Cherry Blossom Friends

Are you aware this year is the centennial celebration of the Cherry Blossom Trees given to the United States by Japan as a sign of friendship?  In honor of this remarkable event, Corkey DeSimone wrote a fabulous book called Cherry Blossom Friends perfect for spring.  Click image below for more information.



I love how the book features wonderful riddles perfect for primary students and rich history of the National Mall including the Tidal Basin and all the memorials of Washington DC for intermediate students.  The author also does a wonderful job of explaining the shipment of the 3800 tress from Japan to DC.

This past year, I recommended this magnificent read to my principal for one of our books of the month.  I was even more excited to hear the book was purchased for each teacher to feature in January.  My school looks so pretty decorated in pink.  I've been working with my students on a cross-curricular unit to align with the story. 


Included in the unit: Cherry Blossom Friends vocabulary flashcards, vocabulary response sheet, and vocabulary concentration, picture of schema chart and graphic images used for the chart, blossom KWL, Haiku poetry lesson, pictures of student poetry, and poetry reproducible, Non-Fiction Cherry Blossom book, Life cycle of a blossom tree poster, Non-Fiction vocabulary using Frayer Model, blossom artwork inspired by First Grade Best with graphics printable, pocket chart riddles to sequence, animal flashcards to match to riddles, pictures of the sequence activity, Monument'al Tour Guide book of all the memorials featured in Cherry Blossom Friends (written for primary and blank for intermediate classes).  




 

If you are interested in celebrating with my class, you can purchase this unit from my store.  

Click image above to link.

If you'd like more information on the 2012 Festival, link here

13 comments:

Unknown said...

What a great celebration! Looks like a wonderful unit! Wishing I was teaching little ones!

Come by and check out my 500 follower giveaway :)

Have a great weekend!

❤ Mor Zrihen from...
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Unknown said...

What a great unit! Cherry blossoms are so beautiful and a great way to work in friendship and so many other concepts!
Love it!
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies

Miss Foote said...

How fun! We just started a unit on National Symbols. Those trees are beautiful. Wishing we could take a field trip across the country and see them in person.

Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee

Lisa Lizak and Beth Wright said...

How beautiful! Thank you for sharing a new book and great ideas :) Hope you have a happy rest of your weekend :)

Lisa :)
Made In The Shade In Second Grade

Anonymous said...

I love this unit and the book featured. :D

AbbyS. said...

We are going to DC this year on a 5th grade trip and I am soooooo excited about the cherry blossoms.
I will be checking this unit out to see if it will work in some way for 5th grade.

Mrs. Saoud said...

I remember visiting DC with my class. Tons of FUN! My husband and I are trying to make plans for a visit during spring break this year. I hope you have lots of fun!

test said...

This is FABULOUS!!

Mary
Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives

MJ said...

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LilBookChompers.com

Becky said...

Kathy sent me

Amanda said...

Love this!

Amandamarie789@yahoo.com

Lisa said...

Hi--Just stopping by to say thanks for contributing to the giveaway on First Grade A La Carte!! Hope I win!! :)

I love this set!!! :)

Live Laugh and Love to Learn
livelaughandlovetolearn@gmail.com

Kevin Smith said...

Wow! What a GREAT! I really enjoy it. We are also provided the Quiz services.

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