A Poet, Represents a Country
Pablo Neruda : poet of the people by Brown, Monica, 1969- - Henry Holt, p2011, c2011--861--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.5 Describes the life of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, covering his childhood, his decision to use a pen name and change his name from Neftali, his love of people, and his poetry.
Rationale: You’ve got a good book that’s not directly related to the curriculum. Now, how do you use it, especially when your library time is so curriculum driven, test driven, results driven.? Here are a few ideas:
1. Just read it and talk about it as a cultural experience.
2. Use it as a Wisdom Book (See Wisdom of Picture Books entry)
3. Use it for part of a cultural book talk about a specific topic or culture.
4. Incorporate it into a library skills lesson such as the use of indices, your library’s catalog or the public library’s catalog.
Now, specifically, how would I use this book? In my part of the country the Latin American countries are studied in 6th or 7th grade social studies. Too often, all the classroom teacher wants students to do is very mundane research that doesn’t give the student a feel for a country. Encourage the teacher to work with the geography of the country in the classroom, topics like climate, terrain, vegetation, even history. Save the fun research for the library, the fun research about the everyday life of the people, the schools, the food, the sports, the holidays, the literature, the clothing. Remember to connect the physical geography with the cultural or human geography. Why are certain crops grown? Where do the recipes come from? Do the authors reflect the culture and geography in their writing?
The culminating activity can be a culture fair after the students have studied the entire region. Have the students work with partners or in a group depending on the number of countries in your region and the number of students in the class.
This is a great end-of-year or end-of semester project. Students should be expected to use all of the skills you have been teaching, and to use the Big Six or Big Three Research Process. It’s really show-off what I know time.
Here’s my step by step approach:
1. Determine student groups or pairings.
2. Determine method of selecting country.
3. With the teacher, determine the amount of time to allocate for research, preparation of final project, which person in the teaching team will be responsible for an activity and grading.
4. Gather basic print resources and make hotlinks or wikis for generic resources.
5. Create a rubric, both topical and skill, and explain it to the students.
6. Identify possible topics. These are topics I would suggest for a culture fair: sports and games, schools, art, holidays, food, family life, money, language, literature (folk tales, poetry, prose), famous people, current events, housing, religion, crafts. Allow the students to decide which topic(s) they are most interested in or like best. Determine the number of topics and length of time to share: 3-5 topics, 5-10 minutes.
7. Suggest a variety of methods for sharing research: traditional display boards, artifacts, memorabilia, PowerPoint, maps, skits, costume, video, etc. Remember this is end-of-year “show off what you know and/or learned time” and 6th, 7th, and 8th graders should be able to synthesize their work.
Another Approach:
After sharing this special non-curricular book with the students, use the class time to review location of resources for a particular country. Review bibliographic citation as well by making a list of resources: trade books, reference materials, websites, online references, etc.--all the resources you have introduced during the year. Have students make a wiki list of all the print resources available. I suggest they make lists only of books available to students at the school or local public library, not at bookstores or online stores. Remember, this particular activity is not a thesis research project, but a review of location and bibliographic skills. For extra credit and speedsters, you could have students add bibliograpic entries for two or three online sources.
Bibliography Representing Variety of Books Available for One Topic: Chile ( sports and games, schools, art, holidays, food, family life, money, language, literature (folk tales, poetry, prose), famous people, current events, housing, religion, crafts.)
Literature:
I lived on Butterfly Hill by Agosin, Marjorie — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014--Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.4 When her beloved country, Chile, is taken over by a militaristic, sadistic government, Celeste is sent to America for her safety and her parents must go into hiding before they "disappear."
Jemmy Button by Barzelay, Alix — Templar Publishing, 2013--Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.9 Provides a fictionalized account of Jemmy Button, a native boy from Tierra del Fuego who was brought to London to be educated and then returned home to his island.
The dreamer by Ryan, Pam Munoz — Scholastic Press, 2010--Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 4.9A fictionalized biography of the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, who grew up a painfully shy child, ridiculed by his overbearing father, but who became one of the most widely-read poets in the world. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
Let's celebrate! : festival poems from around the world — Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2014--808.81; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.5 A collection of poems that celebrates twenty-four festivals from around the world. While La Tomatima, a Spanish tomato-throwing festival, is included (with a Neruda poem that mentions Chile), there are no Latin American festivals represented.
