Hello Book Bums families!
We hope August is treating you well. This week we are thinking about butterflies and fun, non-fiction books to inspire readers' curiosity. Read on for simple phonics lessons from Dr. Christy and a summery recipe.
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Word of the Week
monarch (mon-ark) noun/person, place, or thing - 1. a person who reigns over a kingdom, such as a king or queen, or 2. a type of American butterfly
Wearing the crown for most of her life, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Literary Calendar
• August 11 is the birthday of author Joanna Cole.
• Cole is the author of the Magic School Bus series.
• Her books take readers on exciting journeys into the human body and natural world.
Pause for Poetry
Butterfly with Parachute
by Stephanie Burt
A real one wouldn't need one,
but the one Nathan draws surely does:
four oblongs the size and color of popsicles,
green apple, toasted coconut and grape,
flanked, two per side, by billowing valentine hearts,
in a frame of Scotch tape.
Alive, it could stay off the floor,
for a few unaerodynamic minutes;
thrown as a paper airplane, for one or two more.
Very sensibly, therefore,
our son gave it something, not to keep it apart
from the ground forever, but rather to make safe its descent.
When we ask that imagination discover the limits
of the real
world only slowly,
maybe this is what we meant.
From our Bookshelves
The Mystery of the Monarchs, by Barb Rosenstock, is a beautiful and inspiring book that just might ignite a passion within your children. Rosenstock recounts the story of Fred and Norah Urquhart who wanted to learn where monarch butterflies go in the fall. It turns out, no one knew. It took decades - and help from lots and lots of people (including many teachers and children) - to solve the mystery. Whether your kids love maps, admire butterflies, are budding *entomologists, or just enjoy a great story, this book is sure to be a hit. There’s so much to learn.
*Entomologists are scientists who study a branch of zoology dealing with insects. The Greek word entomon means “notched” and it refers to the segmented body (head, thorax, abdomen) that is a primary characteristic of all insects.
The Mystery of the Monarchs is a beautiful example of literary nonfiction. Literary nonfiction is writing that uses engaging literary styles and techniques while also teaching the reader about actual events, people, and things.
Tips for Readers and Writers
The word monarch has a c-h that says /k/. C-h usually says /ch/, sometimes says /k/, and rarely says /sh/. When your kids are decoding words featuring unexpected spellings, acknowledge the interesting spelling, connect it with something else they know, and provide an opportunity for them to repeat what they learned after just a short period of time has passed. (That review is important!)
Your conversation might go something like this:
“The word monarch looks like it would say /mon-arch/, but the letter combination of c-h can represent three different sounds. It can say /ch/ (like Cheerios), /k/ (like Christmas), or even /sh/ like Chicago. It’s a bit odd, but once you know, you won’t be tricked again. In this word, monarch, the c-h says /k/ like it does in the word Christmas or school. What three sounds can c-h make, again?”
Here are some words with c-h you can sort with your kids:
chime, chef, Christmas, Michigan, chart, stomach, sandwich, choose, school, chowder, echo, mustache, chips, technology, Chicago
Just write them on sticky-notes or blank index cards and sort them into three columns. This work can be done in less than ten minutes, and it can really serve your kids well.
Tips for Families
There’s so much to enjoy when investigating monarch. Of course, teaching them about life cycles is fun. I often use these models that are available if you click here on Amazon.
You can print the life cycle graphic, below, and challenge your kids to place the toys on top as they share what happens during each step.
Did you know that monarch butterflies feed exclusively on milkweed? If you want to encourage monarchs to visit your home in the coming years, order some milkweed seeds or plants. Check out the Prairie Moon Nursery website to learn more.
Practical Grammar
I didn’t learn the meaning of [sic] until my doctoral program. Do you know how it works? I’m going to drop some [sic] knowledge right here.
When you see sic inside square brackets, it’s an indication that an improperly used or misspelled word has been copied exactly as it was written in the original version. It’s alerting the reader that the one sharing the quote acknowledges the misuse. It’s almost like saying, “I know that’s not right, but it’s the way I received the quote. I did not make a typo.”
My grandpa said he was feeling farely [sic] well.
(fairly)
They made there [sic] beds.
(their)
I will leave in less then [sic] ten minutes.
(than)
See? Bad grammar (and spelling) really can make writers [sic].
Just for Fun
Are you looking for a delicious specialty drink for a family event? This is a bit of work, but our family loves it!
Banana Punch
Ingredients
• 4-5 ripe bananas
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3 cups water
• 1 (46 fluid ounce) can pineapple juice
• 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 3 cups water
• 3 liters ginger ale
Directions
1. In a blender, combine bananas, sugar, and 3 cups water. Blend until smooth. Pour into a large bowl and stir in pineapple juice. Blend in orange juice concentrate, lemonade concentrate, and 3 cups water. Divide into 3 plastic containers and freeze until solid, 4 hours to overnight.
2. Remove from freezer 3 to 4 hours before serving. Using one portion at a time, place slush in a punch bowl and pour in 1 liter of ginger ale for each.
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