Doll-E
Join me for a special story time at the Computer Museum of America
July 1st, 1PM
Computer Museum of America
5000 Commerce Pkwy
Roswell, GA 30076
Tech Tales – Storytime for Young Explorers.
Each week, children will hear stories about computing, technology, creative problem solving, space, robots or famous people in tech. Following the story, children will dive into a fun (and shhhh…educational) hands-on activity. Plan to arrive earlier or stay later and visit the museum exhibits. Consider a membership and bring the kids for multiple Fridays. For group reservations from daycare centers, please email info@computermuseumofamerica.org in advance. Tech Tales, free with admission, starts at 1 PM and runs from June 17th through July 30th. Recommended for ages 5 – 10.
July 1, 2022
Doll-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone
Guest Reader: Shanda McCloskey, Author of Doll-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone
Author and illustrator of Doll-E 1.0 and T-Bone the Drone Shanda McCloskey will read her books and lead the activity this week. Problem-solving and technology go hand-in-hand as these protagonists save the day. This is Shanda’s second year reading at Tech Tales. She will teach youngsters how to draw her characters and then fly a drone. Participants will also fly mini indoor drones. (Shanda will have books available for sale.)
July 8, 2022
Computer Decoders
This week we are learning about ‘Hidden Figure,’ Dorothy Vaughn, who loved all things numbers! Computer Decoders delves into the life of a fascinating woman who was a highly respected mathematician. This story describes how Dorothy had to overcome many challenges with grace and perseverance. After the story, Children will learn how to convert a special date into binary code.
July 15, 2022
What Do You Do with A Problem?
Today’s book is What Do You Do With a Problem? This story is a heartwarming tale for anyone who has ever dealt with a problem. No one is too young to learn the importance of courage and persistence. Children will put on their engineering hats after the story and solve for how to grab something just out of reach.
July 22, 2022
One Giant Leap
One Giant Leap is this week’s selection and we’ll be reading near the Lunar Module replica in the Tribute to Apollo exhibit on the moon floor. Children will learn more about the 1969 moon landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. After the story, participants will create their very own moon rover.
July 29, 2022
Rosie Revere Engineer
We are wrapping up this summer series reading Rosie Revere Engineer. This story follows a young girl who has aspirations to one day become an engineer. Where some see rubbish, Rosie sees inspiration to create something great. After the story, children will become engineers for the day by building and then testing their own structures. Just how much weight can their creations bear?
Reading Poster and Matching Coloring Page
With schools starting back in-person all over, I wanted to share a “Read and Recharge” poster (with character’s from my first book, DOLL-E 1.0) that’s FREE for printing, laminating, and decorating your classroom! AND there’s a free matching coloring sheet so your students can also make their own poster!
Print Poster
Print Coloring Page
As always, I’d LOVE to see photos of your using these in your classroom :)
All My Best,
Shanda
TOYS: Video STEAM Lessons for PreK – 1st Graders
I am very excited and thankful to now have permission to share a brilliant 4-part video lesson that starts with my book, Doll-E 1.0! This lesson was created by Elana Waugh, a STEAM teacher at Wilkshire Early Childhood Center, for the Red Cedar Writing Project and is geared to young students from PreK thru Kindergarten. I just LOVE the way Elana speaks to the young people! Her passion shines brightly through this. Enjoy, use, and give her some thumbs-ups on YouTube!
Lesson – TOYS
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPgAm5OM6XU
Part 2-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY41xeE-JDw
Part 3-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9eMf0CsG8U
Part 4-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGZsVobAX1M
My Book Inspired A Makey-Makey Maker!
Photo by Colleen Graves
Photo by Colleen Graves
So many cool things have happened as a result of the writing/publishing of DOLL-E 1.0. I am so humbled to be a part of a circuit of creatives! So many hands touched this book from its conception to birth … critique groups, editors, art directors, publicists, my husband, my kids, my mom, sales departments, educators, librarians, bookstores, etc.!