Nonfiction: Social Studies:
Ballplayers and bonesetters : one hundred ancient Aztec and Maya jobs you might have adored or abhorred by Coulter, Laurie — Annick Press, 2008--331.7; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.5 Describes one hundred occupations within the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilizations, such as judge, juggler, potter, wood carver, long-distance merchant, priestess, drummer, spy, bonesetter, and dog breeder.
Every last drop : bringing clean water home by Mulder, Michelle — Orca Book Publishers, 2014--333.91; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.8 Looks at why the world's water resources are at risk and how communities around the world are finding innovative ways to quench their thirst and water their crops.
Buried alive! : how 33 miners survived 69 days deep under the Chilean desert by Scott, Elaine — Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012--363.11; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.9 Relates the experiences of thirty-three Chilean miners who were trapped two thousand feet below the surface of the earth in August 2010.
If you lived here : houses of the world by Laroche, Giles — Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011--392.3; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.3
Describes unique houses from around the world, including a chalet in the Austrian Alps, yurts in Mongolia, Greek island village houses on Astypalaia Island, Chile’s Palafitos (house on stilts) and more.
Trapped : how the world rescued 33 miners from 2,000 feet below the Chilean desert by Aronson, Marc — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011--363.11; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 7.2 Provides a detailed account of rescue efforts to save thirty-three miners, who got trapped in a copper-gold mine in San Jose, Chile, examining the psychological, physical, and environmental factors influencing the course of the rescue, and describing the efforts of experts from around the world--drillers, astronauts, submarine specialists, and others--came together in response to the crisis.
Nonfiction: Science:
Frog song by Guiberson, Brenda Z — Henry Holt, 2013--597.8; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1 Discusses the songs of many different frogs from all parts of the globe. Onomatopoeic text and stunning illustrations introduce young readers to these fascinating and important creatures, from Chile to Nepal to Australia.
The mystery of Darwin's frog by Crump, Martha L — Boyds Mills Press, 2013--597.8; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.5 In 1840, Charles Darwin found a new and strange species of frog in Chile that shocked and stumped scientists, scientists continued to study the frog through the years, and today scientists are working to save Darwin's frog from extinction.
Penguins! by Lynch, Wayne — Firefly Books (U.S.), New Ed. 2016--598.47; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6 Photographs and text describe the different kinds of penguins and their life cycles. He has logged more than 130,000 miles to sit among hundreds, sometimes even thousands of penguins on the far-flung beaches of the Galapagos Islands, Chile, Antarctica and New Zealand.
Eruption! : volcanoes and the science of saving lives (Scientists In The Field (HMH)) by Rusch, Elizabeth — Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2013. Dewey: 363.34; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.7. Follows volcanologists Andy Lockhart and John Pallister as they helicopter onto active volcanoes to install equipment, climb into blast zones to collect ash samples, and endure suspense as they wait to find out if their predictions are accurate. Rusch reveals the perilous, adrenaline-fueled, life-savingwork of an international volcano crisis team (VDAP) and the sleeping giants they study, from Colombia to the Philippines, from Chile to Indonesia. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
Geysers : what they are and how they work by Bryan, T. Scott — Mountain Press Pub., 2005. Dewey: 551.2; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 7.4. Presents an introduction to geysers, explaining what they are, where they are found, and how they work. Includes photographs. He draws examples from geyser fields in Iceland, Chile, Russia, New Zealand, Africa, and elsewhere.
Secret of the singing mice-- and more! by Rodriguez, Ana Maria — Enslow, 2009--599; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 7.5 Explains how mice use ultrasonic vocalizations to attract mates and details other strange abilities of different types of animals.
Nonfiction: Foods, Toys, etc.
Papertoy monsters : 50 cool papertoys you can make yourself!by Castleforte, Brian — Workman Publishing, 2010. Dewey: 745.592; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.8. Contains instructions and punch-out paper pieces that can be folded and glued to make fifty toy monsters, and includes ten blank templates for designing original monsters. Created and curated by Brian Castleforte, a graphic designer and papertoy pioneer who rounded up 25 of the hottest papertoy designers from around the world (Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Italy, Croatia, Chile, even Jackson, Tennessee)
Cooking the South American way : revised and expanded to include new low-fat and vegetarian recipes by Parnell, Helga — Lerner, 2003--641.598; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.9 An overview of South American cookery, including information about the continent's holidays and festivals. Features simple recipes, menu planning, and information about low-fat cooking and vegetarian options.
