WEST JORDAN ELEMENTARY

West Jordan ElementaryMy daughter-in-law received her United States citizenship in March, so we decided to explain with pictures and books how this is done. We explained different ways people come to America by reading

Brother's Hope The Story of  the Lost Boys of Sudan by Mary Williams This is a book about refugees that come to America as well as other countries. The parents have either been killed or separated and lost by war and the kids are on their own.

Other books we featured were

The Pledge of Allegiance by Norman Pearl

The Flag We Love by Pam Munuz Ryan

Coming to America -The Story of Immigration

We printed a list of the questions people have to study for the test to become citizens off the internet. We asked appropriate questions for each class. I had pictures I put on a CD and showed of the actual court of the swearing in of Jhovana's citizenship.

Kindness is Cooler Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler

Mrs. Ruler is frustrated with her kindergarten class. They have been acting out all week, so she reminds them "kindness is cooler" and charges each student to perform five acts of kindness. Most of the class catches on quickly; only David seems to have trouble internalizing Mrs. Ruler's maxim that "a slice of nice makes a mile of smile." Eventually, even David finds a way to be good, rescuing the class's gerbils during a harrowing escape. The author of 100th Day Worries (2000) incorporates here the same enthusiasm, counting practice, and humor she used in the earlier title. Especially useful is an appended list of the 100 acts of kindness, which will get kids started and fuel their own ideas

Are You Quite Polite by Alan Katz

A collection of silly poems with equally silly drawings, Katz aims to teach good manners. In the opening spread kids are told that it is not polite to put their mouths on the waterspout of a drinking fountain. All of the poems are written to be sung to songs—among them are "Polly Wolly Doodle" and "Pop Goes the Weasel." In addition to the drinking fountain admonition, the book addresses other issues such as boogers, sibling rivalry, how to behave at a party, writing thank-you notes, not talking with food in your mouth, and the like. It ends with how to act in the library.

Almanac Lesson - Environment Earth Day questions