Grand View Elementary School Library
manhattan beach unified school district
Heidi snively - library RESOURCE specialist
310/546-8022 x5404
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Read-Alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

12/16/2024

 
Looking for content from previous weeks? Scroll further down.

Week of December 16, 2024 | TK | Merry Christmas

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Little Blue Truck's Christmas, by Alice Schertle
Little Blue Truck is spreading holiday cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends.

Video Sing Jingle Bells

Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet
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Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD

Week of December 16, 2024 | Kindergarten | Merry Christmas

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Dragon's Merry Christmas, by Dav Pilkey
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Dragon has a merry time decorating a tree outdoors, making a candy wreath, and sharing his Christmas gifts with needy animals. See if you can spot the homage to Vincent Van Gogh.


Crafty Connection Wreath coloring sheet

Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti
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Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD

Week of December 16, 2024 | First Grade | Merry Christmas

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Rabbit's Gift: a Fable from China, by George Shannon
The animals in the forest scurry to store their food away for the cold months ahead, but when Rabbit comes across an extra turnip and decides to have a special meal with his woodland friends, everyone is inspired by his act of generosity and soon demonstrates their thanks in their own special ways.


Marvin's Best Christmas Present Ever, by Katharine Paterson
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Marvin makes a special Christmas present. He wants the wreath he made to last forever, but the pine boughs are turning dry and brown as winter turns to spring.
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Crafty Connection Wreath coloring sheet

Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti
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Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORA

Week of December 16, 2024 | Second Grade | Merry Christmas

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Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 3 of 3)

McDuff's New Friend,
 by Rosemary Wells

On Christmas Eve, McDuff's persistent "woofing" leads to the rescue of Santa, whose sleigh has gotten stuck in the snow.

Little Santa, by Jon Agee
Little Santa loves the North Pole. So, when his family decides to move to sunny Florida, Santa is miserable. Lucky for him, a blizzard foils their plans. The only way out of the house is up the chimney. Up goes Santa to look for help, and along the way he meets a reindeer, a large group of elves... and the rest is history! 
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Video Sing Along Santa Claus is Coming to Town 

Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet


Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti
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Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD

Week of December 16, 2024 | Third Grade | Merry Christmas

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The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, by Barbara Robinson
The six mischievous Herdman kids lie, steal, and smoke cigars, and when they become involved in the local Christmas pageant, it becomes one of the most memorable Christmas plays the community has seen. ​

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How Murray Saved Christmas, by Mike Reiss
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Up at the North Pole, Santa is unable to deliver presents one Christmas Eve.
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Video Sing Along Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 

Crafty Connection Carolers coloring sheet


Kitchen Connection Wreath ornament made from cooked spaghetti

Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD

Week of December 16, 2024 | Fourth Grade | Merry Christmas

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The Night Before Christmas, by Clement C. Moore
An illustrated presentation of New York clergyman Clement Clark Moore's famous 1822 Christmas poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas," better known as "The Night Before Christmas."

Video Hurricane Katrina Storm Surge Running time 13:38; view beginning; sample after minute 7:09

Hurricane Katrina was a large and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused 1,833 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. 

Cajun Night Before Christmas, by Trosclair
A reading of a Cajun version of the classic story in honor of the librarian from New Orleans who lost her entire collection in Hurricane Katrina, but not her optimistic outlook on life.

Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier

Sing Along Jingle Bells at the Beach 

Crafty Connection Make a telescoping palm tree 
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Holiday Activity Track Santa with NORAD

Week of December 16, 2024 | Fifth Grade
Peace on Earth at Christmas --and Always-- Begins with Us

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The GATOR Good Peace on Earth begins with each of us. Find your inner peace at the calm center of your being and then share that feeling through kind acts to others.

The Wall in the Middle of the Book, by Jon Agee
Though a knight is confident that the wall in the middle of the book protects his side from the dangers of the other side, he fails to notice the danger lies on his own side of the wall.

The Duck in the Gun, by Joy Cowley
The War was ready to begin but then a duck was discovered nesting in the barrel of the only cannon.


Shooting at the Stars, by John Hendrix
On Christmas Eve during the trench warfare of World War I, in the bitter winter of 1914, a virtual miracle occurred. Enemies on both sides stopped fighting and began to sing Silent Night. On Christmas Day, enemy soldiers walked into the open ground between the trenches and shook hands. They exchanged biscuits and buttons and belts from their uniforms as souvenirs.

Video The Christmas Truce of 1914 from Oh! What a Lovely War running time 3:39

Video I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake, 1975 
Initially written to protest the commercialization of the Christmas holiday the words also speak of peace and hope that lie ahead, if we collectively work toward a kinder way of living.
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Crafty Connection Paper snowflake video tutorial. Folding and snipping paper snowflakes can be a way to slow down, breathe, and find the peace that can come with focus.

Read-Alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

12/9/2024

 
Looking for content from previous weeks? Scroll further down.

