Jean Marzollo

“I’m Tyrannosaurus: A Book of Dinosaur Rhymes” by Jean Marzollo

Illustrations by Hans Wilhelm ©1993 - 2012

Some teachers find it interesting to review at this time of year facts that children are learning (or have learned) about dinosaurs.  Children can draw pictures to illustrate the dinosaur facts below or act them out in dramatic play.  I am impressed that today kindergarten kids know the words “fiction” and “non-fiction.”  As a class project, you could make fiction and non-fiction books about dinosaurs.

Dinosaur Facts

Dinosaurs hatched from eggs.
Some dinosaurs were big. 
Some dinosaurs were small. 
Some walked. 
Some flew. 
Some swam.
Some dinosaurs ate meat.
Some dinosaurs ate plants.
Some dinosaurs ate both. 

Tyrannosaurus rex ate meat
He had sharp teeth. 
Brontosaurus ate plants. 
He had teeth like pegs.

Dinosaurs were reptiles. 

Snakes and turtles are reptiles too. 
Dinosaurs lived long, long ago on earth.

They lived on earth before people.
There are no more dinosaurs today.

We say that dinosaurs are “extinct.”

Scientists who study dinosaurs are called “paleontologists.” 

As you look through the following free ebook on my website, discuss which pictures are fiction and which are non-fiction:  http://jeanmarzollo.com/books/imtrex.html

For more dinosaur ideas, please check out the free edition of “The New Kindergarten”:

http://jeanmarzollo.com/KINDERGARTEN/chapter_ten.html

Excerpted from “The New Kindergarten” by Jean Marzollo, illustrations by Irene Trivas ©1987-2012.

Simple Simon

Simple Simon met a pie man
Going to the fair.
Said Simple Simon to the pie man,
“Let me taste your ware.”
Said the man to Simple Simon,
“Show me first your penny.”
Said Simple Simon to the pie man,
“Indeed, I have not any.”

Ask the children to retell in their own words the story of Simple Simon.  Can they do it using the word zero?  Explain to the children that the word ware can mean “things that are being sold.”  In class discussion, elicit that the pie man was taking his pies to the fair and sell them.  He would sell each piece for a penny.  How many pennies did Simple Simon have?  The answer is zero.  Ask the children to help you think up more verses to the poem so you can discuss more numbers.  For example,

Said the man to Simple Simon,
“Show me pennies two.”
Said Simple Simon to the pie man,
“Here are two for you.”

The number zero is featured in my new books, Help Me Learn Addition, and Help Me Learn Numbers 0-20.

http://jeanmarzollo.com/books/help_me_learn_addition.html

http://jeanmarzollo.com/books/help_me_learn_numbers.html

Excerpted from “The New Kindergarten” by Jean Marzollo, illustrations by Irene Trivas (c) 1987-2012.

The book is available online for free at:
http://jeanmarzollo.com/KINDERGARTEN/kindergarten_index.html.

I Spy riddle writing is harder than it looks so I was very happy to receive this note and photos from an 8-year-old who did a great job.

Many 8-year-olds can do this activity independently, but younger children need help.  Creating an I Spy Picture Riddle is a fine kindergarten class project.

My name is Emma.  I am in second grade.

I made an I Spy Picture Riddle.  It was fun! 

I used the stickers in a new book called I SPY Sticker Book and Picture Riddles.   I printed the words myself.

My riddle says:

I spy a guitar, a skater, a star;

A drum, a horn, a harp, and a car.

To create her I Spy Picture Riddle, Emma’s parents helped her find and use this format on my website:

http://www.jeanmarzollo.com/ISPY/riddle_writing.html

I Skyped with a wonderful class in Maine last week, and they reminded me that Pierre the Penguin is nominated for the 2012 Chickadee Book Award: http://www.chickadeeaward.org/.   Children in Grades K-4 vote on their favorite book, thanks to the Maine Association of School Libraries.  The winner will be announced in April.  Good luck Pierre!

Pierre the Penguin, published by Sleeping Bear Press: http://www.sleepingbearpress.com/