Theme+Study+for+Informational+Books

Theme Study for Informational Books
Click the **Edit** button (far right side of screen) and paste your content in the space below. Make sure to **Save** changes before exiting. Science and Technology/Engineering PK – grade 2 Strand 2 Life Science Life Cycles: Recognize that plants and animals have life cycles, and that life cycles vary for different living things. Students will understand that living things have life cycles. Students will, in groups, make a poster showing the life cycle of their chosen living thing, along with at least three interesting facts. Students will share the posters with the class, and the teacher will facilitate discussions about similarities and differences between the living things. The culminating activity will be: students will, in group, either A) write a newspaper article about their living thing describing the life cycle as if was big news! Or B) be news reporters and ‘report’ the news as if on TV or radio. The students will research the life cycle of their chosen living thing in order to complete the assignment.

Library Teacher will read //Pumpkin Jack and Waiting for Wings// to the class as an introduction to life cycles.

The following books are available at our library:

//Pumpkin Jack// by Will Hubble (A. Whitman, 2000) is the perfect way to introduce the life cycle. The pumpkin is carved and loved, but then of course it shrinks and rots into the ground. In the spring, new plants grow so that the cycle continues. //Waiting for Wings// by Lois Ehlert (Harcourt, 2001) is of course a beautiful book that introduces in simple language, the life cycle of a butterfly. Although the story, told in rhyme is simple, the end has a page called Butterfly Information that has concrete, but easy to understand information including how a butterfly eats, and how it begins its life.

//Pumpkin Circle// by George Levenson, photographs by Shmuel Thaler (Tricycle Press, 1999) Actual photographs of the stages of the pumpkin make this an engaging and interesting book, which is in rhyme. Towards the end of the book, it shows the pumpkin ‘shrinking…back to earth’ – showing the entire cycle, with the seeds going into the dirt waiting until next year to sprout.

//From Seed to Pumpkin// by Wendy Pfeffer, Illustrated by James Graham Hale (HarperCollins, 2004) Told as a story, this book relates the life cycle of a pumpkin. The illustrations are bright, attractive and accurate. Rich detail in the descriptions of the ‘anatomy’ of the plant makes this a great resource. Perfect for gathering information and then synthesizing it to create a life cycle diagram.

//From Seed to Daisy following the life cycle// by Laura Purdie Salas, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh (Picture Window Books, 2009) Excellent illustrations that are attractive, with clear concise information about each stage of a daisy. As with the other //following the life cycle// books, the text boxes with additional information are informative, and the diagram of the life cycle and glossary are helpful.

//From Seed to Apple Tree following the life cycle// by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh (Picture Window Books, 2009) Again, the illustrations and clear, concise language make this an excellent choice for a complete study of an apple. Each stage is represented, and the illustrations of the tree throughout the seasons are good. The text boxes offer additional, useful information. The diagrams and glossary are helpful, too.

// Dazzling dragonflies: a life cycle story // by Linda Glaser illustrations by Mia Posada. (Millbrook Press, 2008) The language is simple, the illustrations are attractive, and the rhythm of the story is engaging. This is a good choice for researching the life cycle of a dragonfly; however, there is not a diagram of the lifecycle. (great for higher order thinking) The end has frequently asked questions, with clear concise answers.

//Are you a Dragonfly?// by Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries (Kingfisher, 2001) This Backyard Books series is an excellent way to introduce the dragonfly life cycle. The title asks the question, and the text answers. “If you are, your mother laid her eggs in the stem of water plants”, “Eat and grow until your skin is so tight you have to take it off.” The illustrations show the nymph shedding its skin. Great illustrations with excellent descriptions of the eating and flying habits of the full grown dragonfly.

//A Ladybug’s Life// John Himmelman (Children’s Press, 1998) Enlarged illustrations and simple, concise descriptions of the life cycle of a ladybug make this an excellent resource. From egg to hibernation, the details of each stage are accurate and easy to understand.

//Are You a Ladybug?// by Judy Allen and Tudor Humpries (Kingfisher, 2000) From the Backyard Books series, the illustrations and descriptions are clear and easy to understand. In addition to the stages of life, it describes what a ladybug eats, and there are facts at the end of the book. It skips the hibernation phase of the life cycle, however. Good for the other stages, though.

//From Caterpillar to Butterfly Following the Life Cycle// By Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh (Picture Window Books, 2008) Each stage of the Monarch Butterfly cycle is explained on a two page spread, complete with colorful, accurate illustrations. A text box on each page further explains an aspect of the stage. The definitions of metamorphosis and proboscis are explained, for example. Fun facts and a glossary in the back are added bonuses.

//Are You a Butterfly? //By Judy Allen and Tudor Humphries (Kingfisher, 2000) From the Backyard Books series, the illustrations and descriptions are concise and clear, the illustrations do a fine job of showing the different stages. The additional information about the changes in the caterpillar while in the chrysalis is excellent. Good book to use as an introduction.

//The Life and Times of the Honey Bee// by Charles Micucci (Ticknor and Fields, 1995) Packed full of information and illustrations, this book is useful for an advanced study in the life and times of a bee. The illustrations go back and forth between cute and realistic. The section called “From Egg to Bee” is helpful, but the pages are a little cluttered. The end has a fascinating timeline of the history of the bee. // The Life Cycle of a Bee // by Lisa Trumbauer (Pebble Books, 2003) Clear, concise language and illustrations with pages devoted to each stage of the life cycle of the bee. A glossary and diagram of the life cycle are helpful, as are a list of websites. Excellent source.

//From Tadpole to Frog// by Wendy Pfeffer, Illustrated by Holly Keller (Harper Collins, 1994) Nice illustrations, a lot of detail about the entire life cycle including in what season a stage may be in. This book is good for additional details about the life cycle.

//From Tadpole to Frog following the life cycle// by Suzanne Slade, Illustrated by Jeff Yesh (Picture Window Books, 2009) Excellent illustration of a life cycle of a wood frog, with information about how the tadpole and/or frog look at different stages of metamorphosis. The information about the changes, including lungs, gills and legs at each stage is simple and easy to understand.