Imagination Soup

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss – Book Event and Sweepstakes from Target

2012-02-21T04:22:59Z

Celebrate reading and Dr. Seuss’ birthday March 2 with Target and the National Education Association for Read Across America Day.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 from 9 to 11 a.m. Target is partying early for Read Across America Day. Visit Target Saturday morning and you’ll receive a reusable Target bag filled with activities for children, a bookmark, crayons and snacks (while supplies last,) and listen to Target employees reading Dr. Seuss stories. (Target is a huge advocate for literacy, and expects to give $1 billion to education by the end of 2015. We like that.)

Dr. Seuss Book-Themed Activities for Kids

With The Lorax movie in theaters soon, I thought I’d share some fun Dr. Seuss book-themed activities for kids.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

On of my favorite blogs, Frugal Family Fun, shares how to make Truffula Trees.

“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.”
― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Do you need a Cat in the Hat hat? Sure you do. Melissa of The Chocolate Muffin Tree shows how to make his hat.

“The more that your read, the more things you will know.

The more that your learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss

We love 10 Apples Up on Top so I was excited to see this related counting activity from I Can Teach My Child.

“I know it is wet and the sun is not sunny, but we can have lots of good fun that is funny.”
― Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat

What do you think about this snack inspired by One Fish, Two Fish from Simple Girl at Home?

“My shoe is off. My foot is cold. I have a bird I like to hold.”
― Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

When Jen of Kitchen Counter Chronicles read Dr. Seuss’ ABCs with her kids, she sent them on an ABC scavenger hunt - FUN!

Paula Deen’s Green Eggs and Ham is the ONLY green eggs recipe that doesn’t make me want to gag. It actually looks edible.

Education.com offers a free Dr. Seuss Activity Book download.

Visit Seussville for fun games and more ideas, consider these Dr. Seuss book activities for the classroom, or these great Seuss book activities.

Oh, and I like this fun quiz from Target, What Dr. Seuss character are you?

Sweepstakes – Dr. Seuss Books!

Five winners will be chosen at random to win Dr. Seuss books and reading activities in a Target reusable bag.

To enter this sweepstakes, comment below with your favorite Dr. Seuss book by February 25, midnight EST. By entering this sweepstakes, you agree to Imagination Soup’s official sweepstakes rules. No purchase necessary. Open to individuals in U.S. only, 18 years of age or older, void where prohibited.

I’ll leave you with one last thought from the incredible Dr. Suess . . .

“In my world, everyone’s a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies!”
― Dr. Seuss

(What a world!!)

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New Middle Grade Chapter Books – Winter 2012

New Early Chapter Books – Winter 2012

8 Reasons to Let Your Kids Read Comics

New Upper Elementary (Middle Grade) Chapter Books – Winter 2012

2012-02-21T03:28:30Z

Kids in upper elementary, ages 8 – 12, read middle grade books. I’ve been reading some great ones and have finally gotten a chance to review the best of the newly published middle grade books.

(Look at these piles! And these are just my favorites, not everything I’ve read . . .)

The Grave Robber’s Apprentice by Allan Stratton

Our hero, Hans, is being raised by a grave-robber who found the baby Hans washed ashore. Hans must run away before he’s forced to become a real grave robber and he joins a young girl his age named Angela Gabriela von Schwanenberg who is escaping an evil archduke who wants her to become his next bride — a bride he will eventually kill. Hans must learn about his mysterious past and who is the hermit who helps them. It’s a fantastic adventure!

Winterling by Sarah Prineas

Fer stumbles on a pond that leads to another world – a world of magic and danger. In this land, the beautifully glamoured MOr rules with fear and dark magic and Fer learns that her parents are dead. The kind heart and magical senses of Fer sees things are very wrong, and that she must try to put things right again.

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Oh, I loved this adventurous fantasy about a lonely orphan girl named Una Fairchild who is suddenly transported to the land of Story where she must figure out how to survive, why she is there, and what she’s supposed to do. In Story, kids learn how to be a book character – a Hero, a Sidekick, or a Villain. Una befriends a boy who is training to be a Hero and joins him in his classes. Before long, the two realize that something bad is happening in Story, and it’s up to them to discover what it is and who’s behind it.

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

People call me the Freeway Gorilla. The Ape at Exit 8. The One and Only Ivan, Might Silverback.

The names are mine, but they’re not me. I am Ivan, just Ivan, only Ivan.

