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Hey Elementary School students: Meet Morty the Blogging Bee!
Are you opinionated? If so, you can join other students in sharing their opinions on the NIE Blogging Zone and enter our contest. The student who has the best idea for a column will win a “Morty the Blogging Bee” stuffed toy, donated by the local non-profit organization, Charity Works. Simply go to the Learning Together Category on the NIE Blogging Zone and start typing.
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Here are some discussion questions contributed by Pinellas County high school students. Click on the blogging link to discuss any of these topics for the book A Long Way Gone.
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach (Grades 6-8)
Hero has always hated her Shakespearean-based name. She is teased a lot by her classmates. Resigned to their constant teasing, she concentrates instead on her newfound friendship with her elderly next-door neighbor. That is when the mystery begins. There are lot of examples of mysteries on the pages on the St. Petersburg Times. Can you find one? Share the mystery you have found on this blog. What is the mystery? What information needs to be discovered to solve this mystery?
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Whisper in the Dark by Joseph Bruchac (Grades 6-8)
Maddie is one of the last living descendants of Canonchet, a Narragansett chief who died fighting for his people's freedom. While Maddie is learning about her heritage, strange things begin to happen in her life. Sometimes culture and traditions can affect people’s behavior. Look for an article in the St. Petersburg Times that represents this. Do you think the person’s culture has a positive or negative effect on his or her behavior? Would a person from a different culture have reacted differently? Share your thoughts in this blog.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings (Grades 6-8)
Brady’s neighbor, a toddler, dies as the result of a mean-spirited prank. No one was supposed to die, but what happens now? Throughout the book, Brady wrestles with his decision of what to do and his guilt. Taking responsibility for one’s actions can be challenging, especially when other people are involved. Look in today’s St. Petersburg Times for an article that focuses on someone taking or not taking responsibility for his or her actions. Share your thoughts about the article by clicking on the blogging link.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Sacrifice by Kathleen Benner Duble (Grades 6-8)
The Salem Witch Trials were a unique time in American history. Abigail lives in this time period and must adhere to society rules she does not agree with. During this time in American history, people were accused of being witches because they seemed different from other people. These differences resulted in stereotyping. Look in the St. Petersburg Times for articles depicting stereotypes, discrimination or prejudice. What are the dangers of stereotypes? What can people do to break free from stereotypes? Why is this important?
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Kimchi & Calamari by Rose Kent (Grades 6-8)
Joseph Calderaro feels as though he is living in two different worlds. He is very aware of the gulf between his Korean ethnicity and the Italian heritage of his adoptive family. Joseph has a diverse family. What is diversity? There is a lot of diversity in Florida. Do your neighborhood and school have a lot of diversity? How does this diversity make life and learning more interesting? Discuss these ideas with your class and family. Look in the St. Petersburg Times for photos, cartoons pictures or words that show diversity. Discuss the diversity you see in the Times and how it effects our culture.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Black Duck by Janet Taylor Lisle (Grades 6-8)
David’s determination to be published in the local paper leads him to Ruben Hart's front door and an unlikely friendship. The elderly man has a mysterious past associated with a legendary rum-running ship called the Black Duck. As David learns more about Ruben conflicts arise. Look for an article in the St. Petersburg Times that focuses on an issue or concern that affects the community. Read the article carefully. Think about the purpose of the author and the main idea of the writing. Discuss the main points of the article and the conflict presented. Compare this conflict with the one David faces in the book.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life by Wendy Mass (Grades 6-8)
Jeremy Fink and his best friend, Lizzie, have quite the adventure in this book. Friendship, family, the meaning of life and a treasure hunt are all elements of this book. These also are great elements for any story. As a journalist for your school newspaper, you are assigned the job of writing a newspaper article about the incidents in this story. A good journalist must begin with six key questions: who, what, where, when, why and how? Before you plan your character interview, find an article in the St. Petersburg Times and answer each of those six questions. Now that you see the pattern for a newspaper article, discuss the six points here.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Out of Patience by Brian Meehl (Grades 6-8)
