CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR
PARENTS & TEACHERS
Are you up for a little educational fun?
BOOK 1. The Crisp Juicy Apple
Sensory Activity
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You can set up an "Apple Discovery" table with parts of an apple labels, signs, and a taste test! The most important part of this center is using real apples. You can set out a sensory bin filled with cut-up pieces of apples. Include the flesh, skin, seeds, stem, core, leaves, and apple halves.
Apple Life Cycle
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After reading "The Crisp, Juicy Apple", put the kids new knowledge to the test. Set up a "Life Cycle of an Apple" poster and ask the kids what they think the next stage of the life cycle is and let them add it to the board.
Counting Apples Math Activity
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You can create apple tree counting mats that will help you teach numbers 1-10. Your kids will love to play with interactive apple math mats and counting activities for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten.
Background Agricultural Connections
The average American consumes approximately 65 apples a year. There are over 7,500 varieties of apples in the world and about 2,500 varieties are grown in the United States. Apples are the fruit of apple trees. They have green, red, pink, or yellow skin and are used to make apple juice, cider, vinegar, applesauce, and many kinds of salads and desserts.
Apple trees grow in all 50 states, but for efficient fruit production they require a cold period called vernalization. Vernalization takes place during the cold winter months while an apple tree is dormant. Without this cold period, apple trees will not develop sufficient flower buds to produce a good crop of apples. The top three apple producing states in the US are Washington, New York, and Michigan. All three of these states have a significant winter season.
BOOK 2. The Warm Woolen Hat
Sensory Activity
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Point out any clothing, socks, or coats in the room that are made of wool. Then, provide a sample of wool for the kids to see and touch.
Motor Activity: Weaving with Sticks
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No looms, just two pencils and a length of string! Attach string to one end of each pencil to act as the weft thread. Hold the pencils in your left hand. Using the thread that you have spun, make a loop and pop it over one stick. Gently slide the weave down the pencils. When you have enough, slide the weaving to the end of the warp threads and knot them. The weaving can then be rolled up and held in place to make a sheep!
What is the Process for Making Wool?
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After reading "The Warm Woolen Hat", let your kids explore the process of making wool into cloth. Ask your kids, "What animal produces wool?" Once they identify that sheep produce wool ask, "What is wool used for?" Explain to the kids that a shepherd is a person who cares for sheep.
Background Agricultural Connections
Sheep are grazing animals. A male sheep is called a ram. A female sheep is called a ewe (pronounced “you”). A baby sheep is called a lamb. Lambs are born in the spring. Ewes often have twin lambs; occasionally, they will have triplets. It is important to shear sheep before their lambs are born. It can be difficult for the new lambs to drink milk with a lot of wool in the way.
Sheep shearing is a unique job. It is generally performed by a professional shearer. It takes a whole year for sheep to grow a heavy fleece. A sheep’s fleece usually weighs about eight pounds. When the sheep is sheared, the shearer tries to keep the fleece in one piece. Giving the sheep a “hair cut” allows the sheep to be cooler in the summer months and keeps insects and other pests from living in the thick wool. After the sheep is sheared, the wool is washed, carded, dyed, spun into yarn, and woven into fabric. Wool can also be felted, a process of matting fibers together, to make products such as hats, slippers, and ornaments.
BOOK 3. The Red Bouncy Ball
What Comes From Rubber Trees?
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After reading "The Red Bouncy Ball", encourage your kids to identify items used in daily life that come from the rubber trees.
How Big is It?
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In the wild, rubber trees can grow to 100 feet tall. Using the right measuring tool (yard stick or measuring tape) and chalk, mark off how big a rubber tree is on the playground, sidewalk, or driveway. If you were to lie down on or next to the line, how many times would you have to lie down in order to equal the size of a rubber tree?
Draw me a Tree Friend
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After learning different facts about Rubber trees, you could have kids create their own tree friend painting or coloring by going outside and looking at a tree near them to try and recreate.
Background Agricultural Connections
Rubber is a very important and useful substance. Natural rubber is made from the milky sap of a plant. There are several kinds of plants that can produce rubber. One kind, the India rubber plant, is a common houseplant. Most of the world’s natural rubber, however, comes from the rubber tree with the scientific name Hevea brasiliensis.
People grow rubber trees mainly for the sap, called latex. Rubber makers mix the latex with chemicals to thicken it. They then dry and press the latex into blocks or sheets of rubber. In addition to being elastic, or able to stretch, rubber is tough and waterproof. It may be shaped into many objects, including tires, hoses, shoe soles, and balls. Some latex that is not processed as rubber is used to make medical gloves, balloons, and other products.
BOOK 4. The Pretty Picture
Sensory Activity
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Make sure that adults are the only ones preparing this activity. Create letters and numbers using wax. Dripped it on paper and allowed to cool completely. Then, challenge your blindfolded kids to work out what letter or number is on the card presented to them.
Science Magic Picture
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Let your kids write sight words on white paper with white crayon. Then, use watercolors to paint over the white crayon. The sight words will appear. Science is taught by explaining that oil and water do not mix. The wax from the crayon doesn’t mix with the water in the paint.
Learn About the Invention of the Crayola Crayon
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Explore who made it, and how the first one was created. Check out this video from Crayola that highlights the first invention and history behind them. This is a great way to discuss the invention with your kids as well as the creator himself, Edwin Binney.
Background Real Life Connections
The primary ingredient in crayons is wax. Paraffin wax is commonly used because of its excellent color adherence, ease of molding, and low cost. The wax is obtained by refining petroleum, which is then processed and purified to meet the standards required for crayon production.
Color pigments are what give crayons their vibrant hues. These pigments are finely ground powders that are mixed with the wax to create different colors. A wide variety of pigments are used, each carefully selected to achieve a specific shade. The pigments must be non-toxic and safe for use by children.
Besides wax and color pigments, other ingredients are added to the crayon mixture to enhance its properties. Some crayons may also contain chalk or calcium carbonate to improve opacity and coverage. Manufacturers may add other proprietary ingredients to create crayons with unique characteristics, such as washability or extra strength.
BOOK 5. The Playful Puppy
We All Need Love
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After reading "The Playful Puppy", you can lead kids in a discussion about basic needs of humans and pets like shelter, food, love, etc.
Adopt a Pet Reading Buddy
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Your kids will have a blast filling out their "adoption paperwork". Along with their reading buddy, kids can also set reading goals and track their progress with a reading journal!
DIY Dog Treats & Toys for Shelters
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Dog treats are easy to make and can help kids learn math, measuring, and home economics skills. Have your kids whip up some heart-shaped doggy biscuits with an inexpensive cookie cutter (you can find them at any craft store). There are also many DIY dog toys that are a snap to make. The best part? Dogs in animal shelters will be grateful for every single second of work, and they’ll show it!
Take a Field Trip
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With the help of a local animal shelter, organize a tour of the shelter for kids, families, or other groups. End the tour with an activity for kids (see Adoptable Artwork), a discussion about the tour, or suggestion from the shelter.
Adoptable Artwork
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Kids create color portraits of adoptable dogs and cats at local animal shelters to display in the school or in their community.
Animal Care Drive
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Collect donations for the local animal shelter. Every shelter has different needs, so always check with the staff as what their specific needs are.
Background Real Life Connections
According to the World Animal Foundation, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).
Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year. We can help even more pets find homes in the future when we let people know the lifesaving impact they can have when they adopt a pet from a shelter — instead of buying a dog or cat from a breeder, online retailer, or pet store.