Humans waste words. They toss them like banana peels and leave them to rot.

Everyone knows the peels are the best part.

Narrated by one gorilla named Ivan, this story will immediately grab your heart — it’s sad but keep reading, it’s an amazing story – and I don’t usually like animal stories. Making it even more compelling, it’s a true story! Ivan is kept in a cage in a run-down mall for 27 years without seeing another gorilla, only the stray dog, Bob, who sleeps with him, Stella the Elephant, and Ruby, a newly purchased baby elephant. Before she dies, Stella begs Ivan to find Ruby a home with other elephants – and Ivan agrees, but it won’t be easy.

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes

Written in free verse, we hear from a sports-loving teenage girl who goes through the typical angst of hormones and finding her identity. I love the interaction with her little brother and her best friend, Jake – and how Joylin finds out who she is.

Period

That’s a good name for it.

It’s the end of life

as I know it.

Get to Work, Hercules! by Kate McMullan

I didn’t expect this book to be so entertaining. In fact, it’s down right hilarious — and a great example of writing voice. Hades narrates the complete story of Hercules, his nephew, who he tries to help with the tasks from Hera.

School of Fear, The Final Exam by Gitty Daneshvari

The third book in a unique and fun series about a special school for pupils with severe phobias. Very entertaining.

The Humming Room by Ellen Potter

Inspired by The Secret Garden but not at all a replica, this is the story of Roo, an orphan who is sent to live with her strange uncle on an isolated island, the mysterious water boy she meets, her sickly cousin who never leaves his room, and the abandoned indoor garden she discovers. A compelling story with a pleasing ending.

Ivy and the Meanstalk by Dawn Lairamore

A meanstalk is a beanstalk that attacks — and Princess Ivy and her dragon, Elridge, need to find the golden harp, rescue Toadstool the goat, and return it to the giantess at the top of the meanstalk or the kingdom of Ardendale will be destroyed. A fun adventure of mixed-up fairy-tales.

Tuesdays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Every Tuesday, the castle where Princess Celie and her family live, adds on a new room, or turret, or wing. Celie loves her castle, and it’s living ways. So, when robbers attack her parents carriage, and they are never seen again, Celie takes comfort that their room is exactly the same, hoping the castle knows they are still alive. But, can the castle and Celie stop the Royal Council and the foreign prince from taking over the kingdom?

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, The Hidden Gallery by Maryrose Wood

I actually liked this book more than the first. We continue the story following Penelope, the governess, who is charged with civilizing three wild siblings found in the woods, apparently raised by wolves. In this book, the children and Penelope visit London where some very strange events occur.

Escape Under the Forever Sky by Eve Yohalem

Lucy, the daughter of the American ambassador to Ethiopia, is dying to escape the protection of her parents and the well-protected compound. She sneaks out to the market and is kidnapped. Lucy realizes that she’s going to have figure out how to escape or something very bad will happen.

Nowhere Girl by A.J. Paquette

Luchi grows up in a Thailand prison cell with her mother but when her mother dies, Luchi is left to fend for herself on the outside — with no idea of what her mother was hiding, or who she really was. Luchi sets off to find out who she is, and learns much about life in the process.

Tales of a Sixth-Grade Muppet by Kirk Scroggs

Danver’s hero is Gonzo from the Muppets – he wears a Gonzo t-shirt every day and does all his school presentations on Gonzo. But, he doesn’t expect to turn into a muppet himself! This comical turn of events isn’t too bad because Danver gets an internship with the Muppets and gets to work with his hero, Gonzo. Lots of laughs and filled with comics and illustrations make this a great choice for any Muppet fan.

I’ve got more books to read and share. Here’s another stack. Good thing I read fast . . . YA coming soon.

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Soup Scoop – Best Links of the Week 2/18/12

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Soup Scoop – Best Links of the Week

2012-02-18T14:27:46Z

How was your week!? Mine was a whirlwind of freelance assignments and new projects. It’s exciting to reach a tipping point. In fact, many of you have written to ask me how I transitioned from teacher to writer so I will blog about that soon.

Hope you find these articles useful — enjoy the weekend!

Won’t someone come out and play? (my guest post) on Kaboom

Puzzle Play Helps Boost Learning Math-Related Skills from ScienceDaily

Fine Motor Skills from Rainbows Within Reach

-round-up fine motor skill ideas.

