Library Lessons
Curating Picture Books to Support the National School Library Standards
Dig In! 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell
Summary
How cool would it be to have a farm-to-table experience in your library? All you need are kitchen scraps, a few supplies, the sun and recipes. The projects in Dig In! 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps by Kari Cornell are inspiring. Gorgeous photographs and easy-to-implement plans will compel students to grow and cook food. Young chefs can join the fun by following the recipes that complement each project. Resources at the end of the book will support learners who want to garden outside.
Response to Literature
AASL Standards Framework for Learners: Explore/Think V.A.3. Learners develop and satisfy personal curiosity by engaging in inquiry-based processes for personal growth.
- Follow the directions to grow lettuce. When it’s ready to harvest, ask parents to donate ingredients for the “Autumn Salad” recipe. Work together to make the salad and set a long table for lunch. Add other special treats to make it a memorable meal.
- Enrich the experience further by asking learners to design a garden for their school. Ask learners what questions they have about designing a garden. Some may include:
- “What should we think about when designing and building a garden?”
- “What does a garden need to grow?”
- “What are the best vegetables to grow in our area?”
- “What materials do we need?”
- “What size should it be?”
- “Who will take care of it?”
- “How will it get watered?”
- “How do we keep harmful bugs away?”
- “Who do we need to ask for permission to build a garden?”
- Invite a Master Gardener in to help answer questions. Find ideas in books like It’s Our Garden: From Seed to Harvest in a School Garden by George Ancona.
- Provide paper, pencils, crayons and markers to design the school gardens. Invite learners to share their designs with the class.
- Save designs and search for grants to make their plans come to life!
Check out the fun contest below to challenge learners to make gardens out of milk cartons:
Carton 2 Garden: Helping Grow School Garden Programs
If you like these lesson ideas, please check out our book Lessons Inspired by Picture Books for Primary Grades. You’ll find ready-to-go lessons with worksheets, rubrics and assessments to use with compelling picture books.
Image Citation: Cornell, Kari. “Dig In! 12 Easy Gardening Projects Using Kitchen Scraps.” NetGalley, Lerner Publishing Group, 8 April 2018, http://www.netgalley.com/.
The Bee Book by Charlotte Milner
Summary
If you want to grab the attention of a child, mention a Harry Potter reference and watch their eyes light up. That’s what author Charlotte Milner does in The Bee Book when she states that a “dumbledore” is a bumblebee. This fun fact presented with infographic flair will compel children to keep reading. Every page delivers interesting facts with engaging illustrations. Teachers will immediately recognize the value of using The Bee Book as a mentor text. Noting Milner’s craft for delivering information will inspire young nonfiction writers. Budding scientists will appreciate learning the significance of bees. Helpful solutions at the end of the book will inspire them to make a difference.
Response to Literature
AASL Standards Framework for Learners: Inquire/Create: I.B.3. Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes generating products that illustrate learning.
- While reading the story, ask learners to pay close attention to how the author, Charlotte Milner, presents information. What do they notice?
- Point to some of the illustrations in the book to help define the word “infographic”. Ask learners what they like about the way the information is presented in The Bee Book. What was their favorite infographic?
- Explain that they will create their own infographic on a topic they know all about. They will use some of the ideas in the book for inspiration. Younger learners can use poster paper, crayons and markers to present their information. Learners in grades three and higher can try using Piktochart; an AASL Best Website for Teaching and Learning,
- Display infographics in the library.
Wondering about the waggle dance? Watch this video by the Smithsonian Channel.
Image Citation: Milner, Charlotte. “The Bee Book.” NetGalley, DK Children, 6 Feb. 2018, http://www.netgalley.com/.
If you like these lesson ideas, please check out our book Lessons Inspired by Picture Books for Primary Grades. You’ll find ready-to-go lessons with worksheets, rubrics and assessments to use with compelling picture books.
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