Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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This Much I Do Remember — and Money Stuff #PoetryFriday

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Some of you know I share my income online every year. And I know many authors and aspiring authors take part in Poetry Friday, so I want to give you a heads-up that I’ll be doing a virtual event via Zoom on the evening of […]

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A Thankful Venn Diagram #ClassroomConnections

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I can’t believe Thanksgiving is next week! And while our human celebrations might look very different this year, it’s comforting to me to know that nature and animals are following thier normal routines. My book Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle shows animals’ fall routines. Wouldn’t it be cool to do a Venn diagram comparing what your students […]

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When Hope Is Not Easy #PoetryFriday

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I’m sharing a poem I wrote shortly before the election four years ago. (It was a Poetry Princess prompt then.) For the first time in four years, I feel hopeful about our country. While personal things have been emotional this past week (MORE surgery for […]

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Sing and Share for National Family Week #ClassroomConnections

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National Family Week is coming up later this month (Nov. 21-27). Talking about families with your students? Check out these two activities from the teaching guide that goes with my book Meet My Family. This first one’s a song–no materials needed!   And this one lets your students share and celebrate their own family and […]

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Qualities I Love in Art Forms and How They’re Reflected in What I Write

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I was so honored to be part of the SCBWI/Smithsonian Nonfiction Conference! I was on a panel Saturday about The Personal Journey to Nonfiction. (It started right after Biden’s win was announced, and I was positively shaking with excitement and relief!) The panel was based on Melissa Stewart’s fabulous new anthology, Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep. […]

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Winter Is the Warmest Season #PoetryFriday

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) I love winter, even though I don’t do any winter sports. It’s just a time of beauty and renewal for me. But this year, for the first time in so many years, I’m not looking forward to it. I guess it’s because my connections with […]

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Solve the Puzzle for Animal Adaptations! #ClassroomConnections

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It’s that time of year! Animals are growing thicker coats or gathering seeds and nuts Or they’re hunting for places to hibernate or perhaps they’re traveling to a winter home where they can find food and raise young. If you’re studying winter adaptations, here’s an activity sheet that goes with my book Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle. […]

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They Have Their Uses, But… [Poetry Friday]

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Happy Poetry Friday! Welcome, everyone! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Last week, I shared a Halloween poem (just in case you’re looking for spoooooky! :>) So, this month, our Poetry Princess challenge was “Oct 30: A naani poem, theme is foresight again (or autumn, or both).“ A naani is 4 lines, between 20 […]

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The Power of Water

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November 10 marks the anniversary of the 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes freighter that went down in a storm in Lake Superior. (You guys know how much I’m fascinated by Great Lakes freighters, right? Some good publishing news on that coming up soon!) I’m grateful for water in so many ways, […]

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A Halloween Riddle-Ku [Poetry Friday]

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Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.) Howdy, everyone–thanks for your warm thoughts last week. My sister was briefly out of the hospital but is back in 🙁 The yo-yoing back and forth is wearing her down. Anyway, your kind thoughts here and other social media really touched me and my sisters. […]

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