Author: cconner2

NASA Kids’ Club

TEK: 

(B)  describe and illustrate the Sun as a star composed of gases that provides light and heat energy for the water cycle;

(C)  construct models that demonstrate the relationship of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, including orbits and positions; and

(D)  identify the planets in Earth’s solar system and their position in relation to the Sun

Link to Website: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html#.Uo-GRMSsim6

Grade: 3rd

Description of Website: 

This website is designed for children K-4th to explore space through interactive games and content. Children can look at pictures of earth that were taken from space, learn about why NASA explores, play a game about what astronauts eat in space, and other types of activities. One of the activities “Why does NASA Explore?” even has the ability to read the text out loud to students. This website is extremely kid-friendly, easy to use, and chalk full of information that might spark future astronauts interests in space!

Instructional Strategy:

In my classroom, I would use this as a centers activity if we were currently studying a unit on space. It’s easy for children to get sucked into games online without them taking away information from the website. To avoid this, part of the center would be a personal KWL chart in their science journals. They would write what they know, what they want to know, and at least one new thing they learned from the website. That way, children can explore and have fun, but they will still have something to refer back to for later use.

 

Just A Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book

Author: Yuyi Morales

Publisher: Chronicle Books, Library Binding Edition

Grade: Pre-k and up

Topic: Math

TEKS: §111.2. Kindergarten 

  • (4)  The primary focal areas in Kindergarten are understanding counting and cardinality
  • (A)  Students develop number and operations through several fundamental concepts. Students know number names and the counting sequence.

Yuyi Morales was born in Mexico and her works are heavily influenced by family and traditions that she experienced as a little girl. Since moving to the U.S. in 1994, she continues to carry on her family’s legacy by creating celebrated Latino children’s books. Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book is a great book for children who are developing number awareness but also extends a mature message to older readers. In the beginning of the book, Grandma Beetle has an unexpected guest, Senor Calavera, a jaunty skeleton sporting a fedora, arrive at her door. He requests that she leave with him right away, but Grandma Beetle has an agenda of her own.

Here’s a snippet:

“‘Just a minute, Senor Calavera,’ Grandma Beetle said. ‘I will go with you right away, I just have ONE house to sweep.’ Senor Calavera remembered he had extra time today. So he decided to wait. UNO one swept house, counted Senor Calavera, and he rose from his seat.

‘Just a minute, Senor Calavera,’ Grandma Beetle said. ‘I will go with you right away, I have just TWO pots of tea to boil.’ Senor Calavera sighed. Waiting a little longer wouldn’t hurt anybody, after all. DOS two steaming pots of tea, counted Senor Calavera, and he headed for the door.”

As the story goes on, Senor Calavera becomes more and more impatient as Grandma Beetle has three stacks of tortillas to make, four fruits to slice, and five cheeses to melt. By the time Grandma Beetle reaches ten, all of her grandchildren have showed up for the wonderful party that she was preparing. Senor Calavera has such a fantastic time that he forgets the reason that he came and ensures Grandma Beetle that he’ll be there for her next birthday party. Grandma Beetle manages to outwit Death himself just by counting!

For as wonderful as the story is, the illustrations are really what makes it over the top astounding. Bright and vivacious color rendered in acrylic and mixed media leaves the reader feeling as if they could actually smell the tortillas Grandma Beetle was cooking.