2008-2009 Texas Bluebonnet Webliography
This Webliography was created by Karen Kessel, Mary Pruitt, and Debra Marshall
for the Bluebonnet Master List and presented at TCEA in February 2008.
One-Handed Catch
Auch, Mary Jane. 2006. One-Handed Catch.
Sixth grader Norm’s future plans are built around being either a pitcher or an artist, but when he loses his hand helping his father by grinding meat for a customer, his hopes are shattered. Norm must find the strength to not give up on his dreams.
M.J. Auch
http://mjauch.com/Welcome.html
Check out the author’s website.
Baseball:
Major League Baseball
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/kids/index.jsp
The official kids site of Major League Baseball.
PBS Baseball
http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/baseball/
PBS provides this site as a companion to the film, "Baseball." Enjoy "The Wisdom of Yogi Berra," vintage pictures of players, video clips, and more on
BAM! Body and Mind
http://www.bam.gov/sub_physicalactivity/activitycards_baseball.html
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides baseball information on the kind of equipment you will need to get started, how to play it safe, some fun facts, and a quick tip guide to help you hit, throw, and catch the ball.
Baseball and Science
http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/
Site provides very interesting information about the science behind baseball. Learn about the history and some necessary tools that you need to be a super baseball player. Send players back in time and compute their statistics relevant to that time period.
The Why Files: Science of Baseball
http://whyfiles.org/152baseball/index.html
An interesting study of the science underlying baseball, containing links to pages which describe the effects of varying atmospheric conditions, as well as an explanation for why the curve ball curves.
Disabilities
KidsQuest: Athletes with Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/kids/kmalpage.htm
Can a kid in a wheelchair be an athlete? By completing this Web quest you will find out the answer to this question and hopefully be more knowledgable about folks with disabilities.
Americans with Disabilities
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adafaces.htm
This site has individual stories and pictures of people personally affected by the implementation of the
Meeting Friends with Disabilities
http://www.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ntl_friends_hints
This site from Easter Seals lists hints for children to consider when meeting someone with a disability. These hints are provided because it's easy to neglect the individuals feelings or be overly conscious of them upon interacting.
World War II
BBC Children of World War 2
Find out what it was like for children growing up during World War 2. Animated; perfect for upper elementary students.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/
Kids view of World War 2 and the 1940’s era
The site includes letters, a timeline, memorabilia, a suggested reading list and more.
http://usd230.k12.ks.us/espictt/
Atherton: the House of Power
Carman, Patrick. 2007. Atherton: the House of Power.
Edgar lives in a place of three distinct worlds: The Highlands, Tabletop, and The Flatlands. He has a vague memory of a voice telling him that there is something hidden in the rock walls separating The Highlands of Atherton from Tabletop. When he finds the message, he knows that he may be the only one who can save Atherton from destruction.
Patrick Carmen
Author’s website
http://www.patrickcarman.com/main/index.html
Need a great book talk?? Click here to show the trailer for the book! Plus, there are news clips, book tour videos and more!
http://www.patrickcarman.com/main/audioVideo.cfm#
Teacher’s Guide
This 6 page teachers guide includes discussion questions and the following centers: social studies, language arts, music and drama, science and art and visual.
http://www.hachettebookgroupusa.com/library/Atherton_Curric_WEB.pdf
Conservation
The conservation fund
http://www.conservationfund.org/
Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/
Trees
This site allows has information for students and lesson plans for teachers about trees. http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/tree_kit/
This site is interactive and has information about trees in English and Spanish. A teacher’s guide is also available on the site.
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/trees2/index.html
This site provides a fun and challenging trivia quiz. Will test your knowledge of trees. Grades 4-8. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/cool/treetriv.htm
Rabbits
This site gives an in-depth description of a rabbit, including its behavior, appearance, reproduction, and classification. The site includes photos and illustrations and an interactive quiz to test your understanding.
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/content/animals/animals/mammals/rabbit.htm
This site contains basic facts about rabbits along with numerous links to a host of topics related to rabbits. Behavior, care, and health, are just a few of the topics you can explore.
http://www.rabbit.org/care/facts.html
Sheep
Sheep101.info
This site includes information about sheep as well as how to raise them, what they eat and other interesting facts.
Lesson Planet
Over 500 lesson plans including sheep topics are located at this site.
http://www.lessonplanet.com/search/search?keywords=Sheep
Earthquakes
National Geographics site explores earthquakes. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/eye/earthquakes/earthquakes.html
Embedded animations helps students learn about earthquakes on this site.
http://scign.jpl.nasa.gov/learn/eq.htm
How to Make a Sling
Be like Isabel and Edgar and find out how to make your very own sling on this site.
