“Danger, Scales, Breakfast, and Boats” Week 13 First Grade

Do Not Open This Book! (Fiction, Levels A-J) by Joy Cowley

Fur, Feathers, Scales, Skin (Non-fiction, Level F) by Christine Economos

Breakfast Around the World (Non-Fiction, Level F) by Marlene Perez

My Boat (Fiction, Level F) by Joy Cowley

“I have to read that book right now! Look, it says, ‘Do not open this book’!” said my first grader as I pulled out the materials for this week, so I’m sure you can guess that Do Not Open This Book! was our favorite book this week. Breakfast Around the World was another of our favorites because it taught my first grader several completely new concepts about food from other countries and their accompanying cultures. Fur, Feathers, Scales, Skin is science disguised as animal fun, and My Boat is a funny little book about a boy who has a hole in his boat and tries to fix it himself in all sorts of ways, and then he has to come up with a different solution altogether, which is quite creative.

The activity I want to highlight this week is the Social Studies guide that accompanies the lesson plan for Breakfast Around the World. Through the content of this book and the discussion prompted by the Read with Sarah guided lesson, I was able to teach Malachi about how different foods are eaten in different countries, and he was able to compare his breakfast that day to each one and decide which one his was most similar to. Through the social studies activity we were also able to explore the world map in a new way with a focus on food, and after we pointed out the countries mentioned in the book, we pointed out those where our friends live across the world and talked about what we thought they had for breakfast that day too. So much fun!

I love using books like this one with the AlphaSkills lesson plans that teach grammar, reading, phonics, science, writing, spelling, and more all in one place, especially when the material is just challenging enough that I can see my little guy thinking and growing but right on track for him so that he is not frustrated or discouraged. For more information about the AlphaSkills Read with Sarah curriculum and our family, see the AlphaSkills Blog Introduction.