Play Time — a round-up of articles on play from Psychology Today

Teaching Kids to Advocate for Themselves from Play. Fight. Repeat.

Suzita applies lessons from Getting More: How to Negotiate to Achieve Your Goals in the Real World, by Stuart Diamond with her kids and shares 5 ways to build self-advocacy.

via @pbsparents.tumblr.com

Amazing playgrounds in Denmark and The Worlds Most Amazing Playgrounds from Kid Crave and PBS Parents

(waaaay cool . . .)

Curating Children’s Digital Content from Wired

It’s so hard to find apps in the Apple store, right? This article discusses who is researching, filtering, and sharing digital technologies.

This is What Math Learning Looks Like (in Preschool) from Teacher Tom

Creating Students’ Survival Guide to the Web from Mind/Shift

a good article with lots of links about teaching Netiquette and teaching students how to search and find trustworthy Web sites.

TOP PHOTO: Creative Commons Flicker Môsieur J.

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Newly published early chapter books

From Reluctant Reader to Voracious Reader

Using Technology to Promote Literacy

Best Beginning Chapter Books Books – Winter 2012

2012-02-16T04:51:53Z

Once kids take off in reading, they’re dying to read chapter books. The best part about a beginning chapter book is that your kids are reading, and feel successful. The stories are cute and are accompanied by plenty of illustrations to support the reader. Here are some of my recently published favorites.

Kylie Jean chapter book series
Written by Marci Peschke and Illustrated by Tuesday Mourning

Titles in series: Kylie Jean Drama Queen, Kylie Jean Rodeo Queen, Kylie Jean Blueberry Queen, Kylie Jean Spelling Queen, Kylie Jean Hoop Queen, Kylie Jean Dancing Queen

These are JJ’s favorite books and what’s not to love? They’re pink books – with a main character that loves pink and the illustrations are in black and PINK. Plus, the stories are perfect for girls — Kylie Jean experiences things like getting the part in the ballet, or being the rodeo queen, things that readers can relate to and would want themselves.

The Legend of Diamond Lil, A J.J. Tully Mystery
written by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

J.J., a search-and-rescue dog, doesn’t like that his charges, a chicken and her chicks, want to spend time with the neighbor’s new dog, Diamond Lil. But, soon J.J. starts to like Diamond Lil just as much as the chicks. Then, when a possum tries to steal the chicks, it seems that Diamond Lil is involved. Is everything as it seems?

Have Fun Anna Hibiscus!
written and illustrated by Atinuke

Anna Hibiscus lives in amazing Africa but in this story, she goes by herself to visit her Granny Canada in Canada where it’s snowy and cold. Anna gets to wear warm clothes and eat new foods. She even gets comfortable with Granny Canada’s dog and makes new friends. This is a delightful story of a sweet girl on an exciting new adventure.

Ellray Jakes Walks the Plank
written by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper

I bet a lot of kids will relate to this story about Ellray and his little sister. Little sister overfeeds Ellray’s class fish and kills it. Ellray takes the blame to protect his sister, after all family is family, and gets to help find a new class pet.

The Seals That Wouldn’t Swim, Field Trip Mysteries
written by Steve Brezenoff, illustrated by Marcos Calo

The Field Trip Mysteries are the field trips of Cat and her classmates. In this particular adventure, they are at the aquarium to see a seal show. But the seal show is cancelled and the kids discover that two of the seals have been drugged. It’s up to them to discover the person behind it.

Earwig and the Witch
written by Diana Wynne Jones, illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky

Earwig is a spunky young orphaned witch who loves her life and does not want to be adopted. But she is. By a strange couple. Earwig discovers that the woman is a witch and the man is a much worse . . . and she is made a servant, not a daughter. Don’t worry, Earwig isn’t about to suffer in silence. With the help of a talking cat, she schemes to learn about magic, even getting the witch to teach her. Quirky and entertaining!

Heidi Heckelbeck Casts a Spell
written by Wanda Coven, illustrated by Priscilla Burris

Eight-year old Heidi Hecklebeck is a witch pretending to be a normal girl. She’s supposed to keep her magic a secret from others. It’s just so hard when Melanie Maplethorpe ruins Heidi’s part in the play. Heidi just can’t resist casting a spell to make Melanie forget her lines. Of course, Heidi won’t feel better about ruining the play, and learns a valuable lesson.

