Kizzy Ann Stamps- Meeting #21

Our sixth meeting of the 2015-16 school year was on Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts.  This book was an excellent choice to celebrate Black History month.  The story has all the things the girls love like a girl hero and her dog, and really helped them think about what it must have been like for the first African American kids who attended schools with white children after segregation.  Kizzy Ann has a very different experience than her older brother, because she has a teacher who is progressive and embracing of all her students.  Kizzy's brother becomes increasingly more distraught and angry as his teacher protests by refusing to acknowledge black students in her classroom.  Kizzy also has a disfiguring facial scar which brought up themes of beauty standards and stigma, and the girls had an excellent discussion regarding the lack of fairness and how hard it was to overcome the obstacles Kizzy faced.

We used our general discussion questions to help guide the discussion, but these discussion questions specific to the book really helped get deep into the book.
Questions and extension ideas for Kizzy Ann Stamps

The host mama served a good southern meal in honor of the types of food Kizzy would like.  They had fried chicken, black eyed peas, biscuits, and okra.

We looked at pictures of a school exterior and auditorium from a black school and a white school during segregation and quickly determined that they were not "separate but equal."
Teaching with Documents- Brown Vs. Board of Education

We then watched a short film about Brown Vs. Board of Education.

They also watched a Scotland sheepdog trial so they could get a sense of what Kizzy was doing with Shag in the competition.  Everyone got a kick out of the sneaky sheep in this video.

The girls then made homemade ice cream using plastic bags, heavy cream, sugar, and rock salt.

Then shook those bags until they got the delicious finished product.

And a few sweet faces and moments captured along the way:

We love our book club and these wonderful friends the girls are cultivating.  Next month we are reading 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass.

When You Reach Me- Meeting #20

Our fifth meeting of the 2015-16 school year was on When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.  This book was a huge hit with the girls.  Without giving away the plot (which is full of mystery and intrigue), the girls were on the edge of their seats wanting to figure out who was writing Miranda the letters.  This book tackles issues of class and race, changing friendship dynamics, and time travel.  Its fantastic.

I think we had one side thumb on this one.

We used our general discussion questions to help guide the discussion, but these discussion questions specific to the book really helped get deep into the book.
Lit Lovers Discussion Questions for When You Reach Me

Then the girls watched a short video of the author, Rebecca Stead, explaining a bit about her writing process, the idea of the book, and how it was influenced by A Wrinkle in Time.
An Interview with Rebecca Stead

watching the author interview

Because so much of the story involves Miranda's mother and the $20,000 Pyramid, we played CATCHPHRASE together.  First moms and daughters played together.

When the moms were done, the girls continued to play together.  They had a blast.

We love our book club and these wonderful friends the girls are cultivating.  Next month for Black History month, we are reading Kizzy Ann Stamps by Jeri Watts.

Lily's Crossing- Meeting #19

Our fourth meeting of the 2015-16 school year was on Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff.  After looking extensively for a Christmas themed book, I gave up and went away from a theme for December.

We got more side thumbs than thumbs up this time.

The host mama put out a delicious spread that the girls munched on while we had our discussion.

The girls noshed on all these yummy things during the discussion

This book was a heavier subject matter than the girls are used to, but they gave it at least a side thumb.  We used our general discussion questions to help guide the discussion.  The girls discussed how both the characters changed throughout the story and how they learned from each other.Taking place in 1944 at a beach town in New York, the girls learned a lot about WWII, Nazis, and the impact the war had one Americans at home.  Lily, the main character, lied a lot in the beginning which the girls didn't like.  They talked about the lie that Albert told as well, and what motivates people to lie.  One of the Mamas With Opinions is a history teacher who knows a lot about World War II.  The girls could ask questions about why they painted their headlights black and had to keep lights off after dark (they thought that the Nazis would bomb them).  In the book, Lily and Albert go to the movies to watch the newsreels and she explained to the girls how most families didn't have a TV and this is how they got their news.

