Planting a Garden

After reading The Secret Garden, I began to think of activities that I performed with my classmates and teachers throughout elementary school. One of my favorite activites that I did in second grade that would certainly correspond to The Secret Garden was plating a garden. Not only did the activity promote team work and classroom bonding, but it also allowed us to learn about nature and the life cycles of plants.

Materials: Watering Can, Seeds, Spade,

Procedure: Each member of the classroom would be given a particular job. A group would be in charge of watering the plants, another would be in charge of planting the seeds and digging the hole for the plants with a spade (Under the instructor's supervision). At the end of several weeks it is fun to glace back at your garden and see how your plants have progressed.

Francis Hodgson Burnett

In class next week we will be discussing The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett. I thought this was a good opportunity to recognize Hodgson for her works and literary successes.

Francis Hodgson Burnett was an English-American writer and is famous for her children's stories. She was born in 1849 with the name Frances Eliza Hodgson in Cheetham Hill Manchester. Due the harsh times in her childhood due to the death of her father's death, Burnett emigrated to Knoxville, Tennesee in 1865. The move, however, did not sweep the family out of poverty. When her mother died in 1867, Burnett was forced to raise her four younger brothers and sister at the tender age of 18, and she eventually turned to writing for support. She ended up writing for Godey's, Scriber's Monthly, Peterson's Ladies Magazine, and Harper's Bazaar.

Burnett moved to Washington D.C. in 1873 after her marriage to Dr. Swan Burnett. Burnett's literary success came just after her marriage. Her works consisted of That Lass o'Lowrie's (1877), Haworth's (1879), Lousiana (1880), A Fair Barbarian (1881), and Through One Administration (1883), Esmerelda (1881), and the Little Lord Faulteroy (1886). It was with her story of Lord Faulteroy that won Burnett large appeal. It was supposed to represent a children's story, but it seemed to a favorite with mothers as well. New Fashions also emerged after the publishing of the story. Long curls, velvet suis, and lace collars.

Burnett's later works included Little Princess, The Lady of Quality, The Secret Garden, The Lost Prince, The One I Know Best of All. After these literary sucesses, Burnett became to deal with Spiritualiam that carried her into World War I. The result was her novella called The White People that dealt with what happens after death.

Burnett died in Plandome, New York in 1924 where she lived the last seventeen years of her life.

The Grinch Grinches the Cat in The Hat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEGGTqutLpA

During our picture book lesson, we spent an entire day discussing Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat. During our lesson, Dr. Robinson explained that Seuss saw himself as a mixture of the Cat in The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch, another one of Seuss's famous characters. After the lesson, I found it ironic that I discovered a clip featuring both of these particular characters.

The clip shows the Grinch and the cat crossing each others paths on a sunny day. The cat is enjoying a fine picnic when he realizes that his automobile is blocking the road that The Grinch is attempting to drive down. The Grinch bumps and bumps the cat's little car and demands for it to be moved immediately. The cat first tidies up his picnic and casually mentions that the Grinch has a green face. The Grinch is so offended by this remark that he solves his own problem. He angrily places his car in reverse and drives away.

Dr. Robinson mentioned in class last week that the cat in The Cat in the Hat is a con-man and at trickster hero. By viewing this video we are allowed the opportunity to see this con-man in action, and it becomes increasingly evident that this cat is, in fact, a trickster. The cat talks his way out of the entire situation, and it could be argued that the cat does not ever plan to move his automobile to allow the grinch to pass.

I must ponder on one final thought. I must wonder if this video represents the inner duel between cleverness and wickedness within Dr. Seuss. Does the video mean that the cleverness always overpowers the evil within Dr. Seuss?

Beatrix Potter's Early Sketches

At the start of our picture book unit we read The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I was extremely fascinated by Beatrix Potter's illustrations, and I began to research the author's early work. I found that Beatrix Potter began sketching the characters the we see in her stories today in her childhood. They may still be viewed today in her school journals. The top illustration is an example of Potter's drawings. The drawings ranged from caterpillars to rabbits playing in the snow. Secondly, the bottom sketch located above is one of Beatrix's Potter's picture letters. I discovered that Potter spent many of her early literary years writing letters to children that she knew. In her letters she would include a sketch of an animal character with a black pen. The particular illustration above shows Potter's original tale of Peter Rabbit that she composed for a child named Noel Moore in September of 1893. She dedicated several of her later picture letters to Noah Moore in 1901. In this particular child's letter, Potter included a story of naughty squirrels. There is much to be gained by analyzing Beatrix Potter's early works. Not only do we get the opportunity to see into Potter's mind, but we also experience the love and adoration that she withheld for children.

Top Ten Picture Books for Children

The following list of the top children's picture books in the United States for the week. The list reflects the sales and purchases of the stories. Some of the authors are familiar from our poetry unit in class. (Jack Prelutsky and Shel Silverstein)

