Those Darn Squirrels

Today the Bookworms read and thoroughly enjoyed Those Darn Squirrels by  Adam Rubin.  The students noted it was the first paperback book we have read this session.  They also really found the dedications on the dedication page quite funny.

Aside from getting a kick out of the squirrels and their mischief, the students learned about character traits and cause/effect.  We discussed how a character's feelings can change throughout the story while other traits may stay the same.  After noticing Old Man Fookwire's emotions evolve, we discussed what caused the change and what effect it had on the character.  Here's what the bookworms came up with.

To compliment our story we were going to make bird feeders BUT I wanted to spare parents of the sticky mess it may cause in backpacks.  So, instead, we planted some seeds that will hopefully sprout some lovely plants come springtime.  

Next week, we will end our Adam Rubin concentration by reading Secret Pizza Party.  We will continue to discuss character traits and cause/effect, because these can be tricky things to grasp in just 60 minutes.  As a result, I encourage you to discuss characters and their feelings both in books and on TV.  Students can think about the causes of the character's emotions while also identifying internal and external characteristics.   

Have a great week, Bookworm Parents!