Missing! A Cat Called Buster, Rainbow Street Shelter
written and illustrated by Wendy Orr

Josh always sees the orange cat, Buster, sitting on the porch with his owner, Mr. Larsen. When Mr. Larsen is taken to the hospital, Buster runs away from home. Josh and his family search for Buster everywhere. Will he end up at the Rainbow Street Animal Shelter? And who will he live with now? A nice story of animal love and family closeness.

Nancy Clancy Super Sleuth
written by Jane O’Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser

Fans of Fancy Nancy are growing up, and so is Nancy. Nancy and her best friend, Bree, star in this early chapter book with Preiss-Glasser’s beautiful illustrations. AJ liked the story and read it in under an hour.

Zeke Meeks vs. The Putrid Puppet Pals
written by D.L. Green

Zeke Meeks is a funny early chapter book with lots of entertaining illustrations. Third grader, Zeke, is annoyed with his classmates who all jump on the latest marketing craze – Puppet Pals – and won’t play basketball with him anymore. Eventually Zeke is tired of playing by himself so he gets his own Puppet Pals. The story is entertaining and brings to light commercialism and peer pressure.

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Best New Picture Books – Winter 2012

Guerilla Tactics to Encourage a Reluctant Reader

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New Picture Books You’ll Want to Buy – Winter 2012

2012-02-15T04:22:43Z

I’ve been stockpiling books to review, apparently the pile has gotten so far ahead of me that I can’t get all the great books into one post. (Or the post would be a novel.) So, for now, I’ve picked my favorites of my favorite picture books to share and will get to the others soon.

A Few Blocks by Cybele Young

Older sister, Viola, knows how to get little brother, Ferdie, to school. Even though he doesn’t want to go. Viola says, “Ferdie, look! I found your superfast cape! Quick– put on your rocket-blaster boots and we’ll take off.” And so she continues to imagine ships and islands, and kings and knights, all the way to . . . almost to school. Now it’s Ferdie’s turn to use some imagination to get Viola to school.

You’ll love the beautiful urban images cut into scenery, collaged on the white background – they’re gorgeous! Of course, you’ll mostly love the imagination that carries these two siblings to school.

My Name is Elizabeth by Annika Dunklee, illustrated by Matthew Forsythe

Elizabeth loves her name — “I like that it’s nine letters long. . . And I like all the neat things my mouth does when I say it.” But she doesn’t like when people call her Lizzy or Beth or Betsy. She’s had enough and announces for the world that her name is Elizabeth, “but you may call me Elizabeth.”

Blue and white backgrounds with white and orange characters give this book a unique retro feel. It’s a book for anyone who loves their given name — and doesn’t want to be called anything else.

When Blue Met Egg by Lindsay Ward

Blue is an adorable turquoise bird who on a snowy morning finds something flying through the air — an egg. Or, is it? Blue, being the nurturing sort, nestles Egg in a yellow bucket and the pair take off in search of Egg’s mother. Together, they search all over New York City which is beautifully depicted in paper-cut illustrations. Blue and Egg have many months of fun together but in April, Blue notices Egg is getting smaller. Is she sick?

I love the ending- Egg does melt, since she is a snowball, but Blue never realizes it — because in Egg’s place, Blue finds a flower. “I think you’re going to love this time of year,” Blue tells her friend.

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Annabelle lives in a cold little town with white snow and black, sooty chimneys. One cold afternoon, she finds a box filled with colorful yarn, yarn that magically doesn’t ever end. First, Annabelle knits herself a sweater, then one for her dog, Mars, too. She has more yarn so she knits Nate and his dog a sweater. Then, her class, and her teacher, and her parents, and soon she knits sweaters for things, too – the mailbox, the bird feeder. Soon, the town beautifies. An archduke visits Annabelle and when she won’t sell him the yarn, he steals it. But, not really — Annabelle still has her box with yarn and the duke gets nothing. Readers will love the message of giving and wonder just how the magic works.

Klassen (of I Want My Hat Back) uses ink, gouache, and rainbow scans of a sweater to contrast with the white background. The colors pop and you feel the shift as Annabelle’s world brightens.

The Monster Returns by Peter McCarty

This sequel to Jeremy Draws a Monster shows Jeremy’s monster calling Jeremy. “I’m coming back, . . . And I’m bored.” Jeremy thinks fast and asks the neighbor kids for help. Each child draws a monster of their own so by the time Jeremy’s monster arrives, there are new monster friends for everyone.

