robins books and curriculum links 2014 2
TRANSCRIPT
Saskatchewan Children’s Writers’
Round Robin
31 Years of Telling our Stories
The Robins
1993 (we think) 2007 at Grasslands National Park
2012 at Cypress Hills
Prairie Horizons Conferences1983 - present
1995 at Jackfish Lake
2013 at St. Michael’s Retreat, Lumsden
Next one: September 2015
skcanscaip.wordpress.com
What have we done?
Close to 100 booksAll age groups All genresMany awards
ELA Curriculum (all levels)
Comprehend and Respond (CR) to a variety of texts, both by reading and by being read toCompose and Create (CC) a range of texts
including stories, poems, friendly letters, reports, and observations (K-2)More complex and detailed at higher levels
Arts Ed : Picture Books!
Honouring the Buffalo Author: Judith Silverthorne As Told by: Ray Lavallee Illustrator: Mike Keepness Publisher: Your Nickel’s Worth Press
English and Cree (Y dialect) meets Social Studies and LA curriculum
outcomes for grades 1-6 connects to teaching about treaties teacher guide, questions and answers, student
worksheets
story told by grandfather to grandson about the gift of the buffalo, depicting the traditional life of the Plains Cree people
Explains how the body of the buffalo was used for various purposes48 pages with illustrations and photographs
by Dianne YoungIllustrated by John MartzPublished by Kids Can PressWinner of the 2014 SBA
RepetitionPlayful languageGuess the meaning
New Picture Book: Dear Flyary
By Alison LohansIllustrated by Gretchen EhrsamNominated for a 2014 SBA
When Josh goes to stay with Grandpa, his teddy bear, Mr. Humphries, provides his security. Mom thinks he is too old to need a teddy bear. Spending time with Grandpa helps Josh understand his own place in the family.
Developing identity and independence
New Picture Book: Leaving Mr. Humphries
Fiddle Dancer Trilogyby Anne Patton and Wilfred Burton
•Science: • temperatures• interdependence of humans and animals
•Arts Ed: • cultural traditions in music and dance
•Social Studies: • cultural traditions• contributions of the Metis• cultural diversity
Alphabet Books
Grade 1 ScienceDaily and Seasonal Changes
Grade 1-3 Social StudiesFamilies and Communities
Grade 4 Social Studiesimpact of Saskatchewan resources and technological innovations on provincial, national, and global communities
Agriculture in SaskatchewanMining in Saskatchewan
Grade 5 Social Studies: Dynamic RelationshipsHistoric and contemporary relationship of people to land in Canada.
By Linda AksomitisIllustrated by Lorna Bennett
By Myrna Guymer
Illustrated by Rose Marie Condon
By Jo Bannatyne CugnetIllustrated by Yvette Moore20 year special edition issued in 2013
Scholastic EducationGuided reading packages for specific grade levelsCome in packages of 6 with a teacher’s guide
Anne Patton Adele Dueck
Sharon Plumb Hamilton
Gillian Richardson
Gr 1
Gr 3
Gr 2
Gr 2Gr 3 Gr 1
Gr 3 Gr 4
Early Readers
For children starting to read on their ownSimple language, short chaptersProvide a sense of successPersonal and Philosophical Outcome: Children need to
believe in their own self-worth feel that they have control over the things that happen to them
The Germy Johnson books
by Alison LohansGrade 3 GJ’s Secret Plan originally published by Scholastic in 1992
Secret Plan: JJ’s life is upset badly when Great Aunt Pru comes to stay. She gets his bedroom and he must share with his baby sister. His plans to get rid of her backfire, and he comes to appreciate her.
Piano War: JJ and his best friend Derek get stuck taking piano lessons at the same time of their favourite TV show. During their rebellion, their friendship is severely tested. JJ learns what it means to do one’s best vs. taking the easy way out, and what it means to be a friend.
More Early ReadersAlison Lohans
Dianne Young
Original cover
From the Raspberry Room in her back yard, Abby can see through a knothole to the house next door…
Zoe is used to getting around in her wheelchair , but when her family moves to the far north, everything becomes impossibly hard. Worse, she must come to grips with her fear of dogs – and there are plenty of dogs running loose…
Josie needs to buy something at the store but she can’t remember what. Cumulative repetition helps Josie and her friends figure it out.
Originally published by Roussan in 2001.
Middle Grade Historical and “Back in Time” Novels
• Grade 4-8 Language Arts:– Comprehend and Respond (CR)– View, listen to, read, comprehend, and respond to a variety
of texts that address identity• Grade 4 Social Studies : – Describe the origins of the cultural diversity in
Saskatchewan communities.• Grade 5 Social Studies: – Dynamic Relationships (DR)– Analyze the historic and contemporary relationship of
people to land in Canada.
