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Comet's Nine Lives
| Author/Illustrator:
Jan Brett ISBN: 0399229310 |
Unit Designed by Ginger A.
and Wende
This unit is designed for use in the K-2nd grade level.
Language Arts
Cat Sayings and Phrases
The title of this book comes
from the saying that every cat has nine lives. Is this true? No, but
Brewster’s dictionary of Phrase and Fable says that a cat is said to
have nine lives because it is “more tenacious of life than many animals”.
Cats were considered to be sacred in the Egyptian culture. The number nine
is a trinity of a trinity and so nine was probably chosen to reflect the
sacredness of the cat by the Egyptians. [Information from Singapore Science
Centre, question #19532]
Below is a list of other cat
phrases that would be interesting to talk about with your child. There are
many more. An older child could make a booklet of cat phrases for his
notebook or lapbook.
Cat Phrases and Sayings
Raining cats and dogs [it's pouring down rain]
Grinning like a Cheshire cat
[from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland]
Catnap [just a little nap]
The cat's pajamas [something great]
Look at what the cat dragged in [someone who arrives somewhere looking
messy]
Looking like the cat that
swallowed a canary [appearing very pleased with one’s self]
Cat got your tongue? [someone who is slow with a response to a question]
Acting like a cat on a hot tin
roof [from the Tennessee Williams play]
Let the cat out of the bag [a secret that has been told]
Cat’s cradle [a string game played by children]
Catcalls [booing another team’s efforts]
Caterwauling [screeching noises, this is how Granny describes Pearl’s singing on the Beverly Hillbillies]
Fat Cat [someone who is well off or has a lot of
money]
When the cat's away, the mice will play [when no one is watching, people
will get into trouble]
These next two phrases are not
pleasant but your children will hear them in various literary works:
Cat of nine tails [This whip was made of three separate strands and each strand had three knots tied in it. This was used as a form of punishment. The whipping was so severe that those that survived were said to be lucky as a cat with nine lives.]
Not enough room to swing a cat [In a tight space. Sailors were sometimes punished with the cat of nine tails. Below the deck it was too crowded to swing the cat of nine tails, so this phrase became common.]
Cause and Effect
Use an example with your student to define cause
and effect.
1. Bill forgot to turn off the water hose. The yard was soaking
wet this morning.
2. Jane’s birthday is tomorrow, so her mother decorated a
birthday cake.
Make up other examples and have your child identify the cause
and effect. Read Comet’s Nine Lives again. Try to determine the cause for
losing each life.
You can make a cause/effect minit book for your lapbook or notebook with
these prepared pages.
Action Words
As your child listens to the story have him identify some of the action words that relate to Comet. Examples: trotted, flicked, staggered, jumped, pranced. Tell your child to demonstrate each action word. Go-along book about verbs: Kites Sail High by Ruth Heller
Handwriting
Let your child practice writing in wet sand with a stick. Let your child choose some interesting words from the story.
Left to Right [pre-reading skill]
Place a basket full of shells on the table toward the left of your child. Place an empty basket on the table toward the right of your child. Give your child a pair of tongs to hold with his right hand. Instruct him to pick up the sea shells using the tongs and move them to the empty basket
Poetry
This poem is easily memorized. You could also use it for copy work.
Ocean Shell
I found a great big shell one day [pretend to hold with both hands]
Upon the ocean floor
I held it close up to my ear [raise hand to ear]
I heard the ocean roar!
I found a tiny shell one day [pretend to hold in one hand]
Upon the ocean sand
The waves had worn it nice and smooth [pretend to stroke shell]
It felt nice in my hand.
Links
Many words
begin with "cat" -- finish more words in this spelling activity
Create an "At Sea Dictionary" using different terms from this site
Reading Comprehension Sheet I from Jan Brett's Website
Reading Comprehension Sheet II from Jan Brett's Website
Arts and Crafts
Knitting
Sailors were some of the first to knit. Originally knitting was considered to be a man’s skill because it was used to create nets. Teach your child to cast on and knit stitch. This is quite possible for a 5yo. Kids knit: simple steps to nifty projects by Sarah Bradberry is an excellent resource.
Knot tying
This involves problem solving and following directions. There are many books that teach this skill but I found that it is much easier to learn by watching someone.[I thought this would be too difficult for little ones, but I was wrong.. A retired Marine officer worked with a group of boys in my home for about 2 hours teaching this skill. At the end of the lesson all the 5yo could tie a slip knot, figure eight and figure eight on a bight. The older boys learned about 6 knots.]
Learn to make a sailor’s
bracelet
Sand
casting [paper weight]
Math
Measurement/Geometry: Compass and Ruler
Make a simple paper boat
Plan to make a
fleet of these because children seem to really enjoy this activity.
Links
Round numbers
to the nearest 10- Seashell Rounding Page (Jan Brett's website)
Ordinal Numbers
(Cats) from Jan Brett's Website
Science
Hurricanes
Comet got caught by Hurricane Elmadore. Hurricanes are powerful, whirling
storms. They form over the warm oceans close to the equator and can travel
hundreds of miles. As the sun heats up the seas, warm water vapor rises into
the air forming large thunderclouds. Wind causes the masses of clouds to
whirl strongly. The hurricanes move across the ocean creating huge waves
that can crash on the shore. Often times, the hurricane never makes it to
land. When they do come to land, they bring high, destructive winds and
heavy rains.
To learn more about hurricanes, read these informative books:
The Magic School Bus Inside a Hurricane by Joanne Cole
Hurricanes and Tornadoes by Norman S. Barrett
Or these picture books about children experiencing a hurricane:
Hurricane by David Wiesner
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
Learn about Hurricanes
How Stuff Works-
Hurricanes
Making Ice Cream: Salt and Ice
Comet had some problems in the ice cream shop. Do you know how ice cream is made? Why is salt put on ice when ice cream is made? What does the salt do?
