Showing posts with label terrible things. Show all posts
Showing posts with label terrible things. Show all posts

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Cooperative Learning with Reading Response and Writing Activities


Busy, Busy, Busy...   
I wanted to share some student samples from a couple of cooperative learning tasks involving reading response and writing. 

We are in the midst of our final unit of the year called "The Spirit Within" and I wanted to share some of our work. 
So, here is what we've been up to lately...

 Literature Circles: Sequence of Events Map-
A "During Reading" Group Task for Night...

 Literature Circles: Sequence of Events Map-Group Task for Night...After reading a section of Elie Wiesel's memoir, students created flow maps in their literature circle groups. These are just two of the creative ideas they came up with to show the sequence of events. I like to have them work in groups because they learn so much from each other. 
Partner Allegory Writing after Reading "Terrible Things" by Eve Bunting...

I gave them the option of working independently or with a partner to compose their own allegories based on the idea presented in "Terrible Things" and, to my surprise, I had a good handful choose to do it independently. Either way, the originality and imagination that came out was amazing. 
Students read their allegories to the class after taking a couple of days to compose allegories and then illustrate them--in the form of a children's book. They really had fun with the project.
We thoroughly enjoyed hearing the different avenues taken to present the same idea!

As you can see, my kiddos have been busy with various hands-on tasks, in addition to getting ready for our upcoming state test! 
(I won't even yap about state testing...lol)

What have your students been doing in class these last couple of weeks. Please share your fun ideas and cooperative learning activities with us.


a smith innovative connections

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Using Picture Books to Teach Allegory...

Stories to Teach Allegory Eve Bunting's "Terrible Things" Reading Analyzing Literary Elements, creative project and assessment toolEve Bunting's "Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust" 
Use this great read to introduce a unit on The Holocaust! 
Or it can be used to introduce topics such as:

  •  Bullying
  •  Racism/Prejudice
  •  Different Cultures/Religions
  •  Kindness
  •  Helping Others
  •  Acceptance
  •  Violence
And don't forget the LITERARY ELEMENTS you can teach using this story....
  • Allegory
  • Metaphor
  • Symbolism

My classes just started a unit titled "The Spirit Within," which focuses on The Holocaust. Prior to reading Night by Elie Wiesel and  The Devil's Arithmetic  by Jane Yolen, we usually begin with Bunting's story and then venture into analyzing literary elements such as those above. As a creative project and assessment tool, the students create allegories of their own! I'll be sure to post pictures of the great projects they produce! Can't wait! 


Regards,
Ann Marie Smith
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...