Jake Waters has a dream: he longs to be the first male in his family to escape the confines of the town he lives in, Patience, Kansas. The town was founded by his grandfather who inadvertently saddled the place with a curse. Jake's dad, the local plumber, also has a dream: to establish the first American Toilet Museum. Talk about embarrassing. Have your parents ever done anything to embarrass you? Look for an article in the St. Petersburg Times that focuses on a topic that could be embarrassing to a person or a person’s children. Share the story and your embarrassing moment here.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson (Grades 6-8)
When Finn and several of his friends become holograms at Disney World, well, they get a unique behind-the-scenes view of this famous Florida attraction. Imagine turning into a hologram and being able to go anywhere you want. Look in the St. Petersburg Times Sunday travel section, Latitudes, for a place you would like to explore behind-the-scenes. (You can go on the archives of the e-Edition.) Discuss your reasons for going there and what you would expect to see. Write a journal entry from the perspective of yourself as a hologram being in this location.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Peak by Roland Smith (Grades 6-8)
Peak “Spider Boy” Marcello's passion for climbing gets him into a little trouble and a fascinating adventure filled with intrigue, drama and conflict. Using an article in the St. Petersburg Times as a model, come up with eight questions you would ask Peak about his adventure to write a feature article for the newspaper. Be sure to make the questions meaningful and open-ended. In other words, do not ask questions that would provide a yes or no answer. Share your questions by clicking on the blogging link.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Eggs by Jerry Spinelli (Grades 6-8)
Although David and Primrose are very different characters, together they form a strong bond of friendship. Sometimes opposites can attract. Select a character from the St. Petersburg Times comic strips who is most like you. Make a list of all of the things you have in common and all of the things that are different. Share your discoveries on this blog.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Adam Canfield of the Slash by Michael Winerip (Grades 6-8)
Adam is the reluctant new coeditor of the Slash, his elementary/middle school newspaper. While he has a penchant for investigative reporting, he's decidedly less skilled in the interpersonal arena and finds he has much to learn from his partner, Jennifer, about meeting the subtler demands of the job. What type of skills are necessary to be a reporter for a newspaper? Throughout this week, look for articles in the St. Petersburg Times that are written by one specific person. Do you notice any common themes in these articles? Does the reporter seem to have a background knowledge of the subject matter? What type of writing style does the reporter have? Share your thoughts by clicking on the blogging link.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alfred Kropp by Rick Yancey (Grades 6-8)
Alfred is plunged into a world of adventure, assassination and Arthurian legend when he agrees to help his uncle steal an ancient sword from the office of a CEO who just happens to be a descendent of the Knights of the Round Table. In this book Bennacio teaches Alfred some important life lessons. Using one of those life lessons, create a promotional advertisement for this book. Use the book reviews and advertisements in the St. Petersburg Tomes as models for your advertisement. Share your promotion here.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby (Grades 6-8)
Did reading Hurt Go Happy make you consider your own opinions about how animals are used in science, manufacturing and entertainment? In the St. Petersburg Times, there often are stories about the ways that people and animals interact. Find a story in today’s Times about people and animals, and add your comments about it here on the Book Battle Blog.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Rules by Cynthia Lord (Grades 6-8)
Catherine's brother, David, is autistic. Catherine loves her brother, but she is also embarrassed by his behavior. Catherine creates rules to help David understand what is right and wrong with his behavior. Then accompanying David, to his therapy sessions, Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who tries to overcome his disabilities by using a book of pictures to communicate. Overcoming disabilities requires a special kind of courage. Overcoming people's attitudes or prejudice requires even more. Look through the pages of the St. Petersburg Times to find an example of courage. Read the article and highlight the sentences that show the courage of the person. Share the sentence you have underlined and your reasons for selecting this article by clicking on the blog link.
Book chat: Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Blue Ghost by Marion Dane Bauer (Grades 3-5)
Liz’s grandmother is preparing to sell her old cabin, a place that has seen many generations. Liz comes to help her grandmother and she awakens one night to see a mysterious blue light that becomes the ghostly figure of a woman. Liz hears voices coming from the walls, which Liz can step through to go back in time. On the other side of the walls, she meets a family of children, in need of help. Liz finds the connections between the past and the presence. This book is a mystery. There are lots of examples of mysteries on the pages on the St. Petersburg Times. Can you find one? Share the mystery you have found on this blog. What information needs to be discovered to solve this mystery?
