Spinning Through Your Curriculum with the Magic Tree House

1. Spinning Through Your Curriculum with the Magic Tree House Books 13 – 28 By Tonnye W. Fletcher M.Ed., NBCT

2. Random quotes from my children • “I love Magic Tree House. Magic tree house incourges people to learn and learn to love to read. Jack and Annie go throgh amzing adventures. They are awsome. My favorite magic tree book is Dolphins at daybreak. Those books are awsome. Mary Pope Osborne is a giunus. Those books are cool. That’s why I like those books. “ -- Alissa

3. More random quotes • “I like when Mrs. Fletch reads it to us because she talks funny. . .” • “I like evry three hous booke Even new kien to beos my sestr haves it.” (I had her sister, too :~) • Whiy I like be cus thay is my faveret book to read. I like the mest reys (mysteries). . .the books is vere log. But I stil like them. . .”

4. Before #13: Books 1-12 • Books 1-4 Jack and Annie discover the identity of the mysterious owner of the Magic Tree House, visit prehistoric time of the dinosaurs, the time of knights, ancient Egypt, and the Carribbean during the time of pirates • Books 5 – 8 Jack and Annie help to free Morgan from a spell by visiting the Ninjas in ancient Japan, the Amazon rainforest, the Ice Age, and the moon • Books 9 – 12 Jack and Annie solve 4 ancient riddles to become Master Librarians, by visiting a coral reef, the Old West, Africa, and the Arctic

5. Different approaches • Class read-aloud (in order vs. random) • Listening Center • Guided reading • Literature circles • Independent Reading • Partner reading • Any way you want :~)

6. Resources for Cool Stuff to enhance your MTH • Dollar Tree :~) • Weekly Reader, National Geographic, Scholastic News, Mini-Page, “Kids Discover” magazines • Print off vocabulary and clip-art – play games, post on bulletin board • Old calendars, posters • Museums • Wendy’s

7. Books 13 – 16: The Ancient Stories • Jack and Annie go on adventures to save 4 ancient stories from being lost forever • Focus on ancient civilizations, early forms of books. . . • Discovering the magic and the power of story

8. Book 13 – Vacation Under the Volcano • Set in Ancient Rome, AD 79 • Mt. Vesuvius • Pompeii • Roman Empire • Gladiators • Amphitheatres KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

9. Bk 13 Curricular Connections • Math – Roman numerals; time problems (sundial) • PE – Gladiator challenges • Writing – use calculator/cash register tape as a scroll on craft sticks • Science – volcanoes • Music – Italian music • Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books – ancient stories) • Social Studies – Mt. Vesuvius erupted Aug. 24, 79 • For fun – Watch “Hercules”

10. Book 14 Day of the Dragon King KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK • Ancient China • Samurai • Great Wall • Chinese legend

11. Bk 14 Curricular Connections • Math – Story problems about the Great Wall of China (counting by 100s to 3700 miles) or Chinese New Year or Samurai; tangrams; linear measurement (in, ft, yds, mi) • PE – Obstacle course (Chinese wall[blocks], dragon [wiggly jump rope], Samurai warrior blockade , etc.) • Writing – Write a story on craft sticks and bundle them • Science – Bamboo, life cycle of silk worms, making silk • Music – Chinese music • Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books – ancient stories) • Social studies – Build a to-scale model of the Great Wall • For fun – Use chopsticks at lunch one day; watch Mulan

12. Book 15 – Viking Ships at Sunrise • Set in Ancient Ireland, during the Dark Ages • Monks • Monastery • Viking invasion KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

13. Bk 15 Curricular Connections • Math – Story problems about the length of books, Vikings in ships, etc. • PE – Viking ship relay – use paddles; paddle so many times with each step • Writing-- *Read excerpt – Hero or monster? – Sarph; Illuminated text and bejeweled book (Bare Books or altered books) or handmade books • Science – Make dye or paint from plants and/or dirt • Music Art– Irish music; illuminated text • Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books – ancient stories)