For our activity, we used an online tutorial to make Scrap Ribbon Tree Ornaments.  I brought sticks and twine, and each girl brought ribbons to share with the others.  We wanted to make a christmas ornament that honored the "reduce, reuse, recycle" mentality they had in the 1940s during wartime.

Host mama gave all the girls candy canes filled with Hershey's kisses :)

Merry Christmas from the Girls With Opinions!  Next month, we are reading When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead.

Drita, My Homegirl- Meeting #18

Our third meeting of the 2015-16 school year was on Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard.  This book was a story of two worlds colliding as Drita, a refugee from Kosovo ends up in NYC.  She doesn't speak English and a girl in her class befriends her and they both learn about the other's culture.  The girls learned a lot about Kosovo, imagined what it must be like to go somewhere new, and not speak the language, and thought how difficult it was for the girls to connect.  In the end, they have more in common than they realize.

Mostly thumbs up, with one side thumb vote

We used our general discussion questions to help guide the discussion.  The girls discussed how both the characters changed throughout the story and how they learned from each other.

For the activity, the girls colored black and white filigree coloring pages.  Filigree is a time honored tradition of metal smithing in Kosovo.  This website explains a little about filigree in Kosovo.   A google image search for "filigree coloring page" will yield a lot of options to choose from.  I picked two and printed copies for the girls to color.

Coloring filigree designs

We always have a great time together :)  Next month, we are reading Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff.

The Best Halloween Ever- meeting #17

Our second meeting of the 2015-16 school year was a Halloween themed book, The Best (Worst) Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson.  Last year at Christmas time, we read The Best (Worst) Christmas Pageant ever, so it was fun to revisit the Herdmans and the trouble they cause.

The host mama had a fire pit going for the wonderful October weather, and the girls roasted hot dogs for dinner.  They had lots of Halloween bling to wear and vampire teeth which made the discussion of the book interesting to listen to through the teeth :)

They all gave the book thumbs up or side

They roasted hot dogs while we discussed the book.  Its a pretty light book with nothing major in terms of themes.  Just a fun read they enjoyed.

Happy Halloween from the Girls With Opinions!

We had a great time!  Next month, we are reading Drita, My Homegirl by Jenny Lombard.

Flora and Ulysess: The Illuminated Adventures- meeting #16

Our first meeting of the 2015-16 school year was on Flora and Ulysess:  The Illuminated Adventures by Kate di Camillo.  This book was read by the girls over the summer and was a big hit.  All thumbs up which might be a first for the Girls With Opinions.

 The girls ate chicken nuggets, fries, and veggies while we discussed the book.  We used our general discussion questions to help guide the discussion. We also used some comprehension questions that were found on this discussion guide from the publisher.  The girls always amaze us at the subtleties they pick up from the books we read.  The part where William Spiver removes his dark glasses and can finally see again was also the time when he confessed some things to Agnes.  One astute girl with opinions suggested that this was symbolic as he was finally opening up and trusting Agnes and coming to terms with what happened to him in his past.  We also had donuts and nutter butter cookies to go with the theme since Ulysess the Squirrel loves food, donuts in particular.

For the activity, we got ambitious and attempted to make tiny cute kawaii squirrels holding a macaron made out of FIMO clay using this tiny squirrel tutorial.

We gave the girls a piece of foil as a work space and a choice to make a blue or pink macaron and then gave them each small portions of the colors of clay.  We had the instructions on an ipad for them to consult as they made their creations.  They occasionally asked for help, but in general did the project independently.

working diligently

They did a great job.  As they were finished, I placed them on piece of foil and used a toothpick to scratch a circle around it and mark the girl's name so we knew which one belonged to each girl.

We decided to bake them at the meeting but I will paint on the eyes for the girls after they cool and give them back at the next meeting.  They came out very cute.

We had a great time!  Next month, we are reading The Best Halloween Ever by Barbara Robinson.