HIT: Caldecott activities

["Clark, Molly" <mclark2@PHOENIX.K12.NY.US>]

I guess a lot of us are looking for ideas because I received more requests
for a HIT than I did suggestions.  I had asked for the name of a video on
Caldecott and suggested activities for a Caldecott unit. Thanks to all who
took the time to share your ideas, especially Lisa who went above and
beyond! First I'll share my own plan, followed by the suggestions of others.

I am going to try this as a 6-week unit, wrapping up the week the award is
announced.  The first 2-3 weeks will be spent learning about the Caldecott.
I found the suggested filmstrip and will show that the second week (I have
been summoned for jury duty that week, otherwise I would use it first.)  I
have 14 questions that the kids will research in groups of 2 or 3.  Each
group will take a question, do the research, and share their answers with
the class.  Then, the whole class will take a quiz, made up of the same 14
questions.   The final 3 weeks will be spent examining the books themselves,
along with the criteria for the award.  I'd like to do a little comparison
of the books and talk about how advances in technology have helped improve
the quality of the illustrations.  For example, "Make way for ducklings" is
not colored because it would have been too expensive to make colored
illustrations at that time.  If I could get my hands on enough contenders,
I'd love to have the kids predict the winner before it's announced.  That's
my big IF right now.

Here are the responses I received:

1)Weston Woods has a filmstrip, you might check for the video.
We do a Caldecott unit and use Caldecott Bingo and wind up after 6 weeks
with a Caldecott Battle of the Books.

2)Two resources my grade 2 teachers use are Using Caldecotts Across the
Curriculum by Joan Novelli and The Newberry & Caldecott Books in the
Classroom by Claudette Comfort.

3)I own a Weston Woods filmstrip, Randolph Caldecott; the man behind the
medal, which I've used for years.  I don't know if the company has produced
a
video version; it would be nice.

4)This is not a video ref. but I have a Caldecott activity for Gr.2 which I
really like.  I developed it with a great second grade teacher. It takes a
long time but that is fine with me and the kids.Each child makes a book
called My Caldecott Collection. I read a book to them for almost each
decade picking the ones that are quick reads but that I like a lot. I have
a picture from the book that I have traced/drawn (so it's not a copyright
problem). The picture (b&W) is glued to one side of a sheet of
construction, and the reverse side has a sheet of lined paper for second
grade printing. I give them a lead for a sentence
and they have to finish it. (EX: For Office Buckley and Gloria, the
sentence is "If I had a dog I would train it to.........).
They also add details to the picture, color it, add a medal and the year.
We
use different colored paper, prepare a cover that is their rendition of a
medal.  I staple the book together and they have quite a nice package.
Also while this is going on, the kids have an assignment to check out 6
Caldecot books and record their titles on a worksheet. They have to check
out different ones than what I read to them. Add the worksheet to the end
of the booklet.


5)I have a crossword puzzle book based on Caldecott Awards.  There are 60
and
>each deals with a book.  It's called Hooked On the Caldecott Award Winners
>and is by Marguerite Lewis and illustrated by Pamela Kudla.  Hope you can
>find it because it's something 4th graders would love.

>I use this unit as a collaborative opportunity with my
>art teacher.  She goes over the various techniques and
>the children make pictures choosing one of them.


Thanks for all of your ideas!

Molly Clark
Library Media Specialist for grades 3-5
Elm St. Elementary School (K-5)
Phoenix, NY
e-mail: mclark2@phoenix.k12.ny.us

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