Like the other books in this round-up, there are lots splashy, colorful images, in this case watercolor and pen, on a white background.

Chloe by Peter McCarty

“Chloe loved the end of the day, when her whole family was together. She called it family fun time.” And she has a lot of family for fun – 20 brothers and sisters. When Dad brings home a television, Chloe isn’t thinks it’s the worst family fun time EVER. She and sister Bridget go to play with the empty television cardboard box. They find bubble wrap. Pop! Pretty soon all their brothers and sisters join them in popping. Then, they put on their own television show using the box as their stage / screen.

For all of us who recognize that a cardboard box is better than an electronic box, this is our book!!

No Bears by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Leila Rudge

Ella, our spunky narrator tells us a story — one that’s going to be good, she explains due to the fact that there are NO BEARS in it. It starts out Once Upon a Time . . . and has a princess, a castle, a fairy godmother, but of course NO BEARS. (Except we, the readers, can clearly see that there is a bear who is peering around the edges of the book — who takes the fairy godmother’s wand and saves the princess from the bad monster who tries to steal her.) It’s great fun to be in on the secret which Ella never realizes. “Wow! This turned out to be a pretty good boook, don’t you think? In fact, i think this has been the prettiest, most exciting, scariest, and funniest book ever. And I know why! Because there were NO BEARS in it.”

Little does she know. . .

This book is a favorite around our house — it just cracks JJ up!

Where’s the Meerkat? by Jen Wainwright, illustrated by Paul Moran, Steve Wiltshire and Simon Ecob

A mischievous meerkat family of ten is traveling around the world and you get to find the ten in each double-page spread location. You’ll visit places like New York City, Paris, Moscow, the Great Barrier Reef, London, and Venice. The back has answers and more to find on checklists for each location. 48 pages of finding fun!

Too Shy for Show and Tell by Beth Bracken, illustrated by Jennifer Bell

No one knows that sam likes trucks, dogs, and chocolate cake because Sam is quiet. When it’s his turn for show and tell, Sam knows just what he wants to bring but he’s scared. Which makes him worry. He watches all the other kids go and gets up the courage to show a picture of his new dog named Chocolate. He doesn’t even throw-up or faint! And the kids learn a little more about him.

For anyone who has ever been scared or shy, this book shows that other people feel the same way sometimes.

Book Speak! Poems About Books by Laura Purdie Salas, illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

Wow do I love this book! Salas writes 21 fun, funny, delightful poems about books — from the perspective of a character, or what happens in the bookstore at night, or how the book sees the reader (“the sky is falling”) or the journal inviting the writer to “describe your desires.” Here’s an example:

Book Plate

I don’t need your napkin.
I’m not your soup bowl’s mate.
I don’t want your peas or bread.

I’m not that kind of plate!

Write your name upon me.
I’m a paper love tattoo.
Paste me in your book to show

that I belong to you.

Wagons Ho! by George Hallowell and Joan Holub, illustrated by Lynne Avril

Side by side are the stories in diary and scrapbook form of two girls who move from Missouri to the west. One story takes place in 18496, the other, now. It’s a fascinating comparison of what is the same (missing home) and what is different (lots!) This would be a great book to use in a study of westward expansion!

July & August The Wretched Rockies

1846

Some wagons are too heavy to go up and down the mountains. Many things must be given up in order to cross. The Rockies look like a graveyard of precious belongings left by many families going west.

Thursday

We cross the Rockies in Wyoming. Buddy is carsick from the curves.

When My Baby Dreams by Adele Enersen

Do you remember this artists’ blog of her baby sleeping, posed in artful scenes? Now you can see the amazing scenes in a picture book which your kids will love, too! Kids just love photographs of other kids – a cute baby is no exception.

If you haven’t seen these photographs, visit Adele’s Etsy blog to see how a baby can look like an astronaut, a book worm, a birthday girl with balloons, and more! It’s creative genius.

Up, Tall, and High by Ethan Long

This may sound silly but I LOVE the paper used in this book – it’s slippery and thick. Ooooh. Aaaah.

Up, Tall, and High is silly stories of silly birds, perfect for new readers with the added bonus of fold-out pages. Who doesn’t love that? Long’s illustrations truly are charming. This is a bedtime favorite right now.

