Linking up with the super awesome ladies (even if they are on summer vacation and I am not) at
Collaboration Cuties for their Mentor Text Linky!
This week's theme - social studies. I am suggesting to you the book Jonathan Cleaned Up - Then He Heard a Sound or Blackberry Subway Jam by Robert Munsch (I know what you are thinking, you're thinking...I can't believe she is suggesting another Robert Munsch book but seriously it is a fun book!)
Here is the book description from Amazon:
Jonathan's efforts to keep his apartment clean are foiled when a subway unexpectedly stops in and unloads thousands of passengers. Jonathan sets out on a surprising adventure to solve this curious problem.
That's right the subway stops in his apartment!! His adventure leads him to the mayor's office.
I had never heard of this book before I read the title in a suggested book list for my Urban and Rural Communities unit and that is what I use it for. I use this book as a launch for the urban part of the unit. We read the book and talk about all the aspects of the story that identify the setting as urban - large apartment buildings, a mayor, lots of people, a subway (I teach in a rural community).
I also use this book as a launch for my cityscape art. I love any art that involves making a cityscape. I do at least one a year (yes, o.k. sometimes I do more than one - and my co-workers make fun of me because of it).
Here are some that I have done (pictures from Pinterest, not my class, this year we did
Multiplication City Art)
,
When teaching urban and rural communities I also like to do the following activities:
1. Compare the 2 types of communities (using the activity from the now defunct Ministry of Ed. exemplars )
 |
Sample pictures from the Ministry of Ed's Exemplars document. |
2. Simple diorama project using two large circles cut from tag paper, folded in half and glued back to back - one side is an urban community the other rural - students have gotten very creative with this in the past.
The other project is an urban and rural photo essay - students pick one type of community and take photos that prove it is an urban or rural community, add captions and sentences explaining the role of the item in the community.
3. Community Flips - we make these on 11x17 paper. Students draw a picture and record information about the type of community or area on the inside flap.
Sorry for the pictures, you know when you think you have your files on your memory stick, only to find out they are not, they are only in your school file!!! If you are interested in any of the rubrics or project outlines I would be happy to send you a copy - when I get to school!!
Have a great Sunday - I'm off to find more books to add to the list!!