1. Gallop!: A Scanimation Picture Book
Author: Rufus Butler Seder

2. Dirt off My Shirt
Author: Jeff Foxworthy
IllustratorL Steve Bjorkman

3. Don't Bump the Glump
Author: Shel Silverstein

4. The Jellybeans and The Big Dance
Author: Laura Numoeroff and Nate Evans
Illustrator: Lynn Munsinger

5. Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity
Author: Mo Willems

6. Ladybug Girl
Author: Jacky Davis and David Sowan
Illustrator: David Soman

7. Zen Ties
Author: JOn J. Muth

8. Smash! Crash!
Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrators: David Shannon, Loren Long, David Gordon

9. A Dog May Be A Genius
Author: Jack Prlutsky
Illustrator: James Stevenson

10. Alphabet
Author: Matthew Van Fleet

P.L. Travers

Pamela Lyndon Travers is credited for creating the character of Mary Poppins. Travers was born in 1899 and was an Australian novelist and journalist. The famous writer was born Helen Lyndon Goff in Queensland, Austrailia to Robert Goff and Margaret Agnes.
Travers began her writing career when she was just a teenager. She even wrote for The Bulletin and Triad. She also gain a repretation as an actress and toured Austrailia and New Zealand with a Shakesperean touring company. It was during this time she decided to write under the pen name of P.L. Travers.
The 1934 publication of Mary Poppins was Travers first major success as a writer. Her character of Mary Poppins was found in five sequels. Travers also published a number of other novels, poems, and non-fiction works.
Disney produced the widely famous film of Mary Poppins in 1964. Travers had major arguments with her series of stories being made into a Disney film. She eventually stated when she was approached with a proposal of Mary Poppins being made into a stage musical that no Americans or members of the Mary Poppins film production were to be involved in the process.
Travers never married, but adopted a boy when she was in her mid thirties. P.L. Travers passed away in London in 1996.

Film Adaptation for Mary Poppins

The muscial, Mary Poppins, was produced in 1964 and adapted after the series of novels by P.L. Travers. The film was made by Walt Disney and was nominated for thirteen academy awards. The film features Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins and comedian Dick Van Dyke as Bert, the chimney sweep. Songs in the film are by Robert and Richard Sherman . The film is ranked number six on the American Film Institute list of best musicals.

Casting History:

Julie Andrews, was quickly cast as Mary Poppins just after she was passed over by Jack Warner for the role of Eliza Dolittle in the musical, My Fair Lady. Andrews had the last laugh at the end, however, when she won Best Actress for both the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards for her respected roles.

Disney Cast Dick Van Dyke due to his major sucess on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Even though the show brought him much glory, Dyke was constantly critisized for his cockney accent in the film.

Disney Battles with P.L. Travers:

Disney had a tough time attempting to purchase the film rights from author, P.L Travers. Travers firmly believed that the film versions of her books would never live up to her creation of Mary Poppins. For more than twenty years, Disney attempted to make an effort to produce a film version of Mary Poppins. Disney officially won the battle with Travers in 1961 with an agreeement of a copy of the script for Travers. Travers fought Disney on a number of issues while attempting to make the movie version. She wished Disney to feature elements of the Edwardian Period, and she strongly opposed the animated sequence. Disney, however, overrruled her objection. The result is the film that we know and love today.

Below is a clip from the film, Mary Poppins:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5IW9wK_HNg&feature=related

Mary Poppins Opens the Door

Mary Poppins Opens the Door, was the third children's novel by P.L. Travers to present the English nanny, Mary Poppins. The story was published in 1943 and illustrated by Mary Shepard.
The novel features Mary Poppins arriving at the home of the Banks family in the last hour of Guy Fawkes Day. Mary Poppins promises the Banks children that she will stay until the door opens. During Mary Poppins visit, she embarks on several journeys that include magic and mystery. The first magical experience occurs when Mary Poppins and the children are asked by Mrs. Banks to find a piano tuner. The tuner who just so happens to be Mary's cousin, Mr. Twigley. During the visit, Mr, Twigley is constantly trying to unburden himself from his seven wishes given to him at his birth. Mary Poppin's cousin also gives the nanny and Jane and Michael music boxes to dance to.
Other adventures that Mary Poppins provides for the children include the park statue of Neleus that comes to life at the park, the visit to Mrs. Calico who gives the children flying peppermint sticks, and finally the party between the fairy tale rivals that occurs in the crack of the old year and the new year. At the end of the story, the nursery characters and many of the other characters come to wish Mary Poppins a farewell. The children come to the realzation that it is time for Mary Poppins to leave their home. They see Mary Poppins walk into a home just like theirs. This most likely represents the Banks children growing up and undergoing maturity.

Peter Pan Treasure Hunt and Party

The following activity would be done at the beginning of the school years for Pre-K and Kindergarten. After reading and interpreting the story of Peter Pan, a treasure map would be provided for the classroom. ( This would be constructed by the teacher.) Then the treasure hunt would begin.

Purpose: This is an innovative mechanism for each child to discover his/her way around the new school and to learn the rules of their new school. (Remember that the majority of the children are just now beginning school and must get used to a brand new facility)

Materials: Scroll (Construction Paper), with ribbion, markers, paper (for treasure map),pirate hats, eye patches, large pieces of construction paper, plates, napkins, table cover,

Teacher's Directions: The teacher would place various pirate scrolls around the school in locations where the children would be expected to follow certain rules and regulations. (Some examples are the cafeteria, the library, the restrooms, the playground, etc.) With in each scroll the teacher would write the list of rules and regulations for that particular location. At the bottom there would be directions for the next location. (Remember that the children would also be holding the treasure map.) The last location (where X marks the spot) would be on the playground. At this location, a Pirate Party would be set up around the picnic table areas.

The Shadow Game: Not only would the pirate party include cake, and fun snacks, but it would also include the Shadow Game.(Remember that Peter cannot find his shadow when he enters the Darling children's bedroom.) The classroom would be divided into groups of 5. Each group would pick someone to trace on a large piece of black construction paper. The chosen boy or girl would lie on the construction paper while the other members of their group would trace them with a pen or a pencil . Eventually everyone in the group would gain a turn. The shadows would be an excellent decorations for the classroom.

