A NEW SCHOOL FOR CHARLIE: “FAVORITES” ICEBREAKER CARDS
Best Users: School Librarians, Educators, Community Organizations
Best Audience: Children Grades 00-03
SNEAK PEEK INSIDE THE PAGES
ABOUT THE ICEBREAKER CARDS
Like many new students, Charlie is having trouble finding his place in a new classroom . At first, Charlie’s differences feel insurmountable, but finding a shared language with Fiona changes everything. Together they discover their commonalities and come to love their differences.
Whether you are meeting your new class in person or online, Charlie’s adventure as a dog in a school of cats can offer some icebreakers.
In this kit are reproducible 1/2 sheets that invite kids and adults to list favorite books, colors, sounds, foods, activities, and the languages that are spoken at home. Final sheets ask readers to list what makes them happy and things they worry about. Can your students uncover some commonalities?
An additional activity invites students and staff to grant awards to themselves or the new friends they discovered in the icebreaker.
DOWNLOAD
New School for Charlie: Icebreaker Cards
(PDF)
Image © Courtney Dicmas
ABOUT THE BOOK
A New School for Charlie
By Courtney Dicmas
Published by Child’s Play-International
Paperback ISBN-13: 9781786283412
Hardcover ISBN-13: 9781786283429
Age Range: 4 – 7 Years
Charlie is excited about his first day at a new school, but when he gets there, he finds it full of cats! The difference is quite a shock for Charlie, who isn’t sure how to cope. How can he make new friends? He may find the answer he’s looking for in the library…
“Eventually, Charlie isn’t the only one making changes to gain new friends; the cats and dog are shown digging holes and playing with sticks during playtime. Dicmas charmingly captures the personality differences between cats and dogs; the former aloof and territorial, the latter excitable and outgoing.”
—Kirkus Reviews
THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS
We were delighted to give away a copy of A New School for Charlie to 20 random educators, librarians, or literacy professionals.
One Grand Prize winner received Charlie’s red backpack filled with books by Courtney Dicmas! That pack included the picture books A New School for Charlie, Harold Finds a Voice, The Great Googly Moogly, and the two Spanish/English bilingual <strongWild! board book series! 19 BOOKS IN ALL!
Our thanks to Child’s Play for this rather exciting donation!
The Grand Backpack Prize Goes to…
| College of Menominee Nation Library | Shawano | WI |
And the Winners of the Picture Book Are…
| Ashe County Public Library | West Jefferson | NC |
| Bring About Changes | Huachuca City | AZ |
| Child Care Aware of Northcentral Arkansas | Conway | AK |
| Child Care Connections | Helena | MT |
| Children’s Home Society of WA | Auburn | WA |
| El Dorado County Office of Education | Placerville | CA |
| Friendship Public Charter School | Upper Marlboro | MD |
| Growing Futures Early Education Center | Overland Park | KS |
| HCESC Head Start | Cincinnati | OH |
| Journey School of Peoria | Peoria | AZ |
| Lake Community Action Agency, Inc | Eustis | FL |
| Los Angeles Unified School District | Hawthorne | CA |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College West Campus Children’s Center | West Allis | WI |
| Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center | Chevy Chase | MD |
| St. Peter School | Washington | DC |
| Stephens Elementary | rowlett | TX |
| The Children in the Shoe | Bethesda | MD |
| The Forest Library | Forest | VA |
| University Plaza Nursery School | New York | NY |
| WNMU ECP | SILVER CITY | NM |
