Online Extras :
December 2006 Children’s Books by the Month
Suggested books and activities for December from DK Publishing
This month we feature titles from DK Publishing
Pick Me Up
Eight color-coded broad topics categorize this 352-page informational resource. Filled with a kaleidoscope of facts, Pick Me Up has a modern graphic format reminiscent of video games and the Internet.
ACTIVITY
PICTURES TELL IT ALL?
Using the topic box (located at the top of every spread), read "A picture paints a thousand words" on page 76 (Pictures to Words to Questions) to your students and follow the discussion. Continue with "The caption" and "The full story?" This is a good introduction to the way the book works. Students can then select their own topic and use the same strategy to read the information presented. Be sure to have students follow the bold crossreferences to additional topics and pages throughout the book for even more research ideas. Allow time for each student to present to the class what they learned about their chosen topic.
Language Learner: Spanish and Language Learner: French
Students can learn Spanish or French with these interactive language kits. Included are a CD, Picture Wordbook, Activity Book, 2,000-word Bilingual Dictionary, Dice, Flash Cards and a Parents' Guide.
ACTIVITY
GAME TUTORS
Form a buddy system between primary and intermediate students. Assign pairs of intermediate students to one of the bilingual games in the Activity Book. Students will learn the game and then set up a chart with rules and key words to help them teach the game to a primary class. Students can also help primary students make their own bilingual Picture Dictionary using the Picture Wordbook as a guide. Extend the learning by role-playing the practical conversations provided in the Activity Book and use your digital camcorder to videotape the skits. Student tutors are great leadership and confidence-boosters for your ELL/ESL population.
DK's Experience Series Flight, Dinosaur, Volcano and Pyramid
This four-book series focuses on popular science topics for intermediate/middle school students. Realistic photos and illustrations are highlighted with text box details, and a running glossary strip defines key words in the text.
ACTIVITY
ABC FACTS
Whether you use all four books and assign a group to each topic, or use the topics one at a time in your science and social studies curriculum, these books are perfect for ABC research. Pull the giant poster from each book and use it to set up a Research Center in your classroom. Students can use the text boxes and glossary strips throughout each Experience book to select vocabulary and key facts to use in an alphabet book. Vocabulary words also make great bonus words for weekly spelling lists.
Go!
Explore the world of transportation with this unique book filled with facts, photos and illustrations of travel over water, land and air. Historical timelines and creative fold-outs are sure to motivate an in-depth approach to learning.
ACTIVITY
THE LEARNING IS IN THE JOURNEY
Divide the class into three groups and assign the topic water, land or air to each group. Have the groups copy their relevant timeline from the book and post it on a wall of the classroom or hallway. As groups read and study the chapters in their area of travel, students can illustrate and post interesting facts along the class timelines. Using the Internet and local travel schedules, create travel maps to show modern transportation routes in your state, in the United States and throughout the world. For a final project, have groups plan a trip to a selected location using either water, land or air. Promote their trips by designing and publishing a travel brochure.
Dinosaur Atlas
This colorful atlas, divided by continent, maps locations for dinosaur fossil finds and provides details about the locations and the animals found on each continent. The artwork shows scenes of the habitat and other animal life in each region, and includes fact and profile boxes on the dinosaurs.
ACTIVITY
FOSSIL DETECTIVES
Choose a fossil location or dinosaur park from the book and put together your own "Did You Know?" pamphlet for tourists. Make sure your pamphlet includes a map for the location of your park, the major fossil finds in and around the area, a discussion about the types and characteristics of the dinosaurs found in that area and a Question and Answer section based on what you've learned. Use the information you put in your pamphlet to nominate your park for the 2007 Dinosaur Fossil of the Year award.
Download a pdf version here! 
PDF 594KB
To see the November 2006 Children's Books by the Month click here.
To see the October 2006 Children's Books by the Month click here.
To see the September 2006 Children's Books by the Month click here.
To see the August 2006 Children's Books by the Month click here.