Peter Pan ( The Movie)

Disney's Peter Pan's plot is essentially identical to the story line in J.M. Barrie's novel. However, just as in all the Disney classics, there is the definite musical element. Walt Disney planned as early as 1935 to make this film and arranged in 1939 to meet with the Ormond Street Hospital in London who with held the rights to the play by J.M Barrie for permission. The actual production began in 1949. The film was directed by Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronimi, and Wilfred Jackson. The animators consisted of Eric Larson and Milt Kahl. The following individuals served as the voices of the leading characters.
Peter: Bobby Driscoll
Wendy: Kathryn Beaumont
Captain Hook and Mr. Darling: Hans Conried
Mr. Smee: Bill Thompson

The movie was released in theaters in 1958, 1969, 1976, 1982, and 1989, and it was released on video in 1990.

The link below serves as an example of Walt Disney's musical element within the film. This clip features the Darling Children's journey to Neverland.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq56bjyBft0

J.M Barrie

J.M Barrie is credited for writing the famous children's tale, Peter Pan, and he is also known for popularizing the name, Wendy, which was not common in both Britain and the United States. Barrie was born in 1860 to a conservative scottish family. His father was a weaver while his mother was simply a housewife. It is said that Barrie's inspiration for his books, Peter Pan, Robinson Crusoe, and Pilgrims Progress. His older brother who was thought to be his mother's favorite child, died at the early age of 13 in an ice-skating accident. This left his mother devastated, but warmed her heart to know that her deceased son would remain a boy forever. It is questionable if characters like Peter Pan represent Barrie's older brother. At the age of 8, Barrie was sent to the Glasgow Academy where his elder siblings worked. At the age of 13 he left his home for the Dumfries Academy where he was often found playing pirates, and reading constantly. His times at the academy playing pirates soon became the foundation of his plot for Peter Pan.

As a young adult, Barrie enrolled at the University of Edinburg where he wrote drama reviews for a local newspaper. He eventually returned to Kirriemuir and wrote narratives for a newspaper in London, using the tales his mother would share with him as a child. Barrie, however, always had an interest for the theatre. His plays include Richard Savage, Ghosts, Quality Street, and The Admirable Crichton.

Peter Pan, first appeared in The Little White Bird, then in Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up. The story of Peter Pan had long years of success and has been made into a variety of plays and major motion pictures. Barrie continued to have a long string of success after his rendition of Peter Pan. His other stage works include The Twelve Pound Look, Mary Rose, Dear Brutus, and What Every Woman Knows.

J.M Barrie married and actress that he became acquainted with in the theatre named Mary Ansell. Little did Barrie know that his relationship would become a public scandal. Ansell was reported having an affair, and when Barrie asked her to end it she refused. This resulted in a divorce.

Barrie died of pneumonia in 1937 and is buried at Kirriemuir next to his two parents.

Peter Pan

I enjoyed reliving the story of Peter Pan. I never realized that the movie that I adored as a child originated from a story book.

The story tells of an English family with three children named Wendy, Michael, and John Darling. The three children's world is turned upside down, however, when Peter Pan enters their life. Peter Pan is a young boy who originates from Neverland who flies and refuses to grow up. One evening just after Mr. and Mrs. Darling leave for a ball Peter and his little pixie, Tink, arrive at the children's window. Little do the children know that it will be their last night for a very long time in their home. Wendy immediately wakes up to discover Peter rummaging for something in her bedroom. When Wendy asks him, Peter declares that he is looking for his shadow. Wendy, who has been saving the shadow for him, quickly pulls it from a dresser drawer and proceeds to sew the shadow back on for Peter. Peter eventually confesses on his visit that he has been listening to Wendy at night telling her brothers wonderful stories. He then gets the idea that Wendy could come to his Neverland to serve as the mother to he and the lost boys. (The lost boys are the motherless boys that reside in Neverland.) Wendy agrees and quickly wake Michael and John. After undergoing a lesson in flying, Peter and his new travelers fly to Neverland. However, the visit to Neverland is far from dull. Pirates, wild indians, mermaids, and hungry alligators continue to plague the four children. And who could ever forget Peter Pan's constant duel with Pirate, Captain Hook.

The Wizard of Oz Activity

Toliet Paper Roll Activity-

The goal of this simple activity is to re-create the characters of the beloved tale, The Wizard of Oz on a toliet paper roll. Students from 1st grade to 3rd grade will enjoy constructing their favorite characters in the classic story.

Materials: toliet paper roll, construction paper, scissors, glue, crayons, markers, etc.

The list of instructions for the activity are as follows.

1. The students will color each part of the body for either the lion, tin man, scarecrow, or Dorthy. (Remember the body parts will be detached from one another for each character. )

2. The students will cut out each body part of their particular character. (This step might require adult assistance.)

3. Each student will have a piece of construction paper that is relative to the color of their character. (For example, the tin man would require gray or silver paper, while gold paper would accompany the cowardly lion.) Each piece of paper will already be cut so that it will wrap perfectly around the toliet paper roll. The student will glue the construction paper around the toliet paper roll.

4. Next, the colored body parts will be glued to the construction paper on the toliet paper roll.

If you wish to be creative, you may attach a bravery metal to the cowardly lion, glasses to the scarecrow, a heart to the tin man, and the ruby red slippers Dorthy.

