The KWL Learning Guide could be applied to many books The helpful KWL learning guide is taken from:   * KWL reading method KWL is intended to be an exercise for a study group or class that can guide you in reading and understanding a text. You can adapt it to working alone, but discussions definitely help. It is composed of only three stages that reflect a worksheet of three columns with the three letters What we Know   What we Want to know   And what we Learned       K stands for Know: This first stage may surprise you: Think first about, then list, what you know about the topic. This advanced organizer provides you with a background to the new material, building a scaffold to support it. Think of it as a pre-reading inventory. " Brainstorm!" Before looking at the text, think of keywords, terms, or phrases about the topic, either in your class or a study group. *Record these in the K column of your chart until you cannot think of more. * Engage your group in a discussion about what you wrote in the K column. * Organize the entries into general categories. W stands for Will or Want: The second stage is to list a series of questions of what you want to know more of the subject, based upon what you listed in K. * Preview the text's table of contents, headings, pictures, charts etc. Discuss what you want to learn * List some thoughts on what you want, or expect to learn, generally or specifically. Think in terms of what you will learn, or what do you want to learn about this. * Turn all sentences into questions before writing them down. They will help you focus your attention during reading. * List the questions by importance. L stands for Learned The final stage is to answer your questions, as well as to list what new information you have learned. Either while reading or after you have finished * List out what you learn as you read, either by section, or after the whole work, whichever is comfortable for you. * Check it against the W column, what you wanted to learn * Create symbols to indicate main ideas, surprising ideas, questionable ideas, and those you don't understand! Expand this exercise beyond K W L: Add an H! H Stands for HOW you can learn more. * Pose new questions about the topic * How can I learn more or answer questions not answered in my worksheet These include other sources of information, including: organizations, experts, tutors, websites, librarians, etc.     **********************   Young Teen TEACHER GUIDE 5 x YOUNG TEEN TITLES My mid-grade (young teen) adventures would work well in a home study group or classroom. Try the KWL method of learning while reading. " Taconi and Claude - Double Trouble" Aussie Outback Adventure Book #1 Aussie Word glossary at the back of the book A coming of age story that deals with making good decisions, believing in your own ability to solve problems, and the value of loyalty, family and friendship. There is humor when Claude, Taconi's sulfur crested chatty cockatoo offers smart one liners. Taconi is a son torn by how his future will turn out. He is fscinated by the "big smoke," yet his dad warns against it. But he is not sure if being an active member of his tribe is the way for him. He dithers, until the Dreamtime Spirits show their hand. Then all is clear and he comes to a decision about his future. DISCUSS: *What do you think loyalty involves? *Can there be friendshop without loyalty? *What facts do you review when you have to make a decision? *Use the links provided to learn more about Australia and its animals *Would you like to live like Taconi? *Could you eat witchetty grubs live - if you were starving? *Do you think his dad was crazy to want to be "Staton Cookie?" *Would you be scared if you had to face a "man" ceremony, like Taconi? *Would you like a mate like Claude? *What do you think Taconi learned? "Trial by Walkabout" - (Multicultural Outback Adventure) Book #2 (next generation- adventure in the outback) Aussie Word glossary at the back of the book The grandsons of Taconi, and the Boss of Coorparoo Cattle Station, go walkabout together. The day explodes with threats and lies, sibling rivalry, and a question that has not been answered. Josh soon realizes he would be dead meat without Bindi's bush skills to feed them and keep them both safe. What must he eat to survive - snake and witchetty grubs? He begins to understand that his friend might not have "schooling" as he knows it, but the outback smarts Bindi has learned makes him an "A" student in the dangerous outback. The algebra and spelling knowledge that made Josh feel superior won't feed them or save their lives. Dreamtime tales, told around a blazing fire, show Josh that other beliefs and cultures are very real to their subjects. He worries about the threat he made to his older brother, and how to solve the problem of their sibling rivalry. The outback, his friend and the beliefs of an ancient culture all come together and help Josh find the courge to tackle his brother Tom, and finally find an answer to that long unasked question. Being different is not a bad thing. Differences that are respectful, peaceful, and kindly, are to be embrased. Friendships can be bent or cracked, but good hearts and good will will mend them. A problem can be solved when you ask the right question, and then STOP. . . and listen to the answer.   