Week of December 9, 2024 | TK | Happy Hanukkah

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Sammy Spider's First Hanukkah, by Sylvia A. Rouss
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When the Shapiro family celebrates the eight nights of Hanukkah, Sammy Spider keeps his feet warm over the Menorah and yearns for a dreidel of his own.


Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe

Video Directions for At-Home Activity Use blue painter's tape to create a sticky web. Toss paper balls, balloons, and other objects to see what sticks! Click here

Week of December 9, 2024 | Kindergarten | Happy Hanukkah

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Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, by Bonnie Bader
Tells about how people celebrate Hanukkah--from eating latkes, spinning dreidels, exchanging gifts, and lighting the menorah; and why they celebrate--from the destruction of the Temple, the bravery of the Maccabees, and the miracle of that little bit of oil that lasted for eight nights.

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Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe

Week of December 9, 2024 | First Grade | Happy Hanukkah

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The Magic Dreidels, by Eric A. Kimmel
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When Jacob drops his new dreidel down the well a friendly goblin gives him magic dreidels that are stolen by the neighborhood busybody.

Writing Prompt If you had a magic dreidel, what would it spin out? Print the sheet

Week of December 9, 2024 | Second Grade | Happy Hanukkah

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Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 2 of 3)

Runaway Dreidel! by Leslea Newman
In this rhyming tale a family's preparations for Hanukkah are disrupted by a wildly spinning dreidel that no one can catch.
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​Writing Prompt Write a descriptive new ending to explain where the dreidel went. Print the sheet

Week of December 9, 2024 | Third Grade | Happy Hanukkah

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Hanukkah Bear, by Eric A. Kimmel
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At 97 years old, Bubba Brayna does not hear or see too well, so when old Bear wanders into her house she mistakes him for the rabbi and treats him to a delicious helping of potato latkes.

Dozens of Doughnuts, by Carrie Finison
A bear makes batch after batch of doughnuts for her woodland friends, without saving any for herself.


Activity Sheet Help Old Bear find his way to Bubbe Brayna's house. Click here 

Kitchen Connection Try this latke recipe from the back of the book. Click here

Directions for At-Home Activity Super simple instructions to finger crochet a cozy scarf. Click here

Week of December 9, 2024 | Fourth Grade | Happy Hanukkah

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Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, by Eric Kimmel
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A resourceful traveler must use his wits to outsmart a pack of ghoulish goblins if he wishes to celebrate a bright and cheery Hanukkah.
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Backstory Although what we know about Hershele Ostropolyer (1770?-1810 is based mostly on oral tradition and folklore, he was a real person, thought to have come from Balta, Ukraine. His name is based on the town of Ostropol in Poland where he served as a shohet (ritual slaughterer). According to legend, he lost his job because of his constant joking that offended some community leaders. He then wandered through Ukraine and eventually found his calling as a court jester, frequently mocking authority figures but delighting the common folk.

​Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe

Week of December 9, 2024 | Fifth Grade | Happy Hanukkah

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The Ninth Night of Hanukkah, by Erica S. Perl
With the help of their new neighbors, two resourceful children are able to celebrate Hanukkah even though they can't find their usual menorah, latke pan, etc., and then are inspired to celebrate a ninth night of Hanukkah as a way to say thank you to everyone who has helped them.

Writing Activity In the spirit of the season, write a compliment to a family member, friend, or neighbor. Print out the example pictured above or design your own using a 3"x5" index card.

Kitchen Connection Happy Hanukkah coloring sheet with simple latke recipe

Read-Alouds and Presentations Week to Week by Grade Level

12/2/2024

 
Looking for content from previous weeks? Scroll further down.

Week of December 2, 2024 | TK | Bundle Up in Winter

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Video Segment Animal Behavior (Owl Cam)
Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)


Owl Babies, by Martin Waddell
Video Owl Babies picture book animation
Three baby owls worry when they awaken one night to find their mother gone.

Little Owl's Orange Scarf, by Tatyana Feeney
Little Owl does not like his new orange scarf! Can he and his mom come up with a solution on how he can stay warm?
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Crafty Connection Look closely at Little Owl. Do you see how the strokes used in the illustration could be the shapes of letters? Draw Little Owl and his scarf on bookmark-sized paper.

Week of December 2, 2024 | Kindergarten | Winter Playtime

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Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier

Recess at 20 Below, by Cindy Lou Aillaud
How cold does it have to be before Alaskan kids stay inside for recess? For many schools, if it is colder than 20 below zero, they stay indoors; otherwise, it's outside for frosty fun! ​​Compare and contrast with Grand View Kindergarten playground (center field at far right).


Video Putting on Snow Clothes First graders show how quickly they can put on their snow clothes all by themselves. Get out several layers of outerwear and see how fast you can put the items on!
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Crafty Connection Snowmen coloring sheet

Week of December 2, 2024  | First Grade | Winter Weather

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Live Video The Manhattan Beach Pier
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The Blizzard of 1978
New England was hit by a nor'easter with hurricane-force winds approximately 86 mph with gusts up to 111 mph. A typical nor'easter brings steady snow for six to twelve hours, the Blizzard of '78 brought heavy snow for a full 33 hours. 

