I love teachers! (And not just because I used to be one.)

This is the page for teacher guides and resources for homeschooling parents as well as librarians and other educators. Most of the resources directly correspond to my books, with content in literacy, science, math, art, and social studies. If your students are doing an author study on my, use this NEW clickable poster as a starting point!

Scroll down to see linked and downloadable worksheets, activity guides, questions, and related projects listed next to each of my books. And…lots more resources coming soon!

Thank you for using and for SHARING!

Happy learning,
Miranda

365: HOW TO COUNT A YEAR educator resources and activities (NEW!!)

COUNTING MY YEAR – this PDF with dynamic, clickable links introduces readers to the book 365: HOW TO COUNT A YEAR, its author and illustrator, and provides three links to downloadable activities for a range of ages. Produced by The Book Links LLC.

COUNTING MY YEAR ACTIVITY FOR YOUNG LISTENERS – this one page activity allows young elementary readers the chance to compare with a visual quiz about time! Ages 4-8. Produced by The Book Links LLC.

CHIP CHALLENGE – this yummy PDF activity has kids counting the time it takes to eat a favorite snack—such as chips—and using math skills to calculate how many chips they could eat in a day, week, month, or year! Ages 6-11. Uses multiplication. Produced by The Book Links LLC.

BLINK CHALLENGE – this easy PDF activity gets kids thinking about big numbers by breaking down an every-minute activity (blinking) into a shorter segment in order to count. Using math skills, they figure out how to estimate and calculate the number of times they blink throughout longer segments of time! Ages 6-12. Uses multiplication. Produced by The Book Links LLC.

PEACE Teacher Resources 

Complete PEACE Teacher Guide – this multi-page kit includes close reading questions, vocabulary, activities, and discussion guides that accompany the book PEACE by Miranda Paul and Baptiste Paul. Also includes a treaty-writing lesson. Geared for students in grades K-4.

PEACE coloring page – from illustrator Estelí Meza, a black and white outline of the “Peace” gatefold offers a coloring page activity to soothe and calm listeners little and big.

The Peace Tree – this graphic, from the endpapers of Peace, features leaves that hold the words for Peace as translated in dozens of languages around the world. Art by Estelí Meza.

Multi-language book trailers – View the book trailer videos for PAZ (Spanish), PEACE (English) and FRIEDEN (German) to hear snippets of the book in three languages.

BEYOND: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space Teacher Resources (NEW!)

Go Above and BEYOND! Community Science Activity Starter – explore ways in which classrooms or households can help astronomers and astrophysicists as they discover new worlds or reduce light pollution in communities with these helpful starter steps and activity prompts and links. All ages, especially grades 2 and up. Some online and on-the-ground activities are best supervised or introduced by a grown-up.

Out of this World Comparisons – This activity works well in English/Language Arts classrooms as students explore the similes and metaphors in the poetic science book, Beyond. Students will be able to come up with their own figurative language to describe other phenomena in space. Grades 1-5.

SPEAK UP! and RIGHT NOW! Teacher Resources

SPEAK UP Activity Kit – this specially-prepared resource from the publisher’s school and library team deepens lessons on social/emotional growth and learning. Apology cards, thank-you templates, exploring and expressing feelings, and brainstorming solutions to local problems are a few of the ready-made activities included. Grades PreK-3.

Using My Voice To Make Things Better: A Resource Guide and Lesson Plan About the First Amendment – explore the limitations and the powers of Freedom of Speech, including an activity for how to use your voice to write a letter or contact local leaders and work for change. Grades 1-5.

Video Interview with Speak Up creators Ebony Glenn and Miranda Paul – a 10-minute video in which the author and illustrator give kids a window into their childhoods and a behind-the-scenes look at creating the book SPEAK UP, a National Education Association Read Across America Book of the Month! All ages.

Read Across America SPEAK UP kit – this Book of the Month pick features curriculum activities and questions on Empowering Student Voice

NEW from Mrs. Chavez Reads – SPEAK UP Reading guide for classrooms – this purchasable ($) guide includes language tips, literacy tips, inclusivity tips, and extension activities. Visit @meschavezreads on Instagram or fill out the book guide order form here.