Ziploc Ice Cream
1 gallon Ziploc bag
1 quart Ziploc heavy duty bag
4 cups ice
¼ cup salt
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Tablespoons sugar
cups and spoons
Steps
1.Pour the milk, vanilla extract, and sugar into the small Ziploc bag. Squeeze as much air out as possible and seal the bag.
2. Place the small Ziploc bag down into the large bag. Cover with the ice and salt. Seal the large bag.
3. Shake ,toss, and flip the Ziploc bag for 5-10 minutes. Pass the bag around if it gets too cold. Don’t open the bag to check the ice cream because it may reseal securely.
4. Open both bags and spoon the ice cream into a small cup.
Variations
Science Explanation:
Salt lowers the freezing point of water. The water gets colder than ice [about 28 degrees]. This super-cold water and ice mixture causes the liquid milk mixture to freeze and become solid.
Water Study: Absorbent and Nonabsorbent
It may be easier to do this activity outside at a kiddy pool, but your kitchen sink or bathtub would work just fine.
Water Study: Evaporation
This activity is a simple introduction to evaporation. The purpose is to help the child move beyond the idea that water just disappears.
On a warm day give your child a
bucket of water and a clean paintbrush. Tell him that today he will use
water to paint the house and mailbox [or any suitable concrete/metal
surfaces]. Observe how the pictures disappear after a while. Ask your child
for an explanation. Use this opportunity to introduce the word evaporation.
You could talk a little about the water cycle. Children are usually
interested to know that we just keep using the same water over an over.
Water Safety Rules
Rules for Boating Safety
Know your boat -- each boat has its own purpose. Make sure you use your boat
correctly.
Always wear a life jacket while riding on a boat.
Make sure an adult is operating the boat.
Don't stand while a small boat is moving
Don't sit on the gunwale or bow of a moving boat.
Also, it's a good idea to know your state's laws governing boating and fishing.
Rules for Swimming Safety
Learn to swim.
Always swim with a buddy.
Make sure an adult (or lifeguard) watches you.
If you can't swim, or if you are just learning to swim, wear a life jacket.
Don't use an inflatable air mattress or swim ring unless you know how to swim.
Don't swim in cold water-- it can cause dangerously low body temperature
(hypothermia).
Never dive or jump into unknown waters.
Obey all "No Swimming" and other warning signs.
Cats
You may also want to spend some time learning about cats this week.
Cats at
Enchanted Learning-- rhymes, crafts, print-outs (science information),
language arts activities, and more!
Cats- Cat Napping
Activity
Social Studies
Geography
Massachusetts –
Comet lived in Massachusetts. If desired, do a brief study of the state.
Massachusetts is part of what are called the “New England States”, located
in the northeastern part of our country. Have student locate Massachusetts
on the US map. Your child may be familiar with the state, having learned in
the past about the Mayflower landing at Plymouth in 1620, the Boston Tea
Party, the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere, or maybe the Salem Witch Trials.
Well Massachusetts was also among the first states to experience rapid city
growth, and today is one of America’s most urbanized and industrialized
regions. Massachusetts has been the home to many famous people including
John Adams, our second president, and his son, John Quincy Adams, our sixth
president. The state flower is the Mayflower, and the state bird is the
chickadee. Looking at a map of Massachusetts, have your child locate the
capital, Boston, as well as Nantucket, where Comet lived.
Nantucket – Comet lived in Nantucket, a small island off the south east
coast of Massachusetts. While Nantucket is now used mostly as a summer
vacation spot, during the 1800’s it was a very prosperous whaling village.
By 1835, large fleets of ships were sent out from Nantucket to as far away
as the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Alaska to hunt whales. These voyages
often lasted three or more years. Most of the people living in Nantucket in
some way depended on the whaling industry for their livelihood. The whales
were used to meet the high demand of whale oil, the chief illuminant of the
day. As the sale of petroleum-based oils took the place of whale oils,
whaling greatly decreased. Nantucket is still rich in nautical history, with
stately captain’s houses and fishing shanties, and it was depicted in Herman
Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick.
Hunt for treasure on Nantucket Island (Nantucket, MA)
- don't miss this!
Make a story disk and place it on your map. You may also want
to make a flag of MA, or, you can find the flag of Nantucket to replicate
here.
Nantucket, MA Website
Massachusetts State Flag
Massachusetts State Map
Massachusetts State Bird- Chickadee
Massachusetts State Flower- Mayflower
State Bird/Flower Coloring Page
Land Form: Island
An
island
is a piece of land surrounded by water. Is your student familiar with
any other islands? Point some out on a map. Which continent is
an island?
Compass Activity Page at Jan Brett's Site
Rabbit Trails
American lighthouses
Efforts are being made by many historical preservation societies to preserve these landmarks. Keep The Lights Burning Abbie, by Peter and Connie Roop is a wonderful read. Reading Rainbow ‘s video for this book is great. Lighthouse Reading by Susan Mallette
Nantucket Lightships
These were used to warn ships
of dangerous shoals. The men on board began to make Nantucket Lightship
baskets to pass the time and for extra income.
http://www.nantucketlightshipbasketmuseum.org/what_is.htm
Research various Native American Tribes
The internet is full of sites
on Native Americans. However, I think a book from the library would be
better.
Seashells
What lives inside shells? Research and find out!
Just For Fun
Visit Jan Brett's Website
and find even more!
Comet Bookmarks
Comet Coloring Page
Recipes
Materials and information on this website belong to the original composers. It may be used for your own personal and school use.
Material may not be used for resale. © 2005-07 HSS
