Uncle Remus - What Folk Tales Tell

KidReadz is actually a service for children of the picture book age. The KidReadz Teachers blog is to help teachers better serve those children and help them connect with books. Both of these services are created and managed by Jacki Kellum.

If you are interested in learning more about Folk Tales, Jacki Kellum has prepared an audio-visual overview of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit. Parts of this presentation are appropriate for children of the picture book age; but other parts of the presentation deal with the racial controversy that has consumed Uncle Remus. Young children are not actually able to comprehend all that is part of that controversy.

Ideally, children would be exposed to both Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus. Virginia Hamilton and Julius Lester have created some modern versions of Brer Rabbit. Hamilton's Bruh Rabbit and the Tar Baby Girl is especially appropriate for children of the picture book age.

As teachers, you might want to look at the audio-visual overview of Brer Rabbit and Uncle Remus, to more fully understand the history behind the Uncle Remus phenomenon.

My Many Colored Days - Dr. Seuss

Image from booksamillion

Everyone has heard of The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Horton Hears A Who.

Dr. Seuss also wrote an entirely different type of poem that compares the variety of his emotions to color. Check out the KidReadz lesson that explores the work of Dr. Seuss. It also looks at paintings by Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, and Picasso -- illustrating how color is used to express emotion.

The unit "My World Is A Rainbow" is designed to help children understand their own feelings and to express those feelings through art. As in other of the KidReadz units, picture books are employed "To Help Kids Connect."

Learn more about the KidReadz Concept.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - 3 Versions - Which Is Best?

Image from booksamillion

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Illustrated by Sylvia Long

A KidReadz lesson looks at different versions of the song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Different YouTube videos are part of the lesson.

The unit is designed to help children analyze their feelings and their opinions. Picture books are employed to teach children about art. Actual painting tutorials are included.

Most importantly, the unit is designed "To Help Children Connect."

I highly recommend Sylvia Long's interpretation of the classic children's poem.

Long's sensitive illustrations set this book apart from all of the other versions of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."

Eric Carle - Watching A Master Paint

A live video of Eric Carle -- painting -- is posted on his website.

This video and a discussion of Carle's work is part of the KidReadz curriculum, teaching children about picture books, painting, collage, and art.

Check it out.

Picasso on Children and Art

Every Child Is An Artist.
The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.
-Pablo Picasso -

Please look at the KidReadz curriculum, designed to teach children how to paint and express themselves freely. Picture books are employed to reinforce the unit. Children also learn about their own feelings and how to look critically at and form opinions about what they see.

The unit is designed to help children become more aware and responsive.

It is part of the KidReadz concept, which is being constructed "To Help Children Connect."

Kevin Henkes Chrysanthemum - Teaches Us Not to Hurt Feelings

Look at the KidReadz Lesson about how to use the picture book Chrysanthemum to teach about feelings. Original Printables are Included.

Teach Rhyme With Picture Books - Game

Take a look at the KidReadz Lesson and Game to Use Picture Books and Teach Rhyme.
Original printables are included.

How to Use Venn Diagrams in Classroom

Look at the KidReadz Lesson Plan, Using a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast the illustrating styles of Eric Carle and Lois Ehlert. Both of these illustrators use collage. This lesson helps children learn to look critically at art, to learn how to see.

The lesson also introduces painting. Other lessons follow, to teach children about painting and mixing colors.

Using Free Software to Create Virtual Polls

Need a virtual poll or voting program. Check out the Open Source Program Zoho Polls. This will definitely be a hot spot during the coming election year.

See more about the program at the KidReadz Lesson.

Using Google Earth to Teach Mapping Skills

Have you looked at the Open Source Program Google Earth. All sorts of things are possible with this program. The interactive globe is incredible.

You can see more about the program in the KidReadz Lesson.

Using Picture Books to Teach Children's Art

Check out the KidReadz lesson plan, using the book Look ! Look! Look! to teach children about looking at art and to help them learn to paint.

In this lesson, the children will learn to mix warm colors, to mix flesh tones, and to paint the sun.

Collage, Shapes, and Design are also be introduced.

Google Earth and Mapping Skills are used to help the students grasp where the famous artists lived -- relative to where they live.

Teaching About Feelings and Art -- Through Dr. Seuss and Vincent Van Gogh

Jacki Kellum at Dr. Seuss Night
Linwood Free Public Libray
Linwood, NJ

Take a look at the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn about their own feelings and the feelings of other people.

Dr. Seuss books, music, and the arts [Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keefe, Picasso] will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz Wikispaces

More Authors, Book Lists, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly to the KidReadz Wikispaces! Check Back Often.

Stars and Space Through Picture Books: Learning to Look Beyond

Book Cover Images from www.booksamillion.com

Take a look at one of the KidReadz Wikispaces, where curriculum is currently being developed to help young children learn about art, space, stars, and that they and other people might have varying opinions--especially about the ways that they look at and see all of these things.

The unit, My Rainbow, is especially geared toward Constructivism and toward cultivating thinking skills. Internationalism and multiculturalism is also fostered in this unit. Children will be encouraged to view themselves as part of a larger world community--part of a greater universe.

Painting and Drawing Exercises are part of the Unit

Picture books, music, and the arts will be part of the curriculum, a portion of which is available now at: KidReadz My Rainbow Wikispaces

Check This Site Often. Authors, Book Lists, Lesson Plans, and Themes Are Being Added Weekly KidReadz