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1. Stellaluna 2. Mother Bat 3. Mama Bird 4. Pip 5. Flutter 6. Flap

Stellaluna, the award-wining picture book by Janell Cannon, follows the adventure of a lost baby fruit bat and her efforts to fit in. Accidently dropped by her mother, Stellaluna falls helplessly into a birds nest where she is accepted as part of the family- as long as she acts like a bird. Although the young bat tries her best, she still wants to fly at night, hang upside down and eat fruit. One day she is separated from her bird family and is discovered sleeping right side up by a very surprised bat. He calls others to come see the unusual little creature and Stellaluna is unexpectedly reunited with her mother, learning she is not a bird but a bat! When her bird family comes to visit her bat family, they discover that being bat-like is just as hard for the baby birds as being bird-like was for her. Stellaluna comes to realize that she can remain best friends with her bird siblings, but doesnt have to look or act like them- she can be herself!

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Aimed at readers from kindergarten to grade three, Janell Cannons Stellaluna, is the ideal picture book to share with your classroom. It has become a favorite of teachers for years, as many important life lessons about friendship, individuality, and acceptance are woven throughout the story. Students will also enjoy learning interesting facts about bats, as the book shines a positive spotlight on an animal that is usually viewed in a negative manner. Furthermore, the full-page illustrations drawn by Cannon are large and vivid, making this a great book for reading out loud. In a grade 3 classroom, much can be taught through the reading of this book, as its plot discusses many important topics and lessons: ! Individuality ! Nocturnal Animals ! Parents ! Siblings ! Friends & Friendship ! Acceptance Students will also be able to practice and develop their skills as a knowledgeable reader and begin to understand the value and depth of language arts. Overall, it will encourage discussion among peers and create rich reader responses to all six activities.

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Reader Response Activity

Letters to the Nest!

Description

Language Expectations from the Ontario Curriculum

Identify the topic, purpose, audience and form for wiriting. ! Write short texts using a variety of forms. (e.g., a letter from the point view of a charcter) ! Identify a variety of text features and explain how they help readers understand texts (e.g., illustrations) ! Identify their point of view and other possible points of view on the topic, and determine if their information supports their own view. ! Sort ideas and informamation for their writing in a variety of ways (e.g., by using graphic organizers) ! ! Communicate orally in a clear, coherent manner, presenting ideas opinions and information in a logical sequence. Use a variety of appropriate visual aids to support or enhance oral presentations. Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate listening behavior by using active listening strategies in order to contribute meanginfuly and work constructively in groups.

(Writing)

Picture This!
(Viewing & Representing)

Students will imagine they are Stellaluna and write a letter home, telling her bird family how much she is misses them or about how her life has changed since being reunited with her mother. As a class, analyze the small pen and ink drawings at the top of the text pages. These small illustrations tell the Story of how Stellalunas mother is alive and searching for her baby. Illustrate the story again from Pip, Flutter and Flaps point of view (McGhee). Students will fill out a venn diagram, determining the similarities and differences between bats and birds. In groups of 4 to 6, students create a tableaux, or still pictures of a scene in Stellaluna. When presenting it to the class, the teacher will touch each character on the shoulders, and the student will reveal what thoughts are going through their mind at that moment (Bainbridge et al. 406).

Venn Diagram: Birds or Bats?

(Writing)

(Speaking & Listening)

In the Spotlight!

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Reader Response Activity Guess Who?

(Viewing & Listening)

Description

Language Expectations from the Ontario Curriculum

! Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate listening behavior by using active listening strategies in order to contribute meaningfully and work constructively in groups. Identify some non-verbal cues, including facial expression, gestures and eye contact, and use them in oral communications to help convey their meaning Gather information to support ideas for writing in a variety of ways/or from a variety of sources Use some appropriate elements of effective presentation in finished product, including prints, script, different fonts, graphics and layout (e.g., use legible printing and colours on a poster to attract attention) Identify a variety of purposes for reading and choose reading materials appropriate for those purposes

In Stellaluna one species of animal is asked to imitate another. Pair the students together and have them work on imitating an animal through actions and sounds. The groups will demonstrate their imitations to the class, who will guess what animal is being depicted.

Dont Judge a Book by its Cover!

(Reading, Writing & Representing)

There are many misconceptions about bats, and many people are afraid of them. Students will research and create a poster that will inform people how bats help the environment, or humanity, changing their feelings about this animal (McGhee).