Author Feature-Kimberly Willis Holt

Spirit of Texas Reading Program

Middle School

Featured Author

Kimberly Willis Holt

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Book Trailer

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Book Quiz

Printable Copy

The word "Blooming" was added to the name of the motel after a group of tourists from _________________ left.

a. England

b. Canada

c. Australia

d. Jamaica

2. Mrs. Crump gives Stevie an atlas to use in class. An atlas is a book of:

a. poems

b. maps

c. short stories

d. myths

3. Stevie was named after a __________________ singer.

a. rock and roll

b. jazz

c. blues

d. gospel

4. What kind of farm did Stevie's parents own?

a. cotton

b. flowers and herbs

c. Christmas tree

d. dairy

5. Every year, Winston goes to the Jazz Festival in:

a. New Orleans

b. Memphis

c. Chicago

d. Santa Fe

6. The section titles in the book are also steps to create this:

a. a bicycle

b. a photo journal

c. a new song

d. a garden

7. Where did Stevie plant the new garden, to learn that it is the same space her mother once chose?

a. behind the motel

b. in the courtyard

c. under the sign

d. overlooking the beach

8. Stevie's family had a planting ritual, they always added a piece of ________________ to whatever they planted.

a. an apple

b. an orange

c. bread

d. banana

9. Ida was in the hospital for ______________ when she met Horace.

a. a heart attack

b. cancer

c. pneumonia

d. a broken arm

10. Where did they find the stolen big pink bike?

a. at Frida's house

b. at the school

c. in a tree

d. in the pool

11. Corbin wants a bunny because he

a. loves all animals

b. is called "Bunny" by his family

c. wants to pull it out of a hat

d. Bugs Bunny is his favorite cartoon

12. Before the motel, Winston used to be a famous ______________ musician.

a. rock and roll

b. gospel

c. jazz

d. blues

13. Stevie learned that her parents were planning a trip to

a. visit famous gardens

b. visit relatives

c. visit Galveston

d. go to the Rose Parade

14. Winston tells Stevie she should go to Louisiana to meet

a. her aunt and family

b. her grandparents

c. her college advisor

d. her best friend

Discussion Questions:

Is there truth to the statement "Today is what matters?" How did this belief hurt Stevie? Did it help or hurt her parents?

1. a

2. b

3. a

4. b

5. a

6. d

7. c

8. a

9. c.

10. c

11. c

12. c

13. b

14. a

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Academic Program

General Introduction

Creative ownership is not readily understood in this digital age. Music, photos, videos, all are readily accessible. Using the works other people have created, without asking permission or giving credit, is becoming more and more common. In this program, students and patrons will gain a better understanding of fair use guidelines, copyright, and how to protect their individual creative works.

Activity 1 title: “Flower Photo Show”

Activity 1 Introduction

In the story, Stevie plants flowers to brighten up the motel. As it is not always an option to plant flowers in a classroom or library setting. Instead, display digital photos of flowers taken by the students, and hold an art show.

Activity 1 TEKS

§126.14. Technology Applications, Grade 6. C, 5. a-d

§126.15. Technology Applications, Grade 6. C, 5. a-d

§126.16. Technology Applications, Grade 6. C, 5. a-d

Activity 1 Books to Display

Selected books on photography, photographers

National Geographic Kids Guide to Photography: Tips & Tricks on How to Be a Great Photographer from the Pros & Your Pals at My Shot. Honovich, Nancy

Photography. Pelusey, Michael

Photography (Media). Kallen, Stuart A

Photography (Eye on Art). Skog, Jason

Photography. Volume 3, Displaying the Shot (Photography for Teens). Skog, Jason

Activity 1 Supply List

Per group:

Flower

Digital device

For sale/sold Price tags

Paper and printer

Activity 1 Detailed Description of Activity

Assign the students to small groups of 2-4 students.

For each group, provide at least one flower.

For each group, provide a digital device with camera capability

Have the students each take 3-5 photos of the flower from different angles.

Have each student select the “best” (they can define “best”) flower photo.

Have the selected photos printed out (if this is not an option, have them sent to you electronically).

Display the photos, adding price tags that have the students’ names and a sale price.

By the next class, replace some of the price tags with “sold” signs-and on some of the sold signs change the student names so that the creator of the artwork will not always be getting the money. Give the students a few minutes to look at the pieces, and then discuss how it felt to have works attributed to other class members. Explain that the reason there are laws in place are to not only prevent other people from claiming someone else's creative work, but to also make sure the person is getting paid for the work they have completed.

