This lesson is for : Grade 7,Grade 8:
Summary
What does it really take to write, illustrate and publish a book? Students at Byrd Middle went through a mock experience of becoming authors and illustrators. English students used their knowledge of theme, plot structure, figurative language, and writing conventions to compose children’s stories while art students used their knowledge of composition and artist structure to illustrate. The goal was to create stories that had themes tied to the ideas of honesty, integrity, and respect.
After the students completed their books, they were professionally bound and published as audio files to be shared with elementary school students in the area and on the project website.
TIPC Ratings
Research & Information Fluency
Rating: Approaching – Explanation: This lesson fits into the Approaching category for Research and Information Fluency. Students had to conduct the research on their own, decide whether websites were credible or not and then assemble and synthesize information to address authentic tasks of what makes an excellent children’s book. They then had to use digital tools to show what they learned about the information.
Communication & Collaboration
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: As a cross-curricular lesson, it fits into the Ideal category for communication and collaboration. Students had to work together, even if they were not in the same classroom in order to make a book that was cohesive and communicated the theme that the authors were trying to convey. The students also sent their books to students at an elementary school so that they could benefit from listening to the stories being read to them to help with their fluency and comprehension.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: This lesson fits into the idea category for critical thinking and problem solving. Students had enerate and respond to purposeful questions in order to make decisions about how to best convey their message for the theme in their book. This also had to think about the best way to get their thoughts and ideas across to students of a younger audience.
Creativity & Innovation
Rating: Ideal – Explanation: This lesson fits into the ideal category for Creativity and Innovation. Students had to use and synthesize existing and self-generated knowledge to create their books with a new idea that had never been developed before. They had to take risks and step outside of their comfort zone in order to make that happen.
Lesson Materials