L. Frank Baum

L. Frank Baum is one of the authors credited for overturning children's literature and fantasy with hsi work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Lyman Frank Baum was born in Chittenango, New York in 1856. Baum lived a lavish childhood with his mother, gather, and five brothers and sister. His father was a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in the oil fields. He was tutored at his home until the age of 12 when he was forced to attend a Peekskill Military Academy. He returned two years later and took an interest in writing. After his father bought him a cheap printing press, Baum utilized the machinf to produce his first composition, The Rose Lawn Journal. About the same time as Baum's writing fascination, he also took an interest in the theater.
In his early adulthood, Baum took on a new project, and decided to breed fancy poultry which happened to be a trend during the time. He ended up specializing in a cerian breed of fowl. However, Baum's addiction to theater always kept him busy. He took several toles in several plays during his adulthood under the name, Louis Frank Baum. In fact, Baum's father even built hima theater in New York where the young man wrote a series of plays and even composed a series of songs. Fortunately, love would soon enter its way into the life of L. Frank Baum. While touring with his theater he met and married Maud Gage, a women's sufferage activist. After their marriage, Baum and his new wife moved to South Dakota where he would gather inspiration for future novels. While residing in South Dakota, Baum opened a store called "Baum's Bazaar" when eventually turned to bankrucy. Afterwards, Baum bagan to edit a local paper which failed in 1891. Baum then decided to start again fresh and travel to Chicago where he reported for the Evening Post and even edited for a magazine. In his later adulthood, Baum wrote and published Mother Goose in Prose, Father Goose, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. His beloved tale of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was eventually adapted into a major motion picture.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Vs. Film

As I have stated before, the plot within the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and the film The Wizard of Oz differ greatly. The film and novel differ the most in their characterization and the honoring of the fairy tale rules.

The first way that the film and the novel differ is in the characterization of the various characters in the tale. The novel briefly describes each character while the film gives all the major characters dual roles: one for reality and one for Dorthy's fantasy. For example, at the start of the film several characters are introduced before Dorthy encouters Oz which include the farm hands named Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke, Mrs. Gulch, and the fortune teller. Later when Dorthy enters the land of Oz, the people that she knew at her home in Kansas transform into the characters in the land of Oz. Hunk becomes the scarecrow, Hickory transforms into the tin man, Zeke is the cowardly lion, and Mrs. Gulch transforms into the Wicked Witch of the West. The characters in Kansas often hint at their potential transformation which helps to foreshadow events to come. Next, the book honors the fantasy rule that the author must stay consistent with the fantasy element throughout the book and must not take the fantasy element out of the story at the conclusion. Unfortunately, the film does not honor this crucial rule. In the novel, Dorthy is actually taken to her home back in Kansas after clicking the heels of her magical shoes together, while in the movie Dorthy recovers from a deep sleep resulting from a bump on the head during the cyclone. She soon realizes that Oz is merely a dream. Aspects that are original to the book are listed below.

Book

1. Oz has the ability to change form. Throughtthe film we see him transfrom to a head, a lovely maiden, and a ball of fire.
2. The color of Dorthy's shoes are silver.
3. Everything is green in the Emerald City. Everyone must wear spectacles so that everyone and everything appears green.
4. Kalidahs are present. These animals arehalf tiger and half bear.
5. Even though the book contains the winged monkeys,they are only called at the command of a magical cap. The monkeys must be called three times with the magical cap.
6. When the Lion falls into a deadly sleep in the field of poppies, a group of field mice rescue him by pulling him out of the field with bits of string.
7. The book contains the country of Quadlings and China. ( In the land of China, all things are breakable.)
8. The Scarecrow is almost destroyed when the foursome travel on a raft. He sticks a pole in the water and the raft travels in the other direction. At last, a stork rescues him.
9. The Witch plays a relatively small role in the book. We meet the Witch of the West in the second half of the story. In the film, however, the witch practically drives the entire plot.

Below is a clip from the film: The Wizard of Oz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEq-ImGWJ0&feature=related

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

When I was a young child I had a slight obsession with the film, The Wizard of Oz. My mother justifies the obsession by telling me that she often discovered me several times sitting on the edge of our couch in our living room pretending to be Dorthy and singing the young girl's famous solo from the film, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. It wasn't, however, until my early adolescence that I realized that the award winning film originated from a novel entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. It was enjoyable to re-live memories of my childhood while reading this tale. I found it interesting to compare and contrast Baum's text and one of my favorite films.

I must begin by stating that I found the plot of the novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, to be much more complex than that of the film. I often found myself labeling some of the occurences within the plot as unneccessary and even irrelevant to the overall plot. The novel tells of a young girl named Dorthy and her adventures and experiences in the land of Oz. Dorthy originally lives with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry, and her little pet dog, Todo. The story begins with a terrible cyclone which overpowers Dorthy's home in Kansas. Before Dorthy can take over, her little home is swept away within the cyclone and is immediately dropped into a mysterious place: Munchkin Land. She is immediately greeted by Glinda, the good witch who initially grants her with magical silver shoes and a kiss on the forehead that will protect her from harm. She then explains to Dorthy that her only chance of getting back to her home in Kansas is to visit the great and powerful wizard named Oz who lives in Emerald City. While following the yellow brick road, Dorthy happens upon a scarecrow, a tin man, and a lion who are all in desperate need of the wizard's magic. The scarecrow lacks brains and the tin man lacks a heart, while the lion lacks courage. The only solution seems to be for the foursome to continue toward Emerald City. However, the comrades' journey is not always filled with joy. Their time traveling towards Emerald City is often spent fighting for their lives. Half bears and half tigers called Kalidahs, a deadly poppy field, terrible winged monkeys, fighting trees, and a wicked witch who wishes to harm Dorthy are only a few of the frightening evil things that the four must encounter. When the four finally reach Oz and consult with the Wizard they are distraught to find that the great and powerful Oz will only grant the proposed wishes if they kill the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorthy eventually performs the particular task demanded by Oz by melting the witch by pouring a bucket of water upon her head. After returning to the wizard to claim their rewards, the foursome are dismayed to discover that the wizard is nothing but a fraud and a regular man capable of no magic. Nevertheless, Oz removes the scarecrow's straw from his head and fill it with a brain, places a heart in the hollow tinman's chest, and provides a potion containing courage for the lion to consume. The "great and powerful" Oz even provides Dorthy win a hot air balloon to take her to home in Kansas. However, when Dorthy cannot get in to the balloon quickly enough, Oz journeys into the air with no passengers. Dorthy is not taken to her home until Glinda the Good Witch informs Dorthy that the magical slippers may take her home to Kansas. The story is concluded with Dorthy traveling safely home to Kansas,