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Do you believe in ghosts? Was the story interesting? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
No Talking by Andrew Clements (Grades 3-5)
Dave Packer’s fifth-grade class is called the “Unshushables” by their teachers who have tried for years to keep them quiet. Dave has just read about Mahatma Gandhi and learned that the man practiced silence one day a week to bring order to his mind. Dave decides to give this idea a try. The contest that ensues puts boys against girls and students against teachers creating some controversy. What is a controversy? Look up the word controversy in the dictionary. Next, look for an article, picture or cartoon in today's Times that focuses on a controversy. Discuss the controversy on this blog. Is there a simple solution to the controversy? Can a compromise be reached?
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Are the issues presented realistic? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Missing Manatee by Cynthia DeFelice (Grades 3-5)
While cruising in his small boat through the maze of Florida's coastal rivers, young Skeet Waters comes across a dead manatee. Close examination reveals that the manatee was shot through the head. However, when Skeet and a deputy sheriff return to the scene of the crime, they discover that the manatee has disappeared. Skeet is determined to solve the crime. Manatees are endangered. Manatees and other endangered and threatened animals often are threatened by man-made pollution, human intrusion into animal habitats and loss of natural resources in those habitats. If you were a scientist in charge of restoring a habitat, what actions would you take? Keep in mind that food, water, shelter and space are essential components of a habitat. What would you do to reduce pollution? What would you include in your special habitat? Look in the St. Petersburg Times for ideas on what to include and what to eliminate from the special habitat. Share your plan here.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Did you learn anything new? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Stumptown Kid by Carol Gorman & Ron J. Findley (Grades 3-5)
Charlie Nebras misses his father, who died in the Korean War; dislikes his mother's domineering, prejudiced boyfriend, Vern; and loves baseball but is cut from the premier Wildcats team. Into his life walks Luther Peale, a former Negro Leagues baseball player. The rest, as they say, is history. Baseball, and the world, has changed a lot since the days of segregation. Did you know the Tampa Bay Rays have the most African-American players of all the teams in the major league? Look for articles and photos in the St. Petersburg Times about people of different backgrounds working together. Share your thoughts about how diversity brings strength to a community.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Dexter the Tough by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Grades 3-5)
While his father receives cancer treatments in Seattle, Dexter must live with his grandmother in Kentucky. In class, his teacher tells her students that she wants them to write a story that lets her know more about who they are. Dexter writes, "I'm the new kid. I am tuf. This morning I beat up a kid.” His teacher encourages him to flesh out his story, asking Dexter questions that help him acknowledge his feelings. Robin, the boy Dexter hit, is also new to the school. Imagine you are the new kid in school and you have to introduce yourself to your classmates. Look for a cartoon in the St. Petersburg Times that represents you. Tell all your new friends on this blog what cartoon it is and why you have chosen it.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Sloppy Copy Slip Up by Dyanne DiSalvo (Grades 3-5)
Brian Higman, has a big problem. He doesn't have the rough draft (sloppy copy) of his writing assignment ready to turn in. He has a reasons but his teacher isn’t listening to them. What's he going to do? Sprinkled throughout the text are headlines and articles that Brian imagines he would use if he were writing for a newspaper. A good headline can pull all of your thoughts and ideas together. When you are writing for a newspaper, you want headlines that will entice readers to read the entire article. In today’s paper, pick out headlines that interest you. List your top five headlines here.
Book chat: Would any of the headlines in today’s Times help Brian with his writing assignment? Do you think Brian’s writing tips are helpful? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Rules by Cynthia Lord (Grades 3-5)
Catherine's brother, David, is autistic. Catherine loves her brother, but she is also embarrassed by his behavior. Catherine creates rules to help David understand what is right and wrong with his behavior. Then accompanying David, to his therapy sessions, Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who tries to overcome his disabilities by using a book of pictures to communicate. Overcoming disabilities requires a special kind of courage. Overcoming people's attitudes or prejudice requires even more. Look through the pages of the St. Petersburg Times to find an example of courage. Read the article and highlight the sentences that show the courage of the person. Share the sentence you have underlined and your reasons for selecting this article by clicking on the blog link.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Have you ever had to overcome other people’s attitudes? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Listen! by Stephanie S. Tolan (Grades 3-5)
Charley is having a difficult time coping with the death of her mother. Her story is inspirational though. Sometimes it is a good idea to keep a journal of your thoughts and feelings. Look in the St. Petersburg Times for an article that presents an emotional conflict. Use this blog to write a journal entry about the article you have chosen. What is the article about? Why have you chosen this article? How did it affect you? Has the article inspired you in any way?
