Music of Life, The : Bartolomeo Cristofori & the Invention of the Piano by Elizabeth Rusch. 2017

 Piano Played Here

Inspiration Book:

The music of life : Bartolomeo Cristofori & the invention of the piano by Rusch, Elizabeth — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017. 786.2; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6.  A biography of Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua, Italy, whose desire to create a keyboard instrument that could play both softly and loudly resulted in the invention of the pianoforte, or piano. 

  

Rationale: Followers of My Books Alive know that I work very hard getting all staff members to use the library and computer labs. One of the toughest staff members has always been the music teacher. I think the primary reason is that those teachers have jumped buildings, some as many as four buildings, and really didn’t have an office in each building or much time in a building. Some would make the library their office and I rejoiced. I could sneak magazine articles, new books, new videos, new...whatever to the table they were using. There was also the teacher who loved the computer lab, but simply played games on it--the principal soon had other “jobs.” for him.

Then, finally a teacher who could teach both vocal and instrumental music was hired and my school was her only school. Now I knew that I had another potential library user and advocate. She also teaches piano and guitar after school. I started building a relationship by continuing what I had always done--suggesting resources. Then, I suggested the afterschool students could wait for their lesson in the library, could do homework there, could read, could practice their instrument if it was the guitar, etc. 

I also started suggesting books about musicians that she could read to the classes and helped her find music by that musician that she could share--if the musician wasn’t represented in her collection. Then I connected her with the art teacher with whom I have had a strong working relationship for many years. I connected the two because I wanted the art teacher to explain the collaborative activities and art appreciation curriculum we had developed, thinking that perhaps the music teacher and I could do something similar. The art teacher and I have chosen assorted media and artists, including book illustrators, who use a given media--it’s different artists for each grade level. By the time the students work through the eight grades plus kindergarten they have a strong knowledge of artists, media, style, and art history.

Guess what, the collaboration has begun. It’s still in a budding stage. Whenever a suitable book arrives, I still need to suggest how it can be used in the music curriculum, but we’re working together. We’ve used this Inspiration Book several different ways. 

Grades 3-6--I Wanna Play the Piano

Background: Individual music lessons begin in third grade at my school. This activity is used with those grades.

First, when it is piano lesson recruitment time, we gather the potential new recruits, and use the teacher resource listed below (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1I7KZ43QCU) to teach students a little about the history of the piano and to have them hear a variety of piano music. We add one feature. While the author of the book can be seen and heard reading The Music of Life, the lovely illustrations aren’t visible. Either the music teach or I sit alongside the projection screen and show the illustrations.

Secondly, we have also used the book as part of the year end piano recital. I read a page or two from the book and one of the students follows by playing his/her recital piece. Then, I read again and we proceed through the book. It gives the students a chance to leave the bench and receive applause and the next student time to organize themselves on the bench and take a breath before the student is introduced. The Inspiration Book ends with famous musicians. Here I may fudge a little and mention the musician that the next student will play.

Sometimes we also include video clips of harpsichords and clavichords so the students hear the difference between the older instruments and the piano. Note, especially that the volume is basically the same throughout--one point of author Elizabeth Rusch’s comments in the narrative.

Related Titles:

My brother Charlie by Peete, Holly Robinson  — Scholastic Press, 2010 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.2. A girl tells what it is like living with her twin brother who has autism and sometimes finds it hard to communicate with words, but who, in most ways, is just like any other boy.

Feather by Courgeon, Remi  — Enchanted Lion Books, 2017 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.5. Paulina, nicknamed Feather, leaves her piano to take up boxing, showing her father and brothers that she will stand up for herself.

Marvin makes music by Hamlisch, Marvin  — Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.3. Young Marvin loves music and playing the piano but does not like practicing pieces by people named Ludwig or Wolfgang, until he receives valuable advice from his father on the day of a big audition. Includes compact disc.

The piano recital by Miyakoshi, Akiko — Kids Can Press, 2019 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4. Momo has a piano recital and she is nervous about her performance until she meets a mouse who also has a recital and is nervous.

The bear and the piano by Litchfield, David  — Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.6. A bear finds a piano in the woods, learns to play it, and travels to the big city to become rich and famous, but ultimately discovers that his old friends in the forest back home are still the best audience of all.

Ketzel, the cat who composed by Newman, Leslea  — Candlewick Press, 2015 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3. After his kitten walks across a piano keyboard, a composer writes down the notes exactly as he heard them and enters the tune into a competition.