DISCUSS: *Is there sibling rivalry in your familysibling rivalry? *How do you deal with your feelings about your siblings? *Do lies and threats ever serve a good purpose? *Do you think Josh is superior because of his schooling, or is Bindi superior because he has learned "bush smarts?" *Maybe neither are superior - perhaps both are simply well equiped for the worlds they live in. *What would you do differently if you were Josh? *Could you eat snake and emu eggs if you were really hungry? *Are you willing to accept that someone you really like has different beliefs from you - and try to understand those beliefs? * What do you consider as being different - a belief unlike yours, a physical or mental difference, or a different race or color? * Do you think differences make people more interesting, or not worth bothering about? *Is the Medicine Man evil or just plain crazy? *Would you be able to survive in the Australian outback? SUMMARY- for Both These Books With an authentic outback settings, these 2 Aussie adventure, one set in the 1950's on an outback cattle station in Queensland, and the other in the present time, and on the same outback Cattle Station. They offer a look into the life of young aboriginal boys, and how having a white friend can be complicate life. Fun, danger, big decisions, and Dreamtime spirits, these all combine to put Taconi's life in turmoil. Fear of his man ceremony does not help. His mate, Claude, a sulfur crested cockatoo, offers many helpful and funny one-liners. Josh and Bindi, on ther other hand, test their friendship under life threatening conditions, yet manage to stay friends. They come out stronger and more sure of their place in life, their friendship, and how to make choices that work well and solve problems. My Down-under Fun page offers details about the animals that wander through the outback. ABORIGINAL WORDS - *Dreamtime: Australian Aboriginals believe that all things come from the Dreamtime, and go back there when their time on earth is finished. *The Dreaming - When aboriginals let themselves go back in time and revisit the past. *Spirit Man - These are messengers from the Dreamtime. *Billabong - This is a deep water hole in a creek or river. *Lubra - what aboriginal women are called. AUSSIE SAYINGS & WORDS - Beaut Bonzer - both these mean great, good or terrific. She'll be Jake - means everything will be fine or all right. Cripes - kind of surprised. Stunned Mullet - surprised - amazed - shocked Sheila - a slang term for Australian women (Not at all disrespectful). Jackaroo - someone who rides a horse and drives or herds cattle. Tucker - food Melaleuca - a native shrub. Biscuits - What the US call cookies. Jumper - what Aussies call a sweater.     **********************   "Down Under Calling" (Family Saga) Family saga that crosses the Pacific Ocean (Aussie Word glossary at the back of the book)   This story is about the anger young Andy feels about things he has no control over, and his Grandma Rose, in far off Australia, alone and far from her family in Oregon. It is about a budding young friendship, and the need to be valued and loved, no matter how old you are. Wisdom come to some with age, and the stories in the letters Rose writes to Andy proves this. They shock and amaze Andy and his fiend Kelly. Yet between the letters their daily life flows on, often not so smoothly, on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. When asked, sneaky Grandma Rose offers insghts and stories that make Andy think. He slowly changes from a miserable young teen, obcessed with playing computer games, to a bike riding enthusiast who becomes a "birder." He learns to accept what he can not change right now, and work to make the changes he longs for cometrue in the future. His parents are also working to bring about change, and a return to the life they enjoyed before being laid off work. Helping a friend, and realizing that the friend envies what HE has, makes Andy sort out his priorities. DISCUSS: *Can people be long-distance friends? *Do you think Grandma Rose was sneaky? *Is Andy right to feel angry