Book chat: Write a journal entry about this book by clicking on the link? Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to any of the characters? Do you have a pet that you share your thoughts with? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco by Janice Repka (Grades 3-5)
Phillip Stanislaw’s family members are circus performers. Phillip convinces his parents to let him stay with his Aunt Veola and Uncle Felix in Hardingtown, the unofficial Dodgeball Capital of the World so that Phillip can lead a “normal” life. But how normal can life be when you are playing dodgeball every day? Phillip thinks that dodgeball is a pretty violent game. Look for an article about a sport or game in the St. Petersburg Times. Is there any violence in the sport? Is this violence represented in the article? Share your thoughts about the idea of violence in sports by clicking on the blogging link.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? What are your thoughts about Phillip and dodgeball? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker (Grades 3-5)
Clementine always seems to be getting in trouble for not paying attention. There are just so many distracting things at school and at home. What catches your interest and causes you to lose focus? Look for something that interests you in today’s St. Petersburg Times. Share what you have found and why it interests you by clicking on the blog link.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Do you think Clementine, the protagonist, is someone you would like to have as a friend? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Roxie and the Hooligans by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Grades 3-5)
Helvetia's Hooligans have chosen Roxie Warbler to be the Victim of the Year. It is not a good thing. However, Roxie’s sense of adventure turns her into a hero. Picking on someone is a sign of disrespect. Look up the word respect in the dictionary. Look in the St. Petersburg Times to find one example of a person showing respect and one example of a person not showing respect. Don’t forget to look in the comics! Share the examples you find here. How could the person showing disrespect turn around his or her behavior.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Could you relate to the characters? Have you ever been picked on or picked on another person? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Ghost's Grave by Peg Kehret (Grades 3-5)
Josh is not having a great time this summer because he is stuck with his aunt while his parents travel to India. Josh has some great adventures though when he discovers some unusual things. There are unusual things all around you. All you have to do is pay attention! Look for something unusual in today’s St. Petersburg Times. You can find a photo, an article, a headline, a cartoon or an ad. Click on the blog link to share your unusual discovery.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? What are your favorite parts of this book? Do you enjoy reading ghost stories and tales of adventures? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Homework Machine by Dan Gutman (Grades 3-5)
Brenton is a computer genius. He has invented a machine that actually does homework. Although there is no such thing as a homework machine, there are lots of machines that make our lives easier. Look for advertisements and photos of machines that make your life easier. Click on the link below and explain how this machine makes your life easier.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? What are your favorite parts of this book? Did you like the characters? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
The Thing about Georgie by Lisa Graff (Grades 3-5)
Nine-year-old Georgie is a dwarf and feels as though he does not fit in with his schoolmates. Have you ever felt as though you did not fit in with other people? Look for an article in the St. Petersburg Times that illustrates an example of someone not fitting in. Think of five things this person can do to better fit in with the crowd.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? Can you relate to the characters? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Phineas L. Macquire . . . Erupts!: The First Experiment by Frances O'Roark Dowell (Grades 3-5)
Teamwork is one of the themes in Phineas L. Macquire . . . Erupts!: The First Experiment.. Look in the St. Petersburg Times for photos, illustrations, comics and headlines that represent teamwork and motivation. Choose one of these pictures that you think represents teamwork at its best. Share your thoughts about the picture here on the Book Battle blog.
Book chat: Did you enjoy reading this book? What are your favorite parts of this book? Share your thoughts about this book with other students by clicking on the link.
Boot Camp (grades 9-12)
When 15-year-old Garrett refuses to end a relationship with 23-year-old Sabrina, his controlling parents send him to a behavior modification boot camp in hopes that the camp’s extreme methods will teach him to be a more respectful son. Garrett struggles to survive the extreme cruelty and eventually joins two other teens in a desperate escape attempt. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum connection: Examine the controversy surrounding correctional boot camps for the youth. Do boot camps work? Take a look at the pros and cons of the system and write an argumentative essay.
