Sadie and the Snowman written by Allen Morgan

Sadie and the Snowman written by Allen Morgan and illustrated by Brenda Clark

Sadie and the Snowman is written by Allen Morgan and illustrated by Brenda Clark. This story may be "old," but it is one of my absolute favorites! I first heard about this book while I was teaching preschool in Wrentham, MA. The teacher that I worked with had a few old copies. For the three years that I worked there, it was my job to read it to our class every winter. I feel like students can relate to this story. When we are out on the playground, they want to make snowmen. We have to teach them that it will melt, but you can always make it again when there is more snow.

Sadie trying to save her snowman

 Sadie and the Snowman is about a young girl named Sadie who builds a snowman. She uses different kinds of food as the face. Different animals end up taking the food and the sun melts the snowman. When it snows again, she makes the snowman again, but uses a different kind of food for the face. New animals eat the food and the snowman melts again. This happens a couple of times, so Sadie wants to keep the snowman from melting. She tries to make a tent, put it under the porch, and out it in a bowl under the porch. It does not work because the weather is getting warmer.

Sadie pouring the water in a plastic bag

This time, Sadie has an idea. She takes the bowl of water (the melted snowman) and pours the water into the plastic bag. She then places the bag into the freezer. All summer and fall Sadie misses the snowman, but she know that she will see him soon in the winter. The first snowfall of the season, Sadie takes the ice out of the plastic bag that's in the freezer and makes a snowball around the ice. She then rolls more snowballs and makes her snowman again.

Sadie making a snowball with her ice the next winter

The new snowman made with the old ice

I really enjoy reading and discussing this book with students. Many of them can relate to Sadie. They wish that they could also save the snowmen that they make. As a fun activity, I actually have students collect some snow on a day where there is snow. We typically put it in a jar so that we can see the snow.

Snow collected in a jar

 We then put it at the observation table in our classroom. Students can look at it throughout the day, as long as they don't touch it. They will see it melt as the day goes on. You can do more than one jar at a time. Students can draw/write what they notice about the collected snow. It usually doesn't take very long for the snow to melt.

Our melted snow is now water

When the snow is completely melted, show your students how to place the water in a plastic bag. Talk to your class about how you are going to place it in the freezer. Have your students predict what is going to happen to the water while it is in the freezer. Personally, I like to have it freeze overnight so that the students have something to be excited about for the next time that they come.

The frozen water in the plastic bag

  The next time that the students come into the classroom, take the frozen ice out of the freezer and show the children. Make sure that they see the ice in the bag. Talk about how that is the same water that was inside of the bag, but now it's frozen. Then, open the plastic bag and show your students the block of ice.

The block of ice

  If there is still snow, have your students use the ice and roll it into a ball with the snow. They can make a new snowman. If there isn't any snow, save it and keep it in the freezer until it snows again. Hopefully, there will be more snow at some point so that you can complete the activity!

Our new snowman made with our ice

                               Sadie and the Snowman Activities

1. Science Activity: Snow, Water, and Ice (the activity posted above)

2. Write/Draw observations of melting snow

3. Insta-Snow Powder for the sensory table. To buy click here: https://www.amazon.com/Be-Amazing-Insta-Snow-Makes-Gallons/dp/B000FA6APE/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=dry+snow&qid=1551143237&s=gateway&sr=8-1

4. Make "Melted Snowmen" with a mixture of glue and shaving cream

A "melted snowman" made with glue and shaving cream

If you would like to buy your own copy of Sadie and the Snowman click here: https://www.amazon.com/Sadie-Snowman-Allen-Morgan/dp/0590418262/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=3BTNYUMOSEV7&keywords=sadie+and+the+snowman+by+allen+morgan&qid=1551143832&s=gateway&sprefix=sadie+and+the+%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

                                                                       HAPPY READINGS!
                                                                                 
                                                                                    Jenna 

Strega Nona written by Tomie dePaola

Ahhh… Strega Nona! Such a classic! I just had to include this wonderful story in my blog. I remember listening to this book on tape in my first grade classroom back when I was in elementary school. I was hooked! It has pasta, magic, and a mysterious old Italian woman. There's not many people who have not heard of this story... whether they read it or have just heard of it. There are many Strega Nona books, but I thought that I would start with the original. You may see another Strega Nona story pop up on my blog!

Strega Nona written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola is about a young boy named Big Anthony who starts to work for Strega Nona, a witch who heals the people of Calabria. Strega Nona tells Big Anthony NOT to touch her magic pasta pot. Of course Big Anthony is intrigued by the pasta pot. He sees Strega Nona sing her magic spell and pasta magically appears in the pot. Unfortunately, Big Anthony leaves before he sees her blow three kisses to the pasta pot to make the pasta stop.

