Kourtnee's Determining Importance Text Set

Sis, Peter. Train of States. Harpercollins Childrens Books, 2007.

http://www.amazon.com/Train-States-Peter-Sis/dp/0060578386

Book Synopsis: This book would be a great book to introduce to the class for a social studies unit. The author designed it so that the train cars each represent one state. The train cars are arranged in the order the state was added to the union. All the train cars are unique in its own way with its own page. The author creatively teaches the reader each states capitol, state flower and random other facts about the state that a lot of individuals may not already know like flowers, birds, trees and nicknames.

Determining Importance Connection: With this book I would use a strategy called "Important to Whom?" (p 167). This is when you have the students read the book and chose what they think is the most important or the main idea of the book. Then have the student draw a line under that response and write down what they think the author wanted them to learn and remember. Sometimes they write down the same responses, but other times their answers are very different.



Jones, Lynda. Five Brilliant Scientists. New York City, NY: Cartwheel Books, 2000.

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Black-Heroes-Brilliant-Scientists/dp/0590480316

Book Synopsis: This book is an informational text for primary students about the achievements of five black scientists. It discusses their early lives as well as how they came to be successful. Susan McKinney Steward was the first black female doctor in New York State. George Washington Carver is a world famous agricultural scientist. Ernest Just was a marine biologist. Percy Julian was a chemist and Shirley Jackson was a nuclear physicist. Loved the illustrations in this book!

Determining Importance Connection: With this book I would use a strategy called "Finding Important Information Rather Than Just One Main Idea" (p 166). This is when the students use three sticky notes labeled with an asterisk (*) to mark three important ideas in the text. Because this book discusses multiple people I would allow them to use three sticky notes per person but they would have to be able to defend their stance and explain their thinking behind their decision for choosing the three things they chose to put a sticky note on.



Penny, Malcolm. Talking About Our Environment. Heinemann/ Raintree, 1999.

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Environment-What-Think-About/dp/0750224916/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1225049136&sr=1-1.

Book Synopsis: This book could be used for primary aged students. It discusses the current environmental problems we are facing in the world. For example it mentions recycling, disposing waste and waste products and preserving our natural resources. It teaches children what they can do to help out and play their part so things can progressively change for the future.

Determining Importance Connection: With this book the students could use a strategy called "Becoming Familiar with the Characteristics of Nonfiction" (p 161). This is when you take the topic (which with this book would be the environment) and write down the facts they already know about the topic. Next they make a list of questions/wonderings they want to ask before they do their research or read the book. Lastly the students make a list of 5 new facts they learned as they read. They can also draw illustrations like real authors do.