Middle Grade Historical
By Linda AksomitisHistorical aspects:
Southwest SaskatchewanCattle ranching BrothersDutch settlement
By Adele DueckHistorical aspects:
Saskatchewan homesteadingUse of horsesFamily structuresNorwegian settlement
Winner of SBA 2014
By Anne PattonHistorical aspects:
Barr colonistsLloydminster areaMetis influencetransportation in 1903Social mores
More Middle Grade Historicalpart of Coteau Books’ “from Many Peoples” series
Adeline’s Dream, by Linda Aksomitis
Historical aspects:Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan ImmigrationGerman settlementsFamily relationships.
Nettie’s Journey, by Adele DueckHistorical aspects:
Russian Mennonite settlementsWar, famineRefugeesFarming
Back-in-Time Historical Novels
Picturing Alyssa, by Alison Lohans
Historical aspects:Quaker society
Contemporary:DepressionCyber-BullyingPacifism
Personal/Philosophical:Explore identity
The Secret Series, by Judith Silverthorne
Historical Aspects:Scottish settlement on the Canadian PrairiesScottish historyFamily history
Dinosaur series by Judith Silverthorne
Prehistory: dinosaurs!East End,
Saskatchewan
Middle Grade Contemporary Novel
No Place for Kids, by Alison LohansHeritage House publishing: September 2014
Part of Grade 9 Health curriculumSuitable for ages 9-11
Two sisters run away from an abusive home life and find themselves stranded and homeless in Regina
Must overcome fear, loneliness, illness, sibling conflictTheme: enduring bonds of family
Comes with classroom aids: discussion and/or comprehensive questions Author interviews
Original cover
Middle Grade Contemporary with Fantastical Elements
Ghosts of Government House, by Judith Silverthorne
Aspects:History of ReginaParanormal
Pictures, by Linda Aksomitis
Aspects:Northern SaskatchewanSasquatchesPhotography
Doppelganger, by Alison Lohans
Aspects:Travel in TurkeyCruise shipsSelf-identityADHD
Nonfiction Kaboom! Explosions of All Kinds
By Gillian Richardson2010 CCBC “Best Book for Children and TeensAward winning
•Grade 4:• Earth and Space Science: Rocks, Minerals, and Erosion
•Grade 5:• Physical Science: Properties and Changes of Materials• Physical Science: Forces and Simple Machines• Earth and Space Science: Weather
•Grade 6:• Earth and Space Science: Our Solar System
•Grade 7:• Physical Science: Mixtures and Solutions• Physical Science: Heat and Temperature• Earth and Space Science: Earth’s Crust and Resources
Nonfiction10 Plants that Shook the World
By Gillian RichardsonMultiple award winner
•Grades 4: Life Science: Habitats and Communities• How plants have influenced human development• Environmental effects of intensive agriculture
•Grades 4-7: Resources and Wealth• Agriculture and indigenous people• Irish potato famine• How plants contribute to quality of life• Agriculture in China and South America
•Grade 7: Life Science: Interactions with Ecosystems• Effect of sugar plantations on Caribbean ecosystems• Effect of rubber plantations on Amazon ecosystems
Young Adult Fantasy
By Sharon PlumbHuman space colonists meet a
dragon and a star alienAspects:
Coming of ageEnvironmentalFamily roles
Two-part series by Alison LohansTeenage mother travels to the
future so her child can heal the people there
Aspects:Teen motherEnvironmentalRomantic relationships
Curriculum Tie-Ins for FantasyGrades 8-12 ELA Contexts:
Imaginative and Literary Context (exploring imaginary worlds and possibilities)Personal and Philosophical Context (self-concept, feelings, reflections, influential forces in our lives, ways of thinking and knowing)Communicative Context (issues related to language and communication)Environmental and Technological Context (nature, animals, earth, sky, space, environmental issues)
Historical Young Adult Novels
Comprehend and Respond (CR)View, listen to, read, comprehend, and respond to a variety of texts that address identity
Develop understanding of various historical periods and events
Historical Young Adult
By Alison LohansA girl falls in love with
two brothers in Viet Nam era in the United States
Aspects:War and peaceFinding loveSibling relationshipsViet Nam eraHippie era
By Alison LohansWinner of 2010 SBAA girl and her Japanese
friend deal with Pearl Harbour and its effects on their community
Apects:World War IIJapanese InternmentRacial PrejudiceLiving justly
By Linda AksomitisA girl’s stepmother treats
her polio with an innovative technique
Aspects:PolioStep-familiesFinding your path in life
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