And now another creative hand has tinkered with this book and made its existence even cooler … a real coder and “maker” … a girl named Colleen Graves! She creates activities and guides for Makey-Makey (that appears multiple times in the illustrations of Doll-E 1.0). So, Colleen was charged up to create an activity guide for creating your own doll or robot from spare parts and a Makey-Makey, then adding words to its database using Scratch! It. Is. RAD!
If you are a STEM or STEAM teacher, I truly hope you check this out and share your creations with us! It’s reading, creating, problem solving, programing, electronics, engineering, and fun all in one! Colleen suggests this project works best with grades 3-6. So without further adieu, here is the guide:
https://labz.makeymakey.com/cwists/preview/1657x
And here is Colleen’s blogpost about the inspiration behind creating the guide:
Making and Literacy Guide for Doll-E 1.0
Doll-E 1.0 has made her way to a state list!
I was really excited when I got an email from Connecticut’s Charter Oak Children’s Book Award that DOLL-E 1.0 was one of four fiction finalists! State lists are new to my radar, and the coolest part about them is that kids get to vote on the finalists. I love it! I’m hoping to get to spend a week in CT visiting several schools in the area! This is so much fun :)
STEM Activities & Maker Projects Ready to Go for the Classroom Featuring Doll-E 1.0
Educators, parents, and kids, please read DOLL-E 1.0, and enjoy this FREE fun!
FREE FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES!
Balancing Robot STEM activity!
- Free (and almost free) Activities:
- Free Coloring Pages
- Free How-To-Draw Activities
- “My Robot” write and illustrate activity!
- Balancing Doll-E 1.0 STEM/STEAM activity!
- How To Practice Making Connections with Doll-E 1.0 (From The Techie Teacher)
- DOLL – E 1.0 Book Extension Activities
- Makey-Makey Labz guide for making your own talking doll/robot with spare parts, Scratch, and a Makey Makey kit!
Doll-E 1.0 selected for B&N National Storytime on 7/28/18!
My first book publication experience has been nothing short of awesome! I am very honored and grateful, because I realize this isn’t the norm. My book has some very hot themes in it … STEM, STEAM, girls in tech, and robotics, so my publisher, Little Brown, has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make sure DOLL-E 1.0 gets in the hands of kids! And one of those awesome efforts led to DOLL-E 1.0 being selected for Barnes and Noble’s National Storytime! This means that on July 28, 2018, EVERY Barnes and Noble IN THE COUNTRY will be reading my book during their 11am Saturday story time! Whaaaa?! There’s even Doll-E activities to follow and a discount on the book if you are a member or a kids club member.
I’ll be involved in this national event at my local B&N in Cumming, GA at The Collection! Please join me this Saturday at 11 am if you can! I’d LOVE to meet some new friends and visit with old friends, read my book to you, show you how to draw some of the characters, and sign some books too!
Here’s the Barnes & Noble blog post about it: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/kids/visit-your-local-bn-saturday-july-28th-at-11am-for-a-storytime-event-featuring-doll-e-1-0/
Special thanks to Shawn Foster and the Little, Brown sales team and to Barnes and Noble!!! Thank you for selecting DOLL-E 1.0 for B&N National Storytime💙🤖💙 I also want to constantly thank my Heavenly Father, my husband- Ben, my girls, my parents, Ben’s parents, my big family, Ben’s big family, my friends and church friends, my agent- Erica, my editor- Andrea, and last but not ever least … my Trail Mix Critique Group and best buds: Colleen, Bonnie, Christi, Shannon, Jaclyn, Vaughan, Tosha, and Kim!
Balancing Doll-E Robot STEM Activity!
Read “Doll-E 1.0”, then click on the FREE activity to print it onto card stock.
You’ll need:
- card stock
- crayons, colored pencils, or markers
- scissors
- poster putty (or glue)
- 2 pennies
