Learning about seasons with DEAR STREET by Lindsay Zier-Vogel & Caroline Bonne-Muller

Why this book?

I found this story when doing some research for my grade 1 class when we were learning about community. My students kept talking about the book, even weeks afterward.

My thoughts as a creator:

This book is a great example of how to incorporate many layers into a picture book. It includes seasonal changes, letter writing, taking different perspectives, noticing things in the environment and taking steps for social change. I would study this one to learn about how to create a fun story while including lots of layers. The illustrations are lots of fun with many shapes and patterns.

My thoughts as an educator:

With all the layers in this book, there is a huge potential for using this as a mentor text in the classroom. I especially liked the way it shows different perspectives on the same place. I thought it would be great for inspiring an inquiry about the school neighbourhood, which could be returned to over the different seasons of the year. It was nice to see thought bubbles and letter writing as examples kids could use for their own writing.

Ages: 5 - 9

Grades: Gr 1 - 4

Connections: community, kindness, taking action, letter writing

Activities:

Art/Social Studies:  Discuss all the patterns in the illustrations. Encourage student to create their own “street scene” using different patterns. Which season would they like to show in their scene? A part II of this activity could be to use a paper doll template to create themselves  and “dress themselves for the weather” so they can put themselves in the scene.

You could also connect this to a neighborhood photo walk using this lesson from the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia  (click HERE)

Or learn about seasonal changes through a resource guide about the art of Maud Lewis from Art Canada Institute (click HERE)

Literacy/Drama: After discussing the different perspective of the girl and the people in the neighborhood, encourage students to share their understanding through a drama activity. In pairs, kids could work together to share their different points of view about different types of weather or seasonal occurrences  (e.g., snow, rain, sunshine, wind, leaves changing colours etc). Volunteers could present their “skit” to the class.

Social Studies Inquiry: Set up a centre where students can note observations about the neighborhood or a street outside your school. Take a walk and make observations. Have students draw and label what they notice. What might they want to learn more about? Make predictions about how the street or neighborhood will change during different weather conditions. What would they see? Why?

 

Visit the author online (click on the name):

Lindsay Zier-Vogel

Visit the illustrator online:

Caroline Bonne-Muller

Visit the publisher online:

Kids Can Press

*They provide a cute letter writing template for photocopying

 

DEAR EARTH...FROM YOUR FRIENDS IN ROOM 5 by Erin Dealey & Luisa Uribe - ways to care for the Earth year round

 Wow! I love teaching my students about caring for the Earth and the environment, so I was super excited when I won this book from author Vivian Kirkfield! If you aren't familiar with Vivian's blog, it's a great resource! You can  find picture books reviews and giveaways, as well as a couple of fun writing contests for adults and kids). 

DEAR EARTH is already a favourite in my classroom, and I really love that it's written in the form of letters! Such a fun way to write about different ideas for caring for the Earth. This book also follows the months of the year, which could be really useful for educators. 

Summary from the publisher: 

When the kids in Room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back. This beautiful picture book is a celebration of every child’s ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact .

A monthly exchange of ideas between the kids and Earth becomes a lasting friendship in this affectionate story about how to be an Earth Hero, lyrically written by Erin Dealey and gorgeously illustrated by Dilys Evans Founder Award-winning illustrator Luisa Uribe.

Young readers will learn about environmental conservation, along with simple things they can do to help care for the planet—like recycling and reducing energy consumption. There is even a reversible jacket cover that features a poster printed on the inside with twelve months of Earth Hero activities. These fun and interactive activities will encourage children to help protect our planet year-round.

Dear Earth...From Your Friends in Room 5  by Erin Dealey and Luisa Uribe was published by HarperCollins Books in 2020. 

 

My thoughts as a creator:

I really love picture books written as letters and I love how the kids write to the Earth and the Earth writes back! This book also has the extra structural element of following the months of the year -- a good mentor text for anyone trying this structure. I love the beautiful, soft illustration style -- it feels very natural. 

My thoughts as an educator:

This book is great for the classroom -- it has the months of the year, seasonal activities, letter writing AND of course, ways to help the Earth. There are so many great activities to do that spring from this book! I love how it can be used all year long and not just for Earth Day.

Ages: 4-8

Grades: K – grade 3

Themes: caring for the earth, letter writing, seasons

Activities:

Family connections:   What are some things your family can do to help the environment? Make and list and discuss it with your family. 

Environment Challenge:  Each month, read about the activity the children do to help the Earth and challenge yourself to do it too! Keep track of how you helped the environment on a calendar. 

Social-Emotional Learning: How do you feel when you see trash or something harmful to the environment? Make a poster to show the world how our environment relates to our feelings. 

Writing:  Choose something from the environment -- a favourite animal, tree or rock--and write them a letter! What could you say? What do you think they would say if they wrote back? Or, write your own letter to the Earth. What do you appreciate about the planet you live on?

Additional Resources: 

 Harper Collins Kids has a cute letter writing page  kids could use to write their own letter to the Earth. 

Here's a read aloud by the author: