Spinning Through Your Curriculum with the Magic Tree House

Books 13 – 28By Tonnye W. Fletcher

M.Ed., NBCT

Random quotes from my children

• “I love Magic Tree House. Magic tree house incourges people to learn and learn to love to read. Jack and Annie go throgh amzing adventures. They are awsome. My favorite magic tree book is Dolphins at daybreak. Those books are awsome. Mary Pope Osborne is a giunus. Those books are cool. That’s why I like those books. “ -- Alissa

More random quotes

• “I like when Mrs. Fletch reads it to us because she talks funny. . .”

• “I like evry three hous booke Even new kien to beos my sestr haves it.” (I had her sister, too :~)

• Whiy I like be cus thay is my faveret book to read. I like the mest reys (mysteries). . .the books is vere log. But I stil like them. . .”

Before #13: Books 1-12• Books 1-4 Jack and Annie discover the identity of the

mysterious owner of the Magic Tree House, visit prehistoric time of the dinosaurs, the time of knights, ancient Egypt, and the Carribbean during the time of pirates

• Books 5 – 8 Jack and Annie help to free Morgan from a spell by visiting the Ninjas in ancient Japan, the Amazon rainforest, the Ice Age, and the moon

• Books 9 – 12 Jack and Annie solve 4 ancient riddles to become Master Librarians, by visiting a coral reef, the Old West, Africa, and the Arctic

Different approaches

• Class read-aloud (in order vs. random)• Listening Center• Guided reading• Literature circles• Independent Reading• Partner reading• Any way you want :~)

Resources for Cool Stuff to enhance your MTH

• Dollar Tree :~)• Weekly Reader, National Geographic, Scholastic

News, Mini-Page, “Kids Discover” magazines• Print off vocabulary and clip-art – play games,

post on bulletin board• Old calendars, posters• Museums• Wendy’s

Books 13 – 16: The Ancient Stories

• Jack and Annie go on adventures to save 4 ancient stories from being lost forever

• Focus on ancient civilizations, early forms of books. . .

• Discovering the magic and the power of story

Book 13 – Vacation Under the Volcano

• Set in Ancient Rome, AD 79

• Mt. Vesuvius• Pompeii• Roman Empire• Gladiators• Amphitheatres

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 13 Curricular Connections• Math – Roman numerals; time problems (sundial)• PE – Gladiator challenges• Writing – use calculator/cash register tape as a scroll

on craft sticks• Science – volcanoes• Music – Italian music• Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books –

ancient stories)• Social Studies – Mt. Vesuvius erupted Aug. 24, 79• For fun – Watch “Hercules”

Book 14 Day of the Dragon King

• Ancient China• Samurai• Great Wall• Chinese legend

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 14 Curricular Connections• Math – Story problems about the Great Wall of China

(counting by 100s to 3700 miles) or Chinese New Year or Samurai; tangrams; linear measurement (in, ft, yds, mi)

• PE – Obstacle course (Chinese wall[blocks], dragon [wiggly jump rope], Samurai warrior blockade , etc.)

• Writing – Write a story on craft sticks and bundle them• Science – Bamboo, life cycle of silk worms, making silk• Music – Chinese music• Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books –

ancient stories)• Social studies – Build a to-scale model of the Great Wall• For fun – Use chopsticks at lunch one day; watch Mulan

Book 15 – Viking Ships at Sunrise• Set in Ancient Ireland,

during the Dark Ages• Monks• Monastery• Viking invasion

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 15 Curricular Connections• Math – Story problems about the length of books,

Vikings in ships, etc.• PE – Viking ship relay – use paddles; paddle so many

times with each step• Writing-- *Read excerpt – Hero or monster? – Sarph;

Illuminated text and bejeweled book (Bare Books or altered books) or handmade books

• Science – Make dye or paint from plants and/or dirt• Music Art– Irish music; illuminated text• Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books –

ancient stories)

Book 16 – Hour of the Olympics• Set in Ancient Greece• Early Olympic Games• Women’s rights• Competition• Plato• “Anonymous”

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 16 Curricular Connections• Math – Measurement, story problems about sports,

Time• PE – Mock Olympic games, sportsmanship• Writing – Which sport? Why it wasn’t fair to exclude

girls/women from activities or give them credit; write a legend or myth

• Science – Sports science; gravity; constellations• Music/ Art– Create medals for the games• Reading – Legends/folk tales/myths (set of 4 books –

ancient stories)• Social Studies – Greek mythology

Note:

• Several of the books have non-fiction companion research guides.

