Ideas, resources and projects for using the excellent middle school mystery Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett with students.

Information on collaborative and cross-curricular projects that have worked in my library for grades K-8. Includes ideas, specific lesson plans and reproducibles.

Biography Riddles, Monumental Influence, Postcard Research, Stamp on History

A resource developed for middle school students to help them understand what plagiarism is, why it's a problem, and how to avoid it.

Specific details on school-wide themes used at Sterling Grade School for the past few years. Themes centered on activities in library skills classes, storytimes, p.e., art, and music classes, and our annual week-long Read Across America celebration. Themes described include Hero's Trail (focus on biographies and real-life heroes), the Mississippi River (focus on the river, steamboats, jazz music and Mark Twain), and explorers Lewis & Clark.