Annotated Bibliography:

Elementary Science

Hilary Dingman
EDUC 5473
Dr. Shaunda Wood
October 4, 2017
 Dingman 2

Akulukjuk, R., & Sandland, A. (2016). The Owl and the Lemming. Iqaluit, Nunavut: Inhabit

Media Inc.

This story is an Inuit legend, and it follows the interactions between an owl and a

lemming. The story begins with the lemming leaving her den, in order to get something to eat.

While looking for lunch himself, the owl spots the lemming, and quickly blocks the entrance to

the little lemmings’ home. While trapped by the owl, the lemming tries desperately to outwit the

owl, but her many attempts get her nowhere. Until that is, the lemming challenges that owl to

leaping contest. The owl mindlessly agrees to the challenge, and while this is taking place the

lemming is able to escape from the owl and flee back into its den.

While there are many moral lessons to be learned from this story, it was originally told to

children to teach them not to play with their food. Each page is a mixture of cartoon look like

characters, with a realistic backdrop of the Arctic landscape. I found the illustrations were

extremely effective in adding a visual component to the story.

With regards to the reading level, this book would be appropriate for kindergarten to

grade two. This book would provide a great introduction to a kindergarten science unit on

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems – Animals, Plants, and Their Environment. Students

could learn that similar to themselves, animals also need food and water in order to live and

grow. From there, the teacher could elaborate by explaining that animals obtain their food from

plants or from other animals. The Owl and the Lemming can be used at the beginning of a unit, to

help students both engage and explore the idea of prey and predator.
 Dingman 3

Harrison, T. (2017). A Northern Alphabet. Toronto: Tundra Books.

This book provides an excellent introduction to Northern Canada’s culture, while also

providing students with an opportunity to practice the alphabet. Each page of this book begins

with a letter of the alphabet, followed by a sentence containing words that begin with that letter.

For example, the first page is “Aa…Alex lives in the Artic. He is wearing an anorak.” In addition

to practicing the alphabet, students will also be introduced to a ton of unfamiliar words, which

will assist them in expanding their vocabulary. The learning opportunities that his book provides

are endless.

The illustrations in this book were simple yet beautiful. The author chose to use bold

colours, which captivated your attention almost immediately. He also chose to colour his

animal’s unconventional colours, providing an interesting talking point to use when reading with

students. Overall, I found this books illustrations to be unique, and very appealing to the eyes. I

am sure this book would be a favourite amongst students.

For a reading level, this book would be suitable for kindergarten to grade two. While this

book could serve many purposes, I felt it would be especially useful in a grade two classroom,

teaching a science unit on Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems. Teachers could explain

to their students that in different areas there are different types of living things. While reading the

book the class could compare the animals and plants that live in our ecosystem here in New

Brunswick, to the ones that we would see in Northern Canada. A Northern Alphabet could be

adapted into a lesson during the engagement phase, when learning about different habitats and

ecosystems.
 Dingman 4

Munsch, R. N., & Kusugak, M. (2008). A Promise Is A Promise. Toronto: Annick Press.

This story tells a tale of a young Inuit girl named, Allashua. Allashua promised her

mother that she would not go fishing near the sea, and that she would go to the lake instead.

Allashua broke her promise and just like her mother said, the Qallipilluit appeared. While the

Qallipilluit pulled Allashua into the sea, she shouted that she would bring her brothers and sisters

to them, if they were to let her go. Allashua rushed home, and confessed to her mother and

father what she had done and the promises she had made. Allashua’s mother came up with a plan

so that Allashua could keep her promise, while also keeping the rest of her family safe.

That day Allashua learned that there can be consequences, if we break the promises we

make. Furthermore, the story also acknowledges that certain problems are just too big to solve all

on our own. While we can construct many new meanings from this book, the tale of the

Qallipilluit was originally created in order to teach Inuit children of the dangers of ice. Vladyana

Krykorka did a magnificent job creating the illustrations for this book. The Qallipilluit are both

beautiful and frightening, all at the same time.

