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By:Brenda  Ehrmantraunt
The story is about a father, a soldier, who is being sent to serve in a far off location. The father proposes a special nightly game of catch with his son . He instructs the boy to, "Breathe in deep, then blow out hard to send that North Star sailing far." Then Dad tells his son, "Then close your eyes and have sweet dreams of playing catch amid moonbeams. The star will travel all the night while you are sleeping, tucked in tight. I'll work while waiting patiently for that North Star to come to me. The  story goes on to say how dad will send the star back and they will send it back and forth until the end of his time abroad.

Discussion Questions:
What is your bed time routine? Do you do anything special?

Imagine someone you love was moving far far away for a while, how would you keep in touch with them?

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"Not ball as usual in the park, is a timeless story that connects families while they are apart and offers comforting hope for their reunion.
but something special after dark."

When a soldier's work takes him half-way around the world, he enlists the help of the North Star for a nightly game of catch with his son.

Featured book in the United Through Reading program.
-Sally Ann Zoll, CEO, United Through Reading

-Military Child Education Coalition

Night Catch "... Night Catch is the best of the best!" "... a staple in our Parent to Parent Program ... We enthusiastically recommend it!"

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Amazon.com: Night Catch: 9781934617281: Ehrmantraut, Brenda, Wehrman, Vicki: Books

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This is great website that the students can explore and read stories from military children.

Activity:

Students will identify how a website like this might help these children.

Students will identify how these children used multiple modalities to share their stories.
Students will then create there own family story using Glogster.

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This article explores the importance of celebrating the men and women who died in war.

Discussion Activity:

Students will discuss their family Memorial Day tradition.

Students will brainstorm with a partner ways they can show appreciation for Veterans.

Students will view pictures in article and write one word that describes that picture. All word will be put on white board and as a class they will decide if these words correctly represent the military life.

Using Story Bird students will create a poem/ graphic novel that represents Memorial Day/ Military Families.

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Happy Memorial Day! If you're out of school and many of the adults around you are off work, there's a good chance you'll be celebrating a that many consider to be the unofficial start to summer.

But what exactly is Memorial Day? Why do people celebrate on Memorial Day? What exactly are they remembering?

Unlike Christmas and New Year's Day, and even Veterans Day, which are celebrated by many people around the world, Memorial Day is an American . Observed on the last Monday of May each year, Memorial Day honors all the men and women who have died while serving in the United States .

The was not always called Memorial Day. When it got its start just after the Civil War, it was originally known as Decoration Day. Decoration Day began as a way to commemorate the overwhelming number of brave soldiers who had lost their lives in the Civil War.

The Civil War devastated the United States, and shortly after its end, communities around the country started holding springtime memorials to the many soldiers who died during the . People would gather together to pray and place flowers and flags on their graves.

Although these tributes likely began simultaneously in many different communities, the U.S. government declared Waterloo, New York, as the official birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966. Waterloo had first held a memorial celebration for soldiers on May 5, 1866.

The push for a nationwide day of remembrance came from General John A. Logan, who was the leader of a group of Northern Civil War veterans. The first Decoration Day took place on May 30, 1868, when over 5,000 people decorated the graves of over 20,000 soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

As years passed and more wars occurred, the eventually became known as Memorial Day. It also evolved beyond its Civil War-roots into a remembrance of all men and women who died while serving in the .

The continued to be celebrated on May 30 for many years. Then, in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Act, which defined Memorial Day as an annual federal to be observed on the last Monday in May each year. The law took effect in 1971, and Memorial Day has been the last Monday in May ever since.

Memorial Day celebrations take many forms across the country. Many cities hold parades to honor veterans who lost their lives in service to their country. These parades often feature current , as well as members of veterans' organizations. Large Memorial Day parades take place in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago.

Many Americans also take time on Memorial Day to visit cemeteries and memorials. Decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers and American flags remains a popular on Memorial Day. Since the has also become associated with the unofficial start of summer and many people have a three-day because of Memorial Day, many people also have family gatherings, picnics, and barbecues.

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Happy Memorial Day! If you're out of school and many of the adults around you are off work, there's a good chance you'll be celebrating a that many consider to be the unofficial start to summer. But what exactly is Memorial Day? Why do people celebrate on Memorial Day?

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By: K. Marshall
This poem explores the struggles of all military children out there.

Discussion Activities:

Choral Reading of this poem will be conducted.

Students will post their feelings/ initial thoughts about this poem on their blog. Students will then add illustrations to this poem.

Students will highlight words they feel are important or powerful and create a Wordle that represents military families.