Piano starts here : the young Art Tatum by Parker, Robert Andrew — Dragonfly Books, 2016 786.2; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.5. Explores early twentieth-century jazz pianist and virtuoso Art Tatum's passion and talent for playing the instrument, and includes illustrations and biographical information.

Dancing hands : how Teresa Carreno played the piano for President Lincoln by Engle, Margarita — Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019 786.2; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.0. Tells the story of Teresa Carreno, a child prodigy who played piano for Abraham Lincoln.

A mouse called Wolf by King-Smith, Dick — A Yearling Book, 2017 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.3. A mouse with an unusual name shares his musical gift with a widowed concert pianist.

Teacher Resources:

Complete Video Reading narrated by Elizabeth Rusch on You Tube Channel https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=16055

OR at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1I7KZ43QCU

View restored Cristofori pianofortes and short music clip https://www.animus-cristofori.com

Music clips at http://denzilwraight.com/crisdisc.htm

Sound of a clavichord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbVILI4hJ9c

Sound of a harpsichord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMoWNSP2gFk

DOLL-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey. 2018 and Patchwork Bike, The by Maxine Beneba Clarke. 2018

STEM, STEAM, and SCIENCE

Inspiration Books:

DOLL-E 1.0 by McCloskey, Shanda — Little, Brown and Company, 2018 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. Charlotte has a talent for anything technological, so when she receives a doll as a present, she upgrades it with a few spare parts and some code to create a new and improved friend. NSTA 2019

AND

The patchwork bike by Clarke, Maxine Beneba; illustrated by Rudd, Van T. — Candlewick Press, 2018 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. It has a bent bucket seat, bashed tin-can handlebars, and wood-cut wheels -- and riding the patchwork bike that you and your crazy brothers made is the best fun in the whole village. CCBC, CBS, NSSTB List 2019

Rationale : More and more libraries are assertively promoting STEM and STEAM and/or Makerspace activities, especially in public libraries. My local public library advertizes quarterly STEM and STEAM activities in their  quarterly news bulletin. For example, in a recent quarterly bulletin there were these STEM or STEAM related activities or projects:

If You Build It...with Keva blocks, Interstar Rings, Legos, Duplos…

STEM Fairytales

Bob the Builder

Makerspace Upcycle: Doll clothing & Accessories

Makerspace Upcycle: Steampunk Accessories

Knitting and crocheting

School libraries often don’t have the space or resources or time to develop programming like a public library. For example, two libraries that I have served were stuck in an unused classroom--a whole class could not fit at tables, nor in a story area. Often school libraries are funded per student--until I encouraged our administration that every library needs to have base funding and then the per student could be added on top. Many schools still do not have full time librarians or even full time coverage with a parapro when the librarian isn’t there. Most school systems require following a predetermined curriculum.  Many schools are still stuck with set schedules, and if the librarian isn’t full time, that schedule is filled with set classes. In the public school district where I have served the longest, we went from part time to full time; from set to flexible schedules, from small unused classrooms to remodeled facilities with adjacent computer labs. Now it’s possible to do much different scheduling and programming and still meet the curricular requirements.

I often do the specialized programs as clubs or extracurricular activities. Winter, when lunch recess is often indoors, has been a good time for me to have book discussion clubs, Battle of the Books. Lego Mania, knitting or crocheting, gaming, simple coding, using green screens, animation, photography etc. My granddaughter’s librarian does afterschool book clubs during the winter months. One of my colleagues does a month of Tuesday evenings with parents and the computer specialists to write and illustrate simple picture books. My kindergarten teacher, reading teacher, and I do a parenting and reading advocacy group for the new kindergarten children four evenings during four weeks in September and October. BTW we have near 100% participation. More about this programming in another post another day. I make use of staff and parent resources whenever possible. One year one of my parents was an artist. We did a series of folk and fairy tale and art store hours on Friday mornings--flexible schedule allowed that. While I told or read the story(ies) she illustrated a portion--sort of like the old Tell ‘n’ Draw stories available in teacher resources.

In this blog posting I’m not developing a program for you, but giving you simple ideas for promoting the program within a library lesson--a way to introduce a club or program. Actually a sample of what could happen in the program is part of the lesson. One idea is for Grade K-3, the other for Grades 3-6. The Inspiration Book(s) were definitely the inspiration to promote STEM and STEAM activities. Then as I explored, gathered ideas, and resources, I discovered another Inspiration Book that though very simple is the basis for one of the ideas for Grades 3-6--actually a reminder of what one of my third grade teachers and I had done many years ago.

