Author school Program

Persuasive Writing in Action

Version 2

In Mrs. Braham’s classroom, writing lessons are not packed away like their chromebooks at the end of class. These students have lifted their writing out of the classroom and lofted it into the wider world. Using persuasive writing, the third graders convinced the principal and the PTO to create a plastic bottle recycling program! What a “persuasive” lesson on the power of words.

I was excited to be with Ms. Braham’s students to help kick off their informational writing unit. Now I am looking forward to returning to see what they are up to next! @mrsbraham3

Recycle Beat Proof Trash Cans, Yosemite National Park, Californi

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February 21, 2018 0

Greenwood’s Great Buncee Books

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_167

Dear Mrs. Braham, Mrs. Curran, and Students,

Thank you for sending me your nonfiction projects. I learned a lot of fascinating facts from reading them. I also learned how smart you all are and what good writers you are! Many of you did an excellent job including similes, vivid verbs, and alliteration.

Below are some of my thoughts about your work . . . with apologies to Jacob because your Star Wars project appears to have gone missing. May the Force be with your teachers in finding it.

Stella: Welcome to My Room
You used your “paintbrush” to paint a vivid picture of your room, Stella.
Two awesome similes—
“My walls are white as marshmallow.”
“My little cousin and my little sister “make the room SO dirty it’s like the cafeteria floor after the first lunch.”
But my favorite sentence is—
“The thing I like most about my room is that I have someone to share it with.”

Anya: How To Be An Expert On The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
What an excellent job in sequencing the events of the story, Anya and in giving details about the characters’ looks and personalities.
I enjoyed the interesting chapters you wrote about the different houses and the equipment needed to be a wizard.

Michael: How to Hide from Your Annoying Brother
I am impressed by your ingenious ideas, Michael! (Sorry about your brother blowing up your Minecraft game.) Maybe one day you’ll use your considerable creative talents to design your own video game.

Thomas: Star Wars
You’ve demonstrated a wealth of knowledge about Star Wars weapons, Thomas. I learned a lot—including the fact that there is a Star Wars bounty hunter with my name—Jango Fett. Thanks for that information!

Derek: My Favorite New England Patriots
I love the way you started your Introduction, Derek – “Boom!! The ball goes right into your hand.” That opening made me want to read on. Your last sentence in the Introduction also enticed me to keep reading—Get ready to learn a lot about famous players. Your passion for football shines through!

Jaylee: Best Friends Whenever
You are lucky, Jaylee, to have a best friend like Kayla. It is good that you appreciate each other. I love your advice about being kind to others—even if they are not your best friends.

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_166

Tristan: Animal Jam
Animal Jam sounds like fun! Aren’t animals amazing? My husband used to play Space Invaders, which you showed in your Mini Games section. That was many moons ago!

Kevin: Elite Team
I like the way you started with a question, Kevin. That gets the reader involved.
“Do you want to have the ultimate Madden Mobile team?”
It was also clever how you ended by returning to that question.
“So now do you want to play Madden Mobile?”
You did an excellent job of telling readers at the beginning what they will learn. Then at the end, you summarized what they learned.
I enjoyed your many sensational similes!
“Bo Jackson is like a truck with an engine that never runs out!”
“He is like a palace guard in England except he protects Tom Brady not the Queen of England.”
“J.J. Watt is like a pro sumo wrestler because he’s super strong, super tuff and super big.”
“Larry Fitzgerald is like superman. Nobody can stop him.”
“Also when he sees someone ahead of him, like most tight ends he runs over the guy. Rob Gronkowski is like a Mack Truck!”
“Stephen Gostowski is like the most accurate weather man.”

Konstandina: Girl Scout Flavors
Very enticing information, Konstandina! I was intrigued by the statistics you gave regarding flavor preferences. I agree with you—I can’t choose! Your illustrations are great too. The opening photograph made my mouth water and the old drawing you found was cool. Are you in the photograph of the scouts on page 3?

Gracie: RaeAnn Williams
You’ve painted some vivid pictures, Gracie!
“Ireland has the personality of a mouse being chased by a big, hungry, cat.”
“I’m about as fast as a tennis ball trying to go up hill, when RaeAnn is almost as fast as a football player.”
“EVERY time RaeAnn saw me she would put on the biggest smile ever and wave her hand so much it’s like she’s waving 50 times per second.”
Speaking of pictures, I love the picture you put in at the end of the two girls holding hands. I also love the insect paintings you picked.
P.S. Why did you name your dog Ireland, if her father was American and her mother was French?

Zachary: Madden Mobile
Wow! You have given extensive details, Zachary. I didn’t know anything about Madden Mobile, but after reading your Buncee Book I feel very well informed. Doing research is lots of fun when you like the topic, isn’t it?

