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Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears
Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears | Verna Aardema
35 posts | 30 read | 3 to read
A Caldecott Medal winner, this retelling of a traditional West African tale reveals how the mosquito developed its annoying habit.
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quote
victoriaberns

“But because of this the mosquito has a guilty conscience. To this day she goes about whining in people‘s ears. ‘Zeee! Is everyone still angry at me?‘ When she does that, she gets an honest answer.”

blurb
victoriaberns

I have never read this book before but once I read it I loved it and would love to have in my classroom for a silly little tale.

review
victoriaberns
Pickpick

Traditional literature. Published 1975. This is a West African tale that tells the myth of why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears. The story is told through the animals who explain the sequence of events. It follows a typical traditional literature format. This book also won a Caldecott Award in 1976 for its “vivid watercolors and airbrush“ in the illustrations. This is a great silly tale that I could definitely see using in my classroom.

review
victoriaberns
Pickpick

Traditional literature. Published 1975. This is a classic West African Tale This book was also won a Caldecott award in 1976 for the vivid watercolors and airbrush illustrations. The animals explain the sequence of events of mosquitoes and they said that they buzz in people‘s ears bc they‘re asking the people if they‘re mad at them.

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mahala28

“So that‘s why you had sticks in your ear”

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mahala28

This book is great for adding diversity in your classroom library.

review
mahala28
Pickpick

This book is great way to bring in other cultures and styles into your classroom. It also can be used to talk about lying. The book is very colorful and will hold student attention.

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Mmurphy
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A beautiful tale, this Caldecott Award-winning, TL book is one to be passed down for ages. This story will stick with me for a long time and it is a great way to introduce your students to tales from other cultures. This tale follows what happens after a mosquito lies to a lizard that causes panic in their environment.

#ucflae3414sp21

Mmurphy I would use this story as a CR for my students. This would build fluencies while supporting one another with their voices (5.3)UDL.

For my EL‘s I would monitor their comprehension while they read by having them CR with one or two partners(6).
3y
DrSpalding Website resource is missing. 3y
DrSpalding All 10 posts noted on time. Make sure you use the rubric and include all elements on each post the first nine looked very good! 3y
3 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
dbears1
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Pickpick

One of my Childhood favorites !!!!

"Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People‘s Ears” is a TL picture book. The author is Verna Aardema and the beautiful illustrations are by Leo Dillion and Diane Dillon. This is a Caldecott Award Winning book that can be used in the classroom as a RA for K-2. #ucflae3414su20

dbears1
In the book , the mosquito lies to a lizard, so the lizard puts sticks in his ears but ends up scaring another animals, which causes other animals to panic. Have you ever had a buzzing mosquito in your ear and wanted to know why? If so, read this book!

3y
dbears1 UDL principles that connect with this book are (8.3) foster collaboration and community and (1.3) Offer alternatives for visual information. ESOL strategies that can work well with this book is (24) Teach questioning for clarification. Students will be able to recount a story from a diverse culture, and determine its central message, lesson, or moral after reading this book. 3y
dbears1 This a great hands-on activity that teachers can use to help students connect with the characters in the story. https://www.libraryadventure.com/hands-on-activity-for-why-mosquitoes-buzz-in-pe... 3y
DrSpalding I wish I‘d known it was a favorite of yours! I love this book too. The hands-on activity is a good one! This makes for a difficult yet fabulous storytelling. I recall my son‘s third grade teacher having the children create all of the characters and perform a dramatic reenactment of the story. Another good option. You are aligning your universal design and English learner strategies well. Thank you for noting the EL number in this post. 3y
2 likes4 comments
review
deiacovab
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Pickpick

This is such a fun book to have in your classroom and holds a valuable lesson within it's pages. I would love to use this Caldecott Medal winning TL picture book for SR or S in my classroom. I love that this book brings folklore from a distant country and would be quite new for a lot of students; this could open up some great discussions in class. In this story, a mosquito whispers a rumor into an iguana's ear and chaos follows in the jungle.

deiacovab I would use ESOL strategy 14 Simplify your speech by making it slower and redundant while sotrytelling. S offers an interesting way to teach a lesson so UDL Offer ways of customizing the display of information (1.1) is perfect for this story. I found a great resource for using folklore from other cultures in a lesson that this book would be perfect for http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/exploring-world-c... 3y
KatiaP Love the lesson plan you added! This is a great way to teach students about rumors! Would love to read it 3y
DrSpalding Your resource is of the highest quality! You do a lovely job elaborating on the appropriate English learner and universal design principles. 3y
1 like4 comments
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victoriamaria
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Pickpick