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte's Web, by E.B. White is truly a flawless piece of children's literature. I enjoyed tapping back into my childhood and reliving the morals of love, friendship, and devotion that the story has to offer.
The story tells of a young child named Fern and her adoration for a baby pig. The tale begins when Mr. Arable, Fern's father, realizes that his sow has given birth to a litter of piglets. However, he soon discovers that one of the piglets is just a runt and decides to kill it. Fern earnestly discourages her father from killing the baby pig and decides that she will take care of the little pig. She later names the little pig Wilbur. To Fern's dismay,however, her baby pig is soon sold to the Zuckerman's when Mr. Arable claims that Wilber is too big to keep as a pet. It isn't long before Wilbur begins to make friends with Mr. Zuckerman's barn of animals which include sheep, cows, geese, and even a pesky mouse. However, the most important and desirable friend that Wilbur encounters resides at the very top corner of the barn. It isn't until the sheep in the barn tell Wilbur that he will be slaughtered in the winter, that Wilbur's new friend, Charlotte the spider, displays her undying devotion to Wilbur. Charlotte constantly attempts to remind Zuckerman that Wilbur is no ordinary pig. She spends her time spinning webs with hidden messages that tell of Wilbur's virtues. The messages include "SOME PIG", "HUMBLE", and "RADIANT". To the barnyard animal's astonishment, the Zuckerman farm becomes famous overnight. People from all over the county come to catch a glimpse of Wilbur and the web. This inspires Zuckerman to enter Wilbur in the county fair where the pig wins a ribbon. Sadly, due to the short life span of spiders, Charlotte's life ends at the county fair. Wilbur repays Charlotte by taking her sac of eggs back to Zuckerman's farm at the closing of the book.
There are two important themes within the story that instantly transforms the tale into a classic: Friendship and maturity. First of all, the theme of friendship is found throughout the entire story. Fern's love for Wilbur and the barnyard's attempt to save Wilbur from his terrible fate are prime examples of this particular theme. Secondly, Fern's maturity into adolescence aids in pointing out that the act of growing up is inevitable. Ferns practically matures before the reader's very eyes. At the start of the tale Fern is a young girl who is only interested in her baby pig, dolls, and Zuckerman's barn animals. Towards the closing of the tale, however, Fern interests have changed. Even though it is aparent that Fern still adores Wilbur she is now interested in boys instead of her dolls. The combination of these two themes make E.B. White's Charlotte's Web a wonderful piece for all audiences.

Charlotte's Web Activities

After reading Charlotte's Web in the classroom, there are a variety of activities that could be utilized within the classroom.

Charlotte's Memorial: As a classroom, discuss the wonderful things that Charlotte underwent within her life time. ( For example, Charlotte was a wonderful friend who never ceased to believe in Wilbur.) After describing the selfless acts that Charlotte performed within the novel, it is time to prepare for a memorial for the lovely spider. As a classroom, decide how to honor the spider's life. Some ideas would be singing Charlotte a song and making Charlotte cards. As an educator it is vital to not go allow any religous ideas to surface while discussing ways to honor the spider.

Weaving a Web: For this activity, you will need the following materials: Straws, craft sticks, yarn, scissors, plastic bugs, and pipe cleaners. Cross the straws or craft sticks until you have six spokes. Then use the yarn to weave in and out and around the sticks. Lastly, make a spider out of pipe cleaners to place on your web. If you wish to be a little more creative, place little plastic bug within the web. You may even wish to put the messages that Charlotte constucted on her web in the story.

E.B. White

E.B. White has produced a number of classic pieces that are essential to the genre of children's literature.
E. B White was born in Mount Vernon, New York to Jessie ( Hart) White in July of 1899. His writing career did not begin until after graduating from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1921. He worked initially as an editor for the Cornell Daily Sun and then became a member of the Quill and Dagger society and a writer for The Seattle Times and the Seattle Post Intelligencer. White even worked as an ad man before returning to New York City in 1924. It was just one year later that White published his first article in The New Yorker, and it was at the magazine that White's writing career began to take speed.

It wasn't until the 1930's that White turned over to children's literature in honor of his niece, Janice Hart White. Stuart Little was published in 1945, and Charlotte's Web followed in 1952. White's last children's story, Trumpet of the Swan, was not published until 1970. White's classic stories won many awards. Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award while The Trumprt of the Swan was awarded with the Sequoyah Award and the William Allen White Award.

Another one of White's major contributions with literature derives mainly from grammatical handbook entitled, The Elements of Style. The particular handbook was published in 1959 and contained the dos and don'ts for writers. The work is still utilized and still remains a required reading in some composition and English classes.

Roald Dahl

It is always crucial that we as future educators have a keen understanding of the authors that we will portray in our classroom. It is a prime opportunity to briefly discuss the life of Roald Dahl, the author of the two previous books that I have analyzed: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.

