A Sky That Sings Teacher’s Guide

Listen with Mia! Close your eyes to focus on all the sounds of nature.

BACKGROUND

Refer to the backmatter in A Sky That Sings to learn more about the birds and their calls featured in this book.

From the Backmatter:

Spring is a great time to go outdoors and use your ears! Birds have a lot to say during the springtime. The trees are covered with leaves, so it’s hard for birds to see one another. But they find mates and stay in touch with their families using their voices. Each species has a special pattern of sounds made only by that kind of bird.

Birders—people who love birds and study them—often use words or phrases to describe the complicated notes. A birder might say that a barred owl is hooting “Whooo cooks for youuu?” or that an ovenbird is singing “Teacher, teacher, teacher!” Putting words to a bird’s sounds can help you remember which song belongs to which bird. Birds usually make two different types of sounds: calls and songs.

Calls are what birds use to communicate with families and neighbors all year long—saying Where are you? or maybe Good food over here! Some birds have a special call that means Danger! Since hawks sometimes eat other birds, jays or blackbirds might give a warning call when a hawk comes into view. Calls are usually short, often one sound repeated over and over.

In spring, it’s time for songs! Birds use songs to attract a mate. Much of the singing is done by males, who call to the females, saying Check me out! Male birds also sing loudly to warn other males: Stay away! This is my territory! Songs are often longer and more like music. A red-winged blackbird’s call is Kee! Kee!, but its song is totally different: a lilting O-ka-leeeeee. Birders often do most of their birding by ear. A good birder can identify hundreds of species of birds just by listening to their voices.

 

Want to hear the sounds?

To hear what the birds in this story sound like, check out the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: www.allaboutbirds.org Additional Sources About Birds from the Backmatter For more information about sources used in A Sky That Sings, visit the following sources:

• All About Birds: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology website has audio recordings of birdsong. Cornell University has a free app called Merlin to help identify bird calls:https://www. allaboutbirds.org
• National Audobon Society https://www.audubon.org • Peterson First Guide to Birds (Mariner Books, 1998.) An illustrated guide to common birds for beginning birders.

 

 Visual Impairments

Mia in A Sky That Sings is blind. The American Foundation for the Blind explains that blindness exists on a spectrum, ranging from total blindness to low vision. Traditionally, “visually impaired” has been used to refer to those with significant sight loss however, there are many factors that need to be considered when discussing a person’s difficulty seeing.

Total blindness refers to the inability to see anything with either eye. Low vision describes “a person who has measurable vision but has difficulty accomplishing or cannot accomplish visual tasks even with prescribed corrective lenses but who can enhance his or her ability to accomplish these tasks with the use of compensatory visual strategies, low vision devices, and environmental modifications” (Corn & Lusk, 2010, p. 4-5).

Visual impairment/visual disability is “a term that encompasses both those who are blind and those with low vision” (Corn & Lusk, 2010, p. 13). Additional factors influencing visual impairment might be contrast sensitivity, light sensitivity, glare sensitivity, and light/dark adaptation.

Consider visiting the American Foundation for the Blind online at www.afb.org/research-andinitiatives/statistics/key-definitions-statistical-terms to learn more. Organizations for the Blind, Low Vision and Visually Impaired The following organizations provide resources, additional information, how to discuss and the variation on the spectrum of Blindness, and more: • Perkins School for the Blind: https://www.perkins.org/ • American Foundation for the Blind: https://www.afb.org/ • Paths to Literacy: https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/ • National Federation of the Blind: https://nfb.org/

ABLE (Audio & Braile Literacy Enhancement) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide alternative ways for people with disabilities to read. They have brought out A Sky That Sings in braille for students in Wisconsin (https:// www.ablenow.org/).

 

BEFORE READING

Prereading Focus Questions (Reading Standards, Craft & Structure, Strand 5 and Integration of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 7) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1 and 2)

Before introducing this book to students, you may wish to develop background knowledge and promote anticipation by posing questions such as the following: • What do you know about birds? Do you have any favorite birds? What do they sound like? Why do you like this bird?

• What activities are meaningful to you? Why? Who do you enjoy doing these activities with?
• How do you show persistence? What does it mean to be persistent? Why is it important to have persistence?
• Why is important to practice something? Whether you play an instrument, sport, or are learning how to do something, how does practice help you improve? • Why are differences important? What would it be like if everyone was the same? Why is it important to be unique?
• How can you use your senses to understand and interpret the world and community around you?
• How do you enjoy nature? Do you enjoy going outside? Is there a favorite park you like going to? Who do you like going with?
• What does family mean to you? What do you like to do with your family? Are there certain things you that you like to do with someone at home, like going to the park? How do these activities make you feel?
• Note: Consider introducing blindness and low vision to students using the information provided in the Background section of this guide to help familiarize children who may not know or have encountered a blind or low vision student or adult. This is not necessary to engage students in the story but may be helpful for your set of students or classroom.