Blizzard, by John Rocco
After a massive blizzard, a boy becomes a hero when he manages to walk to the local store and bring supplies back to his neighborhood which has been snowed in for days. Based on the author's childhood experience. Compare and contrast this experience with a typical Southern California winter.
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Crafty Connections Enjoy this snowmen coloring sheet | Make a simple snow globe at home

Week of December 2, 2024 | Second Grade | Winter Fun

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Ant and Honey Bee, a Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald
Brrrr! The leaves are off the trees, and frost is on the ground. It's time for bugs to hunker down and hide out for the winter. But Ant isn't ready to hunker down. Will Honey Bee welcome an interruption of her peace and quiet? (Chapter 1 of 3)

Lemonade in Winter, a Book About Kids Counting Money, by Emily Jenkins
Despite snow on the ground, icicles on window sills, and discouraging words from their parents, Pauline and her little brother, John-John, decide to open a lemonade stand.
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Connection What do you do differently when the weather turns colder? 


Video Extremely Epic Blanket Fort

Crafty Connection Honey Bears Coloring Sheet and Busy as a Bee Activity Sheet ​

Week of December 2, 2024 | Third Grade | Elements of Mystery

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Elements of Mystery A mystery is a story about a secret or something that is not easily explained. The elements of mystery include: suspect, victim, evidence, witness, detective, crime, alibi, clue, red herring.

The expression red herring, where did it come from?
First of all, there is not a species of fish called a red herring. It is just a herring that has been smoked, salted, and dyed a brownish red. Prior to refrigeration, a herring that has been "kippered" in this way would have a pungent odor. The earliest reference to using a "red" herring for distracting hounds from chasing a rabbit is an article published February 14, 1807, by journalist William Cobbett. This is the origin of the figurative meaning of red herring, as accepted by the Oxford English Dictionary.

Grandpa's Teeth, by Rod Clement
It's a disaster when Grandpa's set of dentures goes missing and the whole town has to smile broadly all the time to prove they did not steal the teeth, and all that odd grinning scares away the tourists, causing the economy of the town to suffer. Who took those choppers?

Sweet Tooth, by Margie Palatini
Stewart's loud, obnoxious sweet tooth constantly gets him into trouble, until Stewart uses a healthy diet to take control of the situation.


Video How are dentures made?

Crafty Connection Dental hygiene coloring sheet

Week of December 2, 2024 | Fourth Grade | Curriculum Connection
Narrative Nonfiction and Endangered Animals Report

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Jane Goodall (b. 1934, London)
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Me...Jane by Patrick McDonnell Little Jane loves her stuffed animal, a chimpanzee named Jubilee, and carries him everywhere she goes. Mainly, they go outdoors, where they watch birds building their nests and squirrels chasing each other. Jane reads about animals in books and keeps a notebook of sketches, information, and puzzles. Feeling her kinship with all of nature, she often climbs her favorite tree and reads about another Jane, Tarzan's Jane. She dreams that one day she, too, will live in the African jungle and help the animals. And one day, she does. 

The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps by Jeannette Winter Goodall's passionate love of nature began in early childhood. As an adult, she moved to Tanzania, making the study and protection of the chimpanzees in the Gombe forest a focus of international fascination.

Video Segment Meet Jane Goodall Discovery Education Streaming Video (password protected)


Video Learn more about the life and work of Jane Goodall (running time about 13 min.)

Crafty Connection Step-by-step directions for a folded monkey corner bookmark

Week of December 2, 2024 | Fifth Grade | Curriculum Connection
Narrative Nonfiction and the Genius Report

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Video Images from of W.A. Bentley's book set to guitar music 

Winter Bees, by Joyce Sidman
Begin with the science information for the poem titled "Snowflake Wakes."

Snow Flake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
For almost half a century, Wilson Bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at Jericho, Vermont, and made available to scientists and art instructors samples of his remarkable work. His singularity of purpose and passion is astonishing.


Video The Snowflake Man: a short film about Snowflake Bentley
Snow Crystals, by W. A. Bentley
In 1931, the American Meteorological Society gathered together the best of these plus some slides of frost, glaze, sleet, soft hail, and dew on vegetation and on spider webs. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals reveal the wonder of nature's diversity in uniformity; no two are alike, yet all are based on a common hexagon.

The Secret of Water: for the Children of the World, by Masaru Emoto
Presents an environmentally friendly introduction to water, its uses, its importance, and invites children to learn about the connection between water and all living things.

Video Children gather in gratitude to see if their thoughts can affect water.

Winter Bees, by Joyce Sidman
Conclude with the poem titled "Snowflake Wakes."
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Crafty Connections  Snowmen coloring sheet | Step-by-step paper snowflakes
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    Colleagues are welcome to borrow program ideas.

    California Model School Library Standards 

    Read Aloud 15 Minutes 
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