The Silent Witness: A True Story of the Civil War

By: Robin Friedman

Illustrated by: Claire A. Nivola

Lula McLean and her family lived in Manassas, Virginia in the beautiful countryside on a plantation, which overlooked Bull Run Creek. On their plantation they grew wheat, corn, and oats. Lula loved learning her lessons in the peach orchard, making candy from sorghum molasses, and playing with her rag doll. Her mother had made Lula's rag doll from course unbleached cotton, printed cotton fabric, and ink for the eyes, mouth, and nose. Lula and her family saw the Civil War unfold right in front of their eyes. The war began on the McLean's front lawn in Manassas, Virginia just before the Battle of Bull Run Creek. The soldiers took over the country side, where Lula loved to spend time playing with her rag doll, to set up trenches, tents, cannons, and the barn was turned into a hospital. The McLean's moved 143 miles south to Appomattox Court House. On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to General Grant in the parlor of the McLean's home. Lula left her doll on the sofa while the meeting between the Union and Confederacy was happening, and the soldiers called Lula's Doll "the silent witness." A Union soldier took Lula's doll as a souvenir, and Lula never saw her doll again.

This week, I chose to feature a book that does not seem to be very agriculture related. However, while reading this book, I noticed some interesting agriculture facts that occurred during the Civil War and I thought they would be fun to highlight for students. This book, of course, would be an excellent book to use for a History lesson, as well. In the beginning of The Silent Witness, a new vocabulary word can be introduced to students: plantation. A teacher can discuss with his/her students about a plantation, and he/she can show pictures of plantations from the Civil War. The McLean's grew on their plantation wheat, corn, and oats. Discuss what the farmers from the South grew during the Civil War era, also bring in some wheat, oats, and an ear of corn so the students will be able to see and touch in person. Example question: "Do farmers still grow those kinds of crops today?" Another agriculture fact in the book is, Lula and her family used raspberry leaves to make tea and burnt corn to make coffee. They had to resort to these resources because the Union blockaded the South's ports to prevent goods from being sent to the South. The last highlight is to discuss with the students what Lula's doll was made out of, and then have the students make their own rag doll using only the materials Lula's mother used to make the doll. Don't forget to remind the students that agriculture was important back then, is still important today, and will always be very important to our world. 

Click here to find more information about the McLean's home and Lula's rag doll.

Oh Say Can You Seed

By: Bonnie Worth
Illustrated by: Aristides Ruiz

Ever wonder where your clothes or food comes from? In the book Oh Say Can You Seed, the Cat in the Hat teaches about seeds and how they develop. There are many different things in the world that comes from plants. Just to name a few clothes, food, medicine, the air we breath, and many other things. The Cat in the Hat discusses the different stages of development a seed goes through from seed all the way to a flowering plant.

This week I chose a book that has a concept about agriculture I believe to be very important. My dad is a cotton farmer in the panhandle of Texas, so I am very passionate about wanting people to know and understand just how important agriculture really is. This book discusses about seeds, their development, and what is produced from the plant of the seed. As I said earlier, my dad is a farmer, so growing up I had the opportunity to see a seed being planted and a few months later the plant being harvested. For example, cotton has many different products made from it such as money, clothes, stuffed animals, jeans, towels, and blankets. Also, let's not forget to remind the students that some of the food we eat comes from plants, as well. This book can also be used for a science lesson.

Activity to go along with this book:

Materials

• lima beans
• Ziploc bags
• paper towels
• marker
• tape
• water

Each student will receive a Ziploc bag, a moist paper towel, and two lima beans.

Place the seeds in the moist paper towel, then put the paper towel that is wrapped around the beans into the Ziploc.

With a marker, have the students write their name on the outside of the bag. 

Tape the bag to the window. 

Over the next few days, chart the growth of the seeds to see how much they grow.

This is a video about the products that come from cotton:

Charlie the Ranch Dog

By: Ree Drummond
Illustrated by: Diane deGrout

Being a ranch dog is hard work, at least this is what Charlie the Basset Hound thinks in the book Charlie the Ranch Dog. Charlie is a ranch dog who has droopy eyes, floppy skin, long dangly ears, and loves bacon. He works hard all the time on the ranch by fixing fence, chasing the cows out of the yard, gardening with his mama, rounding up cattle, and anything else his family needs help with. However, Charlie does love his meals and his naps; everybody has to eat and sleep, right? Charlie just doesn't know what his family would do with out him.

This book is a book I have been very excited to write about. The author of this book Ree Drummond, also known as The Pioneer Woman, is a well-known blogger. I enjoy reading her blog because I seem to always step away from the computer with new insights and ideas. The author, however, is not the only reason as to why I have been excited to write about Charlie the Ranch Dog. My other reason is I have a Basset Hound named Sadie whom I love very much. Even though this book is towards the younger side, there are still teaching points that can be shared with students such as the importance of a ranch dog, ranch life, and the hard work that goes into running and living on a ranch. Some example questions include: Has anyone ever visited a ranch? What kind of animals would a ranch have? What are some jobs a person might have if they lived on a ranch? Help the students understand the teaching concept by making a connection with the book to life, to the students, or even to yourself.

Want to meet Charlie? Listen to the author Ree Drummond talk about her lovable ranch dog Charlie:

If you are interested in checking out The Pioneer Woman's blog, here is the link: http://thepioneerwoman.com/

When Cows Come Home for Christmas

By: Dori Chaconas
Illustrated by: Lynne Chapman

It's the most wonderful time of year! Christmas that is, when the cows come home once again to join in fellowship of friends and family and celebrate Christmas together. The cows have a favorite corner that they put the Christmas tree up every year. Before putting up the tree, the cows dance a Cowpoke Polka. But while dancing, Moosha's two hooves crash right through the floor directly where the tree is suppose to stand. The cows try and try to get Moosha unstuck but nothing is working. Everyone is sad that there will be no tree. Does this mean no Christmas? The cows are inspired by a baby calf on how to save Christmas, and they just might start a new tradition, as well.

This week, I chose a very different agriculture themed book. I thought this was a cute and fun book to relate agriculture to. Ideally, this book should be read to students around Christmas time. Even though it is not realistic, a teacher would still be able to talk to his/her students about cows. For example, Ask where do cows live?, Has anyone ever seen or been around a cow? Other discussions can occur as well such as, ask students how they would have attempted to fix the situation, do they have any Christmas traditions, or how would they decorate a Christmas tree. And remember to try and find a way to make a connection with the book to real life, to the students, or even to yourself.