This Caldecott folktale PB, adapted by Verna Aardema is perfect for storytelling! rif.org/sites/default/files/Support_Materials/PictureBooks-CommonCore.pdf recommends to RA then use the class to story-tell. UDL 2.5 and ESOL 17

DrSpalding Very brief. Be sure you consult the rubric. 3y
DrSpalding Using our genre flip guide, what is the genre for this book? Yes it is a folktale but that falls under what genre? 3y
1 like3 comments
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taylorscalfaro

“Then he stuck two sticks in his ears and went off, mek, mek, mek, mek, through the reeds.“

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taylorscalfaro

I would use this book in a classroom because the idea of something common being explained, will engage the students if it provides some explanation to the phenomenon. Also, the book may expose them to diversity and culture that they are unfamiliar with.

review
taylorscalfaro
Pickpick

This book was a fun book that spoke on a natural occurrence of mosquitos buzzing in your ear. The language is lively and engaging and seems to keep with oral tradition in a Traditional Literature book. Also, the fun and detailed illustrations add to the words and text of the story and enhance those words.

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agreco1925

“KPAO!“

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agreco1925

I would use this in my classroom because kids have background knowledge of mosquitoes and this would allow them to be engaged in the story.

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agreco1925
Pickpick

This traditional literature is explaining as to why mosquitoes buzz in people's ears. The plot is very simple and direct and the language is engaging and lively.

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hmarkins

“I would rather be deaf than listen to such nonsense.“

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hmarkins

This would be a good read for older elementary students to teach them how rumors hurt people and do a lot of damage.

review
hmarkins
Pickpick

This is a good book that teaches a lesson on spreading and starting rumors. This is a good thing to have in your classroom to support a positive classroom environment.

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jkraynak

“When she does that, she gets an honest answer.”

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jkraynak

this story shows the consequences of lying and how lying affects people negatively. it‘s a good read for students. also the illustrations further add to the experience.

review
jkraynak
Pickpick

This was one of my favorites from this section of books. It‘s a West African tale about mosquitos and an African legend. It‘s also a Caldecott Medal winking book. The artwork is bright and beautiful. There are large colorful patterns that help tells he story of the jungle and the animals in it.

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Niaaelizz

“”Zeee! Is everyone still angry at me?” When she does that, she gets an honest answer.””

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Niaaelizz

The words the author uses to describe the sounds the animals make are very engaging for children!

review
Niaaelizz
Pickpick

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People‘s Ears by Verna Aardema, 1975. Caldecott Award Winning Book. This folktale gives a fun backstory as to why mosquitoes buzz in people‘s ears. This book gives an insight to children, the effects and consequences lying has on people and the environment around them. The Illustrations in this book of the animals really draw the read in on what happens to who in the story.

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kh972417
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“When she does that, she gets an honest answer.”

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kh972417

The illustrations are so different in this book. The plot has a lot of suspense and I believe children would enjoy it a lot.

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kh972417
Pickpick

This books is so interesting, being a West African tale about mosquitoes. I thought it was very interesting and I would definitely read this to my students. I think children would love this book.

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MeaganM
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Pickpick

This is a TL book written by Verna Aardema. The pictures are by Leo and Diane Dillon and they helped this book win a Caldecott Award. It‘s an American Folktale that has many pictures suitable for children. This book would be great to use for storytelling to engage all students. UDL 9.1 to promote expectations and beliefs that optimize motivation. This book would offer many opportunities for great discussions! #ucflae3414su19

MeaganM This is a fantastic book for EL students to show different cultures to encourage self-talk with strategy #3. I can see teachers exposing students to the African culture as a way to open the door for EL students to discuss their own culture. Https://www.kidsintransitiontoschool.org/teaching-children-to-use-positive-self-talk-to-build-self-confidence/ This website is very useful for teachers who want to incorporate self-talk and positive talk. 4y
DrSpalding Wonderful post! Your resource and your English learner strategy align beautifully! In today‘s society we need to boost his self-confidence now more than ever. 4y
4 likes2 comments
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KAdudu
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Pickpick

The winner of the Caldecott Medal “Why Mosquito‘s Buzz in Peoples Ear” (TL) by Verna Aardema and illustrated by Diane Dillon and Leo Dillon is an amazing read. This book tells the story if a Mosquito that is causing some trouble in the jungle. It begins when the mosquito tells the iguana what he seen, which leads to the ciaos happening in the jungle. #lae3414sp19

