Chris Van Allsburg Author Study Part 2

This week we have concluded our author study on Chris Van Allsburg with these stories. I think Chris Van Allsburg is an excellent writer and illustrator. I would love to write more like him. We have really focused on the author's message as we have read each of his stories. I think of all the things we have learned about ChrisVan Allsburg, the way his message in each story is revealed is my favorite. What message did you learn from one of these books? Did the message make you want to change in any way?

Chris Van Allsburg Author Study

WOW!!! We are definately finding out what an interesting author Chris Van Allsburg is. Each year I look forward to hearing what lessons students discover hidden inside these stories. Please share with me your favorite book from what we have read so far and what lesson you feel Chris Van Allsburg was trying to teach.

Thank You, Santa by Margaret Wild

This week we read Thank You, Santa by Margaret Wild. This book definately presents a different type of relationship with Santa through letters. I know the first time I read this book it kinda made me feel bad because all of the letters I have written to Santa have been all about what I want. I don't think I ever stopped to say thank you. I really was also a little jealous that Samantha had thought to become Santa's pen pal and communicated with him all year. How did this story make you feel? Would you want to be Santa's pen pal and learn more about him, besides toys and Christmas?

Loved Best by Patricia McKissack

If you were Carolyn, would you have tried to say the poem again? Explain why or why not.

Lessons From Nature - Scholastic News

Are there lessons to be learned from nature? How can we make a global impact from these lessons from nature? What will our LES plan look like?

The Wump World by Bill Pete

After reading and discussing Wump World in class, How do you think we as a society compare to the Wumps and the Pollutians?

Stone Soup by Jon Muth

In the story Stone Soup the monks were searching for what makes one happy. Do you think the monks found happiness or helped create happiness? Please explain your thinking.

How Can You Make Gold by Vicki Cobb

This Week we read Vickie Cobb's How Can You Make Gold. In this nonfiction text we had to sift through a lot of new learning. Share with me something that you read that was new learning. Do you think the amount of new information in this text made it harder for you to understand? Why or Why not?

How Animals Talk by Susan McGrath

We read about a lot of different animals and how they communicate. Communication is very important between beings. What is similar about the way two bull elk and two arctic hares communicate?

Aero and Officer Mike Police Partner's by Joan Plummer Russell

This story reminded me of the article we read together in our Scholastic Newspaper. I learned some new information from that article. I never knew that their were horses that helped disabled people. I can tell that animals that are chosen to be aids for the disabled must be special and well trusted. Do you think that Areo is smarter than most other dogs? Why or Why not?

Everybody Needs A Rock by Byrd Baylor

Yesterday we read Everybody Needs A Rock by Byrd Baylor. In the book the author describes rules to finding a special rock of your own. Two very important points stood out to me 1. The importance of size...not too big that it could not fit in your pocket but not too small that it would easily be lost. 2. The importance of finding your special rock alone... no family or friends allowed. I kept thinking about these two requirements and I wondered why are these so important and what made those two out of the ten stick in my head? What do you think?

The Babe and I by David Adler

I love this story! In the Babe and I in what ways are the Dad and his son a team? Please give examples from the story to support your response.

The History of the Oreo

Wow! we have certainly learned a lot about the Oreo from this weeks article. I have enjoyed Oreo cookies for as long as I can remember and I thought I knew all there was to know. Please share with me something that you learned about Oreos from the article. Also I had alot of questions as I read. You know we talked about that the most interesting questions are sometimes the unanswered ones. Could you share with me if you had an unanswered question about Oreos....maybe we can look it up!

Ellen Ocha, Astronaut by Janet Michaels

How do you think Ellen's family felt when she took off on the shuttle Discovery? How would you have felt if a loved one had done the same thing?

The Day Eddie Met The Author by Louise Borden

What does the author mean when she says, "Now that is a thinking question"?

Ruby The Copycat by Peggy Rathmann

In what ways are Ruby and Angela the same? In what ways are they different? Use details from the story to help me better understand your answer.