Roald Dahl was born in Liandaff, Wales on September 13th, 1916. His love for stories and books during his childhood was inspired by his mother who Dahl viewed as his "rock" and his source of security. His mother told him fantasy stories as a young boy, and as an older boy Dahl enjoyed adventure stories. Dahl's father, Harald, also played a role in Dahl's love for writing. Dahl's father was an avid writer and wrote in a diary his accounts of the war of 1914-1918.
Most of Dahl's plot lines for his stories derive mainly from his school days. Dahl attended St. Peter's prep school in Weston-Super-Mare. His many visits to the sweet shops and candy stores account for the story line of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while Dahl's Head Mistress at his boarding school resembles the evil principal of an elementary school in Dahl's novel, Matilda.
As an adult, Dahl joined the Public School's Exploring Society's expedition to Newfoundland. Later, he worked for Shell as a salesman. When he was just 23 he enlisted in the Royal Air Force when war broke out where he served as a pilot.
However. it wasn't until 1942 that Dahl took an interest in writing. C.S Forester requested that Dahl make an account of his experiences at war. The draft was published in the Saturday Evening Post and a check worth nine hundred dollars was mailed to Dahl upon its arrival to Forrester. It was at this point in Dahl's life that discovered his niche for writing. Little did Dahl know that he would become one of the most beloved children's writer in history.
Throughout his writing career, Dahl created some of the most adored children's books in history. James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Witches are just a few of Dahl's inspiring works. Even after his death in 1990, Dahl stories are still just as popular as they were when they were first published. Roald Dahl represents a legacy whose works will be cherished forever.

Peach Party

Peach Party

There is not a lot of fun activities and games that can be done with elementary students that deal with the story of James and the Giant Peach. However, the story may be utlized during Open House towards the end of the school year.

Most schools have an evening dedicated to an open house. This allows for the parents of students to enter each of their child's classrooms and gage their child's progress with each teacher. It is customary that each teacher have a theme to accompany his/her classroom. The tale of James and his peach serves as an excellent lesson to be studied just before Open House.

The theme of the classroom will be "Peach Party". The Party wil include station with an array of peach goodies. A bowl of plentiful peaches for the children and the parents to snack, peach scented candles, a peach themed table cloth and napkins, and peach candy will be just a few of the items enjoyed during the peach party. (It might also be a good idea to play the film, James and the Giant Peach, during the party.) Folders will be topped on the desk of each student that will include their worksheets, tests, and homeworks that deal with this particular unit.

James and the Giant Peach Analysis

Roald Dahl is famous for his portrayl of fantasy through nonsense and humor. However, I found the author's references to his other stories and his religious implications most fascinating.

The nonsense and humor element is most apparant in the novel. Talking insects, magical green jumping beans, and an enormous peach are not exactly realistic. I would imagine that Roald Dahl knew the mind and the sense of humor of a young child and knew that his combinations mentioned previously in the tale would undoubtedly call for laughter from a child.

There is a main reference to Dahl's other famous tale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, found at the start of the story. Just as the insects formulate a plan for the centipede to bite the stem attached to the peach tree to allow the giant peach to be free of its enormous tree, the first place the peach rolls is by a large chocolate factory containing a long river of chocolate. This was a trait common to the Willy Wonka's Chocolate factory in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The reader is forced to analyze Dahl's text and discover that the clever author is apparantly attempting to combine the ideas from the two tales to appeal to the child's taste buds. This is obviously a ploy to capture his young audiences. A young child's mouth will salvate when they read of a juicy sweet peach rolling through a river of rich chocolate. (Chocolate covered peaches anyone?) The reader must also wonder if Dahl is partial to the ideas in the tale of Wonka and his chocolate factory.

Finally, Dahl's religious references simply cannot be ignored. James's journey with his insect friends across the Atlantic Ocean in the peach and his travels in the clouds deal with underlying religious ideas. The giant peach can be viewed as a ship that perhaps is linked with Noah's ark. Even though there are not animals within the ship organized in pairs, there are nonetheless still animals with James on his journey. James may be perceived as Noah, the builder of the greatest ship in history. Afterall, James is responsible for their giant "ship" in the first place. Remember, it was he who spilled the magic beans under the peach tree, and therefore constructed the floating device. Next, James's experience's above the clouds truly confuses the reader. Why is Dahl so adament about not crediting God for creating the weather conditions. Instead, Dahl claims in his tale that the cloudmen, men made of clouds who reside in the sky, create the weather for Earth with huge devices in the sky. I believe that Dahl is confident that his young readers have not fully grasped the concept of Christ and religion, and therefore chooses to create fun images instead of such powerful supernatural beings.

Below there is the official Roald Dahl website that includes an interesting biography of the author's life, information on his published stories, and fun games.

http://www.roalddahl.com/

James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is one of my favorite children's stories, and I simply could not wait to express my adoration of the tale in my journal. As a child I only experienced the story through the film made in 1996, so it was enjoyable to relive the tale by reading the story book.

James and the Giant Peach features a young boy named James Henry Trotter. James is orphaned as a young child and is forced to live with his terrible aunts named Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. In the story, James happens upon an old wise man who gives him green jumping beans that are consumed with magic. Little does James know that these particular beans will change his life forever. On his way home from the encounter with the wise man, James spills the jumping beans onto the soil underneath a peach tree. James awakes to discover a giant peach in his backyard. It is not until later in the story that James actually travels inside the peach and discovers talking insects which include an intellectual green grasshopper, helpful ladybug, bossy centipede, grumpy earthworm, generous spider, and even a glow worm that lights up the entire giant peach. The tale is about James's journey with his new friends within the giant peach. James's travels includes sailing on the Atlantic Ocean, Cloudmen, and the excitement of New York City.

Overall, I enjoyed the tale immensely, and I am so glad that I had that opportunity to get in touch with the child within myself. The story is a perfect example of a fantasy that never loses its appeal to young readers. The story would be ideal to utilize in the classroom.