Connecting with the Times: Define respect, discipline, obedience, punishment. One of the rules in boot camp where Garrett is that you will obey all orders immediately and without hesitation. Look for articles in the St. Petersburg Times that show an event where this rule was followed to the letter and when it was broken. What do you think of that rule? Is there any time that rule should not be followed?
Life As We Knew It (grades 9-12)
When an asteroid hits the moon knocking it closer to the Earth and causing a chain of cataclysmic natural disasters, 16-year-old Miranda, through journal entries, tells what happens as her family faces dismal conditions that include power outages, lack of food and water, and outbreaks of disease. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum connection: Research various natural disasters.
Connecting with the Times: Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods, are common in Florida as well as in other parts of the country. Each type of disaster brings different problems to individuals, towns and the economy. Look for recent examples of floods and droughts in the newspaper and on the Internet. Click on the link below to discuss how these disasters affect people and what others can do to offer assistance.
Street Love (grades 9-12)
Using a rap beat and rhyme, this Harlem-set story tells of the romance between Damien, a straight-A, college-bound, basketball star whose parents want him to date middle class Roxanne, and Junice, a beautiful street-strong young woman trying to keep her family together after her mom is sent to prison. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum connections: How does the jailing of a parental figure affect the lives of the children involved? Write the sequel to Street Love continuing the story of Junice and Damian where it ended.
Connecting with the Times: Street Love is written in fluid mixture of poetry and prose. Find an article in the St. Petersburg Times that focuses on an individual. Rewrite the story using Myers’ style of poetry. Try to convey the main ideas of the article in no more than eight lines.
Wicked Lovely (grades 9-12)
Aislinn has always been able to see the faeries that are invisible to most humans, and she lives by a set of rules to keep her safe from their notice. But when Keenan, the Summer King, targets her to be the next queen, the rules change and the fate of both human and faerie worlds lies in her. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connections: We all know Tinkerbell – the fairy in Peter Pan. There are faery/pixie stories in many cultures. Take a look at folklore from other countries and compare faery/pixies stories you may find.
Connecting with the Times: In Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr infuses the setting, characters and dialogue of the novel with folklore. Societal events affect our lives every day. What events have influenced your life? Look in the St. Petersburg Times for examples of everyday events that influence your life. Do these events influence your life in a positive or negative way? Share your thoughts here.
Firestorm (grades 9-12)
When Jack, who has always been told to blend in, sets his school’s rushing record, he puts into motion a course of events including finding out his parents aren’t really his parents, running for his life from a shape-shifting wolf girl, communicating telepathically with a dog named Gisco, being trained by a ninja babe named Eko, and finding out he is the only one who can save the world from ecological disaster if he can find “firestorm”. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connections: Firestorm suggests that there is a “turning point” in environmental history. What does this mean? Is there evidence to support this assertion? List three “turning points” in world history. What caused these turning points? What was the effect on world history?
Connecting with the Times: Look for articles in the Times that you feel could be turning points for Florida, the United States or the world. Why do you think these events are turning points? How will they change the way we live our lives?
A Thousand Splendid Suns (Mature Reader- grades 9-12)
This novel, set in Afghanistan during three decades of Soviet occupation, civil war and Taliban rule, follows Mariam and Laila, two women 19 years apart in age, whose lives are dramatically intertwined by dire circumstances including marriage, childbirth, abuse and murder. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum connections: Research the lives of women in Afghani culture. What advantages or restrictions did the women experience under the monarchy? Under the warlords? Under communist rule? Under the Taliban? Since the U.S. invasion, have their lives improved?
Connecting with the Times: Violating human rights is often a precursor to civil unrest and war. For example, after World War I, Hitler’s actions were a clear violation of the rights of German citizens. Search the St. Petersburg Times for current examples of an elected government violating the rights of its citizens. Read the article. Think about the rights that are being violated. Think about how you would feel if the government took away your rights and property, and forced you to live in a ghetto or leave your country. Discuss your thoughts here.
Incantation (grades 9-12)
Set during the Spanish Inquisition, this is the story of two best friends, Estrella and Catalina. Estrella realizes that her family is secretly Jewish, and when Catalina discovers that the man she intends to marry has fallen in love with Estrella, she betrays Estrella’s family with tragic consequences. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum connections: Besides Jews, other groups have been targeted for prejudice over the centuries. After reading this book, research another victimized group and tell what life was like for them. Incantation takes place during the Spanish Inquisition. How does it compare to Germany during Hitler's reign during World War II? How is it different?
