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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.

Take a Hike

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!

Ben Franklin Elementary

Vigo County School Corp
Terre Haute, IN

Download Files:

Resource File

Adobe Acrobat Reader, a free program, is required to view these files.

English/Language Arts Academic Standards

Reading Comprehension

Reading Vocabulary

Family Activities

Family Fun Ideas

• Make a tree database. As you learn and gather information about trees, keep track of it in a database.
• Take a hike with your family. Look at the trees surrounding you in your backyard, local park, school year, etc. and try to identify them.
• When you are on your hike, pick 5 trees to measure the circumference of the trunk. Take the information and graph it in a spreadsheet.

Hushtown Book Activities

• Read the book with your family and enjoy!
• Listen to the cassette included with your backpack.
• Visit the websites listed.

Wildfires Book Activities

• Read the book with your family.
• Discuss the conditions that will cause wildfires, ways to control them, and their damaging as well as beneficial effects. Write this information down as you learn and chart it. Share this information with the class.

The Magic Purse Book Activities

• Discuss the book with your family.
• Look at the trees near your house. Pick five trees to measure the circumference of the trunk. Take the information and graph it in a spreadsheet.
• Share this information with the class.

Once Upon A Forest Video Activities

• View the video and enjoy with your family!

Books to Include

A Tree Is Nice By Janice May Udry - Ages 4-8 Hushtown A Peaceful Community; Reading level: Ages 9-12 Sequoias by Michael George, Reading level: Ages 9-12 The Giving Tree http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/Giving-Tree.html By Shel Silverstein - Ages 4-8 Trees Fandex- Family Field Guides Wildfires by Seymour Simon

Web Sites for Fun

Inspire http://www.in.gov/library/inspire/ Click on the INSPIREKIDS link to research kids friendly sites about a variety of subjects. This site is only accessible to Indiana residents Lorax Saves the Trees Game http://www.seussville.com/games/lorax/ Help Lorax gather Truffula seeds and replant the Truffula forest. This Seussville game requires Shockwave. National Arbor Day Foundation http://www.arborday.org/trees/ This site is full of great information and fun quizzes to take. National Christmas Tree Kids Center http://www.christmastree.org/kids.cfm Print mazes, a crossword puzzle, and dot-to-dot pictures. Requires a color printer. From the National Christmas Tree Association. The Weather Channel http://www.weather.com/ Click on the links and find out about wildfires and other weather related sites.

List of Additional Resources

Videos

Once Upon A Forest (1993) ~ Michael Crawford

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.