Saint Patricks Day

As a future educator, I plan to respect all American holidays. Since Saint Patricks Day will be celebrated in the next couple of days, it is a perfect opportunity to brainstorm on potential lessons and activities.

Saint Patricks Day in the Classroom:

History of Saint Patrick's Day: Every American child should gain a basic understanding of each American holiday. As an instructor I would begin the day with a brief history of the particular holiday. The students would learn that Saint Patricks Day is centered around the Irish patron Saint, Saint Patrick. The saint is credited for bringing Christianity to the Irish for twenty nine years. His death is celebrated on March 17th.

History of the Shamrock: Prior to beginning any activity dealing with the shamrock symbol, the origin of the symbol must be explained. It has been said that Saint Patrick utilized the three leafed shamrock during his sermons to the Irish. Each leaf of the shamrock represented three different items: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The idea was that all three items constitute a final product like the shamrock. The shamrock was eventually worn on feast days around the necks of Saint Patrick's followers. It must be noted that the color green is associated with the holiday because the color is unique to the shamrock, Ireland, and even spring.

Handprint Rainbow Activity: The activity is mainly targeted around young elementary aged children. Each student in the classroom will dip their hand in a different paint color to form a giant rainbow in honor of Saint Patrick's Day.This particular activity would be conducted as follows:

Materials: Red Paint, Orange Paint, Yellow Paint, Green Paint, Blue Paint, Purple Paint, Large sheet of blue construction paper ( to illustrate the sky) , 6 trays (for dipping), and lots of paper towels and wipies for messy palms ( A parent volunteer aids in limiting chaos.)

Procedure: Each child in the classroom will be selected one at a time to dip their palm in a particular tray of colored paint. After they dip, the child will simply place their palm on the light blue construction paper. After each student has received their turn, the result of the activity should be a beautiful rainbow. The final product will represent a perfect selection for a March Buletin Board.

I Will Not Go to Bed

The following poem tells of a young child who wishes to defy her mother and father and not go to bed. Everyone at some point in their existence has wished to disobey authority. The poem parodies this fact with elements of nonsense and humor, a trait common to the children's poem. ( My inspiration for the poem undoubedly derived from Sword's collection of poems. ) I composed this poem in honor of our poetry unit in the classroom.

I Will Not Go to Bed

I will not go to bed

Upon your most urgent request

You might be the boss

But I certainly know best

I would rather eat an asparagus

As large as my head

You might be my parents

But I WILL NOT go to bed

I would rather swim in a tank

Of carnivorous sharks

Or sit in my room

All alone in the dark

I would rather Aunt Norma

Pinch my cheeks until they are pink

Or have an enormous python

In the kitchen sink

I would rather do my homework

Twelve days in a row

Or even wear my hair

In a ridiculous bow

I will not go to bed

So instead I will play

Enough barbies and dressup

To last for two days

But before I begin

To play princess or jacks

I must take a break

And simply relax

For I am getting tired

Yes, a nap just might do

I will continue my protest tomorrow

If it is all the same to you

So, please remember tomorrow

My most urgent plea

I will not go to bed

You just wait and see

Top Ten Most Controversial Children's Books

Top Ten Controversial Children's Books

(The following list was researched by J.S. Moore.)

1. His Dark Materials Trilogy

By: Phillip Pullman

Even though the book had won numerous awards, the book is a source of friction for most Christians. Phillip Pullman is a noted atheist, and he seems to bring this anti-God perspective into his tales.

2. The Higher Power of the Lucky

By: Susan Patron

Even though the story had won the Newberry Metal, the book is banned in some children's libraries for using vulgar and innappropriate terms.

3. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

By: Mark Twain

The tale is undoubtedly a classic, but it gains most of its critisim through the many racial terms used throughout the story.

4. Heather Has Two Mommies

By: Leslea Newman

This story has received a large amount of critism through its support of homosexuality.

5. The Catcher in the Rye

By: J.D. Salinger

Although the story is considered a classic, the story was immortalized when the murderer of Beatle John Lennon was found after the incident carrying a copy of the famous tale.

6. To Kill a Mockingbird

By: Harper Lee

Even though the story is often utlized in the classroom, the story has gained much conflict over the racial and derogatory language.

7. Daddy's Roommate

By: Michael Willhoite

It is obvious even by glancing at the title of the tale that homosexuality is supported.

8. Bridge to Teribithia

By: Katherine Paterson

Although the story became the winner of the Newberry Metal and was eventually made into a major motion picture, the story has gained its friction by containing satanic views and secular humanism.

9. Harry Potter Boxset Books

By: J.K. Rowling

Even though the story is an instant favorite with young children, the series made the number seven spot on the list of the top 100 frequently challenged books.

10. Forever

By: Judy Blume

Blume earns controversy with her story when she includes thoughts of sex and teenage sexual relationships.

The Princess and the Goblin

Our discussion this week in class has been centered around The Princess and the Goblin by George Macdonald. After finishing the story, it is obvious that Macdonald associates his characters with the sterotypical fairytale characters and its motifs.
Macdonald represents the typical fairytale princess in his tale. Princess Irene, the main character in the tale, is similar to our favorite fairytale females. Unlike the central female figures in Ella Enchanted and Ever After, Princess Irene is generally willingly obedient, honest, moral, and she even shares a special relationship with God. The result is a weakened central female character for Macdonald's tale. Not only does our author create a rather dull central character who is only valiant in the presence of her great grandmother. As a result, this dissapoints Macdonald's children readers. Children (particulary little girls) are dissatisfied to discover that their female figure is not filled with spunk and gumption. Obedience and constant moral behavior is most often percieved as boring and predictabel in most literature.
Instead, Macdonald stays true to the predictable fairy tale and grants the notable qualities to Curdie, the main male character. Curdie is adventurous, courageous, knowledgable and is always looking to save his princess. It is evident that Curdie's character is much more admirable and therefore is a much more enjoyable and suspenseful read for young children when comparing Irene's character.
The most obvious fairytale motif that Macdonald incorporates into his tale is the spinning wheel that belongs to Irene's grandmother. Readers become surprised, however, to discover that the predictable Macdonald performs the impossible. Macdonald reverses the fairy tale. Instead of the spinning wheel belonging to a wicked witch found in the typical fairy tale, the wheel surprisingly belongs to the opposite, the character who represents God.

