Infusion of Literacy into the Science Curriculum
Book Information
Title
Too Many Toys
Author
David Shannon
Publisher
Copyright Year
The Blue Sky Press, Scholastic
2008
ISBN#
ISBN-10: 0439490294
ISBN-13: 978-0439490290
Spencer has too many toys – they stretched
form one corner of the house to the other! His
father steps on them with bare feet, his mother
trips over them, and the house is overflowing
with junk. Now its time to give some of the
mountain of toys away, but Spencer finds it
hard. In the end, after much negiotiation with
his moth, he fills a box with toys to give away,
but decides the one toy he can't part with is the
box itself.
Arlington Libraries (Aurora Hills, Central,
Cherrydale, Columbia Pike, Glencarlyn,
Shirlington, Westover); APS Library system
(Abington, Science Focus, ATS, Ashlawn,
Barcroft, Barrett, Carlin Springs, Claremont,
Drew, Glebe, Hoffman-Boston, Key, McKinley,
Nottingham, Oakridge, Patrick Henry, Randolph,
Stratford, Taylor, Tuckhoe); Amazon (for
purchase).
Summary
Availability
1
How can the book content be infused into the science curriculum?
Grade Level
K-5
Strands
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic; Force, Motion, and Energy; Earth
Resources
Kindergarten
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
K.1; K.2- Five senses, descriptions and
sequencing
Earth Resources
K.11- Reusing, recycling, conserving
Grade 1
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
1.1- Classifying, measuring, predicting
Grade 2
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
2.1- Measurement, classification, graphs,
unexpected data
Grade 3
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
3.1- Making predications and observations, data
charted, drawing conclusion
Earth Resources
3.10 & 3.11- Conservation and resource
renewal
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
4.1- Hypotheses, predictions, measurement
Force, Motion, and Energy
4.2 & 4.3 – Electricity and electromagnets
Grade 4
Grade 5
Scientific Investigation, Reasoning and
Logic
5.1- Classification key, measurement, graphing
data, variables
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Sample Activities
Kindergarten
After reading the book to the class, students will
discuss how and why Spencer made a toy from the
box. Be sure to include the vocabulary term
reusing, helping students to understand that the
box would have gone into the trash, and instead
was reused as a toy. Next, students will work in
small groups to create a box from a box
themselves, using “trash-to-treasures”. When
complete, they can share their design with their
classmates, and then, of course, play with the
box-toys!
Grade 4
After reading the book to the class, take home a
letter, requesting that their parents help them
select one battery-powered toy to bring to class
the next day, for the class “Toy Take-Apart
Checkpoint Lab”. For safety:
1-Students should wear safety glasses/goggles
2-Demonstrate the correct and safe use of
screwdrivers in advance of the activity. Direct
adult supervision of students working with
screwdrivers is recommended.
3-Remidn students that sharp objects, including
metal and plastic objects, can cut skin.
The following day, students will work with a
partner to open their toy and discover how their
toy works (the flow of electricity from the battery
through the circuit and back to the battery). They
will label the parts and draw what the inside looks
like and how it works. When finished, one person
stays with the display while the other partner
visits the other displays. Then switch jobs, so
every students gets to visit the displays.
Sample letter to parents:
Dear Parents,
We are learning about electrical circuits in class.
We will do an activity called “Toy Take-Apart”,
during which the students ill take apart simple
battery-operated children’s toys. If you have any
toys that you can donate for this project, it would
be greatly appreciated. The toys will be
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disassembled and may not be usable after the
project, so please send only toys that your family
does not want anymore.
SAFETY: Please make sure the toys are free of
battery corrosion.
Thank you,
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