 

 

Teacher Resources for One Plastic Bag
AR: 2.9 | GRL: P | DRA: 34 – 38 | LEX: AD570L | AR Quiz No. 170587
Many of the resources for One Plastic Bag are available on the oneplasticbag.com site (click “Worksheets & Guides for Teachers”). These resources include a powerpoint about the Gambia, worksheets on the Wolof language and counting/math, a word search, a recycled jump rope activity, videos and photos, and more. The resources are mostly geared for students in grades 1-5.

97-page Speech & Language Story Companion Guide to One Plastic Bag – Created by a Speech Therapist, this comprehensive teacher resource to accompany One Plastic Bag includes games, interactive lesson plans, writing prompts, and so much more. This resource for ESL, ELL, ELD, Speech Therapy and homeschooling parents is available for a small fee on Teachers Pay Teachers and has the highest ratings and reviews. Target grades: K-5.

Quizlet PDF vocabulary sheet of definitions for 21 words that younger students may need help with in order to read One Plastic Bag.

Earth Day “Freebie” Activity on TPT – A teacher worksheet to go along with the book One Plastic Bag, which includes five multiple choice comprehension questions, two versions of a guided summary, and an analysis of Isatou’s action plan. Lastly, there is a template for a student or group of students to come up with their own action plan to solve a problem within their community. Target ages: Grades 3-4 (ages 8-10).

Teacher Resources for Water is Water
LEXILE: 240 | GRL: E | Back Matter Also Included

• The Classroom Bookshelf – Lessons on written responses, visual narratives, finding rhymes, the hydrologic cycle, drama, and more are available for grades PreK-5.
• Sally’s Bookshelf – Questions and Water Mapping activity for kids / STEM Friday
• USGS Water Cycle for Schools – Images, data, files for printing and an interactive water cycle diagram. Available in more than 20 languages!
• Water is Water Song & Motions Guide – Get your students moving around just like water with this song and video from Emily Arrow, produced by Nick Goldston.
• Quizlet PDF Vocabulary Guide – This resource provides age-appropriate definitions and corresponding pictures of 18 words used in the text of Water is Water.
•  Water is Water 97-page Companion Guide! – This extensive teacher guide, compiled by a Speech Language Pathologist who works with students in K-5, includes an entire unit of activities for K-2 and 3-5 to go along with the book. Please note this resource, which is very helpful in using for Speech Therapy as well as regular classroom or special education use, is available for a nominal fee at Teachers Pay Teachers.

Teacher Resources for Whose Hands Are These?
GRL: P | Dewey: 331.7 | SRC RL: 1.4 | RGL: 2 | Interest: PreK-3 | LEX: 420

• Word work and vocabulary building, analyzing, writing, speaking and a mapmaking activity suggestions from the wonderful Beth Anderson. (PreK – Grade 2)
• What Could Your Hands Do? A worksheet that encourages young learners to trace their hand and write all of the ways they could help others, or the careers and occupations they might have one day when they become a grown-up community helper! (Grades PreK-2).
• Write Your Own Riddle – a worksheet to guide students into writing their own riddle poem in the style of the book! (Grades 2-5).
• Quizlet Vocabulary PDF Sheet – This resource provides age-appropriate definitions and corresponding pictures of 18 words used within the riddles of Whose Hands Are These?

Teacher Resources for I Am Farmer: Growing an Environmental Movement in Cameroon

NEW! Hour of Code Activity – Unplugged Algorithm Activity — A COMPUTER SCIENCE ACTIVITY DESIGNED TO SUPPLEMENT “I AM FARMER” BY BAPTISTE PAUL AND MIRANDA PAUL, created by educator Stephanie Skiba. Download here.

Activity Worksheet – Let your students color the flag of Cameroon, locate it on a map, complete a word search, and answer questions related to the book. Grades 2-5. Download here.

Meet Farmer Tantoh – This four-minute captioned video introduces young people to the real Farmer Tantoh and his work planting organic gardens and bringing clean, sustainable water to villages in Northwestern Cameroon, Africa. View the video here.