Connecting with the Times: Studies show people can be consciously committed to democracy and deliberately work to behave without prejudice, yet still possess hidden negative prejudices or stereotypes. So even though we believe we see and treat people as equals, hidden biases still may influence our perceptions and actions. Look for examples of biased ideas and language in the St. Petersburg Times. Explore your thoughts about the biased language you have found in the newspaper. Do some words make you more uncomfortable than others?
What Happened to Cass McBride? (grades 9-12)
After his brother commits suicide, Kyle Kirby kidnaps and buries alive Cass McBride, the girl he holds responsible. Cass talks to Kyle through a plastic air tube and frantically tries to get him to set her free. She fights for her life both physically and mentally before time runs out. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: Cass knows that words are power – she learned that from her father who is a salesman. He taught her a lot about the business world and the psychology of people. Now it is your turn to take a look into the business world. What makes a good salesman? What techniques do they use? Brainstorm the best and the worst sales experiences as a class. Record these points on large poster paper and post in the room.
Connecting with the Times: It is time for you to be the salesperson. Look through the advertisements in the Times. Find a product that you are comfortable selling. Remember that you have to be knowledgeable about the product you are selling from the history of it to the development of it to its present use. You may need other information such as the history of the company, materials used in the manufacturing of the product; how the product is made. You have to be able answer these questions about your merchandise as well. What are the uses of the product? What are the advantages of its uses? What are the special features of the product? Are there any guarantees? Why is the product worth the price? How does the product compare with competitive products? Create a brief commercial for this product. Share the slogan for your product and your strategy for selling it here. You also can create a podcast for the product. Send your MP3 file to jpushkin@sptimes.com.
The Christopher Killer (grades 9-12)
Aspiring forensic pathologist Cameryn Mahoney convinces her father, who is the coroner in a small town, to hire her as an assistant to help him solve the mystery of a serial killer who leaves a St. Christopher medal with each victim. She puts herself in danger when the next victim turns out to be her friend Rachel. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: How does someone become a serial killer? Are there certain characteristics serial killers have in common? Read up on a serial killer of your choice and present a biographical sketch.
Connecting with the Times: Do you find what Cameryn and her father do for a living interesting? If so examine the education you must take in college and the career options a forensic pathologist has. Look for classified ads or articles in the Times or on tampabay.com that would interest you in this career path. Discuss why this path interests you and what educational background you would need. Based on the information in the classified ads and/or articles, identify the salary range for this career path.
Deadline (grades 9-12)
Just before his senior year during a routine sports physical, Ben Wolf finds out he has one year to live. He swears the doctor to secrecy, refuses treatment, doesn’t tell anyone about his diagnosis, and decides to do everything he always wanted to do including playing football, pursuing his long-time crush, and petitioning to have the main street in his small town named after Malcolm X, all the while conversing through dreams with a spiritual guide known as “Hey-Soos.” Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: Like Ben, read the Autobiography of Malcolm X. Through out his lifetime Malcolm X used different names. Research the importance of names. Examine what names say about a person.
Connecting to the Times: All of Chris Crutcher’s books focus on young people encountering conflicts in their lives and communities. Deadline is no different. Look for an article in the St. Petersburg Times that focuses on an issue or concern that affects children or teens in the community. Read the article or posting carefully. Think about the purpose of the author and the main idea of the writing. What is the conflict presented and how will it affect your life or your friends? Share the article or blog with your class and family.
City of Bones (grades 9-12)
When 15-year-old Clary Fray witnesses a murder at a club by creatures no one else can see, she realizes her life will never be the same. Her mother is kidnapped, and she is taken in by a group of demon hunters who help her discover her true heritage. She joins them in the search for the Mortal Cup in hopes of finding her mother and stopping a renegade sector from destroying all nonhumans. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: Draw contours of hands and fill with pattern, symbols/motifs that will communicate something about themselves.