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sling
The Middle of Somewhere
Cheaney, J. B. 2007. The Middle of Somewhere.
Twelve-year-old Ronnie wants to see the world. The opportunity for her and her brother to travel with their wind prospector grandfather in his camper comes when her mother is injured in a hilarious romp through the house chasing a squirrel. The fact that her grandfather doesn’t really want company and her brother is hyperactive just adds to the adventure.
J.B. Cheaney
Includes a “writing tip of the month” and an announcement of her book on the Texas Bluebonnet List!
Publisher’s site for the book, includes a link to a book talk.
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375837906
Watch a video, order a free travel guide online, find out about things to do and places to visit on the official travel site of the state of
This site is student friendly with information about the state of
http://www.kssos.org/resources/kansas_kids.html
Travel
Travel and Transportation
First, click on the type of transportation you are interested in, then click on a museum that will provide some history for that mode: air, boats, trolleys, and railroads.
http://routesinternational.com/museum.htm
Scholastic: Global Trek
Around the world in 80 seconds! Create your own virtual travel journal as you explore the pyramids of
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/index.htm
Traveling
This site discussing the pros and cons of life on the road in an RV, gives food suggestions and places to stay. An entire section is donated to RV travel. What’s it like?
RV.net
This site includes information on RV’s, a trip planner, RV community information and much more.
http://www.rv.net/links/index.cfm?groupID=4
Tall Tales
Day, Karen. 2007. Tall Tales.
Sixth grade is the year Meg finally makes a friend after having to move time-after-time as her alcoholic father is constantly trying to make a fresh start. She is afraid to tell Grace her family secrets, so she makes up stories of a wished-for life. As the truth comes out, Meg discovers what friendship is about.
Karen Day
Author’s official website
Author’s Blog
Find out what’s going on with Karen Day on a regular basis and respond to her at her blog!
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375837739
Book Talk
Use this quick book talk to get other’s excited about Tall Tales.
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/librarians/BookTalk_TallTales.htm
An Interview with Karen Day
http://www.mitaliblog.com/2007/05/tall-tales-interview-with-karen-day.html
Lying
Lying Quotes
Use these quotes related to lying to start discussion related to Tall Tales.
http://www.wisdomquotes.com/cat_lying.html
How to Detect Lies
This site include body language and other cues to help detect lying.
http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies.php
Tall Tales
American Folklore
This site is a complete listing of annotated tall tales. Click on the title and read your favorite!
http://americanfolklore.net/tt.html#Tall
Tall Tales Lesson Plan
Is your class studying tall tales? This lesson plan is a great way to wrap up a unit with students creating their own tall tale, and presenting them to the class. Provides an assessment rubric, an extension idea, and a list of resources. (For many of the links you will need Adobe Acrobat to access them.)
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2267/
John Henry
Use this site to inspire your students to write tall tales. This site has eleven short summaries about John Henry written by students for students. Each summary has a picture with it.
http://www.towson.edu/csme/mctp/StudentProjects/TallTales/page3.html
Alcohol
Kids Health: Kids and Alcohol
You've probably been warned of the dangers of alcohol before. You, no doubt, know that drinking alcohol, especially at such a young age, is not a good idea. Read on for some reasons not to drink, a description of alcoholism, and what to do if someone you know has a problem with alcohol.
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/drugs_alcohol/alcohol.html
Suitable for upper elementary and up, this is a thorough explanation of what alcohol does to the body and nervous system. Includes information about fetal alcohol syndrome and links to further information.
http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/alco.html
One Potato, Two Potato
DeFelice, Cynthia. 2006. One Potato, Two Potato. Illustrated by Andrea U’Ren.
Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady are so poor that they have had to share one coat, one blanket, and one potato each day, but they don’t mind. When Mr. O’Grady is digging for potatoes and finds a pot with the magical power of doubling any object put into it, they have the chance to make big changes in their simple life.