Grades K-3--What Can I Do with That?

Background: My young primary students love playing games on the computer. Game playing in my computer lab is a reward or a recess activity. I want my students to know the hows, whys, wneres, whats of the computer and the correct school use of computers, keyboarding, demand writing, researching, documenting… I use this lesson as an introduction or promotion for a family night series whose program can be any number of science, computer, technology events. In fact, I use this basic format each year, sometimes not even changing the “experiments” or books. When I reveal the book and experiment equipment, the students know that STEM or STEAM or SCIENCE nights are coming to this library soon.

Preparation: Check out the Makey Makey site listed under Teacher Resources and decide which “electricity” activity you might like to demonstrate or have students do hands-on. I like the Potato Battery and the three simple STEAM electricity activities. Gather any materials.

Decide which activities by Shanda McCloskey you would like to use and prepare any resources. I like the balancing doll.

Bring large potato and large pickle and an electric cord like a lamp cord from which the protective covering has been removed and bare wires can be attached to two large nails inserted in the large pickle. You will also need a copper penny and silver dime (sometimes hard to find but that’s ok--see below), wires and a small small light bulb.

Copies of an invitation and/or sign up for  STEM or STEAM or SCIENCE night(s).

Make a display of the related titles.

Introduction: Do you think I can light a light bulb with a potato (show potato)? Do you think I can make this pickle glow? I’ve put two nails in the pickle and wound some wiring around the nails. Let’s plug it in and see whether it glows. It may take a while, so let’s read about a girl and her “Doll-E.”

Read aloud: 

DOLL-E 1.0 by McCloskey, Shanda — Little, Brown and Company, 2018 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. 

Well, has the pickle begun to glow? (By this time the answer should be “yes.”)

To do more science experiments, plan to come to our Science Club on...at…  We may even do some simple coding to made a toy do special things like wave or walk.

Well, what about this potato? Do you think we can make it light a small light bulb? (In advance follow the directions in the Makey Makey sight to set up the potato). While we wait, I’d like to share another book.

Read aloud:

The most magnificent thing by Spires, Ashley — Kids Can Press, 2014 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. 

Was it easy to make the most magnificent thing. Did our potato light work? (It may not if you can’t find a copper penny and silver dime--that’s also part of doing STEAM projects--they don’t always work and you need to figure out another way.)

Where will you be able to do some experiments and computer coding yourself. (Students answer Science Club. When is Science Club? Students again answer the date and time.)

Related Titles:

Margaret and the Moon : how Margaret Hamilton saved the first lunar landing by Robbins, Dean — Alfred A. Knopf, 2017 : 629.45; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.8. "Introduces the woman mathematician whose childhood love of numbers led to her prestigious education and contributions at NASA while explaining how her handwritten codes proved essential throughout numerous space missions. NSTA 2018.

The most magnificent thing by Spires, Ashley — Kids Can Press, 2014 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. A little girl has a wonderful idea. With the help of her canine assistant, she is going to make the most magnificent thing! She knows just how it will look. She knows just how it will work. But making the most magnificent thing turns out to be harder than she thinks. Teaching Guide available at www.titlewave.com CCBC, 3C

Ada Byron Lovelace and the thinking machine by Wallmark, Laurie  — Creston Books, LLC, 2015 510; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4. Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the famous romantic poet, Lord Byron, develops her creativity through science and math. When she meets Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer. Ada understands the machine better than anyone else and writes the world's first computer program in order to demonstrate its capabilities. NFD, NSTA List 2016.

The bluest of blues : Anna Atkins and the first book of photographs by Robinson, Fiona— Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019. 580.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.4.  A picture book biography of English botanist Anna Atkins who was the first person to publish a book of photography by using cyanotype photography. CCBC, NSSTB 2020.

Ada Lovelace, poet of science : the first computer programmer by Stanley, Diane — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2016. Dewey: 510.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.0. A ... look at Ada Lovelace, the pioneering computer programmer and the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. CBS, NSTA 2017, WI & IN

Ada's ideas : the story of Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmerby Robinson, Fiona  — Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016. 510.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.3. A picture book biography of mathematician Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. Titlewave, Freeman, NSSTB 2017, NSTA 2017.