Activity 1 Activity Resources

Directions hand out

For Sale/Sold tag template

Activity 2 Title “It’s My Creation”

Activity 2 Introduction-Remember how it felt when someone was getting credit for the work you did? Understanding the terms and processes involved can help prevent this from happening to you, and others.

Activity 2 TEKS

§126.14. Technology Applications, Grade 6. C, 5. a-d

§126.15. Technology Applications, Grade 7. C, 5. a-d

§126.16. Technology Applications, Grade 8. C, 5. a-d

Activity 2 Books to Display

Content Ownership and copyright (Essential Library of the Information Age). Laine, Carolee

Downloading copyrighted stuff from the Internet: Stealing or fair use? (Issues in Focus Today). Gordon, Sherri Mabry

Shared Creations: making use of Creative Commons (Information Explorer: Super Smart Information Strategies). Rogers, Emily Puckett

Activity 2 Supply List

Handout-definitions

Dictionaries/online dictionary access

Activity 2 Detailed Description of Activity

Ask the students to find the definitions of the following terms:

Using print or online (dictionary.com) dictionaries Define these legal terms:

fair use guidelines

creative commons

open source

public domain

Show the short video “Copyright and Fair Use Animation."

Activity 2 Incentives-grade

Activity 2 Activity Resources

Terminology handout

Activity 2 Resources for Teens, Teachers & Librarians

https://www.commonsense.org/education/blog/the-right-stuff-teaching-kids-about-copyright accessed 2/20/18

"Copyright and Fair Use Animation." accessed 2/20/18 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suMza6Q8J08

Introduction to Creative Commons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNSBUso97Bo

Teaching Copyright: Copyright Frequently Asked Questions

https://www.teachingcopyright.org/handout/copyright-faq.html

registering a copyright

https://www.copyright.gov/

Activity 3 Title “Sell It”

Activity 3 Introduction

Stevie was named after the musician Stevie Nicks, who was once a member of Fleetwood Mac, a band that became popular in the late 1970’s. Stevie Nicks was nicknamed “The Queen of Rock and Roll”. Stevie (the character) grew up planting and selling native flowers and herbs on a farm with her parents. After the death of her parents, the farm is to be sold. Using your flower photos for inspiration, create a video presentation that includes your flower photo, 1970’s music and additional photos of native flowers and herbs, designed to sell Stevie’s farm.

Activity 3 TEKS

§126.14. Technology Applications, Grade 6. C, 5. a-d

§126.15. Technology Applications, Grade 7. C, 5. a-d

§126.16. Technology Applications, Grade 8. C, 5. a-d

Activity 3 Books to Display

Real Estate (Career Launcher). Davis, Natalie

Careers in sales, insurance & real estate

Keeping the castle: a tale of romance, riches, and real estate. Kindl, Patrice

Activity 3 Supply List

Computers and internet access

Activity 3 Detailed Description of Activity

Sell It!

Choose an online presentation format: PowerPoint, Prezi, Animoto, etc.

Create a sales presentation for Stevie’s farm. Include the following:

Your original flower photo

Additional photos of flowers, plants, herbs that might be grown on Stevie’s farm

Photos of the house, and of the gardens, that might be on Stevie’s farm

Photos of a roadside sales stand that might be on Stevie’s farm

Music from the 1970’s

Use easybib.com or citationmachine.com to create your bibliography. Be sure to cite your original work, as well as all photos and music used.

Incentives: grades

Activity 3 Activity Resources

Sell It! directions handout

Sell it! grading rubric

Activity 3 Resources for Teens, Teachers & Librarians

https://www.arsny.com/copyright-basics/ accesses 2/21/18

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Active Programs

Printable Copy

Program Title

Musical Dinner Party

Introduction/Purpose of Program

“Winston puts on an album while I quarter the potatoes before dropping them into a pot. My fingers know the recipe by heart. The song’s pop-bebop matches the sound of the boiling water.” p 104-105

“‘Chicken-fried steak?’

‘You’ve had it before?’

He lets out a snort. ‘Honey, Texas invented chicken-fried steak.’” p 106

Music and food play an important role in the bonding between Stevie and her grandfather, Winston. In addition, music and food go together like… well, like peanut butter and jelly. This program brings these two things together in a music and food pairing dinner party that may introduce patrons/students to some cuisine and/or musical genres they may have been previously unfamiliar.