Luke: Famous Tennis Players
Amazing photographs, Luke! The one of Gael Moflese on your title page, where he is stretched out horizontally as he hits the ball, is jaw-dropping. I also like that you emphasized how necessary practice is. My favorite part was when you said that sometimes Gael Moflese tries a very difficult shot and fails. But even though he might feel foolish and people might laugh, at least he tried.

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_165

Brendan: Independent Read
That’s great that you love reading. I can tell by your sentence—
“I was waiting for it for 5-10 minutes (which seemed like 1000 HOURS).”
I’ve never heard of A to Z Mysteries by Ron Roy. I’ll have to get it from the library. There used to be book called Minute Mysteries, because these mysteries could be read in a minute. You had to guess the solution to each mystery by analyzing the clues. Thanks for the mysteries book tip!

Ryan/Jacob: Madden Mobile Playing
I like the fascinating fact you put into your Introduction, Ryan—
“In 2009 Madden Mobile sold 2.3 million copies.”
Your enthusiasm shines through in your writing and you’ve added lots of action photos.

Adeline: Diving
Excellent beginning, Adeline! You start off by plunging the reader right into the diving scene—
“ON YOUR MARK! You take your stand on the diving block early in the morning. GET SET, GOOO!!!”
I see you also took out your “paintbrush” with this simile—
“A dive is like a spaceship soaring through the solar system in space!”
Good job adding questions to lure in the reader.

Giuliana: Figure Skating
Beautiful photos and graphics of skaters, Giuliana!
Excellent Introduction that speaks directly to the reader—
“Who is going to be the next figure skating champ? It might be someone from Wakefield, Boston, or Melrose. Or maybe it might be you!”
I can really picture this—
“When you glide, you shoot your body like a hockey puck that has just been touched by a hockey stick shooting itself across ice.”
“ . . . like you’re running away from a maniac brother with 2 darts in his hand aiming for you and misses.”
Your videos are wonderful. They make me want to do just what you advise at the end—
“So, GO TRY IT ON ICE!”

Sam: All About Dirt Bikes
I like the way you named your chapters with opposites. Very Clever, Sam!
Fast/Slow Winning/Losing Start/Finish
This is a great phrase—“flickering fast.”
Intriguing questions and fun to imagine—
“Who would win a dirt bike vs a lightning bolt?”
“Dirt bike vs a motorcycle chopper?”
You found some fantastic photos.

Cassidy Silva: Hamster Cages
Cute animation and voice-over for your hamster wheel!
You really had your paintbrush out here—
“A hamster running in its wheel is like a hamster scattering from a giant monster. “A hamster wheel is like a frisbee spinning in the air.
“You know what they say, ‘Happy hamsters love to drink like an elephant eating nuts.’ Your humor is terrific—“Well OK I admit I only say that.”
Adding sounds keeps your writing interesting—“and… POP!”
You’ve also done a great job of sprinkling in lots of questions.
I never knew hamsters were such clever escape artists!

Feel free to send me any of your other “Exciting Writing!”

Thanks again to all at Grennwood,

Judith

Author_program-school-Massachusetts

Read or download my school program/author visit brochure:

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May 12, 2016 0

Science Snippet: Eeeek! Freaky Feet

These feet may not be your idea of beautiful,
but their avian owners think they fit the bill.

Read the clues
That tell how they are used.
Then figure out whose is whose.

Wood Stork Feet, Mycteria americana — 1. As this tall bird slowly wades, it uses its feet to stir up the water, flushing out fish.

Red-footed Booby Feet, Sula sula — 2. This diving bird’s webbed feet assist it in swimming, and their bright color attracts mates.

Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus — 3. This fowl’s feet distribute its weight like snowshoes, allowing it to walk on floating vegetation.

Wood Stork, Mycteria americana — Wood Stork, *Mycteria americana*

Red-footed Booby on Nest, Sula sula — Red-footed Booby on Nest, *Sula sula*

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_158 — Purple Gallinule, *Porphyrio martinicus*

Here are the correct matches:

Wood Stork Flying, Mycteria americana — Wood Stork Flying

White Morph of the Red-footed Booby, Sula sula — Red-footed Booby (White Morph)

See more amazing wading birds at:
http://www.agpix.com/cohen

Author on Playa Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island

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February 23, 2016 4

Science Snippet: Musical Migrants

Science Word in the News: MIGRATE

Canada Goose babies, Branta canadensis — Canada Goose babies

Migrating animals
Never guess.
They know where to go
With no GPS.

Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncates — Bottlenose Dolphin

Definition: MIGRATE means to move from one region or habitat to another.

Male Monarch Butterfly, Milkweed Butterfly, Danaus plexippus — Male Monarch Butterfly

Derivation: MIGRATE comes from the Latin word migrāre,
which means to move from place to place.