• This one is called “Ancient Greece and the Olympics”

Books 17-20: The Gifts

• In this set of 4, Jack and Annie are looking for 4 special gifts

• They have a new companion, a little dog named Teddy.

Book 17 – Tonight on the Titanic• Set on the Titanic• Gift – antique pocket

watch

• Nonfiction companion “Titanic”

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 17 Curricular Connections• Math – Timelines, calendar skills, time problems• PE – Paper boat race• Writing – Letters to family, Advertisements for

the ship• Science – Sink/float, icebergs, ship construction• Music/ Art– Create paper boats• Reading – Titanic: Lost and Found ; other Titanic-

related books• Social Studies – Timelines, Oceans Trace route of

Titanic

Book 18 – Buffalo Before Breakfast• Set on the Great

Plains• Buffalo (responsible

usage of natural resources)

• Native Americans (Lakota Indians)

• Gift –Eagle feather

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 18 Curricular Connections• Math – +/- problems about buffalo and Native Americans• PE – • Writing – Write a story about a buffalo; Comparison

between the ocean and the prairie ; Give yourself a Lakota name and explain why it suits you

• Science – Using all the parts of the buffalo• Music/ Art– Native American art/music, Create teepee

models• Reading – • Social Studies – Lakota Indians, Use of natural resources,

endangered animals

Book 19 – Tigers at Twilight• Set in India• Tigers – endangered

species

• Gift – Lotus blossom

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 19 Curricular Connections

• Math –Story problems about Indian animals • PE – Monkey bar competition and games• Writing – Report about Indian animal; What do you

think the hermit means when he says, “Its beauty cannot live without its ugliness.”

• Science – Tigers and other Indian animals• Music/ Art– Indian music/Indian art• Reading – Books about Tigers• Social Studies – Natural resources, endangered species• For fun – Watch “The Jungle Book”

Book 20 – Dingoes at Dinnertime• Set in Australia• Australian animals:

dingoes, kangaroos, koalas,

• Gift – painting on bark

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 20 Curricular Connections

• Math – Story problems with Australian animals• PE – Australian animal relay – hop like a kangaroo, run

fast like an emu, run on all fours like a dingo• Writing – Factual report about Australian animals• Science – Australian animals; rainbows• Music/ Art– “Kookaburra”; cave painting (mural) or

“bark” painting (crinkled up brown paper); create their own rainbow serpents

• Reading – Mem Foxx books• Social Studies – Australian aborigines

“Kookaburra”Kookaburra sits in the old gum treeMerry, merry king of the bush is heLaugh, Kookaburra! Laugh, Kookaburra!Gay your life must be

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree Eating all the gum drops he can seeStop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!Leave some there for me

Kookaburra (cont’d)Kookaburra sits in the old gum treeCounting all the monkeys he can seeStop, Kookaburra! Stop, Kookaburra!That’s not a monkey; that’s me

Kookaburra sits on a rusty nailGets a boo-boo in his tailCry, Kookaburra! Cry, Kookaburra!Oh, how life can be

Books 21 – 24: Historical letters and journals

• In this set of 4, Jack and Annie research letters and journals in history

• All 4 of these are set in historical America• Dear Jack and Annie, Camelot is in trouble.

