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Family Literacy Backpacks

Family fun and learning are promoted through take-home, theme-focused backpacks. Ideas for materials and activities which can be included in these great backpacks are provided.

A New Adventure

Caution: Before using these materials for student activities and backpacks, check all weblinks to ensure they are active and appropriate for student and family use. Visit our template and help page which explains how to download a template then copy activities from this website to create your own, unique backpack. If you use these materials, please give appropriate credit to the authoring schools. Thank you!

Greencastle Middle School

Greencastle Community School Corp
Greencastle, IN

Download Files:

Resource File

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English/Language Arts Academic Standards

Listening & Speaking

Reading Response

Family Activities

Have some family fun! Sit down and dig in to as few or many book and activities as you choose. After you've had your fun, please complete the backpack evaluation form.

Family Fun Ideas

• Use the 3-D glasses in the folder to view the images at the Unnatural Museum as you take a "Dinosaur Safari" on the website listed below.
• Take a "Virtual Safari" on the website listed below.
• Select any of the following activities to do with your family:
  • Art Activity: Drawing/Craft
  • Internet Activity: Related URLs
  • Language Activity: Discussion, Writing journals, Speaking
  • Computer Activity: Word Processing, Database,
    Spreadsheet
  • Hands-on Activity: Creating, Cooking, Manipulating

Redwall Book Activities

• Visit the official website of author Brian Jacques.
• Read the prequel Mossflower or the sequel Mattimeo by Brian Jacques.
• View pictures of abbeys around the world at "Castles on the Web" web site.

Hatchet Book Activities

• Gary Paulsen twice participated in the Iditarod, a dogsled race through the Arctic. Follow the Iditarod activity listed below to help you learn about this event.
  • Prepare a survival kit for Brian. Visit these websites for advice at "Adventure Sports" online or at the "RedCross."
  • Study the physics of flight to help understand why Brian's plane crashed by visiting the online Flight Simulator.
  • Use the book in the folder to make great paper airplanes.

The Crocodile Hunter Outback Chase Game Activities

• Try your luck at a crocodile crossword puzzle. Copies are in the folder.
• To learn about wrestling a crocodile, visit "Nova's Online Crocodiles" web site.
• Check out a book about crocodiles from the the Public Library.
• Visit the Animal Planets's "Crocodile Hunter" web site to learn Australian vocabulary or see pictures of Steve and the crocs.

Antz Video Activities

• Try any of the ant experiments included in the folder.
• Follow the cycle of an ant's life at the "Ant Colony Cycle" web site.

Clue CD-ROM Software Activities

• Write a mystery using the setting and characters of Clue. Read the story aloud to your family, but don't tell them the ending. See if they can solve the mystery.

A Bugs Life Book Activities

• After reading the book, make up a new adventure for Flik or Princess Atta. Have family members take turns adding to the story.
• Make a butterfly mask using the template in the folder.

I Spy Treasure Hunt Book Activities

• Turn to page 35 for directions on writing your own riddles. Have everyone in your family write a riddle, then take turns solving them.
• Visit "Have Fun - Kids Riddles" web site for riddles, games, puzzles and more.

Books to Include

A Bug’s Life Adapted by Justine Korman for Disney - all ages Hatchet By Gary Paulsen - Ages 10 and up I Spy Treasure Hunt: A Book of Picture Riddles By Jean Marzollo - all ages Redwall By Brian Jacques - Ages 12 and up

Web Sites for Fun

Adventure Sports http://www.adventuresportsonline.com/ This is your inside resource for outside adventure. Animal Planet: The Crocodile Hunter http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/crochunter/crochunter.html Visit The Animal Planets's Crocodile Hunter to learn Australian vocabulary or see pictures of Steve and the crocs. Crocodile http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/crocs/ NOVA Online presents Crocodiles! with David Attenborough Dinosaur Safari http://www.unmuseum.mus.pa.us/dinosaf.htm Take a dinosaur safari through all of the Unnatural Museum's dinosaur related pages. Have Fun - Kid's Riddles http://www.justriddlesandmore.com/kidsriddles.html Visit "Have Fun - Kids Riddles" web site for riddles, games, puzzles and more. Plane Flight Simulator http://www.flashgames247.com/game/flash-flying-games/plane-flight-simulator.html Visit Flight Simulator to perform experiments in flight control. Red Cross http://www.redcross.org/ Learn how to create a survival kit on this site. Redwall Abbey http://www.redwall.org/ This is the official site of Brian Jacques, author of Redwall Abbey. The Ant Colony Cycle http://research.amnh.org/entomology/social_insects/ants/ant_colony_cycle.html Follow the cycle of an ant's life at this web site. Virtual Safari http://library.thinkquest.org/16645/safari/index.html A Think Quest adventure that will take you through several of Africa's National Parks.

List of Additional Resources

Puzzles & Games

The Crocodile Hunter Outback Chase By Milton Bradley - Ages 8 & up

Videos

ANTZ (Rated PG) By DreamWorks Home Entertainment

Computer Software

Clue: Murder at Boddy Mansion By Hasbro Interactive - Rated E

Resource Link

If you are thinking of creating a literacy backpack for outdoors, here are suggested resources you can include in your backpack: outdoors resources.