Description of the Program

Plan and serve a 3-course meal, pairing the food with music specific to the locale or “mood” of the course being served. For the purpose of this program description, the menu and playlist will mimic the food and music specifically mentioned in the book, Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel. However, feel free to develop your own menu and music to suit yourself and/or your patrons/students. Pair international cuisine with music popular in that locale.

Appetizers – Pop-tarts and Enchilada (or Tortilla) Soup paired with 70’s/80’s Pop Music

Before Stevie’s arrival, Winston’s diet consisted mainly of Pop-tarts and canned soup. Later in the story, Stevie makes enchiladas to serve at a party for the hotels residents. Pop-tarts are easily prepared, Serve one or a variety of flavors but chocolate pot-tarts might pair best with the Mexican soup. The playlist paired with this course is filled with “bubblegum pop” artists that Stevie and her mother enjoyed listening to; Elton John, Neil Sedaka, Barry Manilow, Billy Joel, the Go-Go’s.

Main Course – Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes paired with Classic Rock

Chicken Fried Steak with Mashed Potatoes is the first meal Stevie cooks for her grandfather. To simplify the cooking process, use frozen steak fingers, cream gravy from a jar or envelope mix, and instant mashed potatoes. The playlist accompanying this course is rock music that Stevie and her father liked – The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, (old) Johnny Cash, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles.

Dessert – Beignets paired with Jazz Music

Stevie has beignets in New Orleans twice during the story, once with her father’s family and once with her grandfather. Substitute donut holes from a bakery if beignets are not readily available in your area. An alternative, easy way to make beignets is to cut canned Pillsbury Pizza Dough into bite-sized pieces, fry them in oil, and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Jazz is the music that Winston enjoys and introduces to Stevie. At one time, Winston was famous for playing in a jazz band. The jazz playlist should include jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, and Ella Fitzgerald but can also include some zydeco music which Stevie’s uncle listened to and is also a popular music genre in southwest Louisiana.

Program Related Books to Display or Book Talk

Legends, Icons & Rebels: Music That Changed the World by Robbie Robertson

Giants of Jazz by Studs Terkel

Kid Chef: The Foodie Kids Cookbook: Healthy Recipes and Culinary Skills for the New Cook in the Kitchen by Melina Hammer

List of Supplies

Food – this can vary, depending on the menu you decide on. You could also serve food from local restaurants for the program

Plates, napkins, eating utensils

Tables and chairs

Sound system

Music – playlists for each course created before the program or stream music from a streaming music provider such as Spotify. With Spotify, you can find one of the suggested artists listed above and listen to that artist’s “radio station”, which will play music from similar artists.

Incentives (Optional)

Hand out CDs that include a sampling of some of the music played during the program and/or printed out recipes of the served food.

Resources (print and electronic)

Spotify https://www.spotify.com/us/

Pandora https://www.pandora.com/

Apple Music https://www.apple.com/music/

Google Play Music https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.music&hl=en

Amazon Music Unlimited https://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/promotions/AmazonMusicUnlimited

Professional Resources (for librarian and teacher use)

Pillsbury Beignets Recipe - https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/beignets/61a03bd6-51f0-4e48-a04b-3f4f34e407f8

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Passive Programs

General Introduction to Passive Program

This program will provide a creative outlet for patrons. Creativity provides an outlet for emotional release, especially during teen years. This self-directed activity will encourage expressive writing and drawing, using pieces of “pics”-photographs.

Activity Title: Pieces of Pics

Activity Introduction

In the book Blooming at the Texas Sunrise Motel, Stevie finds some of her mother s photographs. The photos are a bit abstract, and Stevie is left to try to determine the places in town that the pictures depict.

This activity can be set out two different ways.

Books to Display or Book Talk

Honovich, Nancy. National Geographic Kids Guide to Photography: Tips & Tricks on How to Be a Great Photographer from the Pros & Your Pals at My Shot

Selected books on photography, photographers

National Geographic Kids Guide to Photography: Tips & Tricks on How to Be a Great Photographer from the Pros & Your Pals at My Shot. Honovich, Nancy

Photography. Pelusey, Michael

Photography (Media). Kallen, Stuart A

Photography (Eye on Art). Skog, Jason

Photography. Volume 3, Displaying the Shot (Photography for Teens). Skog, Jason

Activity Supply List

Determine a space to display the Art Show photos.

