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

©2016

All rights reserved

Georgia Conference Update + Studio 89: A Social Enterprise -- Stephen Lewis Secondary School Mississauga

The Year in Review

This last year has been busy and exciting. A number of new projects were started including:

• presentations at the CSLA to address inquiry 
• poster presentation at The Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy to demonstrate "How to spark curiosity and student engagement in authentic learning" and 
• a new venture working with Studio 89 and local High Schools to address Social Conscience in an interactive format

All activities developed are based on the concept/philosophy of DollarDaze, Thrifty Finds and Web 2.0 Tools to communicate new knowledge and understanding.

This post will be updated shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Julie Andreacchi

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Check it out!

http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/ce/conferences/infolit/

See you at my Poster Demonstration on September 25, 2015 Savanna Georgia.

Topic: Journey into Inquiry: Repurposing Children's Books to Teach Science Concepts

Inquiry and research traditionally involves a written response. This poster session will examine how children's books can be repurposed to:

1. ignite the imagination of secondary science students

2. create focus and guide students towards the development of the "right question" that successfully guides "mindful inquiry"

3. guide the development of unique outcomes/products that demonstrate new knowledge and   understanding            

The Power of Apps –

My Mantra—

“mindful reinvention”, “working with what you have”,

nurtures and drives my creativity in the development of activities, lessons that challenge and develop critical thinking. 

When access to classroom technology is limited, utilize the power of your iphone and Apps to expand the classroom experience

The power of the iphone and its relative ease of access by both teachers and students is a valuable tool that can be utilized for the development of activities that help students communicate new learning/understanding..

This post will examine -- How?

iphone +  App = HAppy!

“You See but you do not Observe,” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Increasing your power of observation and learning…

Start small…

Pic Stitch at your command! A Free App…

Pictures have an emotional, intellectual impact and tell a story.

Task--

1.     Have students carefully select a pic from their photo roll, image from Instagram, or take a pic with a specific topic/intent determined by the subject being studied.  Teacher must have specific parameters eg. Find an image that evokes scientific curiosity.

2.     Have students combine carefully selected text to explain/elaborate/enhance the pic.

The result—“The Big Picture”. Utilizing the left brain and right brain allows students to create a memorable authentic experiences.

The App is…

•  Easy to Use
•  Interactive
• Engaging

 Students…

• Experience a variety of learning
• Consolidate learning
• Can revisit the app for personal adventures

Other activities can include:

Demonstrating –

Step by Step --An Experiment as illustrated below

Image from the Private Collection and Property of  J. Andreacchi

Brainstorming-

Group Assignment: "Olivia" Books by Ian Falconer

Who is Olivia? 

Create a Mind Map with 4 subtopics to answer the question.

Take a Pic of Topics and find 4 images that represent the subtopics.

Image from the Private Collection and Property of J. Andreacchi 

The Power of Observation—

Planting Seeds

* Research—plant profile

* Track Growth using a ruler to measure growth

* Describe what you observe

* Create a timeline indicating details such as sprouting, appearance of leaves etc

* Photograph, assemble images using Pic Stitch

Image From the Private Collection and Property of J. Andreacchi

Tell a story—

Assemble three images from your Photo Roll/Instagram to tell a story.

Image From the Private Collection and Property of J. Andreacchi

“Exit Card” -- 

Evaluate teaching, student understanding by having students send an image+text that will demonstrate acquisition of new knowledge and understanding

Environmental Issues/Awareness/Solutions

Image from the Private Collection and Property of J. Andreacchi

HAppy begins with one App.

How access to limited/readily available technology can be used to help students’ process new learning via a memorable authentic experience.

Resourcefully Yours, Julie Andreacchi © 2015

All Rights Reserved 
Photos Property of J. Andreacchi Unless otherwise indicated