Author Cynthia DeFelice’s website
http://www.cynthiadefelice.com/
Potato Experiment
Hunkin's Experiments is a group of simple cartoon illustrations of scientific principles. Some would work well in the classroom, but others have little value beyond entertaining students. All of the projects are easy to do. This one is a great example of phototropism in plants.
http://www.hunkinsexperiments.com/pages/potatoes.htm
Irish Potato Famine
Students can learn about the Irish Potato Famine on this interactive site.
http://www.irishpotatofamine.org/
The Potato Then and Now
Potatoes are a staple agricultural product of
http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/205/301/ic/cdc/potato/default.htm
Science News for Kids
Potato farmers spend billions of dollars every year to fight blight - a disease that can wipe out potato crops. Now scientists have discovered a wild variety of potato that is immune to blight. See the advantages and possible disadvantages in growing these potato crops.
http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20030723/Note2.asp
American Folklore
This site is a complete listing of annotated tall tales. Click on the title and read your favorite!
http://americanfolklore.net/tt.html#Tall
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings.
Verse, paintings and scientific facts bring the marvels of the Universe to life. The changing of Pluto’s status as a planet is included.
Douglas Florian
http://www.storybookart.com/dflorian.html
Author’s website
An interview with Douglas Florian
http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_florian.asp
Douglas Florian: Teacher Resource File
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/florian.htm
http://www.rif.org/art/illustrators/florian.mspx
Meet Douglas Florian.
Zoo Who
http://www.teachingbooks.net/book_reading.cgi?id=2392
Douglas Florian reads from Zoo Who in this podcast.
Poems and Rhymes for Children
http://www.windowsill.net/poetry.html
Love Poems and Rhymes? This site is a wonderful bibliography of poetry books for children.
Scholastic: Journey into Space
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/explorations/space/
"Science Explorations put authentic learning in students’ hands. The rich, interactive content, developed by Scholastic in partnership with the
http://amnh.org/education/resources/scholastic/space.php?src=schol_space
"Explore the Universe, from the Big Bang to our solar system. This special collection provides articles and activities related to astronomy, meteorites, the Earth, and the forces that make collisions happen."
Kids Astronomy
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/deep_space.htm
Use this site to learn about the different parts of the universe. Includes pictures and links to other relevant sites. Elements such as solar system, black holes, galaxies, and nebulas are explained clearly at a level appropriate for elementary school students.
The Space Shuttle
http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/Science/SpaceShuttle/SpaceShuttle.htm
Students can see actual photos of a space shuttle launching from earth as well as the people who now could go because of technology. Learn about some of the equipment and vehicles used to make it happen.
Gabriel’s Horses
Hart, Alison. Gabriel’s Horses. 2007.
Though twelve-year-old Gabriel’s father is a free black man, his mother is a slave; thus he is also a slave. His father trains thoroughbred race horses, and it is Gabriel’s desire to be a jockey some day. When his father joins the Union Army to earn money to buy his family’s freedom, it becomes Gabriel’s job to protect the horses from the new trainer and a band of Confederate raiders
Alison Hart
http://www.childrensbookguild.org/hart.html
Hart’s webpage from the Children’s Book Guild. Includes listing of her books and a link to Peachtree Publishing, the publisher of Gabriel’s Horses and the Racing to Freedom trilogy.
Horse Racing
Call to the Derby Post - History of Horse Racing in Kentucky
http://www.derbypost.com/kentucky.html
A brief history, beginning in post-Revolutionary War times, including the impact of the railroad and influx if immigrants into
The Virtual Library of Sport – Horse Racing
http://sportsvl.com/rest/horse%20racing.htm
All things related to the sport can be found here. Website links to history, jockeys, trainers, types of horse racing, both in the
The Jockeys Room – How do I become a jockey?
http://www.jockeysroom.com/msg4.htm
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a world class jockey? Find out in this informative article.
Northern Racing College
http://www.northernracingcollege.co.uk/default.asp?contentID=171
Not for the faint of heart, this article is designed to give potential jockeys the low-down about whether they can make the grade.
Seabiscuit
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/seabiscuit/index.html
Website for the American Experience episode about one of the greatest race horses that ever lived. Hear vintage radio broadcasts of Seabiscuit’s races, find a timeline of his life, and a teacher’s guide.
African American Soldiers in the Civil War
Home of Heroes.com – Sergeant Carney’s Flag
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfa_hist5carney.html
William Carney was the first African American to be honored with the Medal of Freedom for his part as a Union soldier at the battle of
54th
About.Com
http://afroamhistory.about.com/od/soldiers/a/54mass_infantry.htm
A history of the most well-known regiment of African American soldiers.
Civil War
National Park Service – Gettysburg National Military Park
http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/gettkidz/kidzindex.htm
Kids are invited to search this site to learn all about the causes of the war, life of the Civil War soldier, and the historic events that happened at
Music of the War Between the States
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/music/index.html
Music was a large part of the war, here you’ll find song lyrics and hear the melodies of the songs dear to each side of the war effort.
