Showing posts with label Charlotte. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlotte. Show all posts

Sunday, May 15, 2011

School-wide Poetry Month: Day Twelve (Charlotte)

I chose "Crazy Dream" by Shel Silverstein because I think it's funny that he and the teachers switch. He gives them impossible questions like "Where are my mittens?" and directions like an over night assignment to grow a 20 foot plant!

Crazy Dream
Last night I had a crazy dream
That I was teachin' school.
My teachers had turned into kids,
And I laid down the rules.

I gave 'em a hundred hist'ry books
To memorize each night,
And made 'em read 'em on their heads
Without turnin' on the light.

I sent 'em on a field trip
To the outskirts of Mongolia,
And gave 'em an overnight assignment
To grow a twenty-foot magnolia.

I asked 'em how many awful grades
Can cause how many tears?
And if they got one answer wrong,
I just hung 'em up by their ears.

And when they talked or laughed in class,
I pinched 'em till they cried
Louder and louder- 'til I woke up
Feelin' very satisfied.

Poem ©Shel Silverstein. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Green Books: Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet

This review is part of the Green Books Campaign. Today 200 bloggers take a stand to support books printed in an eco-friendly manner by simultaneously publishing reviews of 200 books printed on recycled or FSC-certified paper. By turning a spotlight on books printed using eco-friendly paper, we hope to raise awareness of book buyers and encourage everyone to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books.

The campaign is organized for the second time by Eco-Libris, a green company working to make reading more sustainable. We invite you to join the discussion on "green" books and support books printed in an eco-friendly manner! A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on the Eco-Libris website.

Sometimes kids think that adults control everything and that they are powerless to make a difference. But Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet teaches readers that kids are all powerful. In her book, Canadian author Janet Wilson profiles 10 young environmentalists from around the world who are each taking action to help specific environmental causes. Through these profiles, Wilson shows that kids can do a lot to help the environment and spread the message of conservation! For example, Sam Levine of the United States helped start an organic vegetable garden at a school to connect kids directly to their food.

The stories Wilson includes feel attainable. We hear the story of Janine Licare of Costa Rica who started small, selling painted rocks with a friend to raise money to build overhead monkey bridges. Eventually as the girls wanted to do more, they expanded their operation and opened a store to sell their products and the work of other artists. From their humble beginning, Janine and her friend Aislin have made a world of difference in the rainforest.

Now only does this book profile 10 children, it also contains a helpful reference section in the back. For example, in the "How You Can Help Save the Planet" section, Wilson details ways kids can help save the earth. These ideas include everything from unplugging the TV and going outside to play to writing letters to world leaders to advocate for climate change. And this is just one of the bonus sections in the back! You can also learn how "Kids Create" and how "Kids Take Action."

This book is excellent because it goes beyond just telling ways that kids are making a difference around the world. It also teaches kids a lot about the small steps they can take to make a big difference. For example, Wilson recommends that students become more aware of the products they use that are grown in the rainforest so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to use them. Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet is also significant because usually authors write books about adults saving the environment, but this one has kids saving the Earth, so it's more relevant to the readers. It shows you that you can save the earth too!

Our Earth: How Kids Are Saving the Planet is not just environmental in its theme. It's also environmental in its production! It is printed on Forest Stewardship Council Certified paper!

We recommend this book for people who care about the environment and want to save it. This is also a great book for people who don't yet care about the environment and need some serious inspiration. The book is particularly great for kids ages 7 to 13 who want to hear extraordinary stories about ordinary kids.

Kids--Janet Wilson is counting on you to save the Earth, and we are too! Go kids! Save the Earth!