Elementary Library

●​ How is Louis like the neighbor’s chained-up dog? How is he different? What is the significance of Louis’s dream about the dog? ●​ What do you think was the most important moment in Louis’s life as presented in this book?

The Last Straw: Kids vs Plastics by Susan Hood (363.7 HOO) This collection of lyrical nonfiction poems with color illustrations highlights the threat of plastic and the kids who are fighting for change to save our planet Discussion prompts: ●​ What do you know about plastic pollution? What questions do you have about plastic pollution? ●​ How did the kids in this book go about answering their questions? ●​ What is a call to action? ●​ What kind of character traits do the kids in these poems share? ●​ What problems have you noticed in your neighborhoods? What could you do to find a solution? ●​ Read aloud the introduction written by Milo Cress. Was Milo asking people to make a big change in their lives or a small one? Can a small change make a difference in the world? How? ●​ Do we need to use plastic? Why or why not? Why do we use so much plastic? ●​ What are some surprising things that contain plastic? ●​ What effects does plastic have in our oceans? How does it affect people, animals, and the environment? ●​ Plastic bags in our oceans are particularly dangerous. What are alternatives to using plastic bags? ●​ Describe what can happen when a plastic utensil is thrown in the trash. ●​ How might jellyfish and wax moth caterpillars help to solve the plastic problem? ●​ Why is it important for children to speak up regarding this problem? Do you think children can make a difference? ●​ What did you notice about the way the author wrote this book? Did you notice that she used many different forms of poetry? Which did you enjoy most and why? Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved A Mystery That Baffled All of France by Mara Rockliff (001.4 ROC) Relates the story of Benjamin Franklin's involvement in the early development of the scientific method during a visit to France during the American Revolution to drum up support for the colonists. When asked to determine if the invisible force that Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer claimed he was using to cure patients was genuine, Franklin devised a series of tests that provided the answer in clear results. Discussion prompts: ●​ Why was everyone in Paris abuzz about Dr. Mesmer? ●​ Name several ways that Dr. Mesmer and Benjamin Franklin were different. ●​ What was Dr. Mesmer’s astonishing new force? ●​ Why do you think King Louis XVI specifically wanted Ben Franklin to investigate? ●​ Why do you think there was a difference in what Ben Franklin’s reaction to the “force” and what others reactions were? ●​ What was Ben’s hypothesis?

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