Save Your Future Association – Are your students motivated to make a difference? Let them learn more about Tantoh Nforba’s nonprofit organization, SYFA. Student groups and organizations that want to raise funds to build water catchment systems or help families plant organic crops are encouraged to do so! SYFA is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization in the US, and also a registered NGO in Cameroon, Africa. Learn more online at syfaglobal.org. Donate directly online here. Or, host your own fundraiser! Here is a flier and step-by-step instructions for doing a school, district, or church fundraiser for SYFA.

Teacher resources for Are We Pears Yet?
*Winner of the 2018 Award of Excellence from the Council of Botanical and Horticultural Libraries!*

Are We Pears Yet? The Script – perform the book as a stage play with your students and learn about growth cycles in a fun way! This interactive resource is flexible and provides information on characters, props, and a script. This play which introduces concepts such as plant growth cycles, photosynthesis, and more, can be performed in a small or large group setting. Please feel free to modify the script to suit your classroom needs. Ages 5-12+ / Grades K-6.

Make Your Own Pear Sauce + Pear Investigation Activities – this easy recipe and teacher extension activities to complete while waiting for it to cook or cool provide a delicious way to learn about fruits. Remember that cooking on a stove is an activity that should be supervised and assisted by an adult. Ages 3+.

Growth Cycles Word Search – A fun word search activity to introduce or reinforce vocabulary acquisition for units on plant growth from seed to tree, growth and life cycles, or fruit trees. Vocabulary includes words such as sun, seed, soil, rain, grow, patience and more. Recommended for ages 5-8 / Grades K-3.

10 LITTLE NINJAS
| GRL: L | DRA: 20 – 24 | LEX: AD640L
2017 Missouri Building Block Picture Book WINNER!

10 Little Ninjas Extension Activity Packet – This resources for parents, day care providers, or teachers will help guide discussion and lead imaginative play related to the book 10 Little Ninjas. Designed for grades PreK through grade 1.

NOW AVAILABLE – 10 Little Ninjas is now available in a sturdy, board book version Great for lots of use by the littlest listeners.

ADVENTURES TO SCHOOL: REAL-LIFE JOURNEYS OF STUDENTS AROUND THE WORLD

How do kids around the world get to school? Find out with this book, and explore the content even further with these resources, teacher guides and extension activity ideas  for Adventures to School: Real-Life Journeys of Students From Around the World.

Click here to download the PDF teacher or homeschooling resource guide. (Ages 6-11 or grades K-5.)

Click here to download the WORD document teacher / educator / homeschool resource guide for Adventures to School. (Ages 6-11 or grades K-5.)

Click here for a Quizlet Vocabulary Activity with 26 words. (Geared for students in grades 3-6).

Click here to watch a 90-second YouTube video about the La Paz MI TELEFÉRICO, the featured student commute on the cover of Adventures to School.

NEW! Click here to read the TIME Magazine article (March 2019) about the Angle Inlet school in Minnesota and see photos of the real kids getting to school.

Adventures to School is written by Baptiste Paul and Miranda Paul, illustrated by Isabel Muñoz.

Nine Months: Before a Baby is Born – Teacher Resources

Humans vs. Animals Comparative Info Sheet – Taken from the back matter of the book Nine Months, this PDF informs students about the gestation period for several popular mammals so they can compare animal pregnancy length with human pregnancy. Target ages: 5-10 / Grades K-4. Art by Jason Chin.

9 Things Most Babies Can Do Before They’re Born – Taken from the back matter of the book Nine Months, this PDF informs students about several cool things that most babies (like themselves!) can do before they are even born. Target ages: 3-10 / Grades PreK-4. Art by Jason Chin.

LITTLE LIBRARIES, BIG HEROES teacher resources

*A 2019 JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION*

Be a Little Free Library Hero! With this flyer, you can be on your way to hosting a fundraiser for Little Free Library, the nonprofit organization Todd Bol started—which is still going strong and spreading book love all over the world! Many students will read the book and wonder what they can do to help, and this flyer offers one easy way to join the movement. Click here to download the flyer.

