Children’s Books to Hook

Repurposing Children’s Books

Working within the philosophy of Dollar Daze and Thrifty Finds, Repurposing Children’s Books can serve as a “Springboard to Inquiry” and Engagement.

This poster presentation had its debut at the:Georgia International Information Literacy Conference Savannah, USA – Sept. 2015

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The Activities developed, using Children’s Books, can be used to: expand/support/enrich serve as a motivation/introduction to any topic with minimum modifications

 Why Children’s Books?

1. Ignite Imagination—How?

•  Stories create a sense of “Serendipity” 
• Eg. First Kiss/First Pet – How did you feel?
• Stories connect to emotions, real life connections
• Knowledge is garnered through senses

2. Children’s Books – The Selection Process

• “A children's story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children's story. The good ones last…it certainly is my opinion that a book worth reading only in childhood is not worth reading even then” 
•  http://cslewis.drzeus.net/papers/childlike-in-george-macdonald-and-cs-lewis/
• Picture/Photograph cues for understanding of science concepts and vocabulary
• Accurate Scientific Facts
• Imaginative—Layout/Design is unique
• Emotional impact, cortisol released, creates a memory, triggers a logical mind
• Inexpensive
• Cross-curricular
• Ebook vs Book
• Print exposes students to new words outside realms of speech
• Interesting stories/conversation engages mind
• Contributes to general knowledge
• Lyrical Language

Children’s books tell stories…image + text is powerful. People remember stories.

Trigger:

• Lateral Thinking
• Creativity
• Curiosity
• Imagination   

3. The Search Engine Dilemma…

Problems and solutions in life require creativity eg. cancer, climate change. Hence the importance of engaging:

• nonlinear thinking and
• daydreaming

"School/teacher assigned topics, utilize search engines. Search engines are efficient but do not allow daydreaming and imagination".

4.  Starting the Research…Virtual Thinking Vs. Physical

• Physical Clears the Mind, Reduces Brain Clutter
• Writing out your thoughts/questions de-clutters the brain. 
• Pen/pencil to paper/post-its is an opportunity to organize thoughts!

Dollar Daze Tools!!  Post-its, Plastic Card Sleeve, White Boards to assist with reducing brain clutter

5. Then Mindful Inquiry can Begin…

The Right Question!

·      Open Ended, Challenge Thinking

·      Subtopics guide, direct students with purpose

·      Subtopics extends brain and frees it from overload

·      Think of the Triage Nurse—how he/she categorizes to reduce time wasted

6. Example of Thinking Process

a)    The Book: Me…Jane McDonnell, P. + Tarzan Books b)   Consider the Big Ideas--Brainstorm Animal Consciousness  “Animals possess a theory of mind and can intuit what a  rival might do in a given situation and act accordingly. They exhibit deceit, compassion and the ability to see themselves through another’s eyes”. Animal Welfare/Abuse/Cruelty/Poaching “Find your purpose and live it” c)    Consider Essential  Questions Community connections—”Let your hook always be cast!” Bring in Headlines… Death of mother bear spurs Italian protests: TS Sept. 12, 2014 Dog Left at Train Station with Suitcase of Doggy Belongings Boots—Kitten Nanny  http://www.fuzzfix.com/meet-boots-hurricane-katrina-survivor-and-adorable-kitten-nanny/?utm_content=bbb0015&utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral d)   Develop The Right Question—Focus Question 1.   How do you create awareness/empathy/change re: animal abuse? 2.   Why have we not been able to eradicate puppy mills? Solution to the                    problem. 3.   What animal would make a good pet and why? What will the Knowledge Product look like? Action/Fundraising/Posters/Announcements/Web presence to inform Baking cupcakes for fundraising Save the animals – Vanity Plates—list of words as a means to inform Buying Guide/Tip Sheets/Check List—Would you make a good pet owner? List animal choices + criteria/special care required using a matrix box. Owing a Dog/Cat Poster and Responsibilities

6.  Egs. Of Web 2.0 Tools to gather, store, consolidate, demonstrate                                                    

     new learning and understanding

• Use https://bubbl.us to create a mind map to chunk related concepts
• Venn Diagram-to compare and contrast                                                    https://www.gliffy.com/uses/venn-diagram-software-template/
• Padlet, https://padlet.com as a zone for collaboration/sharing
• Time-Line to organize action plan, http://elearningindustry.com/top-10-free-timeline-creation-tools-for-teachers
• Create an infograph http://piktochart.com or  https://www.canva.com

Reference: --- to be uploaded shortly

For a list of children’s books, please leave a message.

Resourcefully yours,

Julie Andreacchi

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