FIRST NOTES OF SPRING

Last week's winner:   Darla Christie  
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Video Interview with Jessica Kulekjian, author of FIRST NOTES OF SPRING​

With Spring knocking on our door, there is not a more perfect book to share today than this one by Jessica Kulekjian, illustrated by Jennifer Bower ( a NC illustrator!) FIRST NOTES OF SPRING is a beautiful book welcoming spring with music and frolicking text full of onomatopoeia and a lovely message about finding your voice -- and your group.  Join Jessica and me below as we explore the background, the music, favorite parts, and upcoming projects!

PB (Picture Book Tasting)

FIRST NOTES OF SPRING  is a book to delight the senses.  It is wonderfully fun to read aloud, and absolutely perfect for kids to interact with -- using bodies and voices!  As a teacher, I know the message of "Too loud, too wild . . ." will resonate with students (some more than others ;-)  The woodland setting and fun characters add to the charm and appeal of this book, but the onomatopoeia are like the cherry on top.  The way Jennifer Bower hand-lettered all the delightful sounds of the book helps readers know how to read the words and infuse their own beautiful charm and appeal.  It is full of interesting teachable moments with elements of SEL, music, literature and language arts, science, and more!  Even a little "Easter egg" hunt (Watch the video above to find out what to look for!)

A Little Jam. . .(The Music Kind)

Theme song "Find Your Band" by Tara Trudel.  A great musical piece to accompany THE FIRST NOTES OF SPRING. Another element which makes the book a perfect inclusion for music classrooms, the song is full of actionable onomatopoeia, fun rhythms, adorable language and might be the most pleasant ear worm you've ever had. 

Teacher Tips/Curriculum Tie-ins

• ONOMATOPOEIA!!  This book is full of it!  Define it, practice it, integrate it into students' writing, identify it in the book (and other books).  Here's a great song by Jack Hartman that gives them great practice (and teaches them to spell it -- as a matter of fact it's how I learned to spell it correctly and now I don't have to look it up every. single. time.   ;-) 
• STEAM project/activity/unit -- a perfect opportunity for partnering with your music teacher.  Have students build their own instruments.  I did this for years when I taught second grade as part of our Sound unit in science.  My students did it as a home project.  They loved it, and it really helped cement their learning about how sound works.  Their instrument had to be able to produce a sound and they had to name it.  They also had to be able to tell me if it was a wind, string, or percussion instrument, based on how the sound was created.  There are lots of ideas for this project on the Pinterest board.
• Concrete poetry -- This book is a great introduction to concrete poetry because of the hand-lettering of the onomatopoeia throughout the book.  There are some ideas on the Pinterest board or you can easily google concrete poetry for more ideas.  They are sometimes called shape poems too.
• Compare/contrast -- lots of opportunities to practice this skill:  compare/contrast the two groups (First Notes & First Beats), Juniper and Moose, or choose two seasons.
• Characteristics of Spring (integrate Science)
• Woodland creatures/ woodland forest habitat/biome (integrate Science)
• For writing integration, check out the writing prompts section!
• Check out this amazing Teachers' Guide by Kari Allen for even MORE great teaching tips!

Tips and Topics for Music Teachers

Oh, my -- this book is replete with musical opportunities:

• Instrument families (especially highlighting percussion)
• Steady beat
• Drumming/bucket drumming/cardio-drumming would all integrate well with this book.
• Call and response songs/activities
• Rhythm matching words (boomey-boom-boom "ti-ti ta ta" etc.)
  • You could use this in conjunction with the song and assign moves to each word or have them tap them on their laps or give students various instruments  that coordinate with the sounds and have them play them at the appropriate time. 
• Use the song as a movement moment and let them dance as the music moves them -- or have a parade around the music room, marching to keep the steady beat, give each of them an instrument to play at the proper time, etc.
• Dynamics -- discussion of quiet (soft) vs. loud
• Tempo -- discussion/practice of fast vs. slow
• Onomatopoeia -- discuss musical sounds (ringy ring ring, boomey boom boom, etc.)
• Vivaldi's Four Seasons -- Spring
  
  • (There are quite a few play-alongs on YouTube if you can use it)
  • Listen and draw along
  • Talk about characteristics of Spring and how Vivaldi integrated them into the music.
• Discuss the difference in rhythm/beat and how they work together OR
• Talk about and practice rhythm/beat/melody and how they work together to make beautiful music.

​There's more I am SURE!  If you have ideas, please add them in the comments!!!

Writing Prompts/Author Tips

Writing Prompts:

• Write a Spring Sensory Poem
• Create a concrete Spring poem (shape poem)
• Write about a time you were disappointed/left out.
• Which is your favorite season and why?
• What is your favorite thing about Spring.  Explain.
• If you wanted to wake/welcome Spring, what would you do?

Author Tips from Jessica:

• Follow your curiosity.
• Give “rough draft thinking,” a chance to surprise you. 
• Be willing to write “ugly” drafts. It’s all learning. And it all belongs.
• Some stories need to rest, or be re-imagined before they sing.
• Trust the timeline of each project. It takes the time it takes. 

Links, More Fun, Extensions for Families and Everyone!

• Watch the video above with Jessica and me to find out about the "Easter egg" hidden throughout the book and search to see if you can find them all!
• Check out the coloring pages by Jennifer Bower
• The teaching guide by Kari Allen has lots of wonderful ideas for classrooms, homeschoolers, and families!
• Here's a YouTube playlist with lots of fun musical activities and the Onomatopoeia song by Jack Hartmann.
• Here is another playlist with a variety of Spring and St Patrick's Day videos.
• Here is a Pinterest board with many ideas related to the book (Spring, creating your own instrument, etc)

PBJamz Snack (Gooey PB&J Blondies)

Here's the recipe for these delicious-looking (and gluten-free) Gooey PB&J Blondies.  Blondies are brownie-textured, but without the chocolate.  These have peanut butter and jelly appeal thrown in.  Plus they're made with garbanzo beans and oats, so if you get GF oats, this recipe is gluten free!  I wish I could tell you I've taste-tested them, but it is a very busy week, and I have not -- YET.  But they are on my list to do very soon!  Let me know if you try them first!

Guest Links and Giveaways

Jessica is giving away one signed copy of THE FIRST NOTES OF SPRING to ONE lucky classroom!  To be eligible, comment below with your name, your school, and what subject/grade you teach. Random winner selected from comments received!

Here is where you can find her on-line:
​Instagram
Twitter
Website

​Illustrator Jennifer Bower website