Teacher's Tools

Teachers Guides

In the Classroom

Bluebonnet's travels take children outside the four walls fo the classroom, and integrate their time in school with their own travels, their friendships and with Texas history. Mary Brooke Casad offers methods, ideas, and tools for enriching the classroom experience.

Bluebonnet of the Hill Country
Bluebonnet at the Alamo
Bluebonnet at the State Fair of Texas

Questions for the Classroom

Bluebonnet of the Hill Country

1. What would Bluebonnet do if she lost her bonnet?
2. Why didn't Bluebonnet want to go out of the burrow?
3. What happened to Bluebonnet when she visited the camp one night?
4. Explain how bluebonnet helped some campers who were in trouble.
5. How did the campers reward Bluebonnet?

Bluebonnet at the Alamo

1. What was the "treasure" Digger Diller showed Bluebonnet at the Alamo?
2. What did Bluebonnet suggest that Digger Diller do with the "treasure"?
3. Why is Digger Diller so grumpy?
4. Do you think Digger Diller eventually gave the knife to the Alamo Museum?

Bluebonnet at the State Fair of Texas

1. Who was Bluebonnet going to meet in Dallas?
2. What happened when Bluebonnet tried to cross the football field?
3. Bluebonnet went on a tour of the State Fair with Joe Bob. Would you want Joe Bob to go with you to the fair? Why or why not?
4. Compare and contrast Bluebonnet and Joe Bob.
5. If you could add another "page" to this story, what do you think Bluebonnet would be doing?

General

1. Compare and contrast Bluebonnet to other amradillo characters in the Bluebonnet books.
2. Compare and contrast Bluebonnet to animal characters in other books you have read.
3. The Bluebonnet books are written from what point of view?
4. List similes or metaphors found in the Bluebonnet books.

Classroom Activities

1. Have each child bring a white t-shirt to school. Use an armadillo-shaped sponge and fabric paints to make armadillo designs on the t-shirts.
2. Make Bluebonnet flower or armadillo nametags for each child to color and wear on the day of the author's visit.
3. Have he children make armadillos from pine cones or paper maché.
4. Let the children draw pictures depicting scenes form the Bluebonnet books to display on bulletin boards or in hallways.
5. Make Bluebonnet the armadillo puppets from brown paper bags.
6. Ask each child to write an original story about Blubonnet. Display stories on the bulletin board, or bind into a book.
7. Compose and sing songs about Bluebonnet the Armadillo.

 

 

Bluebonnet Engaging Students with their World

Bluebonnet's adventures provide a link between history and everyday living. These stories demonstrate the importance of personal relationships and the impact we have on our friends and family through shared experience.