What Color is My World? The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Raymond Obstfeld, illustrated by Ben Boos & A.G. Ford

Twins, Herbie and Ella, move into a new house where the meet Mr. Mital, a handman who surprises the kids with fascinating information about African-American scientists. Throughout the narrative are non-fiction lift-the-flap sidebars and two-page spread biographies of people like James E. West who invented a compact microphone used in race cars or Frederick McKinley Jones, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian, George Crum, Dr. Valerie L. Thomas, and many others.

I love how the story connects with the famous people, making it easy to read than most non-fiction books. Plus, the large size of the book, the fold-out parts, and bright illustrations make it a terrific design for kids.

Subscribe to Imagination Soup by email and get a FREE eBook with Pretend Play ideas.

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Paper Craft Engineering aka. Valentine’s Day Envelopes

2012-02-13T01:58:34Z

guest post by Patty O’Brien Novak, children’s author, engineer, educational consultant/trainer and speaker.

With Sesame Street’s recent change in focus to add more engineering to their programming (yeah!), I want to share an engineering activity you can do at home with your preschooler (and older children, too.) Envelope engineering was inspired by my dear daughter, who at the tender age of 3, turned her cherubic face up from her activity table and beamed excitedly, “Momma, look what I made!”

To my surprise (and delight) she had engineered a manila-type envelope, the one we might use to send important documents we don’t want to fold. My little “paper engineer” crafted an envelope simply using 2 pieces of construction paper and tape!

Fast forward four years and we find my daughter still creating envelopes, but with a significant increase in her styles and sizes “catalog.” The instructions below are from one of the envelopes she made recently for her younger cousins 1st birthday party (she made cards, too.) I slipped a college fund check into one of them and away we went – personalized and easy, peasy for me.

Try this one at home:

Gather a few pieces of construction paper and tape.
Ask your child how they would make an envelope using the construction paper and tape- or something that can hold a card or paper.

(Note: most older children will ask for other technology such as scissors or glue. Ask them to create their envelope using just the paper and tape to start. Their next 10 envelopes can involve scissors and glue!)

3. Let you child’s ideas flow – please do not say “that won’t work.”
They just may surprise you. Another option – your child could draw some of their ideas. If they simply are stumped, give them some ideas from the pictures in this post and see where they take the ideas.

4. And the crafting begins. Kids fold the paper and use tape to hold together.

5. When your child is finished creating an envelope, let put paper inside. Ask your child, “does this paper stay in the envelope without falling out?”

6. If the paper falls out, ask your child, “what would you change to keep the paper in?” Let them try out their new idea(s) and prepare to be surprised!

How is envelope making an engineering project?

The engineering problem solving method contains the same main steps whether you’re making an envelope or sending rockets to outer space. These are:

Ideas

Plan/design

Create

Test

Modify

Looking at the instructions numbered above, we see “Ideas” and “Plan/design” in steps 2 and 3 when children “plan” their envelope design through talking, drawing and working with the paper. Then “Create” comes in step 4, “Test” in step 5 and “Modify” (or change) in step 6. And there you have Envelope Engineering!

When we teach our children the basics of the engineering problem solving method, we’re giving them wings for life.

Think about your day – how often do you generate ideas, plan, create, test and modify during the day?

Bio: Patty O’Brien Novak is a children’s author, engineer, educational consultant/trainer and speaker. Patty’s passion is creating awareness of the amazing impact engineers have on our everyday world. Visit her at www.PattyOBrienNovak.com

Subscribe to Imagination Soup by email and get a FREE eBook with Pretend Play ideas.

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Soup Scoop – Best Links of the Week 2/11/12

Engineering for Kids!

New Middle Grade Book Recommendations – Fall 2012

Soup Scoop – Best Links of the Week

2012-02-19T23:31:34Z

How was your week? Are you ready for some good weekend reading?

But first, my new favorite bumper sticker — I found it at a bookstore this week.

Asperger’s is Over-Diagnosed? You Try Getting Your Kid Evaluated by Joslyn Gray / Babble

Have you read the news that Asperger’s is most likely going to no longer be a diagnosis for kids?

“My own son, who was diagnosed with Asperger at age four, is now almost six years old. He has been doing multiplication since he was three. His vocabulary is off the charts. But he’s still not potty-trained, expresses emotion by flapping his hands, and doesn’t know how to have a conversation with a peer that doesn’t revolve around Lego Star Wars.”

