Summer Reading- When Lightning Comes in a Jar

When Lightning Comes in a Jar by Patricia Polacco

Love, love, love this story.  Of course, I could say that about every book by Patricia Polacco.  But this book reminds me of summers growing up in the Midwest.  The days were long and after a day of biking and swimming we waited for the sun to go down and we could catch lightning bugs!

I read this book to my third graders almost every year when we were learning where writers get their ideas.  It's a great example of drawing from our own memories.  After hearing the story my kids were always bursting with tales about their own families and their summer adventures.

Here's a writing and craft activity you might enjoy doing with your class the next time you read this wonderful book.