Other words with this root:
Immigrant
a person who comes to live permanently in a new country
Migrant
a person or animal who migrates
OR
a person who moves from place to place for work, especially a farm laborer

African Elephant Eating, Loxodonta africana — African Elephant

Examples:
Gray Whales
Each fall they travel 5,000 miles from Arctic feeding grounds to warm Mexican breeding lagoons. In the spring they head back.
African Elephant
At the start of the dry season they migrate to find water holes.
Monarch Butterflies
In autumn, they fly 2,500 miles to warmer regions in Mexico or southern California.

Did You Know?
Many European song birds migrate to Africa in the winter. Some scientists believe they use this time to practice their singing–“like a bird band camp”–in preparation for the mating season when they return.

Red-winged Blackbird Singing, Agelaius phoeniceus — Male Red-Winged Blackbird

In the news:
Read about “bird band camp”:
New Scientist

Find out more!
View an entertaining migration video:
Kids Learning Animation Video

See more migrating animals at my husband’s and my photography website: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

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February 3, 2016 0

Science Snippet: Carnivore Counts

Science Word in the News: CARNIVORE

Not all carnivores
Have jaws or claws.
Can you believe
Some have leaves?

Definition: A CARNIVORE is an organism that feeds on animal flesh.

Derivation: CARNIVORE comes from two Latin words.
Carn means meat and vorare means to devour.

Other words with these roots:
Carnage, large-scale killing
Voracious, having a great appetite
Locavore, a person who eats locally grown foods

Alligator Eating Nutria, Alligator mississippiensis1 — Alligator , Alligator mississippiensis

Examples:
Lion
Crocodile
Wolf
Walrus

Did You Know?
Some plants are carnivorous because they trap and digest insects. One carnivorous plant, the venus fly trap, “counts” from one to five to trap and digest its prey.

Purple Pitcher Plant with Insects Inside, Purple Pitcherplant, S — Purple Pitcher Plant with Insects Inside, Sarracenia purpurea

In the news:
Learn more about the “counting” carnivorous plant:
New Scientist

Find out more!
Read an amazing article about insects’ “fatal attraction” to carnivorous plants:
National Geographic

See more clever carnivores at my husband’s and my photography website: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

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January 27, 2016 0

Science Snippet: Wild & Kooky Critters

Author taking photos on Playa Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island

The Galapagos Islands are home to such bizarre beasts that they seem to have escaped from a Pixar movie. On a recent trip to this volcanic archipelago, my husband and I walked and snorkeled among its quirky creatures, who were unfazed and unflustered by our curiosity . . . and our cameras.

Here’s a selection of some of the dazzling characters we encountered.

Blue-footed Booby and Napping Nestilings

Male Great Frigatebird Displaying Gular Sac to Attract a Mate

Nazca Boobies Bill Clacking Mating Ritual — Nazca Boobies Performing Bill Clacking Mating Ritual

Flycatcher Checking Out Concave Lens as Possible Nesting Cavity

A Curious Sea Lion Investigates Our Guide

Fishing Flamingo — A Flaming Orange Flamingo

When it comes to the Galapagos inhabitants, it’s hard to tell fact from fiction!
See how YOU do in detecting the truth on the quiz below.
Directions:
1. Select the letter of each true statement below.
2. Put the letters (in order) into the blanks.
3. The completed word is the animal whom the islands are named after.
(This animal’s Spanish name is “galapagos.”)
4. Click on the link at the bottom to check your answer.

____ O _ T I ____

1. RED-FOOTED BOOBY

I catch fish by plunging head-first into the water. For protection I

Always wear a helmet. <S>

Have air sacs in my skull to soften the blow. <T>

2. MARINE IGUANA

Marine Iguana Looking Like Movie Monster, Godzilla — Marine Iguana: A Godzilla Look-alike

When I build up too much salt in my body from snacking on seaweed, I

Switch to a salt-free diet. <Q>

Snort clouds of salt spray from my nostrils. <R>

3. GIANT TORTOISE

Galapagos Giant Tortoise — Galapagos Tortoise Mid-Meal

I live a long life. So I may have been plodding along when

The first Hersey bars were invented (1900). <O>

Stegosaurus feasted on ferns. <P>

4. SEA LION

For excitement, I

Play tag with the sharks. <R>

Body surf on the waves. <S>

5. SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB

If someone bothers me I

Make like a water pistol and squirt them. <E>

Get crabby and put out a DO NOT DISTURB sign. <F>

PUZZLE ANSWER

To see more Galpagos photos you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

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October 25, 2015 0

Science Snippet: Elephantheads & Horsetails

Author_visit_program_school_Mass_nonfiction_123 — A red and gold firecracker “pops” amidst its green foliage.

As blue hydrangea blooms are making way for golden oak leaves, I wanted to share another “look-alike” plant post with you. Previous Post.

As before, six “look-alike” plants are pictured below. After studying their shapes and colors, try to guess their names. Then click on the photos for the answers–and for information about these intriguing plants.