Note: Be cognizant of students in your classroom and aware of students’ living and personal circumstances prior to reading A Sky That Sings. You may have students that are blind, low vision or visually impaired. Be sure to lead activities in a manner that is sensitive to the needs and emotions of your students and that demonstrates respect, rather than pity, for people who have a disability.

 

Exploring the Book

(Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strand 1; Craft & Structure, Strand 5; and Integration of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 7) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1 and 2) Book Title Exploration: Talk about the title of the book, A Sky That Sings. Ask students what they think this book will most likely be about and whom the book might be about. What do they think might happen? What information do they think they might learn? What makes them think that?

Read Anita Sanchez’s and George Steele’s biography: Read about the authors prior to reading the book. Encourage students to think about how they came up with the idea to write A Sky That Sings and what could have been their inspiration for writing this story. Visit Anita online at anitasanchez.com.

Read Emily Mendoza’s biography: Read about illustrator Emily Mendoza prior to reading the book. Encourage students to think about how she used the authors’ text to inspire her illustrations for A Sky That Sings.

Book Walk: Take students on a book walk and draw attention to the following parts of the book: front and back covers, title page, author’s dedication, and Author’s Note at the end.

Display the book and analyze the cover. What do students notice in the illustrations? Encourage students to stop and jot down thoughts and questions in their reading notebooks during the read-aloud when they: learn new information, see a powerful image, have an emotional reaction, have an idea, have a question, or hear new word. Have students write in their notebook during reading. After reading, ask students why they wrote that feeling down and have them write a journal entry about it.

Setting a Purpose for Reading

(Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strands 1–3)

Have students read to find out:

• how the title fits the theme(s) of the story
• what birds Mia listens for at the park and how she identifies them
• what Mia teaches her tía at the park
• what is Mia and her tía’s relationship like
• why it is important to use your senses and the different ways you can use them to engage with the world around you
• what is bird listening
• why does Mia lean into her other senses to identify birds

Encourage students to consider why the authors, Anita Sanchez and George Steele, would want to share this story with young people.

 

VOCABULARY

(Reading Standards, Craft & Structure, Strand 4) (Language Standards, Vocabulary Acquisition & Use, Strands 4–6) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1 and 2)

The story contains several content-specific and academic words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to students. Based on students’ prior knowledge, review some or all of the vocabulary below. Encourage a variety of strategies to support students’ vocabulary acquisition: look up and record word definitions from a dictionary, write the meaning of the word or phrase in their own words, draw a picture of the meaning of the word, create a specific action for each word, list synonyms and antonyms, and write a meaningful sentence that demonstrates the definition of the word.

Content Specific

American Robin, Black-capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Chipping Sparrow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, cane, gravel, lullaby, mowed, tangled, warbling, ripples, puffing, snatches, rustling.

 

AFTER READING

Discussion Questions

After students have read the book, use these or similar questions to generate discussion, enhance comprehension, and develop appreciation for the content. Encourage students to refer to passages and/or illustrations in the book to support their responses. To build skills in close reading of a text, students should cite textual evidence with their answers.

(Literal Comprehension (Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strands 1–3) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1–3 and Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 4)

1. How does the story begin? Where are Mia and her tía going? How does Mia feel?
2. What does Mia teach her tía about bird listening?
3. How does Mia describe her experience at the park? What senses does she use while she is at the park?
4. How does Mia’s cane help her around the park?
5. What do the illustrations of the birds look like? How does the illustrator show the sound that the birds make?
6. How does the story end? How does Mia feel at the end of the story?

 

Extension/Higher Level Thinking

(Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strands 2 and 3 and Craft & Structure, Strands 4 and 6) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1–3 and Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 4)

1. What does the title: A Sky That Sings mean to you after reading the book? Why do you think the author chose this specific title?
2. What figurative language do you notice in A Sky That Sings? Why is figurative language important to the story? How do you think the figurative language helps you to picture what the authors are describing in the story?
3. What is the message of this story? What do you think the authors want to share with their readers?
4. Why do you think Mia wants to share her passion for bird listening with her tía? How does sharing an experience or interest bring people closer together?
5. What did you learn about birds and their individual voices? What bird was your favorite?
6. How can adults learn from children? How does Mia’s tía learn from her?
7. Think about a time you tried to teach a person something. How did it go? How does your experience compare to Mia and her tía’s experience?
8. Describe Mia and her tía’s relationship. How does Mia respond when her tía asks her “How on earth can you tell the voices apart?”? How does Mia help her listen?
9. How does Mia use humor when referring to her ability to see? 10.

How is A Sky That Sings different from other books that you have read that feature blind or low vision people? What makes this book different from other books about blind or low vision people?