This book would be appropriate for Kindergarten to Grade Two. This book would be a

useful tool when teaching a grade two science unit on Earths Systems – Processes That Shape the

Earth. The teacher could start by discussing where water is found (i.e., oceans, rivers, lakes and

ponds), and that it can exist in both a solid and a liquid form. A Promise is a Promise could be

introduced during the exploration phase, as students could begin to examine the different forms

that water can take through a series of hands on activities. Students could then explain what they

saw during their experiments, and how this contributed to their understanding of Earths Systems.
 Dingman 5

Dabcovich, L. (2008). The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale. Columbus, OH: SRA/McGraw-Hill.

The book begins by introducing the reader to an old Inuit woman who lived all alone.

One day when the old lady was out, she stumbled across a baby polar bear that was also all

alone. Despite having very little, she took the polar bear in, fed it, and named it Kunikdjuaq her

son. Kunikdjuaq eventually grew up to be big and strong, and was able to catch food for the

whole village. Out of jealousy and selfishness, the villagers planned to kill Kunikdjuaq. After

hearing the news, and knowing there was nothing she could do, the old woman told Kunikdjuaq

to leave and to never forget her.

This story tells an important lesson on jealousy and human greed. Had the villagers egos

not gotten in the way, Kunikdjuaq could have continued to provide food and supplies for a very

long time. Through the illustrations you could really get a sense of how deeply both the old lady

and Kunikdjuaq cared for one another.

This book would be appropriate from kindergarten to grade three. This book would work

well for a grade three science unit on Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems. For instance,

a section of this unit focuses on the negative effects that changes in an ecosystem can have on a

particular species. Teachers could address the struggles that polar bears are now facing while

attempting to hunt, mate and den due to this change in their ecosystem. Polar Bear Son would fit

perfectly within the elaborate stage of the learning model. Students can build off of what they

already know about the different forms of water, and then extend this knowledge to include a

lesson on climate change and its implication on the Arctic ecosystem.

 Dingman 6

Smallman, S. (2014). The Not-So-Perfect Penguin. London: QED Publishing.

This loveable story follows the not-so-perfect penguin, Percy. Percy had a hard time

being prim and proper like the other penguins, and as a result was always getting into trouble. At

one point in the story, Percy was forced to stand by himself, far away from the rest of the group.

Percy was sad that he could not be perfect like the other penguins. However, as time went on the

rest of the penguins began to realize how dull life was without Percy. The penguins decided to

bring Percy back, as life was not the same without his peculiar ways. In the end Percy realized

that everyone loved him just the way he was.

After reading this book, students will have a greater understanding of what it means to

love yourself and others. Students, who are having a harder time fitting in with their classmates,

will have an easy time resonated with Percy. The books illustrations are quite entertaining, which

offers a light hearted feel to the book as a whole.

With regards to reading level, this book would be fitting for kindergarten to grade two.

This book could be used in a grade one science unit on Structure, Functioning, and Information

Processing. In this unit students begin to analyze different organisms, and the purpose for their

external parts. Students could compare the differences between the birds that they see in New

Brunswick, to the Penguins that they saw in the book. For instance, penguins, unlike other birds

have short wings, and a heavier, solid bone structure that helps them to swim. After reading The

Not-So-Perfect Penguin the class could discuss these physical characteristics, and explore what

other interesting traits make penguins like Percy unique.

 Dingman 7

Brooks, E. (2010). Polar Opposites. New York: Amazon Children’s Publishing.

The book begins by introducing the readers to Alex the polar bear and Zena the penguin.

The book explains that Alex and Zena live on opposite sides of the world. Alex lives in the Artic,

and Zena lives in Antarctica. In addition to discussing their physical locations, the book also

explores other differences. For instance, Alex is very loud and Zena is very quiet. The book ends

by both Alex and Zena meeting in the middle. The illustrations were excellent and well thought

out. They provided a great visual of the many differences between Alex and Zena. The

illustrations take the reader beyond the actual text, displaying even more reasons why Alex and

Zena are polar opposites.

The reading level for this book is kindergarten to grade two. Polar Opposites would be an

excellent resource in teaching a grade two unit on Earth’s Systems: Processes that Shape the

Earth. With use of a map, students could locate and begin to understand where certain places are

located around the world. Students could then explore the different shapes and kinds of land and

bodies of water in both the Artic and Antarctica. I would recommend that this book be used at

the engagement phase of this unit.