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"The Military Child" (Taken from "The Soldier's Wife") Poem

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Note The original poem The Soldier s Wife was written by Caroline Franklin Berry I have taken that poem and rewritten a portion of some lines for my daughters and all military children out there Away from the home of her childhood she marched at her Dadd

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By : Melinda Hardin
This book shows how these moms are super hero's even though they don't  leap over tall buildings, or they may not have super-human speed. But these moms construct buildings, fly planes, and make tanks roll. They do all kinds of things to help create a safer world. These superheroes are moms. Military moms.

Discussion Questions:

When you think of super hero's what do you think of?

Did this book help change your definition of what it means to be a superhero?

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adventure stories (children's / teenage)

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children's / teenage fiction: action & adventure stories

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children's / teenage fiction: family & home stories

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children's / teenage personal & social issues: family issues

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family & home stories (children's / teenage)

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holidays & celebrations - patriotic holidays

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juvenile fiction / historical / military & wars

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juvenile fiction / holidays & celebrations / patriotic holidays

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juvenile fiction/historical - military & wars

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personal & social issues: family issues (children's / teenage)

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juvenile fiction - historical - military & wars

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juvenile fiction - holidays & celebrations - patriotic holidays

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The moms in the book are superheroes. They may not leap over tall buildings, and they may not have super-human speed. But these moms construct buildings, fly planes, and make tanks roll. They do all kinds of things to help create a safer world.

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By: Acacia  Beumer
Jana misses her daddy. She's been having a hard time ever since he left to go far away to Afghanistan. Everything seems like a struggle at school and at home and she misses her daddy to talk to. Life is hard sometimes, without a daddy around.  Sometimes she thinks about daddy and how much she misses him, especially when she thinks of the fun stuff they used to do. All of this makes Jana very sad until suddenly she gets a letter in the mail.

Discussion Questions/ Activities:

How would you feel if you mom or dad went away for a really long time?

The book talks about Jana crying and screaming and mommy getting mad at her, then it shows Jana in her room and thinking about how much she misses daddy.

What would be a better way for Jana to show her emotions?

Students will write a letter to someone they miss a lot.

Students will critique the text and decide if they think it is realistic.

Students will complete research on the author and decide if the author is credible.

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By: Melissa Davis
Many people don't realize that when your family is in the military you move lot. This book was designed to help children of military families become excited about moving to new places.This book shows the children that their is always something fun and exciting in their new town and they should be excited to move not scared.

Discussion Activities:

Students will complete research on military bases close to their towns.
Students will create care packages and cards to the military members close by.

Students will create a "Welcome to our Town" pamphlet that highlights why the children in a military family should be excited to move to your town. Just like the book they will teach children about all the fun things to do in their town.

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HOME IS WHERE THE ARMY SENDS YOU (Fort Bragg) Sgt. Applebottom, Mrs. Applebottom, Kristy, and Steven are an Army family.  It is a very special day when the children learn that they will soon move to North Carolina. Join Kristy and Steven as they find out what Fort Bragg, North Carolina is all about! www.operationwearehere.com/militarymovechildren.html

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Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children

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Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children

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By: Peggie Brott
This book of original stories and poems touches on many aspects of military life from a child's point of view. From moving to making new friends, deployment, homecoming, patriotism, and tender family moments.

Discussion Questions/ Activities

Students will create a Glogster to define what patriotism means to them.

Dialectal Journal Entries- Students will chose quotes from the poems/ stories that they connect to, have questions about or inspired by.

Readers Theater:
Students will create two different scripts one for the Military Dad and one for the Child. Students will discuss how one script can silence one side of the story. ( ex. child thinks dad doesn't love him and doesn't want to be home, which is why he leaves. Reality is this is dads job and he has to leave.)

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Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children

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This collection of original stories and poems touches on many aspects of military life from a child's point of view. From moving to making new friends, deployment, homecoming, patriotism, and tender family moments, Military Life gives a glimpse of the many joys and challenges military children ex...

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Good night Captain Momma/ BUENAS NOCHES CAPTAIN MAMA

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Good night Captain Momma/ BUENAS NOCHES CAPTAIN MAMA

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By: Graciela Tiscareno- Sato
GOOD NIGHT CAPTAIN MAMA, BUENAS NOCHES CAPITAN MAMA is the first bilingual children's book about why mommies wear military uniforms. A little boy named Marco notices his mommy in an olive-green military flight suit. His curiosity about the colorful patches on her uniform evolves into a sweet, reassuring bedtime conversation between a military mother and her child about why she serves and what she does in the unusual KC-135R aerial refueling airplane.

Discussion Questions:
Marco's Mom gives him a "fighters" badge. Draw a picture of your mom/dad/grandparents and create badges on their sleeve that they deserve.

Students will compleate online research about the history of women in the military.
Students will pretend they traveled back in time and create campaigns/ advocate for women to be allowed to join the military.