Making Multicultural Connections
Through Trade Books

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Written by Vera Aardema
Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillion

Cultural Group: African

Content Connection: Science Grade 3

Topic : Sound

Suggested Exemplars

• Revealed Collection: (objects that represent rain forest animals) snake skin shoe, feather, banana, crown, cotton ball, bottle of OFF.
• Music Interpretation: "Flight of the Bumble Bee" or "Carnival of the Animals" by Saint Saens
• Picture Interpretation: Surprise, Storm in the Forest, Virgin Forest, The Snake Charmer, and Jungle: Tiger Attacking a Buffalo, by Henri Rousseau

Learning Sequence

1. Revealed Collection: objects that represent rain forest animals

2. Read the title of the book and have children predict the contents.

3. Read Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears aloud and children listen for the sounds made by each animal.

4. Complete Lesson #8 from the Grade 3 Sound Unit, "Producing Sound: Making Model Vocal Cords" or present children with a variety of materials (i.e., straws, toothpicks, rubberbands) and have them create noise makers to simulate the sounds made by one of the animals in the story.

Extension

• Children can choose a musical instrument whose sound they feel most closely simulates the sounds of animals in the story. The story can be reread substituting the musical instruments for the sounds of the animals.
• Create a rain forest mural.

Technology Link

• WHAT'S THE SECRET ? (3M Software) Go to train picture and explore why the sound changes when a train passes by.
• MICROSOFT MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (Microsoft)

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© 1996 MCPS Department of Academic Programs, Division of Enriched and Innovative Instruction,Program of Assessment, Diagnosis, and Instruction