To save the kingdom, please find these four special kinds of writing for my library: 1. Something to follow 2. Something to send 3. Something to learn 4. Something to lend

Book 21 – Civil War on Sunday• Set in Civil War

America• Slavery• Clara Barton• History of Red Cross• Atrocities of War

(handled delicately)• Service to others

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 21 Curricular Connections

• Math – Timelines, Civil War story problems• PE – Blue/Gray battles (academic, relays, etc.)• Writing – Factual report about Civil War, famous

personalities, letters to home, composing lists• Science – • Music/ Art– Civil War songs, negro spirituals, Patriotic

songs/ blue-gray art/ Try drawing cannons, etc. John Farrell “Listen to the Stories”, drums

• Reading – Biographies, historical fiction • Social Studies – Change over time, family trees,

Book 22 – Revolutionary War on Wednesday

• Set in Revolutionary War America

• Revolutionary War• George Washington

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 22 Curricular Connections

• Math – Timelines, Revolutionary War story problems• PE – Redcoats/American battles (academic, relays,

etc.)• Writing – Factual report about Revolutionary War,

famous personalities, letters to home, • Music/ Art–Patriotic songs, Schoolhouse Rock

“America Rock”• Reading – Biographies, historical fiction • Social Studies – American history, Delaware, George

Washington

Book 23 – Twister on Tuesday• Set in Kansas• One-room

schoolhouses• Change over time

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 23 Curricular Connections

• Math – Weather story problems; graph scary/favorite weather; pictographs

• PE – Tornado drills• Writing – Report about tornados or other wild

weather, • Science – Weather, grasshoppers• Music/ Art– Draw tornadoes• Social Studies – Kansas, change over time, bullying,

persistance• For fun – watch some clips of Little House on the

Prairie

Book 24 – Earthquake in Early Morning

• Set in California• Earthquakes• Change over time

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 24 Curricular Connections

• Math – Richter scales math problems, earthquake story problems

• PE – Earthquake drills• Science – Weather/ geology• Social Studies – California, earthquake safety

Books 25-28: Special Magic

• In this set of 4, Jack and Annie search for 4 special kinds of magic

• Each begins with a rhyme that gives them clues about the special magic for which they are searching

Book 25 – Stage Fright on a Summer Night

• Set in London, England

• London Bridge• Shakespeare• Elizabethan England• Beginnings of drama• Women’s rights• Animal cruelty

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Play excerpt on CD

Bk 25 Curricular Connections• Math – Story problems (bears, bridges, rivers, actors,

etc.)• PE – Play London Bridge• Writing – Write poetry or simple plays; create new words

or phrases• Science – Build bridges• Music/ Art– Design scenery for simple play or puppet

show• Reading – Readers’ Theatre or other drama connection;

simple play; rhyming words; fluency, expression• Social Studies – Elizabethan England; animal rights

Book 26 – Good Morning, Gorillas• Set in African

rainforest• Gorillas• Sign language

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 26 Curricular Connections• Writing – Write an adventure YOU might have with a

gorilla• Science – Gorilla behavior, clouds, rain• Reading – Koko’s Kitten; Venn diagram comparing

African rainforest and Amazon rainforest• Social Studies – Africa; sign language• For fun – Watch “Tarzan”

Book 27 – Thanksgiving on Thursday

• Set in early America• First Thanksgiving• Native Americans• Pilgrims• Squanto

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 27 Curricular Connections• Math – Fair shares, multiplication/division readiness,

repeated addition• PE – Thanksgiving dinner relay – Students have to gather

“dinner” (plastic foods or real)• Writing – Write about what you think it would have been

like to be at the first Thanksgiving• Science – Planting • Music/ Art– Draw a picture of the First Thanksgiving• Social Studies – First Thanksgiving, Mayflower, Pilgrims,

Schoolhouse Rock “America Rock”

Book 28 – High Tide in Hawaii• Set in Hawaii long ago• Tsunamis• Surfing

KEY IDEAS FROM THE BOOK

Bk 28 Curricular Connections• Math – Measurement (length); sharing equally,

multiplication/division, fractions• PE – Tinnikling (Use bamboo poles to play games – check

on-line)• Writing – Write steps to surfing• Reading – Luka’s Quilt• Science – Tsunamis/earthquakes • Music/ Art– Create tissue paper flowers, leis• Social Studies – Hawaii, • For fun – host a luau/beach party to celebrate finishing

the series!