about what life dumped on him? *Do you know someone who has similar problems to Andy and Kelly? *Did you guess what a Comfort Station was? *Do you think older people are smarter than youger people? *Do you check out facts about new things ( like the Aussie Animals) on the Internet. *Are your parents always telling you to quit playing computer games and go read a book? *Are friendships between kids and their grandparents really possible? *What do you think Andy and Kelly learned from Grandma Rose's stories and letters? * If you have a grandparent, ask them about what it was like when THEY were growing up. See if they share any similaraties with Grandma Rose's stories. Down Under Fun - where you can find information about the Aussie critters that visit Grandma Rose's back yard on my website. SITES where facts about Australia can be found: Flora and Fauna Australia - general knowledge Australia in Brief - ancient heritage, modern society There is also a terrific post on Brain Fart Explosion - Termites: Nature's Recyclers. Lots of research links included   ********************** "The Revenge of Thelma Hill" - (Ghost Mystery) (Ghost mystery set in Oregon)   Twins Frannie and Jeff couldn't be more different. Optomistic Frannie is eager to make new friends and get on with her life. Jeff is consumed with doom and gloom about their Dad's promotion, and their move to Oregon. Summer vacation looms for both of them, lonely and friendless. Until Thelma Hill arrives. Not exactly the friend either of them imagined. No one believes in ghosts, but all the same, there she is, haunting their rented house and raving on about revenge. Their basement is Thelma's resting place, and she is guarded by a jealous arachnid named Adolpha - YIKES!! When her fear abates, Frannie agrees to help trap Thelma's Killer and a reluctant Jeff is dragged along with her. This story offers plenty of goosebumps, and the idea that a good friend will always help you out. It also proves the old addage that "blood is thicker than water." They plot and plan together. Thelma Hill might be a ghost, but she becomes a sort of mother figure to Frannie. Her Mom has been mysteriously missing for a few years, and Thelma promises to call in a few "other worldly" favors to discover what happened to her. Unlikely friends sometimes prove the best friends of all, and this is true of Frannie and Thelma Hill. It turns out that they need each other, and NEED is a strong bond. Even Jeff sees the light at the end, and his bravery is wonderful to behold. After all, Frannie is his twin, and Thelma's killer can not be allowed to make her victim #2. Friendship, need, and a ghost's longing for revenge on her killer: this is the glue that keeps a ghosly tale on track. Oh, and don't forget the frying pan. Without it there would be NO happy ending for Frannie, Jeff, or the Ghost of Thelma Hill.   DISCUSS: *Do you have a sibling like Jeff ? *What do you think his problem was? *Is there sibling rivalry in your family? *Should the ghost have asked Frannie to take such dangerous risks? *Do you think ghosts are real? *Is Frannie brave for hunting down the man who killed Thelma Hill? *Or should she have said NO when the ghost asked for help? * Are you afraid of arachnids - spiders? * Could you keep such a big secret from your parents? * Do you have a scary basement at your house? * Do you dream of people you love? * Did you think Thelma Hill would return with news of Frannie's missing Mom - or not? * Do you have a friend you really need to be on your side? *Do you think you could help someone in need the way Frannie did. It doesn't have to be a ghost - just someone that needs your help and support? *If you were in Frannie's place, could you think of Thelma Hill as a friend?   ********************** Daisy and Bartholomew Q (a Fun Fantasy Adventure.) Daisy is a procrastinator. She puts off until later, things she should do RIGHT NOW--like the essay her teacher wants her to write. Her mom has nagged, but Daisy has not even begun writing it, and it is due tomorrow. You see the Thesaurus confuses her, so she does not want to look there for the fantastic new words the teacher told the class to use. Then, this weird critter arrived. Bartholomew Q was his name. He whisked her into Word World. As well as the fabulous words that kept popping into her head, there were Oogledorks, Dynoroars and Talking Adjective and Verb trees, plus other scary things--like Evil Big Crow. And Daisy never guessed she would be kidnapped inside a Thesaurus? Can the Lord High Bookworm save her? Will Bartholomew Q Bookworm come to the rescue, or will Daisy have to do it all herself? And how can butterflies, Swan Airlines, and sad and bedraggled Raccoon, help her get back home? You know the answer. . . read it yourself!   *Do you know someone who procrastinates? *What sort of things do YOU put off until later? *Would you like to go inside a Thesaurus and have an adventure, like Daisy? * How about that cool Thesaurus Pathway, and those giant perfumed flowers--AWESOME! *Do you think there are Featherbutt Birds anywhere else in the world? *Would you be brave and resourceful like Daisy. *Is Daisy rude to call Bartholomew Q. "Green Fish Bait?" *What if we all had sparkling yellow eyes, like the World World critters? *Would you like a ride on Swan airlines? *What about having a bookworm or a Oogledork for a pet? *Where are the Adjectives, Nowns, and Verbs on the talking trees? *Can you bounce a Glo Ball, or run faster than a Dynoroar? *What do you think Daisy learned from her adventures in Word World? *Do you think she will go bachk to see them all again, and have another adventure? *What did Daisy bring back with her? Throghout Daisy's adventure, the SUPER new words that pop into her head are in BOLD. In Kindle these can be instantly clicked on and explained. OR use your Thesaurus. **********************   PB - TEACHER GUIDE 4x RHYMING PICTURE BOOK TITLES     "Dreamtime Man" (History told in rhyme) How the Australian aboriginals survived the arrival of the white man. The lyrical verses in Dreamtime Man take readers back in time, to how Australan Aboriginal tribes lived for thousands of years. Their belief in the Dreamtime and its Spirits shaped their lives. What happened when they first came into contact with the white settlers had tragic consequences for them. The white man spread disaster and misery. Their aboriginal culture and way of life was forever changed. Suggested reading age eight and up. *Do you think you could live in the harsh Aussie outback? *There are no supermarkets, so what did the aboriginals eat? *Where is the Daintree and what is it? *What does the Dreamtime mean to the Tribes? *Where do the Dreamtime spirits live? *Why did the white settlers kill the aboriginals? *What was the name of the bark and grass shelters they made? *When did some ribesmen stop going naked? *If your mom belonged to one of the tribes, what would they call her? *Do you remember what goes on at a Corrobboree? *If you fell into a Billabong, where would you be? *When a tribesman says he is visiting URULU, where is he going? *Would you eat a witchetty grub?   Check the Parent/Teacher guide at the back of the Dreamtime for links to tribal life and lore, the Dreamtime culture, and places these tribes lived.   ************* " Horatio Humble Beats the Big D" Parent/Teacher guide included - + many helpful links This is a fun read that also helps kids with dyslexia - and their parents. Ways to Help Your Child with Dyslexia Thrive: Children with Dysllexia are usually very smart-their brains are simply wired in a different way. If your child has dyslexia, it is important to let him/her know that some of the world's most famous actors, painters, musicians, and scientists, learned HOW to make their dyslexia behave. Here are just a few famous names: Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Tom Cruise, Mohamid Ali, Orlando Bloom, Magic Johnson, Oprah Winfrey + Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe. You can find more by Googling. Dyslectic kids are usually smart, and with the right early guidance they will flourish as adults. Dyslexia is a problem with the brain's ability to translate written images into meaningful language. It is the most common learning disability in children. Dyslexia usually occurs in children with normal vision and normal intelligence. Children with dyslexia usually have normal speech, but may have difficulty interpreting spoken language, reading and writing. Children with dyslexia need individualized tutoring. This involves a multisensory education program. Supporting your child emotionally also plays an important part in their ability to learn ways for their brain to adapt. NEVER BE AFRAID TO SEEK HELP! Common Symptoms (taken from the Mayo Clinic link below) : Dyslexia symptoms can be difficult to recognize before your child enters school, but some early clues may indicate a problem. Once your child reaches school age, teacher may be first to notice a problem. Before School: Signs and symptoms that a young child may be at risk of dyslexia include: *Late talking *Adding new words slowly *Difficulty rhyming School Age: Once your child is in school, dyslexia symptoms may become more apparent, including: *Reading at a level well below the expected level for the age of your child *Problems processing and understanding what he or she hears *Difficulty comprehending rapid