What is an author?

Over the next few months you might be hearing your children mention names like Dr. Seuss, Eric Carle, or Mo Willems.  These people are prolific children's authors that our class will be studying.  The first name on the list is Dr. Seuss.

I started out with a classic.

Most of the children were familiar with the story.  Some of them could even recite certain passages.  I started off with simple questions:

• What happened in the beginning of the story?
• What was the name of the person who visited? 
• Why did he feel that way?

I then asked questions that would help the children become more aware of Dr. Seuss' patterns of writing:

• What did you notice about Dr. Seuss' words in this book?
• Who were the characters?
• What is the setting of the story?
• Why do you think he made this book?

Through the discussions of his books, the children have noticed some patterns of his writing.

1. He likes to rhyme.  In most (not all) of his stories he rhymes.

2. He invents characters or creatures that aren't real.  He also uses nonsense words to mean real things.

3. He likes to teach children.  With his use of rhyming, opposites, easy-to-read words, and repetition, the books are a fun way to learn new things.

4. He makes books that are fun to read. When he started writing children's literature, he saw that a lot of the books were not entertaining.  The children can agree that every time I started reading one of his books, they were all watching and smiling. 

Next up: Mo Willems!

Balance

The last of our science tools rounded out last week with the introduction of a balance scale.  Measuring concepts like weight and capacity can be hard to understand, so I put it into easier terms for the group.  

This comparing activity got the children used to the balance scale.  One side weighing down indicates the heavier object.  We talked about a seesaw on a playground.  Would they want to seesaw with an elephant?  

The next day the children took this concept further by weighing objects.  How many kangaroos (small counting kangaroos) does it weigh?

There are, or course, many other tools we can use to investigate the world around us, but this is where we will officially pause.  We will use more tools as the year progresses, but this helped the children understand the respect needed for using something purposefully as a scientist.

Next up- the 5 senses!