Quick as a Cricket and The Magician's Nephew

K-2 graders

How do you feel today? As quick as a cricket? As brave as a tiger? As gentle as a lamb? Audrey Wood and Don Wood explain the vast array of a child's feelings through similes and captivating illustrations in this delightful book, "As Quick as a Cricket."

Activity: Define what a simile is. Audrey Wood filled her book with similes about a child. Now it is the students' turn to write their own simile about themselves. Prepare a paper beforehand with a place for the student to write a simile describing himself or herself and plenty of space below to draw an illustration of the personal simile. One student at Bella Vista describes herself "as hungry as a caterpillar", another student says he is "as strong as a dinosaur!"

3-6 graders

The Chronicles of Narnia stand the test of time. Penned by C.S. Lewis 60 years ago these books span his characters' experiences in our world and other worlds, including a nearby fantasy world called Narnia. Most readers are familiar with The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, the second book in the seven book series. But there is a previous book, the first book in the series called The Magician's Nephew. This book lays a fantastic foundation for the series.

In the first chapter, Polly and Digory are playing in the rafters of their homes in London. On their curious adventure they get locked in a study by the intriguing yet strange Uncle Andrew. He coerces Polly to touch a magic ring on a table. She disappears. Then Digory touches a ring to go find Polly. Together they discover other worlds including the world of Narnia. They meet the king or god of Narnia, Aslan. They are involved with the witch's presence in Narnia but is it really their fault she is there? And they are challenged by an important mission given to them by Aslan.

Activity: Before reading an exerpt from The Magician's Nephew, ask several Narnia Trivia questions to bait the students' interest. Examples: What type of animal is Aslan? Has the witch always lived in Narnia? Does she ever visit our world? Do all the animals speak in Narnia? Are Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy the only children who have been to Narnia? How does the wardrobe become a portal from our world to Narnia...? If answers are unknown they can be found when reading The Magician's Nephew.