August 9th is Book Lovers Day, a perfect occasion to dive into the wonderful world of reading and digital literacy with Trafera’s beloved character, Tom Traferatops. Our “Tom Traferatops and Friends” series not only brings joy and excitement to young readers but also promotes important educational themes like social-emotional learning, STEM thinking, digital citizenship, and coding skills.
Meet Tom Traferatops
Tom Traferatops is a vibrant blue dinosaur who acts as a friend and guide for students. Through his adventures, Tom helps students and teachers navigate various educational themes, making complex concepts accessible and fun. Whether it's learning about self-awareness, staying curious in the STEM field, being responsible online, or exploring the basics of coding, Tom and his friends make each lesson engaging and memorable. Let's explore the highlights of each book in the series:
Tom Traferatops Recognizes His Strengths
Join Tom as he navigates a day at school, feeling a bit self-conscious and unsure of his place. Through a class project, Tom discovers that he has unique traits and qualities, just like his classmates. This heartwarming story helps teachers introduce themes of social-emotional learning like the importance of recognizing the good in themselves and others, communicating their feelings effectively, and overcoming fears and worries. It's a beautiful journey of self-discovery and confidence-building.
Tom Traferatops and Friends See the World Through a STEM Lens
In this adventure, Tom and his friends explore the wonders of the world around them with curious minds. They learn to ask questions, stay curious, and embrace mistakes as part of the scientific process. This book encourages students to see the world through a STEM lens, fostering a love for discovery and learning.
Tom Traferatops Becomes a Good Digital Citizen
Through a fun video game adventure, Tom learns valuable lessons about being a safe, respectful, and responsible member of the online community. Guided by his big brother and friends, Tom discovers how to navigate the digital world with care and integrity. This story is a great way to introduce young readers to the basics of digital citizenship and the importance of positive online behavior.
Tom Traferatops Learns About Coding and Future-Ready Skills
Join Tom and his friend, Kate, as they dive into the exciting world of coding through a fun class activity. Along the way, they learn the basics of coding and important future-ready skills like creativity, collaboration, and perseverance. This book is perfect for sparking an interest in coding and technology, and showing how coding skills go way beyond a computer screen.
TRAILS Digital Lessons
Every book in the Tom Traferatops series comes with a set of free TRAILS digital lessons, designed to extend the learning experience, enhance the themes from the books, and provide teachers with ready-to-use materials for their classrooms.
And for those who are already Trafera customers, the entire TRAILS library is available, giving you access to hundreds of free K-12 lessons that make learning exciting and relevant. The TRAILS library is a fantastic resource that transforms instruction and broadens tech fluency for students from kindergarten to 12th grade. Here’s a quick look at what it offers:
- Trail Mixes: These bite-sized, 30-60 minute lessons make using technology in the classroom easy, approachable, and fun. They’re perfect for sparking curiosity and engagement in subjects like STEM.
- Trail Guides: These are multi-lesson units following the 5E Model of instruction, aligned with Next Generation Science and ISTE Standards. They provide comprehensive, thematic learning adventures that span several weeks.
Not a Trafera customer yet? No problem! Contact us to request a demo and see how TRAILS can enhance your teaching.
