Journeying to Discover New and Wonderful Teaching Resources

Newly discovered on a teacher's journey...a picture book that wraps science lessons into a modern myth for K - 2 kids.

Newly discovered on a teacher’s journey…a delightful picture book that wraps science lessons into a modern myth for K – 2 kids.

Hi and welcome back to Attentionology for K – 5 Teachers!

Do you agree with me that like life itself, teaching is a journey, not a destination?

One of the joys of an educator’s journey is the discovery along the way of new and wonderful teaching resources…

…resources that catch and keep kids’ attention!

I was recently introduced to a picture book that does just that. It tells a delightful modern myth as it also delivers K – 2 science lessons on species classification and coastal habitats.

How Alligator Got His Smile Back by Jayne Moraski, illustrated by Carl Kocich (Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc.), begins “when the earth was very young and animals looked very different,” as they do today.

But how and why do animals look and live differently? The lessons begin…

…in a story that features a prehistoric Alligator who frolics in the water with his best friend, the tadpole Frog.

As Moraski tells it, “their friendship suffers when Frog changes and is able to leave the water to jump across the land. Eventually, Alligator evolves into the (smiling) form we know today, and learns a lesson in the true meaning of friendship,” when his wish is granted.

Says Moraski, “my book (also) describes the origins of frog songs, mangrove swamps, cypress knees, and of course, how

A ready-to-color illustration to pair with How Alligator Got His Smile Back by Jayne Moraski

A ready-to-color illustration to pair with How Alligator Got His Smile Back by Jayne Moraski, framed here with a green border.

alligators got their big grins.”

Award-winning trilingual children’s author, Nicole Weaver, describes How Alligator Got His Smile Back as “a fresh twist on the African folktale about the bragging crocodile.”

Kocich’s colorful and beautifully detailed illustrations frame the story characters and action with tile-like borders that would suit the most decorative aquarium wall.

Moraski has tied this book directly to K – 3 pacing guides and Florida curriculum standards, but take note…

How Alligator Got His Smile Back is consistent with current Common Core recommendations (for the US). In my view, the book presents basic environmental education in a way that teachers anywhere can adapt for their curriculum.

Moraski points out that the book also explains coastal habitats and has a habitat activity.” Backmatter activities ask students to compare and contrast the two species in the book using textual clues to discern information.  

Specifically, the book invites children to:

  • complete a species classification activity.
  • draw a Venn diagram that shows how alligators and frogs are alike and different.
  • create a habitat collage (a teacher’s or parent’s assistance with vocabulary may be needed).

Classroom-tested resources are a joy to discover on a teacher’s journey.

How Alligator Got His Smile Back fills the bill…

Help Alligator Find Tadpole Frog, framed here with a yellow border, challenges young readers.

Help Alligator Find Tadpole Frog, a maze framed here with a yellow border, challenges young readers.

“The book’s non-fiction activities were developed,” explains Moraski, “through discussions with K – 3 teachers in two separate school systems, and tested in classrooms with positive teacher feedback.”

An ample non-fiction bibliography at the end of How Alligator Got His Smile Back encourages teachers and students to continue

Jayne Moraski, author of How Alligator Got His Smile Back, a modern myth with a science twist.

Jayne Moraski, author of How Alligator Got His Smile Back, a modern myth with a science twist.

journeying to discover more new and wonderful teaching and learning resources.

Supplementary activities, like a Helping Alligator Find Tadpole Frog maze, are available to download on Moraski’s website.

Jayne Moraski’s professional background places her in a scientific setting today.

In addition to pursuing writing, she works on a diabetes research project at the University of Florida (US).

Living in Gainesville for the past twelve years, Moraski has “evolved herself” into a huge gator fan. To clarify (for those needing a sports update), the gator is the mascot of the University of Florida.

Moraski has written public relations and travel articles for the Florida tourism industry, academic publications in non-profit management, and several children’s magazines, including Highlights.

One of the highlights of How Alligator Got His Smile Back is the book’s treatment of bragging. The theme underlies this modern myth with a science twist.

Dealing with bragging is a part of Character Education in many school systems. Moraski’s character, Frog, is a guilty party, and kids who get to enjoy this delightful story will get the picture!

Have you produced or discovered a new and wonderful resource on your teaching journey? If you’d like me to profile work, please send a comment.

Remember, you don’t need to be a magician to work magic in any instructional setting!

Talk with you again soon,

Barbara ♥ The Lovable Poet

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Tagged with: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Attentionology for K-5 Teachers
Barbara Cleary has been serving as a resource to hundreds of educators for more than 25 years. An award-winning writer, producer, teacher, and trainer, Barbara’s focus is on offering easy, fun tools and tricks that support K-5 curricula and assist teachers with classroom management.
Quick tips for common classroom conundrums: K-5
Situation: Students are having trouble writing connecting sentences between the beginning, middle and end of a story.

Solution: Show toy airplanes, pretending to make them "take off" across notebook paper. Explain to the class that stories, like airplanes, require clear "flight paths."

Related Posts: Become the Classroom of the Traveling Story!