Our journey is complete! Our last stop brings us very close to home. In honor of the summer months, we’re visiting the Caribbean!
Rata-Pata-Scata-Fata: A Caribbean Story is a cute tale by Phillis Gershator about a young day-dreaming boy who thinks a nonsensical phrase can magically finish all his chores! Such a wonderful story to kick-off the summer season.
And after students enjoyed one last round of the Book Swap, we took a peek at a few clips of the Treasure Island episode of Postcards from Buster when he visits Puerto Rico. The footage of the scenery is breathtaking. Maybe we’ll all have a chance to really visit sometime!
After sailing across the Pacific, we have finally reached AUSTRALIA!
Kindergarten students enjoyed reading Possum Magic by Mem Fox, a cute tale about a possum who must travel around Australia eating unique foods in the hopes of becoming visible.
And after picking books from the book swap, we took a quick video detour and watched the first few minutes of The Rescuers Down Under – a Disney movie set in the Outback.
We are currently adrift in the Pacific Ocean, taking a slow boat journey to our next destination rather than flying. Where could our next stop be? Students had a great time guessing, since the Pacific holds Australia and New Zealand or could eventually lead us right back to the U.S.! We shall see…
In the meantime, in honor of beautiful ocean journeys, we shared Flotsam by David Wiesner. This classic Caldecott Award-winning wordless picture book is a true adventure for the imagination. It will be “read” for generations to come.
From China it was just a quick hop over to Japan.
The Boy of the Three-Year Nap by Dianne Snyder earned the Caldecott Honor Medal for its engaging story and fabulous illustrations. Students couldn’t help but laugh as lazy young Taro got a taste of his own medicine.
Next stop in Asia: China.
In Two of Everything, by Lily Toy Hong, students had a great laugh as an old man and his wife discovered a magical old pot that gave them two of everything! If you had such a pot, what would you want two of?
This week we’re moving deeper into Asia…
with a journey to INDIA!
The Rumor: A Jakata Tale from India retold by Jan Thornhill is a fabulous story that illustrates just how crazy things can become when a rumor runs wild. (Think Chicken Little set in the jungle.) Students were practically rolling on the floor laughing as a worrywart convinced thousands that the world was breaking apart!
This week both Kindergarten and First Grade students moved on to an exciting new place: Russia!
One interesting fact we learned is that Russia is actually considered part of two continents: Europe and Asia. The part of Russia to the west of the Ural Mountains is grouped with Europe, and the part to the east is grouped with Asia.
In honor of this unique area, we got to take a video detour and watch the animated version of Patricia Polacco’s classic book, Rechenka’s Eggs.
Then we talked a bit about the history of Faberge’s eggs and their meaning to those in Russia who celebrate Easter.
This week Kindergarten had a short trip from France to Greece!
We read a classic Greek myth: King Midas and the Golden Touch.
The story actually reminded us a bit of our story from France (Jig, Fig, and Mrs. Pig) because it reminds us that riches are not the most valuable gifts in life.
Upon returning from Spring Break, Kindergarten took off for France!
Jig, Fig, and Mrs. Pig is a classic French tale retold by Peter Hansard.
It reminded us a lot of Cinderella, and we loved the moral: kindness is more valuable than riches.
This week Kindergarten traveled to Ireland in honor of St. Patrick’s Day!
Fiona’s Luck by Teresa Bateman is a wonderful tale about a young Irish girl whose wits prove more valuable than luck when outsmarting a leprechaun.
And the Amharic Word of the Week is BREAD (pronounced “dab-bo”).
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