Alaska (Grades 4-8) [Paperback]

Shelley Gill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

Bundle up for fun with this learning-packed resource on awesome Alaska! Students make a model of Denali, avoid the perils of the icy Iditarod in a History and Hazards board game, chart the sizes of big bears and other “giants” of the Alaskan wilderness, create Northern Lights sun catchers, and try out many more hands-on activities. Alaska includes background, easy activities, reproducibles, book links, and a BIG, colorful poster of Alaskan wildlife. For use with Grades 4-8.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–7—This book blends poetry, factual paragraphs, and silly "Cheechako [outsider] tips" ("Stay upwind from whales: they exhale what Alaskans call 'fish farts'") to cover Alaska's history, economy, and nature. The writing is clear and informative, and the author's love of Alaska is infectious. She writes in an inviting, informal way that is never dry even when listing facts and numbers. She talks about bears on one page and an oil spill on the next without losing that tone. Topics are covered over single spreads, and there is no index or table of contents. On each spread, one photo fills both sides, with smaller insets and text placed over it. The subjects of the photographs are stunning, but the material overlaid on them can be distracting, and though they are generally of high quality, some are grainy. Overall, while the content is worthy, the book suffers from a poor layout.—Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gill, who wrote Up on Denali: Alaska's Wild Mountain (2006), and photographer Endres offer glimpses of their home state. A variety of topics are briefly covered. A typical double-page spread features a large illustration, one or two small ones, a four-line rhyming verse, and a few short paragraphs of prose. The colorful photographs show aspects of the state's geography, geology, climate, history, wildlife, native peoples, and cities. The main text succinctly discusses subjects such as the Exxon Valdez disaster, the state's volcanoes, and the coming of spring to Alaska's interior. Loosely organized around the changing seasons, the presentation seems scattershot, as many of the topics are not seasonal. Tips for a "Cheechako" (newcomer), offered on most pages, are sometimes facts or advice and sometimes jokes, making this feature seem unreliable as an information source. Still, readers with an interest in Alaska will pick up information about this unusual state while enjoying the many fine photos. For larger collections. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Teaching Resources; Pap/Pstr edition (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439117631
• ISBN-13: 978-0439117630
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,655,858 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Shelley Gill is an author and adventurer who has lived in Alaska 37 years. Through her true stories about racing in the Iditarod, swimming with blue whales, riding with the vaquero, climbing in ancient temperate rain forests and sailing to Antarctic she inspires kids to dream big. She visits schools all over the world and currently works as a humpback whale researcher in Prince William Sound. Read more about her at shelleygill.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Teaching and Learning Book, March 23, 2007

By 

E. J. Reynolds (Longmont, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alaska (Paperback)

I used this book as a part of an Alaskan unit for second graders. They loved it! The poetry drew them in, they laughed and learned from the "Cheechako tips." Brilliant photographs and clear text make this a wonderful read. The book lends itself to a multitude of reading and writing lessons. It is great an introductory or summarizing text.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun way to learn about Alaska!, February 5, 2005

By 

J. Moe "alaska mom" (Alaska USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alaska (Grades 4-8) (Paperback)

If you want to teach your child about Alaska,this is a fun way to do it!