NAMES

Trumpet Creeper Elephanthead

Horsetails Pitcher Plant

Fairy Duster Monkshood

Here are two other fun activities:

Write a fairy tale that explains one interesting fact about a “look-alike” plant.
For Example:
Perhaps the trumpet creeper was once a small girl who annoyed a wicked witch. Every morning she would wake the witch up by blowing her horn, so the witch turned her into a trumpet creeper flower. The spell can be reversed if a hummingbird comes and drinks from her blossom. (Hummingbirds are attracted to trumpet creepers because of their red color.)
Make up your own “look-alike” flower.
Name it after one of the following:
favorite dessert, favorite pet, or favorite sport
Draw a picture.
Label the different plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers.

To see more exquisite flowers you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

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September 9, 2015 0

Science Snippet: Silver Swords and Fairy Slippers

If you had a silver sword and a fairy slipper, what would you do with them? They sound like magical objects in a fairy tale. But you could plant them in your garden . . . because they are both flowers.

Indian blanket, Indian Blanketflower, Sundance, Firewheel, Gaill — Firewheel, Gaillardia pulchella

Six of these “look-alike” plants are pictured below. After studying their shapes and colors, try to guess their names. Then click on the photos for the answers–and for information about these interesting plants.

NAMES

Shrimp Plant Rattlesnake Grass

Silver Sword Bleeding Heart

Paintbrush Fairy Slipper

Here are two other fun activities:

1. Chose one or two of the plants above and write a fairy tale about magical “look-alikes.”
2. Make up your own “look-alike” flower. Draw it and name it. Then tell where it lives and give three interesting facts about it.

To see more exquisite flowers you can visit my husband’s and my photography website at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

View my program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

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July 28, 2015 0

Student Nonfiction Websites

Here’s an innovative way to delve into nonfiction writing. Have your students create their own websites. After my visit to a third grade class, the inventive teacher, Mrs. Braham did just that.

Her students drew on their own experiences, choosing topics from sewing to soccer to computers to cats. Then, with the technical support of their media specialist, Mr. Pirollo, the children got going on their websites. Their results are showcased on http://weebly.com .

I was amazed at the great work of Mrs. Braham’s students! They honed their nonfiction writing techniques, exercised their creativity, and as Mrs. Braham says, learned how to integrate technology into the curriculum.

Congratulations, children! Thank you for sharing your work! Below is a brief note for each of you. Hope you have lots of reading and writing time this summer.

Zachary: Thank you for teaching me about Chromebooks.
Vincent: Hope you and your Dad have fun wrestling this summer.
Katie: I love your video about the homeless dog who was rescued.
Maeve: Excellent advice about not overfeeding and not tapping the fish tank–common mistakes.

Nadia: Great job: narrative opening, lots of cat information, fun captions, and adorable videos.
Caroline: Hope you and your “gaga” have fun “sewing with compassion” this summer.
Richard: What an exciting opening to your homepage. I see you’re a soccer whiz.
Lauren: I loved the section about emotions and the picture of the retrievers hugging.

Maeve: Great simile for explaining how to hold the violin bow. Have fun practicing this summer.
Joseph: Thanks for teaching me about all those wrestling moves. But I will take your advice and not try them at home.
Jonathan: I’m glad you didn’t give up after your first year playing basketball. Keep having fun.
Elizabeth: Great job with the Do’s and Don’ts of cat care.
Ismael: Now I know why dogs sniff so much. Have fun with your two pups this summer.
Hayden: You created an interesting introduction, with your narrative and steam train video.

Jupiter Locomotive, Golden Spike National Historic Site, Promontory Summit, Utah

Rebecca: I loved your photos of the snow monkeys hugging and the baby eating the banana.
Hawa: Wow! After reading about hero dogs I was “blown away.”
Morgan: I hope you keep “doing your best” practicing gymnastics and writing stories.
Paul: That was a hilarious video of the black lab chasing the bubbles.
Vanessa: Excellent job explaining about gymnastic clothing and equipment.
Christopher: Great simile–comparing the wrestler, Triple H, to a bulldozer.

Thanks again, children and Mrs. Braham. Maybe one day I will be reading your books!

You can view my school program/author visit video at:

SCHOOL PROGRAM / AUTHOR VISIT VIDEO

View or download my school program/author visit brochure at:

AUTHOR PROGRAMS/VISITS BROCHURE

See my husband’s and my photography at: http://www.agpix.com/cohen

June 12, 2015 0

Judith Jango-Cohen

Nonfiction Author and Photographer

Category

Persuasive Writing in Action

Greenwood’s Great Buncee Books

Science Snippet: Eeeek! Freaky Feet

These feet may not be your idea of beautiful,
but their avian owners think they fit the bill.

Read the clues
That tell how they are used.
Then figure out whose is whose.