KAdudu This great book shows students not everything is what it seems. The UDL principles include; 2.4 promote understanding across languages, 9.3 develop self- assessment and reflection. Use EL 17 provide contextual support through audio visuals, models, demonstrations, realia, body language, and facial expressions.
Here are some useful resources;
https://betterlesson.com/lesson/586143/cause-and-effect-with-why-mosquitoes-buzz...
4y
hkeiger Not only is the writing in this book beautiful, but the pictures are even better! I loved this book so much. 4y
DrSpalding You don‘t always share how you would use the book in your classroom… Make sure you highlight a teaching strategy. This one could be storytelling for example. 4y
3 likes3 comments
blurb
hkeiger
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Why Mosquitos Buzz in People‘s Ears is a great example of how TL can be integrated into the classroom to promote a fun and exciting learning experience for young readers. In this Caldecott award winning picture book, author Werdna Aardema and illustrators Leo and Diane Dillon tell a traditional African Tale about the myth behind the masquito‘s buzz. This would be a great S to share with your class. #LAE3414sp19

hkeiger Throughout the tale, each animal makes an inference to why that the mosquito is saying in it‘s ear. This could be a great way to have students make inferences and draw conclusions. This lesson plan, provided by Teacher Vision has students utilize their writing techniques by drawing inferences from the book. https://www.teachervision.com/making-inferences-why-mosquitoes-buzz-peoples-ears (UDL 3.2, ESOL 30) 4y
DrSpalding This makes a wonderful storytelling! Teacher vision has some helpful resources. Use them. 4y
1 like2 comments
review
SierraC
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Pickpick

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People‘s Ears is Caldecott awarding winning TL book, written by Verna Aardema and Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, this book will be a great RT and RA. In this West African folk tale a mosquito told an Iguana something foolish and that lead to the uproar in the jungle. This TL book is an extraordinary edition to your classroom library, the vibrant pictures and humorous dialogue will keep your students intrigued.

SierraC My favorite line from the book is when the python says “Now, why won‘t he speak to me?” “Iguana must be angry about something. I‘m afraid he plotting mischief against me!” I like this part from the python because it‘s in the beginning of the book and you start to realize the little things the animals are doing leads to the plot of the story. 5y
SierraC Http:/www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans-unwinding-circular-plot-prediction-292.html 5y
SierraC Above is a link to an activity to with your class, that guides students into learning about prediction strategies in reading and writing. The student will use a circle plot graphic organize and look into the structure of the story. The EL strategies I will use is (6) and (14). The story can get confusing and I want to make sure all my students are engaged especially my ELL students and theses strategies promote comprehension and taking my time 5y
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SierraC To read the book at a slow/ moderate pace. The UDL strategies best for this book are 3.1,3.2, and 3.3 all of these strategies highlight what the teacher should be doing before reading Why Mosquitoes Buzz in people‘s Ears. You want to supply background information, might want to familiarize the students with the different animals in the book. As well as show them the different patterns and relate the patterns back to how this is a West African Folk 5y
SierraC Tale. (edited) 5y
DrSpalding Excellent resource. Being that you have spent time in Africa, I hope you had some text to self connection. The images in this book are spectacular. 5y
4 likes7 comments
review
ismari212
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Pickpick

Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People‘s Ears by Verna Aardema illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon is a TL picture book and it has the Caldecott award. The story starts with a mosquito who tells gossip to the iguana and from there on it started a chain reaction and near the end of the story the animals have a meeting and they figure out that everything that happened is the mosquitos fault and the mosquito hides from them because she was scared. So she

ismari212 Whispers in peoples ears saying “Zeee! Is everyone still angry at me” this book is good for RA EL- 48 use group assignment, portfolios, learning journals, and non-print options as alternative assessments UDL- 1.3 offer alternative for visual information. http://www.easyliteracy.com/mosquitoesbuzzlesson.html this website has lesson plan 6y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
krystag
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Pickpick

As a West African Tale, this story tells about the chain of events that happen after a mosquito tells an iguana a "big lie". This tale is cute and opens opportunities for children to draw inferences as well as learn about cause and effect. I would use this story in the classroom to expose my students to more culturally diverse TL. Resource: https://www.teachervision.com/lesson/making-inferences-why-mosquitoes-buzz-peopl... #UCFLAE3414sp17

krystag Also! It's a Caldecott award winner! 7y
DrSpalding This is classic folklore at its best. Of course a wonderful read to assist students with the order and retelling of the story. 7y
2 likes2 comments