Math

It's Probably Penny 

By: Loreen Leedy

It's Probably Penny is a great story to read to students when teaching math, specifically probability.  This book is a higher level book, such as second or third grade level.  This story is about a teacher using different color jelly beans to have the students predict which color he will choose and the likelihood, or probability of that option.  He explains to the students that the purpose of doing this was so they would know what to expect when they do their math homework (and it was fun).  Afterwards, a student goes home and predicts outcomes about her dog Penny.  

Students may like this story because they may like dogs.  This story shows a young girl using probability to show that her dog, Penny, ate her sandwich, making a crazy noise, finding a buried treasure, etc.  She predicts that it's... "Probably Penny!"  This is something that many students can relate to back home and share the probability of their animal eating their homework.  

This story could be used to create a math assignment too.  For example, in the story the students math homework was to use the jellybeans and tell the likelihood of: 1.) WILL, MIGHT, CAN'T (probability of happening);  2.) Tiny chance/Impossible;  3.) Equal chances;  4.) Unequal chances.  This is a way to show if students are understanding probability in a fun way.  

Science

How a Seed Grows 

By: Helene J. Jordan

As a young learner, some students may have a hard time learning science.  They may not be interested.  This is why it is important to choose books for young learners to read and understand in which they can relate or use in their lives.  I think How a Seed Grows is a great example of this.  This book is about different things that grow, such as trees, carrots, corn, daisies, etc. all beginning from a tiny seed being planted.  

While reading this book to students, the teacher could ask them "Do you know someone who plant seeds?".  Then they can tell from their experiences that their mom, grandma, or aunt plants seeds.  They will also be able to share what plants, fruits and vegetables that they were able to get from those seeds.  This is a fun book to share and read aloud to students because this is science in a way they may have experienced and not realized!  They will learn that a tiny seed can create such a big tree.  Further in the book, the author included a science experiment for younger learners.  How to plant a seed and how it grows into a flower!  Students will learn about the root and how the root and root hair pushes down into the soil to grow.

After reading the book, students could do fun activities such as coloring their own seeds and roots on paper.  Also, they could plant their own seeds in little containers and experiment over the few days/weeks how their seed is growing.  This could be fun for students to visually see science happening right in front of their eyes.