Samuel Morse, that's who! : the story of the telegraph and Morse code by Maurer, Tracy — Henry Holt and Company, 2019. 621.383; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8. Describes how Samuel Morse invented the telegraph and Morse code which revolutionized modern technology. NFD, NSTA 2020

Hedy Lamarr's double life by Wallmark, Laurie  — Sterling Children's Books, 2019. 791.45; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.2.  Explores the story of Hedy Lamarr's life as she became an actress and invented a communications system during WWII. NFD, NSTA 2020

Timeless Thomas : how Thomas Edison changed our lives by Barretta, Gene — Henry Holt, 2012 621.3; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.1. Looks at the ideas of inventor, Thomas Edison and shows some of his inventions such as record players, batteries, and movie cameras. Freeman. NSSTB 2013.

Teacher Resources:

STEM Activity from Shanda McCloskey http://www.shandamc.com/2018/05/balancing-doll-e-robot-stem-activity/

Activity Sheets from Shanda McCloskey http://www.shandamc.com/2018/03/how-to-draw-doll-e-and-blutooth-free-activity-sheets/ 

Write and Illustrate Activity from Shanda McCloskey http://www.shandamc.com/2018/05/my-robot-write-and-illustrate-activity/

Teaching Ideas from Only Picture Books https://www.onlypicturebooks.com/2018/06/18/educational-activities-doll-e-1-0-by-shanda-mccloskey/

Making and Literacy Guide from Makey Makey https://www.instructables.com/makeymakey/

Grades 3-6--Can’t Buy It, Build It

Background: A number of years ago, before changing schools several times and going from public to private school, I had a wonderfully creative third grade teacher who loved to teach science the hands-on way. Eventually she became the full time gifted and talented elementary school teacher for the whole district. At any rate, the physical science curriculum included a unit on simple machines. My husband, the science teacher, kicked off the unit with some science discrepant events. We did some simple games and designing on the computer and the teacher taught the basic simple machine principles. Then, she told the students about the culminating activity : build your own carnival ride or event. The kids then needed to tell which simple machine(s) their carnival ride used.

Preparation:

Decide which of the books from Grades K-3 you would like to share and which of the “science” introductory activities you would like to do. Choose only one.

Then continue the lesson below.

Computer with projection capability to view the author reading The Patchwork Bike. Complete Video Reading narrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke The Patchwork Bike Complete audiobook narrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke. https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=15448

A collection of odds ‘n’ ends from home, classroom or custodian’s closet to build a toy. I gather the materials so every student or group has something to work with. I’ve found that when a student either forgets to bring something or his parents don’t want him/her to bring something, they immediately dislike the activity and sometimes won’t even participate. Include glue and wire and pencil or crayons and paper.

Display of related books.

Copies of an invitation and/or sign up for  STEM or STEAM or SCIENCE night(s).

Decide, with the teacher, how to group students. 

Randomly place the collection of stuff at work places around the room. 

Introduction: What does the term “patchwork” mean when describing how something is made? What does the term “found” mean when describing materials? Let’s watch the author of today’s Inspiration Book read the Inspiration Book.

View or Read aloud:

Video of complete reading narrated by Maxine Beneba Clarke of her book The Patchwork Bike 

Let’s try answering our first questions again. What does the term “patchwork” mean when describing how something is made? What does the term “found” mean when describing materials?

I found a lot of “found” stuff her at school. Could you make a toy from any of it? Maybe it could be something you wish you had or something that could make life easier for people. Your teacher and I have divided the class into working groups. You have three jobs, jobs to do quickly--1. Look at the found stuff and discuss with you teammates what could be made with it. 2. Each of you needs to make a paper design of what you’d like to do, then discuss again and make a decision. 3. Working as a group, make your toy or tool. 

Be sure to label your creation we’ll have it on display at the first STEM, STEAM, SCIENCE nighthat’s coming up on… at… (Distribute invitations.)