instructions *Trouble following more than one command at a time *Problems remembering the sequence of things *Difficulty seeing (and occasionally hearing) similarities and differences in letters and words *An inability to sound out the pronunciation of an unfamiliar word * Seeing letters or words in reverse (b for d or saw for was) - although seeing words or letters in reverse is common for children younger than 8 who don't have dyslexia, children with dyslexia will continue to see reversals past that age + difficulty spelling Definitive Articles on Dyslexia: *Dyslexia the Gift. Information and Resources - http://www.dyslexia.com/ *The International Dyslexia Association Promoting literacy through Research, Education and Advocy - http://www.interdys.org *Dyslexia - MayoClinic.com - Comprehensive overview covers signs, symptoms, causes, treatment of this common reading disability - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dyslexia/DS00224 Helpful Books on Dyslexia: *Dyslexia - Margaret J. Snowling - 2000 - 253 pages + other books about dyslexia. Written from the standpoint of cognitive and developmental psychology. *Dyslexia - a parents' and teachers' guide - Trevor Payne, Elizabeth Turner. Chapter Introduction This chapter contains a brief overview of children with dyslexia. Margot Finke - Books for Children - E-Mail Me   *************   " Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind" Parent/Teacher guide included RUTHIE is a fun read that also offers thoughts and ideas that could help a child adjust to a "Sudden Big Change." Huge change in a child's life can confuse and upset them. This is what happened in Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind. Her parent's sudden move made Ruthie feel lost, lonely, and cross at everyone The death of a loved one, divorce, a new baby, or a move far from friends, are big changes that could make your child act out in ways similar to Ruthie. When you've both finished reading about Ruthie and her Hippo, and you've enjoyed all the fun illustrations, ask your child what they think about Ruthie. Ask if they can guess why she acted so bratty and rude. * Do you think Ruthie really hated her Mom and Dad? * Was there a good reason for her to act rude and mean? * Would Ruthie have felt better, if she and her parents had talked about it? * Was Ruthie lonely? Did she miss her friends? * Do you think feeling lonely is an excuse for acting rude or mean? * Would your parents put up with you being a brat, like Ruthie? * Why do you think finding the puppy made Ruthie happy again? * Do you sometimes have moods that are big and ugly, "Like some Hippo's Fat Behind?" * What makes you overflow with happiness, like Ruthie did at the end of the book? * Did you like the Hippo? Do you think he stole Ruthie's story? If your child is reacting badly to big changes, like Ruthie, talking to them about it might make a difference. * If possible, prepare them ahead of time, by explaining the reasons for the change. * Keep your explanation simple and easy to understand. * Play up any positive aspects the change may offer.* ¢ Encourage your child to talk to you about this change, and what scares them about it. * Then, listen to what they say in return. Answer each of their questions without unnecessary elaboration. * Reassure them that you will always love and care for them. * A discreet bribe can smooth a transition period: like the promise of that kitten, or the computer game they have been nagging you about. * Be patient, loving, and understanding. Your approach depends on the age and maturity of your child. However, you need to recognize when your efforts are not working. Be prepared, if necessary, to consult a professional about how to guide and help your child through the scary hurdles of "Big Change." Here are 3 websites that offer a great deal of help, plus insights into the problems children face, when dealing with big changes in their lives. Partnership for Children Dealing with Change Kid's Health   *************   " Rattlesnake Jam"""   ... Quirky verses, and fun illustrations - written with boys in mind! Boys like yucky stuff, underarm noises, farts, frogs and lizards. This book is meant to HOOK small boys on reading. It has fast action and all the messy yuck a boy could want. Check out Gran's Kitchen for a few sample recipes. Pa catching rattlers, and Gran's determination to cook them up into jam, instead of the pies and fritters Pa craves, has instant appeal. That barfey green jam, full of gross lumpa and bumps, hooks most boys - and lots of girls.   