How To Steal a Dog
O’Connor, Barbara. 2007. How to Steal a Dog.
One secret that Georgina plans to keep from everyone, including her best friend, is that her father left; now she, her mother and her little brother, Toby, are homeless. When she sees a sign offering a $500.00 reward for a lost dog, she sees a way out of her troubles. Now she just has to steal a dog.
Barbara O’Connor
Official site – be sure and look in the “For Teachers” section for a book guide to How to Steal a Dog, and show your students the author’s blog.
http://www.barboconnor.com/books/novels/bk_steal.html
Book synopsis, awards listing, book discussion guide, and reviews for How to Steal a Dog.
Animal Care
ASPCA’s Animaland
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_home
Interactive highly-graphical website designed to inform and educate kids about all types of animals. Includes advice on pet care, anticruelty information, cartoons, activities, animal careers, and the ability to email a question and have it answered by an expert.
Homelessness
National Coalition for the Homeless
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts.html
Facts and issues relating to the homeless in the
HUD – Homeless
http://www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm
Homeless assistance information, how to help the homeless, and other information from HUD. A link on the page translates the information into Spanish for the Spanish reader.
Lost Pets
About.com: Dogs – Help, my dog is missing!
http://dogs.about.com/cs/generalcare/a/missing_dog.htm
What to do if your dog gets lost, including a printer-friendly checklist.
Missing Pet Network – Finding a lost pet; where to start
http://www.missingpet.net/advice/index.html
Another great site with information on finding a lost pet.
Just Grace
Harper, Charise Mericle. 2007. Just Grace.
There are four girls named Grace in the same third grade class. When Miss Lois asks Grace what she wants to be called, her reply is, “just Grace”--and the name stuck. Grace prides herself in empathizing with others, but her attempt at helping her neighbor feel better about her lost cat backfires.
Charise Mericle Harper
Author’s official website.
Cats
Animal Planet
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/cats/cats.html
Guide to lots of information about cats, including a cat guide, cat anatomy, life stages of the cat, cat proofing your home, and cat care 101.
National Geographic
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/cats/
The story of cats, inside and out.
World Almanac for Kids
From origin of the species to showing and judging show cats, this is the guide for all things cat.
National Geographic Video
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/09/060928-cats-land-video.html
Watch this video to learn why cats always land on their feet.
Animaland Pet Care Guide: Cats
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=kids_pc_cat_411
Learn all about cats and how to properly care for them. This site also includes several cartoons demonstrating how to care for your cat.
Photography
Virtual Field Trip: Photography
http://www.field-trips.org/cross/photo/index.htm
Travel on a Virtual Field Trip to learn more about Photography. You will discover the history of photography, how to use a camera, the elements of composition and how photography relates to other subject areas.
Marvelous Mattie: how Margaret E. Knight became an inventor
McCully, Emily Arnold. 2006. Marvelous Mattie: How Margaret E. Knight Became an Inventor.
Inventor, Margaret Knight, was not the usual 19th century young woman. Her first inventions were for her brothers, and at age twelve she invented a shuttle-guard that prevented many mill injuries. She became part of history when a man stole her invention for making square bottomed paper bags, and she had to go to court to prove herself as the inventor to obtain the patent..
Emily Arnold McCully
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-mccully-emily-arnold.asp
Author profile from kidsread.com.
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/mccully.htm
Internet School Library Media Center Teacher Resource file page for McCully. Includes lesson plans for many of her books, and other websites of note.
Margaret E. Knight
Cal Poly
http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/inventors/knight.html
Provides a brief history of Knight’s life and inventions, includes a detailed diagram of her paper bag folding machine, and lists additional websites about the inventor.
About.com
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blknight.htm
Brief biography of Knight, and listing of all her inventions and the date they received their patent.
Women Inventors
Cal Poly
http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/inventors/
List of women inventors included in the university’s website. Each listing is a link to that person’s webpage giving a brief biography of the person, as well as a detailed drawing and description of their invention.
About.com
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors
Want to know who invented such items as the bra, disposable diaper, Kevlar, or even Nystatin, the world’s first useful antifungal medicine? Then take a look at this exhaustive collection of websites, and the alphabetical listing with links to women inventors. There’s also a trivia quiz to test your knowledge of the Mothers of Invention.