Connecting to the Times: Clary Fray is a lot like many adolescents. Unlike ordinary kids, though, she can see Shadowhunters. Clary battles it with special powers. Special powers would come in handy to battle some circumstances you may read about in the St. Petersburg Times. Find an article that contains a conflict, and think about the problem could be solved with special powers. If you could have any one special power, what would it be? Share your thoughts here.
Nature of Jade (grades 9-12)
While watching the elephants on Seattle’s zoo Web cam to calm her panic attacks, 17-year-old Jade DeLuna notices a cute boy with a baby and knows they are destined to be important to her. She volunteers with the elephants and meets and falls in love with Sebastian, a single dad, but their happiness is threatened when Sebastian’s dangerous secret surfaces. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connections: What is sociobiology? What is ethnology? How are they related? Why do you think these sciences are important to study?
Connecting to the Times: Editorials and letters to the editor in the newspaper are written for the purpose of expressing an opinion or persuading someone about a specific subject or topic. Read an editorial or viewpoint in today’s St. Petersburg Times that interests you. Think about the opinions that are expressed in the article. Did the author try to persuade you how to think about something? Now put yourself in the position of being Jade’s best friend. Write her a blog persuading her to date or not date Sebastian.
Avalon High (grades 9-12)
When her parents who are medieval scholars go on sabbatical, 17-year-old Ellie Harrison begins her junior year at an unfamiliar school where it seems the King Arthur legend is being reincarnated. The forces of darkness threaten to take over, but Ellie has no intention of letting the past write her future when she finds herself in the midst of similar names, bitter relatives, and an illicit affair. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connections: Here is your chance to use your mapping skills. Ellie’s parents were medieval historians and historians have never been able to figure out where Camelot actually was. It is believed that it was somewhere in Britain (several different places). Between books and the Internet find all the possible places Camelot could’ve been and plot them on a current map. The map has to show the current locations of major cities to put everything into perspective.
Connecting to the Times: Most historical fiction authors spend a lot of time researching the era when their characters lived. Getting the details right makes their novels more believable and real to the readers. Imagine you are a historical fiction novelist living in the future and a friend has just given you a copy of the St. Petersburg Times from the year 2008, suggesting that you use a person you read about in the paper as the inspiration for your main character. Write a “sales pitch” to your publisher that describes your story. Be sure to mention the article that inspired it (date, headline, page number). Share your novel idea with other students participating in Florida Teens Read by posting it below. (Hint: you can write your pitch in a word processing program then cut and paste it into the comment box).
A Long Way Gone (Mature Reader - grades 9-12)
Ishmael Beah retells his experiences beginning at age 12 when civil war drives him from his village in Sierra Leone. He is captured by the national army, brainwashed, and forced to commit horrible acts for three years before he is rescued by UNICEF and taken to a rehabilitation center. He is eventually able to flee his country and move to the U.S. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: Research the effects of war on children.
Connecting to the Times: When young people are put into the mature world of war, they often turn to writing to help alleviate stress and express their feelings. Ishamel Beah, Anne Frank and Zlata Filipovic are just a few examples of young people who turn to journals in times of strife to try to sort out the world around them. What is going on in your world and what are your reactions to those things? To learn about things going on in the world around you, use the St. Petersburg Times as a resource. To begin your journal entry, click on the link below to write about something that you have read in the Times that directly affects your life.
Thirteen Reasons Why (grades 9-12)
Clay Jenson receives a mysterious package. Inside are seven cassette tapes that Hannah Baker, Clay’s secret crush, recorded before she committed suicide two weeks earlier. Clay is one of 13 people who agonizingly listen to the tapes and discover what part Hannah thought each of them played in her death. Share your thoughts about this book by clicking on the link.
Curriculum Connection: Take a favorite book of yours and make a map of the story so people can visually trace out the events in the book like Clay did in Thirteen Reasons Why.
Connecting with the Times: As a journalist for your school newspaper, you are assigned the job of writing a newspaper article about the incidents in this story. A good journalist must begin with six key questions: who, what, where, when, why and how? Before you plan your character interview, find an article in the St. Petersburg Times and answer each of those six questions. Now that you see the pattern for a newspaper article, discuss the six points here.
| Sunshine State Young Readers and Florida Teens Read participants can join this on-line book club and share their views on the nominated books with other students from around the state. This kid-safe site is sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper in Education program and monitored by Pinellas County Schools Office of Library Media / Technology. |
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