14. Book 16 – Hour of the Olympics • Set in Ancient Greece • Early Olympic Games • Women’s rights • Competition • Plato • “Anonymous” KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

15. Bk 16 Curricular Connections • Math – Measurement, story problems about sports, Time • PE – Mock Olympic games, sportsmanship • Writing – Which sport? Why it wasn’t fair to exclude girls/women from activities or give them credit; write a legend or myth • Science – Sports science; gravity; constellations • Music/ Art– Create medals for the games • Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books – ancient stories) • Social Studies – Greek mythology

16. Note: • Several of the books have non-fiction companion research guides. • This one is called “Ancient Greece and the Olympics”

17. Books 17-20: The Gifts • In this set of 4, Jack and Annie are looking for 4 special gifts • They have a new companion, a little dog named Teddy.

18. Book 17 – Tonight on the Titanic • Set on the Titanic • Gift – antique pocket watch • Nonfiction companion “Titanic” KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

19. Bk 17 Curricular Connections • Math – Timelines, calendar skills, time problems • PE – Paper boat race • Writing – Letters to family, Advertisements for the ship • Science – Sink/float, icebergs, ship construction • Music/ Art– Create paper boats • Reading – Titanic: Lost and Found ; other Titanic-related books • Social Studies – Timelines, Oceans Trace route of Titanic

20. Book 18 – Buffalo Before Breakfast • Set on the Great Plains • Buffalo (responsible usage of natural resources) • Native Americans (Lakota Indians) • Gift –Eagle feather KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

21. Bk 18 Curricular Connections • Math – +/- problems about buffalo and Native Americans • PE – • Writing – Write a story about a buffalo; Comparison between the ocean and the prairie ; Give yourself a Lakota name and explain why it suits you • Science – Using all the parts of the buffalo • Music/ Art– Native American art/music, Create teepee models • Reading – • Social Studies – Lakota Indians, Use of natural resources, endangered animals

22. Book 19 – Tigers at Twilight • Set in India • Tigers – endangered species • Gift – Lotus blossom KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

23. Bk 19 Curricular Connections • Math –Story problems about Indian animals • PE – Monkey bar competition and games • Writing – Report about Indian animal; What do you think the hermit means when he says, “Its beauty cannot live without its ugliness.” • Science – Tigers and other Indian animals • Music/ Art– Indian music/Indian art • Reading – Books about Tigers • Social Studies – Natural resources, endangered species • For fun – Watch “The Jungle Book”

24. Book 20 – Dingoes at Dinnertime • Set in Australia • Australian animals: dingoes, kangaroos, koalas, • Gift – painting on bark KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

25. Bk 20 Curricular Connections • Math – Story problems with Australian animals • PE – Australian animal relay – hop like a kangaroo, run fast like an emu, run on all fours like a dingo • Writing – Factual report about Australian animals • Science – Australian animals; rainbows • Music/ Art– “Kookaburra”; cave painting (mural) or “bark” painting (crinkled up brown paper); create their own rainbow serpents • Reading – Mem Foxx books • Social Studies – Australian aborigines

26. “Kookaburra” Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree Merry, merry king of the bush is he Laugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra! Gay your life must be Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree Eating all the gum drops he can see Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra! Leave some there for me

27. Kookaburra (cont’d) Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree Counting all the monkeys he can see Stop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra! That’s not a monkey; that’s me Kookaburra sits on a rusty nail Gets a boo-boo in his tail Cry, Kookaburra! Cry, Kookaburra! Oh, how life can be

28. Books 21 – 24: Historical letters and journals • In this set of 4, Jack and Annie research letters and journals in history • All 4 of these are set in historical America • Dear Jack and Annie, Camelot is in trouble. To save the kingdom, please find these four special kinds of writing for my library: 1. Something to follow 2. Something to send 3. Something to learn 4. Something to lend

29. Book 21 – Civil War on Sunday • Set in Civil War America • Slavery • Clara Barton • History of Red Cross • Atrocities of War (handled delicately) • Service to others KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