Early Childhood Experts: Play Should Top Preschool Agenda from EdWeekly

This is what I keep saying!!! Why aren’t schools listening?

“Education officials counter by saying that play should be a central part of preschoolers’ learning, but that kids also need to be ready to learn when they start school.

That’s true. But, according to these experts, providing ample playtime is the way to get there.”

you make do™paper play magazine™ from an artist and parent I adore– Heather Cahoon of Wordplayhouse . . . Such prettiness!!

♥ mini heart card printables (print as many as you need) ♥ mini envelope printables

♥ make a heart ♥ heart garland printable ♥ heart gift tag printable

♥ pencil topper printable ♥ heart paper trail printables

Harry Potter in 60 Seconds from The Mary Sue
hilarious!

Simple Ways to Create A Backyard for Play from Let The Children Play

Great ideas – love this blog!

Why Urban, Educated Parents Turning to Homeschooling from Newsweek

“Many parents are happy to sidestep environments that might be too intense, loading kids up with homework, making them feel an undue burden to perform. “The pressure from the reform movement today, from kindergarten on, has been all about ‘Let’s push, push, push for academic achievement,’” says Michael Petrilli, executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, an education think tank.”

Using Art to Inspire Story Writing and Puppetry from MommyLabs

Rashmie is one of my dear blogger friends in India. You’ll love her blog as much as me! (I can’t wait to make these puppets.)

Attached to Technology and Paying a Price from The New York Times

This is totally me! I think I’m developing ADD because of social media and email . . .

Wait, . . . What was I just saying?

“Heavy multitaskers actually have more trouble focusing and shutting out irrelevant information, scientists say, and they experience more stress.

And scientists are discovering that even after the multitasking ends, fractured thinking and lack of focus persist. In other words, this is also your brain off computers.”

Geek vs. Nerd from Masters In It

I particularly like the Nerd talk — “There are 10 types of people in this world. Those who understand Binary and those who don’t.” HA!

“Nerd: This term was coined from Dr. Seuss in 1954 in a line that read “A nerkle, a nerd, and a seersucker too!” – So really nerkle and seersucker are synonymous with nerd

Geek: While used as a derogatory term originally, the word “geek” gained popularity in the circus. Circus performers that performed amazing feats were Geeks.”

Valentine’s Day ideas on Pinterest Board

. . .

Coming up on Imagination Soup — Expect posts on newest children’s books, research and opinions on homework, Singapore Math, storytelling, DSM 5, poetry, and DIY play kits. Keep sending me emails (melissa@imaginationsoup.net) – I love your ideas and questions.

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My New Parenting.com Blog and How to Subscribe to an RSS Feed

2012-02-09T04:05:10Z

I’m blogging over at Parenting.com for Class Notes in addition to my blogging here at Imagination Soup and my other freelance work. If you want to keep up with my blog posts at Parenting, you’ll need to subscribe to the RSS feed. I realize that over the over 1,000 of you that subscribe in RSS already know what I’m talking about but for those who don’t . . .

How do you subscribe to an RSS Feed?

Glad you asked.

1. Click on “Subscribe by RSS Feed.” You’ll go to this screen. It says Mom Congress because the name has recently changed from Mom Congress to Class Notes. It’s the same thing.

2. Now, click on “Google.” Your next screen will look like this:

3. Click on “Add to Google homepage.” You’ll be taken to your Google homepage. Here’s a screenshot of mine:

Now, whenever you want to read a blog post, you can check on your Google homepage and see what the last 3 post titles are. Click on the post title and you’ll go directly to the Parenting.com website to read the blog post.

Any questions?

P.S. You can customize your Google homepage with fun backgrounds like I have with the snowy village.

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Heart Mapping Gives Kids Writing Ideas

2012-02-08T21:42:31Z

I LOVE heart mapping for Valentine’s Day but I also love it for pushing through a writing block. What to write about is a very common (and frustrating) challenge for young writers (and us old writers, too.)

Georgia Heard suggests heart mapping as a way to generate ideas for the challenge of what to write. Once kids create a heart map, they can use it for writing inspiration and ideas.

Above you’ll see the heart map I made as an example. (Modeling is very important — but make sure your kids know that you’re not suggesting exactly how they do their maps, only showing an example of your process and thinking. You want them to be authentic to their imaginations, not copy you.) Here’s what JJ came up with:

Heart Mapping Printable Directions

Materials:
paper
writing and drawing tools

Directions:
Draw a large heart on your paper.