Paper Sack Industry
Eurosac
http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.eurosac.org/uk/history.htm
Read a brief history of the paper sack.
http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.eurosac.org/uk/history.htm
In case you didn’t know there are different types of paper sacks, read all about them at this informative webpage.
The Thing About Georgie
Graff, Lisa. 2006. The Thing About Georgie.
Georgie is a Little Person and for the most part, he is happy with his life. However, finding out he is about to become a brother, dealing with Jeanie the Meanie, and having a major fight with his best friend all converge during his fourth-grade year. Georgie has to learn that growing up is not a height issue.
Lisa Graff
Includes a link to the author’s blog, questions and answer section, biography, and link to her books.
Little People of
Information of dwarfs and dwarfism.
Symphony Orchestra
http://www.dsokids.com/IAmMusician/index.html
Click on instruments in the orchestra to find out information about the members of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. This is part of a larger website sponsored by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra to open the world of music to students.
ThinkQuest: The Symphony, An Interactive Guide
http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/
Listen to symphonies in live performances, then read about their history and use a Listener’s Guide to learn more about the music. Detailed biographies of composers are included, as well as, a timeline of important events, and take a crash course in symphonic form.
http://library.thinkquest.org/22673/
This interactive site offers students resource for learning about composers, their works, the logistics of orchestra seating, the functions of different instruments, and the like. At this link, you may enter either the student side or the teacher’s side.
ThinkQuest: Energy is in the Air, Sounds from the Orchestra
http://library.thinkquest.org/5116
Click on an instrument section to learn and hear more about that instrument and what it’s sound contributes to the entire symphony. The Sound section explains sound waves and how instruments use energy to create their unique sound. Be sure and take the quiz at the end of the sections.
Human Body
Life cycles
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/lifecycles/
A lesson plan for K-5, the student objectives are to define the terms "genes" and "heredity"; identify learned and inherited behaviors; and describe and compare family traits and characteristics.
Travel for Kids:
http://www.travelforkids.com/Funtodo/Italy/italy.htm
Learn all about this country, where to visit, and even great books you can read with either an Italian setting, or character who is Italian.
Internet Public Library KidSpace – Say Hello in Italian
http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/hello/italian.html
Learn words in English from the Italian language, and sites to see in
Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable stingray,
a Toughy Little
Jenkins, Emily. 2006. Toys Go Out: Being the Adventures of a Knowledgeable stingray, a Toughy Little
Told in six episodic adventures, Lumpy, Stingray, and Plastic, three best friends who are toys belonging to the Little Girl, discover the dangers and adventures of life in these funny and endearing tales.
Emily Jenkins
Official author’s site.
http://www.emilyjenkins.com/toysgoout.html
Webpage for Toys go out, including reviews, link to frequently asked questions, teacher resources.
Paul O. Zelinsky
Official author/illustrator’s site. Includes a link to Toys go out.
School Library Journal
Books Kids Will Sit Still For
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6378376.html
This article from School Library Journal's Curriculum Connections suggests writing exercises on point of view and dramatic play ideas. Toys Go Out is #2.
Buffalos
http://www.columbuszoo.org/living%5Fcollection/
Brief introduction to this animal. Click on “More Information” link to get more facts.
National Geographic: American Bison
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/american-bison.html?nav=A-Z
This page from National Geographic provides an image, fact sheet and profile on the American Bison.
PBS - American
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/buffalo/
Website of the PBS special that includes a teacher’s guide, links to buffalo websites & the history that brought this animal to near extinction.
Plastic
Nobelprize.org – Plastics
http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/chemistry/plastics/index.html
Read about how plastic was discovered and the part it plays in everyday life. Play the Heating Plastics game.
Scope: Plastics
http://www.csiro.au/scope/episodes/e09.htm
Plastic it's everywhere! Join Dr. Rob as he explores our world of plastic. See video clips and even make your own slim.
Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab: Making Homemade Plastic
http://www.spartechsoftware.com/reeko/Experiments/ExpMakingPlastic.htm
In 5 simple steps, anyone can make a small batch of homemade plastic. This website not only explains why milk and vinegar, when mixed, create plastic, but also provides a brief lesson about plastic in general, which includes chemical and historical facts.
Stingrays
Columbus
http://www.columbuszoo.org/living_collection/animal.aspx?animalId=50
Zoo site features the Southern Stingray. Provides a brief description, fun facts, photos and more.
Knowledge Archives
http://www.marinethemes.com/knowledge.html
Click on the name of the marine animal to find a fact page. You’ll find many types of stingrays listed including cowtail stingray, black stingray, & more.