Monday, December 2, 2013

Hokey Pokey by Jerry Spinelli



Life is all about childhood in Hokey Pokey.  In this place, kids rule the world.  There are trucks to play on, mud to play in, slushies every day and hugs when you need them.  Jack and his friend love their lives filled with their precious bikes, cartoons all day, every day and their boys only club.  When strange things start happening to Jack, life in Hokey Pokey no longer quite seems to make sense.  First, Jack's bike disappears, then he finds himself talking to a girl, then his tattoo begins to disappear.  Jack and his friends become really worried about what's going to happen.  Will Jack get his bike back, will things go back to normal or will Jack vanish?  Find out in Hokey Pokey.

On a side note, as a mother of a 10 year old boy, I cried like a baby when I read this book.  See what you think.

Thanksgiving

Wow!  This was much harder than anticipated!  There are not many recent books which are appropriate for read aloud for 4th or 5th grade.  Some are super religious, some give misinformation, etc.  Finally, I decided to show this cool virtual field trip from Plimoth Plantation along with questions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5qi3Meqy24

Story Elements

Time for an update- been busy reading YA-

5th grade teachers wanted story elements- plot, character, setting, etc.

Showed this video from Flocabulary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6I24S72Jps

and then read Frog Prince Continued to discover elements of that story