Celebrating Birthdays in the Classroom

Birthdays should always be honored in the classroom, especially at the elementary level. Every child deserved to be treated on their special day. We must remember as educators that we are creating a child's original memories of the school place, and we must always strive for these memories to be pleasant. Cheerful first memories will undoubedly promote a positive future image of the classroom.



How to celebrate:

Birthday Calendar: For each month of the school year, a calendar will be posted. If a child's birthday occurs on one of the days within the particular month, there will be birthday cake lamenated cut-out placed on the calendar. This will be the initial indication of the child's birthday. The child will be given a "birthday king or queen crown" to wear for the remainder of their special day. (Different crowns will be distributed to boys and girls.)

"Favorite Things" Poster: This particular idea was utilized in my
elementary classroom in second grade and was extremely effective. A lamenated poster board will be hung on the wall on a child's birthday. At the start of the day the birthday boy or girl will have the opportunity to fill out the birthday favorite things with a dry erase marker. (The poster will include favorite color, favorite toy, favorite holiday, favorite movie, favorite sweet, favorite animal etc.) The poster will hang througout the day, and at the end of the school day the student will have the opportunity to share their favorite things. On this day of the week, (if time permits) the child may bring an item of their choice off of their favorite things poster such as their favorite sweet or their favorite movie. When the day is over, the instructor will simply erase the markings with an eraser and prepare for the next birthday. (Several identical posters should be constructed in the case of multiple birthdays occuring on the same day.)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Activites

The story, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, should be utilized in the elementary school classroom. Its creative plot line offers many opportunites for fun activities.

The first activity (located in the upper left picture) allows students to create their own image of the steam boat that Mr. Wonka takes his visitors on down the chocolate river. As a class, the teacher and his/her students could work as a team to build the boat. The model above depicts the boat made of salt dough and craft sticks. Food coloring may even be added to the salt dough. This particular activity would instill team working skills and patience in the classroom.

The second activity allows students to create their own golden ticket. Each student would decide what phrases would be located on their golden ticket. This activity would ingrain creativity and vocabulary skills. The student's golden tickets would be a wonderful means of decorating the classroom. Other activites include creating a new wonka candy bar and a new candy machine for Wonka's factory.

Other activites and more can be found at the website below.

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/chocolate/charlie/charlie_and_the_chocolate_factor.htm

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, was one of my favorite films as a child, so I just simply could not wait to read the book as an adult. Like all of Dahl's stories, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is filled with over the top and fun nonsense. Dahl makes his story popular by combining the elements of nonsense and humor.

Charlie Bucket, our main character, is a young boy who lives in a small wooden cottage outside of town with his three generations of his family. Aside from his parents and his bedridden grandparents, Charlie has an adoration and obsession with chocolate. However, his family unable to make ends meet, Charlie is only awarded with one bar of chocolate for his birthday each year. Needless to say, Charlie Bucket is consumed with dissapointment when he discovers that Willy Wonka, an eccentric candy gooroo in town, wishes to hide five golden tickets in his delicious chocolate bars that will allow each winner to gain access to the many secrets of his factory. When Charlie finds one whole dollar hidden in the snow on his way home from school, one day there is no question on what his new money will be spent. When he purchases two candy bars at the local candy store, Charlie never anticipates that one of his candy bars has the final golden ticket hidden underneath the wrapper. Charlie and his grandfather, have the profound opportunity travel to Wonka's factory and discover the wonders and secrets of this famous candy mansion.

Road Dahl, the king of originality, certainly allows for this story to be a children's favorite, as he creates a fantasy world filled with Oompa Loompas, a river made of chocolate, and a great glass elevator. He achieves popularity through his nonsense and his humor. Dahl allows these elements of humor and nonsense to combine through the magical candy factory owned by Willy Wonka. The nonsense of the story is what generally makes the story comical for children. For example, children seem to giggle as Mr. Wonka describes his Oompa Loompas. "Then you'll know all about it, Mrs. Salt. And oh what a terrible country it is. Nothing but thick jungles infested by the most dangerous beasts in the world.-hornswogglers, snozzwangers, and those terrible wicked whagdoodles...." (65) Children laugh as Mr. Wonka seems to outsmart the adults with his far fetched tales. Another location in the story that children seem to laugh at the nonsense element is when Wonka is decribing the various rooms in the factory. EATABLE MARSHMELLOW PILLOWS, LICKABLE WALLPAPER FOR NURSERIES, HOT ICE CREAM FOR COLD DAYS, and COWS THAT GIVE CHOCOLATE MILK are just a few of the rooms located in Wonka's factory. Despite the adult's insistance on the falseness of it all, Wonka seems to outsmart the parents again with his outlandish explainations. Road Dahl allows Wonka the ability of actually being believable with his stories. Augustus Gloop being sucked into the chocolate pipe, Violet Beauregade being turned into a giant blueberry, and little Mike Teavee being shrunk to a minature size all contribute to the nonsense and humor element in the story.