One of the things I do with 4th graders is make them read to each other, to me and to Kindergarteners. Every Friday we go to both of the kindergarten ESL or ELL rooms and read a story to them and ask them questions about whatever book we are reading that week. Some weeks the students pick the books they are going to read to them and some weeks everyone reads the same book. As can be expected not every 4th grader likes to read, especially if they have spent the past 3-4 years failing at reading as many ELL students have. To make the job of reading easier for my students we often use art to help express what the theme and or lessons of the story.
The pictures above were relating to The Season's of Arnold's Apple Tree by Gail Gibbons.
It's a story that follows Arnold who's about 10-12 and the changes his apple undergoes during the four seasons.
Each group of four students took one of the seasons, created a picture of the tree from that season adn then wrote a description of the tree during that season.
After doing similar activities on the book for the past three years I am continually surprised and astounded by the artwork and the writing these students produce.
2 comments:
Yay an artsy cannonball! You rock!
Not nearly as much as the kids.
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