November Books and Discussion/Activity Ideas
Why the Sky is Far Away: A Nigerian Folktale, Retold by Mary-Joan Gerson
Discussion:
How did the people become wasteful and lazy?
Do you think that food tastes better when you are really hungry as opposed to full? What about when you worked hard to grow or prepare it yourself?
How does it feel when you save up your money for a long time for something that you really want or need; how does that feel?
Are there areas where we might be taking more than our share? What can we do about that?
Activity: Create an oil or acrylic painting in a similar style.
Follow-up: I really enjoyed reading this book with my kiddo. Before reading, I had them find Nigeria on a map, and we talked about the fact that the story we were about to read was very old and that it was a story that people told to explain things in the world around them and to teach lessons about humans’ relationship with the Earth.
As I read, they enjoyed pretending to eat the sky and suggested which items they would really want to eat. The story definitely made its point, as they understood that the sky didn’t want people wasting. We talked about how we sometimes waste, and they suggested that they are pretty good about only eating something when they really want it. It was a bit of a stretch to make the connection to what other things we might be “taking more than our fair share of,” but once we they grasped the connection to toys, clothes, money, etc., we discussed this. (They were also a bit surprised to consider that everything they owns comes from human labor and natural resources.) When asked: “What can we do about this situation? Even if we bought less, how does that help with “fair share?,” they responded that we could give or use some of the money we have for others who didn’t get a fair share. I was very happy that they could make the connection, and I think that this was a great book to start the series with.
We didn’t make it to painting; attention span was shot, so I think we will reread the book, then paint, later this week.
A Catfish Tale by Whitney Stewart
Activity 1: Make beignets and café au lait. Talk about New Orleans.
Activity 2: Read The Fisherman and His Wife. Discuss similarities between the 2 stories. Write a similar story where you (or someone else of your choice) is the “wife.”
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
Read book the evening before, and then do a more careful reading the next day, stopping to discuss:
Why do the other kids laugh at the main character? How did he feel?
Do you think you would have bought the too tight shoes?
Have you ever given something away that was hard to give? How did you feel?
He felt angry and happy at once. Have you ever felt 2 feelings at once?
Can you think of someone who could use something of yours?
Activity 1: Play CBT game or other game about feelings.
Activity B- Design a shoe.
Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn
Discussion:
Have you ever seen someone who is homeless? What have you thought about that? How have you felt?
How can we help?
Activity: Fill envelopes with “lucky money” or special notes or coupons to pass out. And/or Make bags with toiletries and socks for homeless.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Pena
Activity: Read through the evening before, and then do a more careful reading the next day, stopping to note things the boy sees, hears, smells, etc. Fill out this worksheet: http://www.judynewmanatscholastic.com/blog/2020/08/classroom-activity-last-stop-market-street/
Further Discussion:
How did the boy feel about the trip he was taking with his grandma?
Have you ever wanted to skip out on something your parents or grandparents wanted you to do because it was too boring, too hard, etc.? What was it?
Why do you think Grandma wanted to take the bus instead of just driving there?
Were you surprised when you found out where the boy and his grandma were actually going?
It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach
Discussion:
What point was the Rabbi trying to make to the man in the story?
Do you think it’s really true that it could always be worse?
Activity- Write a similar story in a different setting.
The Table Where Rich People Sit by Byrd Baylor
Discussion:
Why did the girl call the meeting?
Was she right to be concerned?
Did she change her mind in the end?
How do you think you’ll pick a job?
What is important to you, and how much is it worth?
Activity: Make a list of the things that you enjoy most about your life that money can’t buy, and try to give them a value.
Bagels from Benny by Aubrey Davis
Activity: Make bagels, and take to neighbors. Buy bagels for pantries.
Willa and the Bear by Philomena O’Neil
Discussion:
What is your favorite stuffed animal? Why are they so special to you?
Who do you think could use a special stuffed animal?
Activity 1: Donate a stuffed animal or doll- (Hospitals, animal shelters, foster care agencies, stuffedanimalsforemergencies.com, https://fairandsquareimports.com/collections/toys-and-games/products/buy-one-give-one-teddy-bear-blue-west-bank , DV shelters, refugees)
Activity 2: Draw your favorite stuffie or doll. Write a paragraph about how it came to be yours or about favorite memories with it.