Foods of Chile by Sheen, Barbara — KidHaven Press, 2011--641.5983; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.5 Explores the foods, cooking traditions, customs, eating habits, and food sources of Chile.
Nonfiction: Biography:
My name is Gabriela : the life of Gabriela Mistral = Me llamo Gabriela : la vida de Gabriela Mistral by Brown, Monica — Luna Rising, 2005--861; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.2 My name is Gabriela. Presents a short biography of the life of early twentieth-century Chilean children's author and poet, Gabriela Mistral, and describes her childhood and education as a teacher and her works that led to receiving the Nobel Prize for literature in 1945. Presented in English and Spanish.
Conoce a Pablo Neruda = Get to Know Pablo Neruda / (Historical Figures of the Hispanic World) / Bilingual Spanish-Englis by Lazaro Leon, Georgina — SantillanaUSA, 2012--861; Int Lvl: 3-6 An introduction to the life and career of Chilean poet, diplomat, and politician Pablo Neruda. OP
Isabel Allende by McNeese, Tim — Chelsea House, 2006--863; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.9 A death in the family -- Memories of youth -- Other worlds -- Inventing her world -- Seasons in the sun -- Turmoil in Chile -- Exile and redemption -- California dreaming -- The infinite plan. A biography of Chilean American novelist Isabel Allende, discussing her youth and family in Lima, her marriage to Michael, her work as a journalist, her clashes with the government, her career as a writer, and the death of her daughter, Paula.
When I was a boy Neruda called me Policarpo : a memoir by Delano, Poli — House of Anansi Press ,Distributed in the USA by Publishers Group West, 2006--868; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.0 Poli Delano recounts his family's friendship with Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, describing the years he and his family lived with Neruda and shared in his carefree lifestyle. OP
Lost in the mountains of death (LOST: Can You Survive?) by Turner, Tracey — Crabtree Publishing Company, 2015. Dewey: -Fic-; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.5. Deep in the Mountains of Death danger lurks in every crack and crevice. Will you survive poisonous bites, predatory mountain lions, and dangerous heights?
There are many Spanish language poems and novels written by Isabel Allende and Pablo Neruda. If you have Spanish language students, consider purchasing some of their work.
Nonfiction: Geography and History:
Wretched ruins by Stern, Steven L — Bearport Pub., 2010--930.1; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 5.4 Wretched ruins -- Dying for their ruler -- The lost city -- Human hearts for the sun god -- The hidden city of tombs -- The ring of stones -- A city beneath the sea -- Bloody rituals in the jungle -- The stone giants -- Victims for the god of rain -- Strange figures in the desert -- Gateway to the underworld -- Wretched ruins around the world -- Glossary. Photographs and text describe eleven ruins from around the world, including a royal burial ground in Ur, Iraq, Machu Picchu, Peru, and Stonehenge in England, and recounts the stories behind them. Provides brief profiles of 11 sites, including some in Iraq, Peru, Jordan, Chile, and Greece.
We visit Chile (Your Land and My Land: Latin America) by Orr, Tamra — Mitchell Lane, 2011. Dewey: 983; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.2. Provides an overview of Chile, looking at where it is in the world; discussing its history, land, people, culture, lifestyle, festivals, and holidays; and identifying famous Chileans. Includes a time line, craft, and recipe.
Chile by Morrison, Marion — Heinemann Library, 2012--983; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.5
Introducing Chile -- History : from colony to country -- Regions and resources : country of contrasts -- Wildlife : a land of many habitats -- Infrastructure: living and learning -- Culture : leisure time and the arts -- Chile today. Provides an introduction to Chile, with information on the country's geography, history, culture, landmarks, wildlife, the people who have shaped its past and present, its current environmental issues, and its cuisine, festivals, and traditions, and includes maps, graphs, foreign language phrases, flags, and a time line.
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