He told the people of Calabria about the magic pasta pot, but they did not believe him. Strega Nona has to leave to visit a friend in a different town, so she leaves him to do his work at the house. He uses this opportunity to show the people of Calabria that the magic pasta pot does exist. At first the townspeople are happy about the pasta that the pot magically makes. Big Anthony shares it with the people. Then, the pasta does not stop! It starts to take over the village, but Big Anthony does not know how to stop it! Luckily, Strega Nona comes back just in time, and sings the magic song and blows the three kisses. She reprimands Big Anthony by making him eat all of the pasta.

Children typically really enjoy this story. They love how it has magic, and they think it's funny how the pasta just keeps coming out of the pot! This story also teaches children that they need to obey the rules. There are rules for a reason. Strega Nona knew that it could be dangerous if someone played with her pasta pot. Big Anthony should have obeyed Strega Nona's wish. If Strega Nona didn't come back in time, the town would have been destroyed by the overflowing pasta.

I had the chance to meet the author and illustrator of Strega Nona: Tomie dePaola!

I was lucky enough a few years ago to actually meet Tomie dePaola! I heard about a book signing at a small Italian bookstore in the North End. I just had to go! I stood in line for hours in the freezing cold, but it was worth it! It took so long because he wanted to really talk with each person he met with. He was so genuine and you could tell that he really enjoys writing and illustrating. I bought a collection of Strega Nona stories in one book and he signed it for me. I also had the opportunity to buy a Strega Nona plush and he signed her apron. I do want to collect plushies that go with certain children's books for my future classroom, but I think I will keep this one at home and keep it safe and sound!

My autographed Strega Nona plush and book collection

                                                    Strega Nona Activities

1. Act out the story in small groups/whole group.

2. Listen to the story on CD and have students follow along.

3. Have students make their own magic pasta pots on paper and use yarn as the flowing pasta.

4. Make a Strega Nona and/or Big Anthony paper lunch bag puppet.

5. Visit https://www.storylineonline.net/books/strega-nona/ and have your students watch/listen to Mary Steenburgen read Strega Nona. She does a phenomenal job! She even plays the accordion when she sings the spell! 

6. If allowed (I could when I worked at a private preschool) make pasta for your students as a small snack to bring the story to life.

                                                             HAPPY READINGS! 

                                                                           Jenna

The Firefighters written by Sue Whiting

The first book that I wanted to share with everybody is The Firefighters written by Sue Whiting and illustrated by Donna Rawlins. The Firefighters is about a group of children who want to be firefighters. During their school day, they dress up as firefighters and pretend to extinguish fires around their school (with the help of their teacher of course)! At the end of the book, the children get to meet real firefighters and check out their fire engine.

I really like this book for younger children who are learning about fire safety. By reading The Firefighters, children can see themselves as the children in the story. When I'm reading this to a classroom, I ask my students many times throughout the book if these children are actual firefighters. They all say, "no," but I remind them that they can also pretend to be firefighters. Many of the children in the story want to be firefighters when they grow up. Even though they aren't firefighters yet, they can still pretend and learn all about fire safety.

Children inspired by real firefighters

This book is well written. I like how in the story you can tell that the children are using items that you can find around a house or school. They use cardboard boxes as their fire engines, plastic hats as their helmets, rain boots as their firefighter boots, and handkerchiefs as their masks. You can also tell that the children and teacher in the story are still in their neighborhood as they go "fight" fires. They pass the playground and children playing in the sandbox.

Pretending to be firefighters using cardboard boxes

When I read this story aloud to a classroom, the children love to act out the siren sound! "Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo! Weee-ooo!" The author repeats it may times in the book, so the students are ready to participate. I also really like that the firefighters at the end of the story is a man and a woman. It shows children that a firefighter can be male or female.

Firefighters written by Christopher Mitten (non-fiction)

Typically when I'm teaching my class about a certain subject, I like to pair fiction books with non-fiction books. When doing this, it give students the opportunity to see real life events, but can also show them more imaginative stories. When I read The Firefighters, I like to read Firefighters written by Christopher Mitten. This book shows real pictures of real life firefighters on duty. It provides information on what it was like to be a firefighter many years ago, and what it's like to be a firefighter now. It also talks about different kinds of fires and fire safety. It also mentions the equipment that firefighters use and about the fire truck. You can use any non-fiction firefighter book that you like. It all depends on the students that you have in your classroom at the time. 

Example page from Firefighters written by Christopher Mitten

                                                        

                                            Firefighter Activities

     1. Make your own fire engines and pretend to be firefighters.

     2.  Make something special for local firefighters: cards, food, drawings, etc. 

     3.  Invite a firefighter to talk to your students about fire safety.

    4.  As a group, talk about how you can describe a firefighter: brave, smart, kind, etc. Have children make a firefighter and write one word to describe a firefighter.

Describe a firefighter project

I really hope this inspires you to teach about the job of the firefighter! Firefighters have a very important duty... they protect us and everything around us. Children need to understand that firefighters are here to help and should be taught to respect the people who help their community. 

                                                          HAPPY READINGS!

                                                                             Jenna