Tandem Team

  • Mindy
    Mindy is a librarian (MLS '01) with a background in working with teens. She loves to read all over the map and has been blogging about books since 2003.
  • Vanessa
    Vanessa is a teacher who is nearing completion of her MS Ed. degree from the University of Minnesota. She especially enjoys humorous picture books.
  • Anne
    Anne is a librarian (MLS '02) who has worked in publishing and libraries for 11 years. She loves YA fantasy, historical fiction, and chick lit.
  • Kelly
    Kelly is a teacher with experience in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and abroad. She is always looking for books with classroom connections!
  • Emily
    Emily is a librarian (MLS '02) who has worked in school libraries and a children’s literature collection at a university. She particularly enjoys realistic fiction and stories about traveling.
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« Book of the Week: The Year of the Rat | Main | 2008 ALA Awards »

January 11, 2008

Classroom Connections: The Year of the Rat

Besides being a great read-a-loud or book to read independently our Book of the Week, The Year of the Rat, can be used as a teaching tool in the classroom.  Ideas are not limited to:

Zen_ties_3 Introducing a unit on parables- Throughout The Year of the Rat, Pacy’s mom and dad share meaningful anecdotes which connect Pacy to her Taiwanese heritage and serve as lessons.  An example to discuss as a class or small groups is her mom’s school lunch story from chapter 27.  There are many wonderful picture books which would work as well in a lesson on proverbs and parables for an elementary-aged audience.  Three titles that come to mind are all by Jon J. Muth.   

Teaching the popular origin myth about the Chinese New Year-  Pacy’s dad tell the Nian Monster story in chapter 34 which explains the reason Chinese New Year is celebrated.  There are many fantastic children’s websites to get students excited about the New Year, one such link is a Countdown to New Years from PBS Kids.

Great_race_the_story_of_the_chinese Explaining similes and how the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac are used as symbols- Students can research their own animal sign along the other zodiac animal signs to see which best represents them. A challenge would be to write a persuasive essay describing why that sign fits them best.  Students should avoid using physical characteristics alone to describe themselves (ie. eye color or height) while striving to include qualities (ie. a people person, trustworthy, or adventurous) to describe themselves.  Here’s a list of picture books which outline the Chinese zodiac.

Reviewing student’s resolutions made for the new year- Using Pacy’s experience in the book, can students communicate which resolutions may really be wishes or which of their resolutions rely more fate or destiny?

Posted at 08:30 AM in Kelly's posts, Misc |