Sunday, April 25, 2021
National Poetry Month: #haikudiary.25
Saturday, April 24, 2021
National Poetry Month: #haikudiary.24
Text Set: Books for Earth Day
Texts for this Text Set have been posted daily on Instagram. Follow @TextSets there to get daily updates!
I'm not a big theme teacher. I don't usually pick books because of a holiday or an event or a celebration. But recently, I've discovered so many great books that match the Earth Day theme that I figured..Why not? These books would definitely fit into this week if you are looking for texts to share for Earth Day. But they are also incredible books to use any time during the year for a variety of reasons.
Having just won the Caldecott Medal, We are Water Protectors is a perfect book to share this week as we think about taking care of our Earth. I would pair this book (now or anytime during the year) with other books about water access and water protection. A connected book my 5th graders learned a great deal from is Young Water Protectors by Aslan Tudor and his mother. Water is such an important issue and there are so many other books to add but these are two of my favorites.
I have always had several books about Wangari Maathai in our classroom library. I love her story and the way she cared for the Earth. Mama Mita is one of my favorites but I think her story is one that needs to be explored through several books.(So look for the other picture book biographies about Wangari.) This month, I discovered a book I could pair with the stories of Wangari. The Wisdom of Trees: How Trees Work Together to Form a Natural Kingdom. This nonfiction book is incredible and I learned so much. The combination of poetry and short informational blurbs work together to explore the connectedness of trees. It is packed with information that was new-to-me. There is more information at the end of the book, including information about the future of forests and ways we can help.