Teachers Notes

These notes to accompany Not A Copper Penny in Me House provide suggestions for classroom activities based on or linked to the book's text and illustrations and highlight points for discussion.

Meet Children from Around the World Idea:
From the Reading Partners collection by Marilyn Carpenter

Questions:

• How does your Christmas celebration compare to the one described on pages 4-6?
• On page 10, what does Grandma mean when she says that she wants Maas Charles "to trust a pound of codfish and two pounds of rice?"
• How does Maas Charles' store compare to the one in your neighborhood?
• What would you like about living in the Caribbean?
• How do the people use plants to help them?
• How does the school on pages 20-21 compare to our school?
• Does this book remind you of any other we've read? If so, how?

Main Activity

This book is illustrated by Frané Lessac. Review the paintings and guide children in listing all the details that provide more information about Caribbean people. What have the children discovered as a result of their study?

Other Activities

• Make the book available for the children to select poems to read-aloud for a class read-in.
• Borrow Vejigante Masquerader by Lulu Delacre from the library, then materials for the children to create their own John Canoe costumes or masks.