Lana Sayegh- Book Club

Title: Circus

Author: Lois Ehlert

Illustrator: Lois Ehlert

Recommended Grade Level: Pre-k-2

Common Core Mathematics Standards Addressed:

Identify and describe shapes, analyze, compare, create, and compose shapes, reason with shapes and their attributes.

Summary: This story is about a big and exciting Circus! The story is told from the ringmaster’s point of view and he takes the reader through the various acts that will perform in the circus such as lions, lizards and dancers. There is even an intermission which includes tasty and fun snacks such as popcorn and ice cream.

Rating: ***** I highly recommend this book as it has fun mathematical connections for students. The story allows the student to experience the attributes of a real life circus through the usage of geometric and organic shapes.

Classroom Ideas: This book could be used when introducing or reviewing geometric shapes with children. Each illustration in the book is created by using various geometric and organic shapes. The teacher can work with the students to identify and form the shapes on a wet board/blackboard and count how many sides each shape has. Students will be able to identify the shapes throughout the book. Following the reading of the book the students can either cut out their geometric shapes using colorful paper, or use geometric manipulatives to create their own circus scenes. The students can break into various groups and be assigned different circus acts. Together they can create the picture to depict their specific act, and finally all of the groups can combine their artwork to create their own Circus book. The students may venture away from the circus theme and use shapes to create other illustrations of their own.