Relate Books for Display and Check-out:

The patchwork bike by Clarke, Maxine Beneba; illustrated by Rudd, Van T. — Candlewick Press, 2018 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.8. It has a bent bucket seat, bashed tin-can handlebars, and wood-cut wheels -- and riding the patchwork bike that you and your crazy brothers made is the best fun in the whole village. CCBC, CBS, NSSTB List 2019

Secret coders (Secret Coders, Book 1) by Yang, Gene Luen — First Second, 2015. 741.5; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 3.3. "Welcome to Stately Academy, a school which is just crawling with mysteries to be solved! The founder of the school left many clues and puzzles to challenge his enterprising students. Using their wits and their growing prowess with coding, Hopper and her friend Eni are going to solve the mystery of Stately Academy no matter what it takes! Mathical Award

Ada Lovelace, poet of science : the first computer programmer by Stanley, Diane — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2016. Dewey: 510.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.0. A ... look at Ada Lovelace, the pioneering computer programmer and the daughter of the poet Lord Byron. CBS, NSTA 2017, WI & IN

Ada's ideas : the story of Ada Lovelace, the world's first computer programmerby Robinson, Fiona  — Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2016. 510.92; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.3. A picture book biography of mathematician Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer. Titlewave, Freeman, NSSTB 2017, NSTA 2017.

Samuel Morse, that's who! : the story of the telegraph and Morse code by Maurer, Tracy — Henry Holt and Company, 2019. 621.383; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.8. Describes how Samuel Morse invented the telegraph and Morse code which revolutionized modern technology. NFD, NSTA 2020

Hedy Lamarr's double life by Wallmark, Laurie  — Sterling Children's Books, 2019. 791.45; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.2.  Explores the story of Hedy Lamarr's life as she became an actress and invented a communications system during WWII. NFD, NSTA 2020

Timeless Thomas : how Thomas Edison changed our lives by Barretta, Gene — Henry Holt, 2012 621.3; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.1. Looks at the ideas of inventor, Thomas Edison and shows some of his inventions such as record players, batteries, and movie cameras. Freeman. NSSTB 2013.

The wild robot (Wild Robot, Book 1) by Brown, Peter — Little, Brown and Company, 2016 -Fic-; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.1. Roz the robot discovers that she is alone on a remote, wild island with no memory of where she is from or why she is there, and her only hope of survival is to try to learn about her new environment from the island's hostile inhabitants. CBS, Titlewave, Freeman, WI & IN

Get coding! : learn HTML, CSS, and Javascript and build a website, app, and game (Get Coding, Book 1) — Candlewick, 2017. 005.13; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.1. A collection of code writing projects using several programming languages.

Beauty and the beak : how science, technology and a 3D-printed beak rescued a bald eagle by Rose, Deborah Lee — Persnickety Press, 2019 598.9; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.3. Meet Beauty, the bald eagle that made world news when she was injured, rescued and received a 3D-printed prosthetic beak. Follow Beauty's . . . story as she grows up in the wild, is rescued after being illegally shot, and receives a new beak specially engineered by a human team including a raptor biologist, engineer and dentist. Learn more about how bald eagles as a species came back from near extinction, and about nationwide efforts to conserve this American symbol. NSTA Children FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com

Super gear : nanotechnology and sports team up by Swanson, Jennifer — Charlesbridge, 2016. 688.7; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.7. Take a close-up look at sports and nanotechnology, the cutting-edge science that manipulates objects at the atomic level. Nanotechnology is used to create high-tech swimsuits, tennis rackets, golf clubs, running shoes, and more. It is changing the face of sports as we know it. Titlewave. NSTA 2017.

Super cool tech : technology, invention, innovation — DK/Penguin Random House, 2016. 600; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.3.  Looks at how several types of technology, such as hololenses, jet engines, and quantum computers, work.  Titlewave. NSTA 2017.

Teacher Resources

The Classroom Bookshelf http://www.theclassroombookshelf.com/2019/06/celebrating-creativity-and-childhood-the-patchwork-bike/

Meet-the-Author Recording with Maxine Beneba Clarke The Patchwork Bike | 04:32 Maxine Beneba Clarke introduces and shares some of the backstory for creating The Patchwork Bike. https://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=17352

Teacher Notes and Activities from Lamont Books https://www.lamontbooks.com.au/media/96135/the-patchwork-bike.pdf

Teacher’s Notes from Hachette Australia https://www.hachette.com.au/content/resources/9780734418609-teachers-notes.pdf

Candlewick Press Teachers’ Guide https://www.teachingbooks.net/media/pdf/Candlewick/Patchwork_Bike_Teachers'_Guide.pdf

Gears are simple machines, but they are good engineering tools. Clocks, cars, and toys all use gears. Gears can work together to make things move in different directions, to change forces, to increase or decrease speed, and to make a job easier to do. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/physics/gears.html