DISCUUSS: *Do you have crazy grandparents like this? * Would grandparents like this be fun to have? * Why did Grandpa catch all those rattlers? * Did he do it to make Grandma happy, or because he enjoyed hunting them? * Would you rather hunt them with Grandpa or cook them with Grandma? *What do you think her Rattlesnake Jam tasted like - delicious or yucky?   This is sinply a fun story that will appeal to small boys. No hidden agenda intended.   *********************   7x Animal PICTURE BOOKS Both rhyming and text. About animals from the U.S. and Australia. Written in rhyme. Fun facts to learn. OSCAR is Different (text) Oscar looks mean, nasty, and ugly--like all Tasmanian Devils. But Oscar IS different. He has a warm and gentle heart, and longs to make friends with the other Aussie bush critters. Yet everyone in the bush is scared of him. They run away when he appears. Oscar has to convince them that he IS DIFFERENT. But How? With help from a chatty Blue Kingfisher, a baby koala, and a young wombat. Finally, Oscar findssome great bush mates.   *Look at a map and find Tasmania (HINT-find Australia first) *Were the bush animals wrong to judge Oscar by how he looked? *Do you think being different is a good thing or bad thing? *Would you make friends with Oscar? *Do you think you should judge other kids by how they look, or by how well they treat you? *Who was the first animal to stand up for Oscar? *Who first made him see that he DID look mean and ugly? *Would you like to be different--or like everyine else. *If someone is kind and gentle, does it matter if they are a bit different in some way? *If you were different in some way, would you hope that others would like you just the same? In the Parent/Teacher guide at the back, there are links to more serious help, + guidance for parents, and also for kids that feel they do not fit in. There questions to ask and answer. The heart of this story is to be aware that how you act is more important than what you look like. That being DIFFERENT is often a very GOOD THING!   ************* KOBI Borrows a Pouch (Text) Kobi was a Koala that thought he knew all the bush-smarts he needed. He ran away from his mom, and looked for a gum tree of his own. This was a dangerous business. He ended up scared and homeless, and missing his mom very much. He needed to learm more bush-smarts--and FAST, if he were to stay alive. Jumping Grasshoppers, how will poor Kobi manage all alone in the Ausie bush. You had better read on and see for yourself. *What are BUSH-SMARTS? *Does one set of SMARTS fit all critters? *Who told Kobi that the bush was a dangerous place? *Should you be scared of Dingoes-- and what are they? *Do you know what Koalas eat and drink? *Was Kobi dumb to go off on his own? *What do you call a baby kangaroo? *Would it be fun if ALL mothers had a cozy pouch--including yours? *What do you think Kobi learned? *Where did Kobi finally go to find his own bush-smarts. *Which Aussie critter is a real "house husband." The Parent/Teacher guide has an Aussie vocab-word and animal glossary, + a word puzzle, and "Bush-Smarts" page.   ************* "Kangaroo Clues" (Aussie word explanations included) How a smart Old Man Roo escapes a pack of wild dogs (dingoes), and teaches them a lesson they won't forget in a hurry. Other Aussie critters run and hide. This is an Australian aboriginal Dreamtime Fable.   DISCUSS: *Go to Down Under Fun and read more about kangaroos and the other Aussie critters in this book. *What is your favorite Aussie animal? *Is Old Man Roo smart or brave? *Do you think the dingoes are bullies? *Do you know a bully? *Did Old Man Roo do the right thing? *If he hadn't drowned them what do you think would have happened to him? *How do the dingoes hunt their prey? *Are the other animasl cowards for running and hiding? *Why didn't Echidna worry or hide?   *************   "Mama Grizzly Bear" (links to fun information and a word puzzle included) A year in the life of Mama and her cubs. Links to fun stuff and information at the back of the book + a word puzzle. DISCUSS: *What do grizzly bears fear the most? *Can you name a favorite food of Grizzlies? *What would happen if cubs did not obey their mama? *What do you call animals that eat meat and vegetaton? *Where do they go in winter? *What do you call baby bears? *Are there other animal that US Grizzly Bears fear? *What fish do they love to eat? *Do you think Mama is a good mother? A COOL Kids, + Parent/Teacher pages are at the back + a word puzzle. ************* "Never Say BOO to a Frilly" Vocab words included at the bottom of each page 3x Individual stories - Fun facts about unique Aussie critters. 1 - "Never Say BOO" ....Tells you the secret of the Frillneck Lizard. *What do Frillneck Lizards remind you of? *Do you know what the eat? *Are they mean or shy? *Is the Frillneck a coward? *What happens when you shout BOO!   2 - "Rainbow Birds" ....Go flying with Australia's wild parrots, cockatoos and parakeets.. *What can cockatoos do that is unusual? *What do these birds eat? *Who do they say painted each bird's bright colors? *Where do they live? 3 - "Tasmanian Devil Dance" .....Stalk the bad tempered T.D. in all his nastiness! *What does the TD's face look like? *Does the Tsmanian Devil have lots of mates? *What are meat eatrs called? *Name his special skills? *Where is Tasmania? ( HINT: near Australia)   Tasmain devils are an endangered species. See more information on DOWN UNDER FUN     ************* Prairie Dog Play Days ( 3x separate critter tales) Prairie Dogs *Where do Prairie dogs make their home? *How long do the babies stay indoors? *What animals hunt them? *What do they eat? Little Stinker (skunk) *Would you like one as a pet? *What do you do when they spray you? *How would you like what they eat on YOUR plate? *Where do the like to snuggle up and sleep? Bald Eagle *What helps Bald Eagles to fly? *Do they have good eyesight-or do they need glasses? *What do they eat? *Where do eagles nest? *When did they first become America's proud symbol? *What color arethe bald eagle's eyes? These 3 short rhyming stories tell fun facts about US critters. There is a Vocab Word page at the back, and extra information about each animal. Visit WILD US CRITTERS for extra information about all the US animals in my books:   *************   Squirrels Can't Help Being NUTS - (3 stories--Fun facts about US garden animals) VOCAB Words at the bottom of each page   Squirrels *What is a squirrel's vavorite food? *What kind of tails do they have? *Where do they store their food? *What colors are they?   Kitty Cats *What is another name for cats? *Where do they like to nap? *Do they like to hunt outside? *Do they always come when you call?   Bumblebees *Do bumblebees have a sleek flying shape? *Do they have stingers? *What work do they do? *Where do bumblebees live? *What do they call the head bumblebee? Find more information on the back cover. Go to WILD US CRITTERS for more information on Bumblebees +other animals,     *************   GREEN and ENDANGERED: Information! Aussie Frillneck Lizards, Koalas, Tasmanian devils + US Prairie Dogs, are just three of the animals that global warming and humal expansion could push into extinction. Global Warming is affecting everything on our Planet Earth. Forces that change how, where, and if trees and plants will grow, the temperature of rivers and oceans, and the state of the ice at both poles, has a ripple effect, that if not stopped, will spread far beyond what we imagine today. The powerful, fragile and delightful animals in my series of books might not be around when the children you are teaching reach middle age. Fun lessons can show children how not to repeat the ecological mistakes of their parents and grandparents.   The links below offer helpful information you can include in lessons about what makes Planet Earth keep spinning, and what needs to be done to keep our wonderfully diverse flora and fauna thriving for centuries to come - not to mention future generations of our children.     DIVE INTO Places where kids can get a feel for our planet, plus the flora and fauna treasures we might soon lose.   How to Recycle Anything! - Where kids discover the art of recycling and how important it is for a clean and safer earth. The Science Daily - This website overflows with first aid for our troubled environment. Kids Do Ecology - This site includes all the links below + MORE. For Teachers - Teachers, are you interested in getting involved in Kids Do Ecology? Find out how by visiting our Teacher Information page. Below are some helpful links for integrating ecology into your classroom. Institute for Ecosystem Studies – A useful list of resources for school and backyard ecology activities Lesson Planet – The largest directory of lesson plans on the web The Educators Reference Desk – Grade-specific lesson plans and resource guides for levels from K-12 The National Wildlife Federation – Schoolyard Habitats educator resources EnviroLink – A wealth of environmental on-line resources San Diego Zoo.org – Teachers’ Lounge – Online resources and information Monterey Bay Aquarium – Teacher resources and programs Smithsonian National Zoological Park – Education pages offer online and mail-order resources for the classroom Sea World Adventure Park – Online and mail-order educational resources for the classroom The Discovery Channel – Online educational resources, lesson plans, and MORE     Form a CLASS BOOK CLUB that works to KEEP OUR PLANET THRIVING. . . and GREEN     Back to TOP of page   Home Page

DOWN UNDER FUN