Tunia

Tunia's Travels

An Internet Travel Buddy Project and Literacy Activity Site

Teachers, please click here for information about hosting Tunia in your classroom.

Tunia is a ladybug who lives in Rhode Island. She has many friends at Reservoir Avenue School in Providence, where she spends school days with the second graders in Room 201. Tunia loves to read, and her favorite thing to do is snuggle up in the garden with a good book. Tunia has been living in Rhode Island all her life and, though she loves her home, she wants very much to see other places. Her wish is to visit schools and gardens in the United States and around the world. Tunia wants to learn more about plants and share what she learns with her friends.

Tunia's friends in Room 201 have agreed that she should have her wish as long as they are able to find teachers and students in other classrooms around the United States and the rest of the world who will host, care for, and report on their ladybug friend. Tunia made her first journey during the 1999-2000 school year and returned to her friends in Room 201 before school let out for the summer. She traveled again during the following two school years. Now for the 2002-2003 school year, Tunia will make her fourth journey, and she will return to her classroom before school lets out in June, 2003.

This web site contains Tunia's schedule and will be updated often with reports from classrooms that Tunia visits. Come along and enjoy her journey by clicking on the links below for updates about her journey and for activities to do at home or school!

Please scroll down for

Activities

Click on a link below to see journals and photos from schools that Tunia has visited.

Tunia's Eighth Journey ~ 2006 - 2007

Tunia's Seventh Journey ~ 2005 - 2006

Tunia's Sixth Journey ~ 2004 - 2005

Tunia's Fifth Journey ~ 2003 - 2004

Tunia's Fourth Journey ~ 2002 - 2003

Tunia's Third Journey ~ 2001 - 2002

Tunia's Second Journey ~ 2000 - 2001

Tunia's First Journey ~ 1999 - 2000

**Click the icon to the right of the activity you want to try.**

Reading Activities

Don't forget how much reading you'll do when you read Tunia's website!

Can you guess what Tunia's favorite book is? Click the books to check your answer and find out how to suggest a book to Tunia.

Have you read a great book? Let Tunia and her friends know about it. Click on the bookworm to write to Tunia and suggest a book.

Think about some characters in books you've read. Have you ever thought about something a story character did...something you think he or she should have done differently? See the advice that Tunia's friends sent for some of their favorite characters. Then give your favorite character some advice. Click the books at right.

Click the paper and pencil to read kids' writing sent to Tunia.

Tunia's glossary contains many words that are in her website. It will help you understand the meaning of some of those words. You may click the book at right to view it from this page, or click linked words throughout her website.

Writing Activities

(See Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Math for more Writing activities.)

Are you an author or poet? One of Tunia's favorite things is sharing stories and poems that her friends have written. Click on the paper and pencil for information about sending your story or poem to Tunia.

Click the paper and pencil to see kids' writing sent to Tunia.

How are you at writing friendly letters? Tunia loves to get mail. For information about how to send a friendly letter to Tunia, click on the Dear Tunia icon at right.

Science Activities

Click the ladybug to learn some facts about ladybugs.

Have you seen a ladybug this week? Click on the mailbox to write to Tunia and tell her about it!

Click the leaf to read some plant facts.

Do you know a plant fact that is not on "Tunia's Plant Facts" page? Click the flowers to write to Tunia and tell her what it is.

Do you already know a lot about plants? Click the ? at right to take a quiz about plants.

?

Math Activities

Practice your addition and subtraction math facts at Tunia's Math Facts Page. Click on the addition fact to the right to get there.

Do you know your shapes? Tunia's Shapes Page will help you with names of shapes. It will also lead you to other pages where you can quiz yourself about shapes. Click on the hexagon to get there.

Tunia is always thinking, and she knows that the more she thinks, the better she becomes at thinking. Are you a good thinker? Try writing a solution to any of the problems about Tunia and train your brain to think! You can even check your answers! Click on the purple button.

Social Studies Activities
Click on the map at right to see all the places that Tunia has visited. Has she been at a school near you?
Click on the pencil to write to Tunia and tell her and her friends about your special neighborhood.
Click on the house and read what other kids wrote about their special neighborhoods.

Other Activities

If you feel like singing along the way, click on the musical notes to find some Tunia songs! (Loads slowly!)

If you have comments or suggestions, please click the mailbox.

Please report any broken links by clicking Ú

Reading Activities Don't forget how much reading you'll do when you read Tunia's website!
Can you guess what Tunia's favorite book is? Click the books to check your answer and find out how to suggest a book to Tunia.
Have you read a great book? Let Tunia and her friends know about it. Click on the bookworm to write to Tunia and suggest a book.
Think about some characters in books you've read. Have you ever thought about something a story character did...something you think he or she should have done differently? See the advice that Tunia's friends sent for some of their favorite characters. Then give your favorite character some advice. Click the books at right.
Click the paper and pencil to read kids' writing sent to Tunia.
Tunia's glossary contains many words that are in her website. It will help you understand the meaning of some of those words. You may click the book at right to view it from this page, or click linked words throughout her website.

Writing Activities (See Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Math for more Writing activities.)
Are you an author or poet? One of Tunia's favorite things is sharing stories and poems that her friends have written. Click on the paper and pencil for information about sending your story or poem to Tunia.
Click the paper and pencil to see kids' writing sent to Tunia.
How are you at writing friendly letters? Tunia loves to get mail. For information about how to send a friendly letter to Tunia, click on the Dear Tunia icon at right.

Science Activities
Click the ladybug to learn some facts about ladybugs.
Have you seen a ladybug this week? Click on the mailbox to write to Tunia and tell her about it!
Click the leaf to read some plant facts.
Do you know a plant fact that is not on "Tunia's Plant Facts" page? Click the flowers to write to Tunia and tell her what it is.
Do you already know a lot about plants? Click the ? at right to take a quiz about plants.	?

Math Activities
Practice your addition and subtraction math facts at Tunia's Math Facts Page. Click on the addition fact to the right to get there.
Do you know your shapes? Tunia's Shapes Page will help you with names of shapes. It will also lead you to other pages where you can quiz yourself about shapes. Click on the hexagon to get there.
Tunia is always thinking, and she knows that the more she thinks, the better she becomes at thinking. Are you a good thinker? Try writing a solution to any of the problems about Tunia and train your brain to think! You can even check your answers! Click on the purple button.

Other Activities
If you feel like singing along the way, click on the musical notes to find some Tunia songs! (Loads slowly!)