THANKU: POEMS OF GRATITUDE teacher resources

View the back matter section with short definitions of 33 types of poems and literary devices your students can try! Ages 8 and up (Grade 2+). Download the PDF here. Illustrations by Marlena Myles.

How to Write a Tricube Poem – a step-by-step guide for writing your own poem, with an example (Baptiste Paul’s “Each Scar”) to try with students. Suggested ages: 8+ (grades 2-6). PDF here.

How to Write an Etheree Poem – a step-by-step guide for writing a poem called an Etheree, a 10-line poem like “All This” by Liz Garton Scanlon. Try this with students! Suggested ages 8+ (Grades 2-8). PDF HERE.

How to Write Math Poetry / Math Poems – a step-by-step guide to writing equation poetry, a fun format for even the youngest poets to try! Contains an example from Becky Shillington’s “Appreciation Equations.” Suggested Ages 5-12 (Grades K-6). PDF here. And click here for an additional Teacher Resource explaining benefits of Math Poetry.

Teacher Resources for The Great Pasta Escape Book

Research & Create-a-Pasta Recipe Activity – This extension activity packet is a guide for teachers, library media specialists, caregivers, or parents. It outlines an activity through which children can create their own gourmet dish! With the popularity of cooking shows, you can engage young chefs while teaching them how to research and present their materials in the process of documenting the recipe for their new creation. Can be adapted for grades K-6.

The Great Pasta Escape Extension Activity Packet – Includes a character “compare and contrast” activity, verb hunt and answer key, Class Book idea, inflectional ending hunt, and a brainstorm activity in which students rewrite the ending of the story. This teacher resource is adaptable for educators with students in grades K-4.

The Great Pasta Escape – The Script! – This Reader’s Theater activity turns the book into a play that can be acted out by a classroom of 14-30 kids. Get your group working together as they perform this story all about — you guessed it! — working together! Geared for grades 2-5.

Great Pasta Escape Quizlet Vocabulary PDF – This resource provides age-appropriate definitions and corresponding pictures of 20 words used in the story The Great Pasta Escape.

National Noodle Day Maze/Puzzle Activity – Have some fun! Use this noodle activity as a filler for students who finish early, or as part of a party activity in which kids must use their noodle! (Scroll to end of post for activity sheet.)

Teacher Resources for Trainbots

Foodbot activity guide – make sweet or healthy edible robots. Skills: creativity, gross and fine motor skills. Great for homeschool parents, teachers, and day care providers. Photos and guide posted on Penny Klosterman’s blog.

Trainbots Extension Activity Packet  – with vocabulary suggestions, design activities (with inquiry-based learning according to the engineering design process), presentation projects, and a writing guide. Can be used for a variety of grades/levels.

Trainbots Vocabulary Quizlet – Trainbots has a lot of BIG words for little listeners! Use this multi-sensory resource at Quizlet.com to interact with 16 vocabulary words from the book Trainbots. Students in grades 2-4 should be able to use independently, students in grades PreK-1 will likely need guidance or additional help using this platform.

Teacher Resources for Blobfish Throws A Party

Blobfish Coloring Sheet – color the heroic main character however you wish! (All ages)

Fluffy slime recipe – make a batch of blobby slime that’s a similar color and texture to a real blobfish out of water! (Ages 5+ or with adult supervision)

Blobfish Video – This SciShow Kids episode explains why the blobfish’s blobby shape actually helps it survive! Learn more about the “World’s Ugliest Animal” in this kid-friendly 3-minute video.

Blobfish Quizlet Vocabulary PDF – This resource provides age-appropriate definitions and corresponding pictures of 12 words used in Blobfish Throws a Party.

School Visits with author Miranda Paul
Whenever I visit schools, conferences, or book festivals I try to customize my presentation to maximize both the fun and learning elements. I have an informative presentation for teachers on Using Picture Books for Older Readers (linked to Common Core State Standards) and an interactive program for kids about the Gambia, folk tales, and making a difference in our world through books and beyond. Feel free to check out my school visits page  for info.