11. Explore the structure of this text. Does this story describe events chronologically, as comparison, as cause-and-effect, or as problems and solutions? Why do you think the authors structured the text the way they did? How does this story compare to other texts you have read?

 

Reader’s Response

(Writing Standards, Text Types & Purposes, Strands 1–3 and Production & Distribution of Writing, Strands 4–6)

Use the following questions and writing activities to help students practice active reading and personalize their responses to the book. Suggest that students respond in reader’s response journals, essays, or oral discussion. You may also want to set aside time for students to share and discuss their written work.

1. What is one big thought that you have after reading this book? What is your takeaway from this book? What would you tell a friend about this book?
2. What do you think Anita Sanchez’s and George Steele’s message is to the reader? Think about possible motivations behind their intentions to write this book.
3. Have students make a text-to-self connection. What kind of connections did you make between the story and your own life? What do Mia’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings mean to you?
4. Have students make a text-to-text connection. Did you think of any other books while reading A Sky That Sings? Why did you make those connections?
5. Have students make a text-to-world connection. What kind of connections did you make between the text and art in the book and what you have seen happening in the world, such as on television, in a newspaper, or online? What in this book made you think of that?
6. What does family mean to you? Think about the people in your life that you enjoy spending time with. How do these people support you?
7. How do you use your five senses to engage with the world and community around you? How do they help you interpret the world?

 

Multilingual Learners Teaching Activities

(Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1–3 and Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas, Strands 4–6) (Language Standards, Vocabulary Acquisition & Use, Strands 4–6) These strategies might be helpful to use with students who are multilingual learners (ML).

1. Assign ML students to partner-read the story with another classmate. Afterwards, students can create their own drawing to connect with the book’s message.
2. Have each student write three questions about the story. Then let students pair up and discuss the answers to the questions.
3. Depending on students’ level of English proficiency, after the first reading: 1) Review the illustrations in order and have students summarize what is happening on each page, first orally, then in writing.

2) Have students work in pairs to retell either the plot of the story or key details. Then ask students to write a short summary, synopsis, or opinion about what they have read. 4. Have students give a short talk about one of the characters in the book. Have them discuss what characteristics they admire about Mia or Tía from A Sky That Sings.

5. Have students give a short talk about what they identified with most from A Sky That Sings. Did they learn something new that they hadn’t known before?
6. The book contains several content-specific and academic words that may be unfamiliar to students. Based on students’ prior knowledge, review some or all of the vocabulary. Expose ML students to multiple vocabulary strategies. Have students make predictions about word meanings, look up and record word definitions from a dictionary, write the meaning of the word or phrase in their own words, draw a picture of the meaning of the word, list synonyms and antonyms, create an action for each word, and write a meaningful sentence that demonstrates the definition of the word.
7. Consider consulting www.multilinguallearningtoolkit.org/ for more ideas on how to support Multilingual Learners.

 

Social and Emotional Learning

(Reading Standards, Key Ideas & Details, Strands 1-3 and Craft & Structure, Strands 4-6) (Speaking & Listening Standards, Comprehension & Collaboration, Strands 1–3 and Presentation of Knowledge & Ideas, Strand 4) (Writing Standards, Text Types & Purposes, Strands 1–2 and Production & Distribution of Writing, Strands 4–6) (Language Standards, Vocabulary Acquisition & Use, Strands 6)

Social and emotional learning involves being aware of and regulating emotions for healthy development. In addition to understanding one’s own feelings, strong socio-emotional development allows individuals to develop empathy for others and to establish and maintain relationships. Use the following prompts to help students study the socio-emotional aspects of this book.

1. Which illustration in A Sky That Sings do you think best shows an emotion? Explain which emotion you think it is. How does the artist portray that emotion?
2. Choose an emotion such as happiness, fear, hope, sadness, and so on. Illustrate or act out what that emotion looks like in A Sky That Sings.
3. What are the ways that Mia demonstrates determination throughout the story? How did she continue to search for her favorite bird at the park? How did she continue to teach her tía about bird listening?
4. How does Mia use humor in A Sky That Sings? How does humor help alleviate “difficult” moments? How do you use humor in your life?
5. How does A Sky That Sings show positive family relationships? How does Mia’s tía support her in the story? How do your family and friends support you in your daily life?
6. Did A Sky That Sings help you think about how you interact with nature? How does Mia inspire you to enjoy nature?
7. Use A Sky That Sings to discuss how bird listening positively impacts mental health. There are several studies that have shown the positive relationship bird feeding can have on mental health, this article from the Wild Bird Feeding Institute shares more on how bird listening positively impacts mental healthy and anxiety (https://www.wbfi.org/2023/07/11/ the-soothing-melody-of-birds-exploring-the-mental-health-benefits-of-natures-song/). Have students reflect on the following questions: What are the mental health benefits of bird listening? How can you incorporate more bird songs into your life?