Within the heart, you can create spaces for things that are important to you – people, places, activities, and memories.

Heart mapping design is entirely up to your imagination. After all, it is your heart.

Questions to get started:

1. What makes you happy?

2. What do you love?

3. What is the most fun you have ever had?

4. What memory is your favorite?

5. What things or objects are important to you?

6. What things in your heart are sad? Make you cry?

7. What secrets are in your heart?

8. What are your favorite things, toys?

9. What activities do you love?

Draw, design, and write.

Once you have your heart map, keep it safe, and use it when you’re stuck for writing ideas.

Or you can frame it as a yearly memory of your life and what was in your heart at that time. Don’t forget to write the date on it!

Links to Heart Maps

Printable heart and example template.
3rd grade heart mapping.
Example of an adult heart map.
5th and 6th grade heart maps.
Playful Learning’s heart maps.
Two Writing Teachers writes about trying Writing Territories instead of heart mapping.

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2012-02-07T14:13:21Z

Knock, knock!

Who’s there?

Peas!

Peas who?

Peas read a new Valentine’s Day picture book.

(. . . yeah, I probably need to skip the joke writing . . .)

New Valentine’s Day Picture Books:

Mr. Prickles A Quill-Fated Love Story by Kara LaReau, illustrated by Scott Magoon
Mr. Prickles and Mrs. Pointypants learn a valuable lesson about friendship and love in this charming story with plenty of puns. “He tried to join in their midnight picnicking but it was pointless.”

Love the Beastie A Spin and Play Book by Henrik Dresher
The sequel to Pat the Beastie (a parody of Pat the Bunny) I liked better than the first which ended with Beastie eating Paul and Judy. In this book, Beastie spits the kids out and the three play, brush Beastie’s teeth, get him dressed, and snuggle. Cute and weird at the same time.

Little Treasures Endearments from Around the World by Jacqueline K. Ogburn, illustrated by Chris Raschka
Although this isn’t really a Valentine’s Day book, it seemed fitting. This book captures all the sweet names we call children, names like pumpkin and honey, from all around the world.

The Brits call their children poppet and love. The Aussies call their children lamb chop and possum. If you watched Pepe Le Pew you’ll know this French term of endearment, mon petit chou, which means little cabbage. Russians say solnyshko which means sunny sun. Ugandans say kabiite, or pampered one. And Chinese families call children xiao pie dou, little mischievous pea.

Hedgehug: A Sharp Lesson in Love by Benn Sutton and Dan Pinto

Hedgehog wants to give somebody a Valentine but no one likes his prickles! After many rejections, finds that there is someone who has a thick shell not bothered by spines — an armadillo.

Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine by Herman Parish, illustrated by Lynne Avril

In this story, Amelia is a child – not a maid. It’s simple and silly, and a great update on the classic version.

Plant a Kiss by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Peter H. Reynolds

When Little Miss plants a kiss, will her act of love grow? Of course! It will grow and it will be magical.

Love, Splat by Rob Scotton

Splat wants to give Kitten a Valentine but he’s too shy. And, Spike (Splat’s rival) also likes Kitten! What’s a cat to do? I adore Splat and think you will as well.

10 Valentine Friends by Janet Schulman, illustrated by Linda Davick

Unless rhyming books are Dr. Seuss, they usually don’t work for me. But, this one is cute and the rhymes are fine. “Annie Lee knows how Pete likes bugs. / He’ll really dig her squishy slugs!” All the kids get Valentines in this cute, counting story in a diverse classroom of kids.

Familiar Favorite Valentine’s Day Books

Pinkalicious: Pink of Hearts by Victoria Kann

The Night Before Valentine’s Day by Natasha Wing and Heidi Petach

The I LOVE YOU Book by Todd Parr

Maisy’s Valentine Sticker Book by Lucy Cousins

Queen of Hearts (Ann Estelle Stories) by Mary Englebreit

The Day it Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond

Olive You! And Other Valentine Knock-Knock Jokes by Katy Hall, Lisa Eisenberg, Stephen Carpenter

Where is Baby’s Valentine? by Karen Katz

** My all time favorite chapter book about Valentine’s Day is Attack of the 50-ft Cupid (Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist) by Jim Benton. Have you read it? Hilarious!

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