Colby Sharp’s fourth graders spent three weeks learning about biographies and reading Shana Corey’s picture book biographies. As a culminating activity, they Skyped with Shana about her new book, Here Come the Girl Scouts!
Colby’s fourth graders told my fifth graders about their Skype visit and booktalked her awesome picture books.
I asked Colby to provide short responses to the following sentence starters and questions. Thanks, Colby!
1. My students like Shana Corey’s books because they tell the untold stories of real heroes. Without Shana’s books there is a good chance that we would never learn about the lives of Juliette Gordon Low (Daisy) or Annette Kellerman.
2. Five adjectives that describe Shana Corey’s Skype visit: engaging, special, inspiring, fun, Babymousetastic
3. Skyping with Shana Corey allowed my students to understand the research that goes into writing a quality biography.
4. Who should read Here Come the Girl Scouts? I want to say everyone. Can I say everyone? I think that it is important that Daisy’s story isn’t limited to girls or Girl Scouts. Here Comes the Girl Scouts is a story about being the change that you would like to see in the world. I think all people need to hear that story every once in a while.
5. Shana Corey’s books are perfect for a biography unit because as my students would say, “They are not boring.” Shana is able to find the important and exciting things that take place in her subjects lives and weave them into a powerful thought-provoking biography.
6. My students learned that much like the characters Shana writes about in her books, she is a true inspiration to kids. I know that sounds cheesy, but for my students, it was powerful for them to talk with Shana. Shana is someone that was able to turn her passions as a child into a successful career as an adult.
7. Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about Shana’s career as an editor. My kids were fascinated to learn about Shana editing books like Junie B. Jones and Babymouse. My fourth graders don’t always enjoy editing, so hearing from a professional editor planted a seed in their minds about how important editing is to the writing process.
Colby’s fourth graders told my fifth graders about their Skype visit and booktalked her awesome picture books.
I asked Colby to provide short responses to the following sentence starters and questions. Thanks, Colby!
1. My students like Shana Corey’s books because they tell the untold stories of real heroes. Without Shana’s books there is a good chance that we would never learn about the lives of Juliette Gordon Low (Daisy) or Annette Kellerman.
2. Five adjectives that describe Shana Corey’s Skype visit: engaging, special, inspiring, fun, Babymousetastic
3. Skyping with Shana Corey allowed my students to understand the research that goes into writing a quality biography.
4. Who should read Here Come the Girl Scouts? I want to say everyone. Can I say everyone? I think that it is important that Daisy’s story isn’t limited to girls or Girl Scouts. Here Comes the Girl Scouts is a story about being the change that you would like to see in the world. I think all people need to hear that story every once in a while.
5. Shana Corey’s books are perfect for a biography unit because as my students would say, “They are not boring.” Shana is able to find the important and exciting things that take place in her subjects lives and weave them into a powerful thought-provoking biography.
6. My students learned that much like the characters Shana writes about in her books, she is a true inspiration to kids. I know that sounds cheesy, but for my students, it was powerful for them to talk with Shana. Shana is someone that was able to turn her passions as a child into a successful career as an adult.
7. Mr. Schu, you should have asked me about Shana’s career as an editor. My kids were fascinated to learn about Shana editing books like Junie B. Jones and Babymouse. My fourth graders don’t always enjoy editing, so hearing from a professional editor planted a seed in their minds about how important editing is to the writing process.
Scholastic Kid Reporter Grace McManus interviewed Shana Corey about Here Come the Girl Scouts!
"I've always been interested in women's history and, on a whim, was reading a bit about Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, and I just fell in love with her quirkiness and her spunk, and with the Girl Scouts themselves. " -Shana Corey
Borrow Here Come the Girl Scouts! from your school or public library. Whenever possible, please support independent bookshops.
