A Balloon for Isabel

Where can I find this book? Kindergarten  Book level? ATOS 2.8

Summary:
Isabel is a porcupine who is about to graduate from Kindergarten, and at graduation all the students get balloons. Well, except for the porcupines. They get bookmarks, and Isabel is sick of getting bookmarks. She and her friend Walter, who is also a porcupine, beg and plead to get a balloon, but when their teacher Mrs. Quill continues to say no, they come up with a plan. Isabel tries a box, pillows, and bubble wrap, but nothing works until she puts gumballs on her quills.

STEM Challenges:
- create a way for Isabel to cover/protect a balloon from being popped on her quills
- create a porcupine

What materials could be used?
- candy
- cotton balls
- tape
- cardboard
- string
- pipe cleaners
- clay/playdough
- balloons for testing

Other books/resources to supplement lesson:
- build background about porcupines with Teddy and a baby porcupine
- How to Hug a Porcupine (book)
- TB: Porcupining: A Prickly Love Story
- discuss or view balloons (what is inside, what do they do, observations)

Standards/Skills:
- problem solving
- collaboration
- speaking and listening

Grade levels appropriate for this lesson: K-1