30. Bk 21 Curricular Connections • Math – Timelines, Civil War story problems • PE – Blue/Gray battles (academic, relays, etc.) • Writing – Factual report about Civil War, famous personalities, letters to home, composing lists • Science – • Music/ Art– Civil War songs, negro spirituals, Patriotic songs/ blue-gray art/ Try drawing cannons, etc. John Farrell “Listen to the Stories”, drums • Reading – Biographies, historical fiction • Social Studies – Change over time, family trees,

31. Book 22 – Revolutionary War on Wednesday • Set in Revolutionary War America • Revolutionary War • George Washington KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

32. Bk 22 Curricular Connections • Math – Timelines, Revolutionary War story problems • PE – Redcoats/American battles (academic, relays, etc.) • Writing – Factual report about Revolutionary War, famous personalities, letters to home, • Music/ Art–Patriotic songs, Schoolhouse Rock “America Rock” • Reading – Biographies, historical fiction • Social Studies – American history, Delaware, George Washington

33. Book 23 – Twister on Tuesday • Set in Kansas • One-room schoolhouses • Change over time KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

34. Bk 23 Curricular Connections • Math – Weather story problems; graph scary/favorite weather; pictographs • PE – Tornado drills • Writing – Report about tornados or other wild weather, • Science – Weather, grasshoppers • Music/ Art– Draw tornadoes • Social Studies – Kansas, change over time, bullying, persistance • For fun – watch some clips of Little House on the Prairie

35. Book 24 – Earthquake in Early Morning • Set in California • Earthquakes • Change over time KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

36. Bk 24 Curricular Connections • Math – Richter scales math problems, earthquake story problems • PE – Earthquake drills • Science – Weather/ geology • Social Studies – California, earthquake safety

37. Books 25-28: Special Magic • In this set of 4, Jack and Annie search for 4 special kinds of magic • Each begins with a rhyme that gives them clues about the special magic for which they are searching

38. Book 25 – Stage Fright on a Summer Night Play excerpt on CD • Set in London, England • London Bridge • Shakespeare • Elizabethan England • Beginnings of drama • Women’s rights • Animal cruelty KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

39. Bk 25 Curricular Connections • Math – Story problems (bears, bridges, rivers, actors, etc.) • PE – Play London Bridge • Writing – Write poetry or simple plays; create new words or phrases • Science – Build bridges • Music/ Art– Design scenery for simple play or puppet show • Reading – Readers’ Theatre or other drama connection; simple play; rhyming words; fluency, expression • Social Studies – Elizabethan England; animal rights

40. Book 26 – Good Morning, Gorillas • Set in African rainforest • Gorillas • Sign language KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

41. Bk 26 Curricular Connections • Writing – Write an adventure YOU might have with a gorilla • Science – Gorilla behavior, clouds, rain • Reading – Koko’s Kitten; Venn diagram comparing African rainforest and Amazon rainforest • Social Studies – Africa; sign language • For fun – Watch “Tarzan”

42. Book 27 – Thanksgiving on Thursday • Set in early America • First Thanksgiving • Native Americans • Pilgrims • Squanto KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

43. Bk 27 Curricular Connections • Math – Fair shares, multiplication/division readiness, repeated addition • PE – Thanksgiving dinner relay – Students have to gather “dinner” (plastic foods or real) • Writing – Write about what you think it would have been like to be at the first Thanksgiving • Science – Planting • Music/ Art– Draw a picture of the First Thanksgiving • Social Studies – First Thanksgiving, Mayflower, Pilgrims, Schoolhouse Rock “America Rock”

44. Book 28 – High Tide in Hawaii • Set in Hawaii long ago • Tsunamis • Surfing KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

45. Bk 28 Curricular Connections • Math – Measurement (length); sharing equally, multiplication/division, fractions • PE – Tinnikling (Use bamboo poles to play games – check on-line) • Writing – Write steps to surfing • Reading – Luka’s Quilt • Science – Tsunamis/earthquakes • Music/ Art– Create tissue paper flowers, leis • Social Studies – Hawaii, • For fun – host a luau/beach party to celebrate finishing the series!