Gr. 5

What We're Reading 2017-2018:

Our thoughts, discussion questions, curriculum connections, and related reading suggestions can be found by clicking on each title below: 


 


What We're Reading 2016-2017:

Book 7 - Ms. Bixby's Last Day by John David Anderson

Discussion Date: May 9, 2017
Our Rating: ? out of 5




Book 6 - Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

Discussion Date: April 11, 2017
Our Rating: 4.2 out of 5
  • Discussion questions are here.
  • Visit Chris Grabenstein's web site. He writes many funny books for kids, shares pictures of his office and cats, and even tells you how to pronounce his last name.




Book 5 - The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin

Discussion Date: March 7, 2017
Our Rating: 4.4 out of 5
  • Discussion questions are here.
  • Learn more about author Ali Benjamin.
  • Check out the amazing Diana Nyad who swam from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage when she was 64 years old!
  • See the real Dr. Jamie Seymour talk about the Jellyfish Invasion on this National Geographic Explorer video clip.
  • Watch the TED video Suzy and Justin saw when eating lunch in Mrs. Turston's room entitled "The Hidden Beauty of Pollination".
  • Listen to Neil DeGrasse Tyson's comments and see amazing images takend by the Hubble Space Telescope in Max Schlickenmeyer's video entitled "The Most Astounding Fact":


Book 4 - It Ain't So Awful, Falafel by Firoozeh Dumas

Discussion Date: January 31, 2017
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5

Book 3 - When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin

Discussion Date: December 13, 2016
Our Rating: 4.25 out of 5

Book 2 - The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman

Discussion Date: November 15, 2016
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Book 1 - Masterminds by Gordon Korman

Discussion Date: October 18, 2016
Our Rating: 4.88 out of 5
  • Click here for discussion questions.
  • Learn more about Gordon Korman on his web site.
  • Do you have a question or a message for Gordon Korman about the book? You can do that on his "Reader's Forum," and he is very likely to respond to your message.
  • Check out the video trailer for Masterminds: Criminal Destiny, the second book in the series.
  • Book 3 in the series, Masterminds: Payback Time, is due out in March 2017!





------------------------------------------------ 2015-2016 Books ---------------------------------------------------

Book 7 - Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool

Discussion Date: May 10, 2016
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Book 6 - A Year in the Life of a Complete and Total Genius by Stacey Matson

Discussion Date: April 12, 2016
Our Rating: 4.2 out of 5

Book 5 - Masterminds by Gordon Korman

Discussion Date: March 8, 2016
Our Rating: 5 out of 5

Book 4 - Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Discussion Date: February 2, 2016
Our Rating:  3.75 out of 5
  • Click here for discussion questions/topics and links to organizations that combat childhood hunger and homelessness
  • No Kid Hungry - national organization combating childhood hunger
  • Global Youth Service Day - national organization encouraging ways to impact a cause such as homelessness or childhood hunger
  • Hopelink - Seattle/King County organization to help people in our community who need shelter and/or food on their tables
  • Project Cool - local organization that ensures homeless children have the school supplies they need

 

 

 

 Book 3 - Crispin - The Cross of Lead by Avi

Discussion Date: December 15, 2015
Our Rating: 3.9 out of 5
  • Discussion questions and background information can be found here.
  • Listen to Avi read from Crispin: The Cross of Lead
  • Read about the next two books in the Crispin series and other books Avi has written.
  • Learn about the Black Death (also called the Plague) and how it spread so quickly through Europe with this interactive map
  • What was the feudal system? See how kings, knights, and serfs measured up to each other.
  • To learn more about the Middle Ages, click here.
  • Why did the Peasants Revolt of 1381 happen?

 

 

 

 

Book 2 - One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullaly Hunt 

Discussion Date: November 17, 2015
Our Rating: 4.25 out of 5 
  • Discussion questions can be found here.
  • Interested in author Lynda Mullaly Hunt's answers to Frequently Asked Questions?
  • Click here to share YOUR thoughts on One for the Murphys.

 

 

 

 

Book 1 - Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

Discussion Date: October 20, 2015
Our Rating: 4 out of 5
  • Discussion Questions can be found here.
  • Guess what? Circus Mirandus is being made into a movie! Read about it here.
  • Do you want to try to make your own quipu like Micah did? Click here or here for directions.

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