefully keep them interested in reading this type of nonfiction material. 

The Mission to Learn Addition

The Mission to Learn Addition

By: Colton Glover

           

Mission: Addition by: Loreen Leedy is a great book for young children to read, specifically for math. This book contains many engaging strategies that not only allow the children to read but also apply what they are reading. Addition can be a tricky task for students to learn especially when other math methods are brought into play, such as subtraction, division, and multiplication.  Luckily, in this particular book it focuses solely on addition, which allows children to devote all their attention to this method of mathematics. Throughout this book we learn that addition is a fact. You can change the order of the addends and it does not change the sum. I think that fact links well to the CCGPS MCCK.CC.4 B: which states, “understand that the last number name said tells the number of objects counted. The number of objects is the same regardless of the arrangement or the order in which they were counted.” Mission: Addition allows children to view math in a fun way, which can help keep the interested in this content.

Though it may seem ridiculous that a child could learn from a book with students that are talking animals, it shows us how a math topic can be fun and interesting. One stormy day Miss Prime, the teacher, has her students pretend they are detectives and has them find clues left behind by a mysterious person who ate all the cookies off her desk. Each student checks a different place in the classroom. Each student found something a little different at each location. For example, Talley checked the windows for evidence, Fay checked for hair, and Ginger checked for the footprints. When the students thought they knew who did it they reported back to Miss Prime with their evidence. As they are regrouped to discuss who they thought ate all of Miss Prime’s cookies, Miss Prime had each student add up all their evidence. Talley added up each window, Fay counted each piece of hair, and Ginger counted each fingerprint. In the end, with all the evidence added up, they found out Miss Prime was the culprit.

Even though this may seem far-fetched to some, it provides a great learning strategy for young children to practice addition. It is amazing what children are capable of when we allow them to use their imagination to apply the things they learn throughout life. If we don’t find ways to keep them engaged they will lose interest. It is harder to regain the same initiative, than it is to maintain what you already have. 

Different For A Reason

Different For A Reason

By: Colton Glover

           

"They never asked Rudolph to play." You guessed it—Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Rudolph is a typical fantasy genre that contains specific elements such as living at the North Pole, talking reindeer, and Santa Clause. There was no better time of the year during my childhood than Christmas. It meant family, friends, food, and best of all, presents. We would all wait up on Christmas Eve to try to catch a glimpse of Santa or Rudolph leading the way through the night sky. Children really connect with this type of story because they truly believe in the magic and excitement. This would be a great read to children not only because it is a well-known Christmas tale, but because it teaches a valuable life lesson as well.

            Even though the story of Rudolph can seem very cliché, it actually conveys a great moral lesson. Rudolph displays a common conflict of person versus person, which is probably the most common type. The other Reindeer mocked him, "Ha-ha! Look at that Red Nose!" They wouldn't even try to include Rudolph in any of their games because he did not fit the stereotypic image of a normal reindeer. However, Rudolph's unique nose became very popular when Santa was having trouble seeing his list of children. Santa immediately noticed Rudolph's "bright, shiny nose" and insisted, "you will show us the way." Being able to help Santa made Rudolph feel accepted, which is what most children strive for with their peers.

We go throughout life trying to fit in even though we were created to stand out. Rudolph wanted to fit in with the other reindeer until he realized that he was unique for a specific purpose. This story is great for children because they are able to read about a time of year that they love while gaining a life lesson. It is important for children to understand that everyone is their own person for a reason. Children need to be taught to use their talents and differences to serve others and change the world.