Laura Purdie Salas

Writing the World for Kids

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Migration North Is Starting!? #ClassroomConnections

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In our icebox winter here in Minnesota, it’s hard to believe there are any birds flying north at this time! But a few species are beginning their journeys. If you’re talking about migration in your classroom, I’ve got two books you might want to share (and activities that go with both—just follow the links). Also, […]

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Write a Snowperson List Poem #ClassroomConnections

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If you live in a cold climate, it’s prime snowman-building time! That makes it a great time to talk about the states of matter and how snow and ice are forms of water. Here’s a printable .pdf students can use to write a snowman list poem. It’s one of a handful of materials (including water […]

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A Flossing Day Poem #ClassroomConnections

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I bet you thought this Friday was just a shopping day. Wrong! It’s Flossing Day (no, not the dance). So grab your dental floss and review good techniques…and celebrate with this poem from In the Middle of the Night. Bet you didn’t know dental floss had so much fun without us! I had a good […]

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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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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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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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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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National Cat Day Is Coming Up!

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Finally, Clover Kitty’s day is coming–haha! She would like to knit and nap and perhaps do seesaws with her friend, Oliver. And she’d love to be part of your cat-themed storytime! Also, here’s a listing of cat-themed picture books, plus you’ll find a fabulous readaloud of Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten on my readaloud page. […]

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Getting Ready for Winter

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The days are getting brisker, here in Minnesota anyway, and the creatures are all preparing for the cold. If you’re studying topics like hibernation, migration, and adaptation, make sure to add Snack, Snooze, Skedaddle: How Animals Get Ready for Winter (Millbrook, illus by Claudine Gevry) to your list of resources. So far this fall, I’ve […]

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Celebrating Fall Leaves!

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Fall is my favorite favorite time of year, and fall color is one of the reasons for that. A couple of weeks ago, Randy and I tried out our inflatable kayak. We were on a small lake in St. Paul, and we got to admire a bit of fall color while a bald eagle hunted […]

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