Display items: tacks, clothespins on a line, sticky tack, etc.

Assorted photographs that can be cut up.

Assorted small (1’-2”) clear plastic shapes (these can be actual frames or can be cut from clear plastic)

Assorted sticky notes

Assorted writing utensils

Tape/staples/glue, etc.

Detailed Description of Activity

OPTION 1:

If you are familiar with creating “fussy cuts” in quilting/scrapbooking, this is the same concept.

Determine a space to display the Art Show photos

Set out a stack of assorted photographs (or photos from magazines) that can be cut up.

Set out assorted clear plastic shapes, about ¼ or less than the picture. Cookie cutters will also work.

Set out assorted tag board pieces to mount the shapes onto.

Set out assorted writing utensils

Set out the following directions:

Choose a photograph

Choose a clear plastic shape

Place the shape over one area of the photograph.

Trace the outline, then cut out that piece of the photograph

Secure (tape, glue, stapler) the shape onto a piece of paper (or a copy of template 1)

Add a short, made up description of the photograph, including the following

-where the photo was taken

-what the photo represents

Hang the photo in the designated “Art Show” area.

Option 2:

Determine a space to display the Art Show photos

Set out a stack of pictures cut out from another photograph/magazine page.

Set out drawing paper (or use template for option 2)

Set out assorted writing/drawing utensils

Set out the following directions:

Choose a picture

Secure (with tape, staples, glue, etc.) the picture on a piece of drawing paper

Add your own artwork to create a full scene.

On the sticky note, make up a short description of the photograph, including the following:

-where the photo was taken

-what the photo represents

Hang the photo in the designated “Art Show” area.

Incentives

This could be a “judged” show. If so, blue ribbons could be awarded

Activity Resources (Produced by the Committee)

Program Flyers, Activity Sheets, Examples of finished product etc should be included in this section. Some libraries and schools have their own marketing departments that can develop Program Flyers/Posters but there are lots of librarians and teachers who have to make their own promotional materials.

Pieces of Pics, Option 1, Template 1

Pieces of Pics, Option 2, Template 2

Activity Resources for Teens, Teachers & Librarians

This is where you will list the items that will appear in your Annotated Bibliography. Any books, website, magazine article, videos, games etc.

http://www.patchworkposse.com/fussy-cut-fabric-using-printable-quilt-templates/ accessed 12/14/17 Patchwork Posse BECKY JORGENSEN

Texas Parks and Wildlife, April 2017. P. 66. Parting Shot. Photo credit: Tony Drewry; Artist, Harry Weekley Jr.

General Introduction to Passive Program #2

Gardening is a central theme throughout the story. Stevie’s parents operated a roadside stand selling fruits, flowers, and herbs they grew on their farm.

Activity Title

Blooming at the Library

Activity Introduction

This program will allow patrons/students the opportunity to plant a seed, which, if properly cared for, will grow into a plant or flower.

Books to Display or Book Talk

Gardening Projects for Kids: Fantastic ideas for making things, growing plants and flowers, and attracting wildlife to the garden, with 60 practical projects and 500 photographs by Jenny Hendy

Activity Supply List

Seeds

Potting soil

Small flowerpot or small paper cup

Water

Tongue depressor or wooden craft stick

Written care instructions for each type of seed provided

Glue sticks

Paper towels or Wet Wipes (to clean potting soil from hands/table)

Colored pencils to decorate the plant care stick (optional)

Detailed Description of Activity

On a small table, set out small flowerpots or paper cups pre-filled with potting soil (reduces mess) along with a selection of seed packets with multiple copies of care instructions for each type of seed. Herbs like chives, parsley, dill, and mint grow well indoors and are great to use in cooking. Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Nasturtiums, Marigolds, and Pansies are all easy flowers to care for and Nasturtiums and Pansies have the added benefit of being edible. Radishes, peas, and tomatoes are suggested vegetables that are easy to grow.

Participants will select a seed and push it into the potting soil in their pot/cup with their finger, then water their newly planted seed. Use the glue sticks to glue the care instructions to the wooden craft stick, which participants can decorate using the colored pencils if desired.

Incentives

Participants will take home their potted seed.

Activity Resources for Teens, Teachers & Librarians

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/top-10-easy-to-grow-flowers

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/top-10-easy-to-grow-vegetables

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