Elementary Library

June Almeida, Virus Detective! The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus by Suzanne Slade (BIO ALM) A picture book biography of scientist June Almeida [whose] skill in using the electron microscope helped identify viruses, and when she was 34 years old, she discovered the first human coronavirus. Discussion prompts: ●​ What challenges did June Almeida face? ●​ How did she pursue her love of science? ●​ How did powerful microscopes help June study viruses? ●​ Why did June and others name this new virus that she’d found “coronavirus?” ●​ What did you learn about coronaviruses that surprised you? One Plastic Bag: Isatou Cesay and the Recycling Women of Gambia by Miranda Paul (363.728 PAU) Isatou Ceesay found a way to recycle the plastic bags and transform her community. Discussion prompts: ●​ What do you notice on these endpapers? What clues do they give us about this story? ●​ What problem or question did Isatou have? What steps did she take to find an answer? ●​ What is the impact of her question? How did Isatou make a difference? ●​ Read the Author’s Note at the back of the book and reconstruct with students what the research roadmap may have been for Miranda Paul in coming to write One Plastic Bag. Where did her journey in writing the book begin? Consider the ways in which Miranda Paul noticed a problem with plastic bags in Gambia and how she learned of Isatou Ceesay. ●​ What did you learn about Gambia after reading this book? ●​ What does upcycling mean? Can you think of other examples? Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jennifer Bryant (686.2 BRY) Looks at the childhood of Louis Braille and his creation of the Braille writing system for the blind. Discussion prompts: ●​ Have you ever faced an unexpected challenge where you have had to struggle and persist in order to succeed? ●​ Why is it important to be a reader? How does reading affect your knowledge of the world around you—and beyond? Can reading help you understand other people? How? Do you consider reading to be a joyful experience? Why or why not? ●​ Describe Louis Braille through two or three character traits. ●​ The text is written in first person. Why do you think the author chose to tell Louis Braille’s story in this way? ●​ How do the author and illustrator show how Louis used his other senses to experience the world? ●​ Compare and contrast Louis’s life as a young boy in the opening pages of the book to Louis’s life at the Royal School for the Blind. How does he change? How does he remain the same?

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