[LM_NET] HITS: Newberry lesson plans

[Angela Williams <spartangirl68@YAHOO.COM>]

Recently I asked for lesson plans to teach my 3rd-5th graders about the 
Newberry/Caldecott award.  Below are the responses I got.  Thanks to all those who 
responded.
   
  Angela Williams
  Media Specialist
  McKissick Elementary School
  Easely, SC
  williaac@pickens.k12.sc.us
   
  The American Library Service to Children division of the American Library 
Association published a book that describes in detail how to hold mock 
Newbery/Caldecott elections.  For more information about the book visit:  
http://www.ala.org/ALSCTemplate.cfm?Section=alscbooks&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=75002
  
   
  If your school does not own the book your public library may have a copy of it.  
Let me know if you have any questions I might be able to answer.
   
  Best,
  Jenny Najduch, Marketing Specialist
  Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
  A division of the American Library Association
   
  50 E. Huron 
  Chicago, IL 60611
  phone: (312) 280-4026
  fax: (312) 280-5271
  jnajduch@ala.org
   
   
  CALDECOTT LESSONS
> First week-"Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words"
> We brainstorm different illustration techniques and media. I prompt them
> by
> telling them to think of art class. I have quite an extensive list of
> media/techniques so I fill in after they brainstorm. Everything from
> pencil to
> gouache to die cut to collage to photography etc etc. (I make sure I have
> a
> book with an example of each). I can send you that at another point in
> time.
> Then I show books and as a class we try to figure out the media and/or
> technique.
>
> Second week-"Award Design"
> We talk about the Caldecott award (the medal itself) and discuss what
> would be
> a good design for Peasleecott. We brainstorm things like--school mascot,
> picture of someone reading, pictures of books, the year or date, etc. Then
> using a worksheet that has a circle predrawn on it they design their own
> awards.
>
> Third week-"Get Out the Vote"
> I explain that the class will be divided into 4 subcommittees. (I
> preselect
> the groups.) Each student in the group can have a job (leader, timekeeper,
> secretary, presenter, arbitrator). I then give each group between 6 and 8
> books that are actually contenders for the Caldecott. (Technically any
> picture
> book by an American author published in USA is eligible but I scan
> lists, talk to librarians, use my own judgment to pick 24-30 books that
> are
> likely winners.) The group must pick the two that they think have the
> "most
> distinguished" illustrations. Then the presenter from each group presents
> the
> two choices to the whole class. Thus, the whole class has 8 books to
> choose
> from (2 from each of the 4 groups). I do a quick recap of the 8 contenders
> and
> then we vote. Runoffs are held if necessary. I usually have the kids close
> their eyes and hold up their hands so that they vote their true feelings.
> The
> winners are then identified and posted in the hall. Each class has their
> own
> winner. If there is one book that is overwhelmingly the winner for the
> whole
> school (there usually isn't), I identify that as well. The hall display is
> made up of scanned covers of the winners plus a "border" of all the awards
> that the kids designed themselves.
>
> Fourth week-"Write to the Winners"
> We wrote a class letter with me as scribe. I then randomly pick one
> child's
> award to affix to the letter. The kids also have the option of sending
> their
> own artwork to the illustrator. This year we received responses from 2 of
> the
> 8 illustrators that we wrote to (Hudson Talbott and Mary Azarian). They
> were
> both gracious.
>
> Fifth week-
> "Listen to the Winners" I use my favorites of the winners as read alouds.
>
> I do this lesson with 2nd and 3rd graders. The 3rd graders love it because
> they have done it before and totally get it. The 2nd graders love it to.
> -----------------
>
> This is part of the response from Nancy ...
> I have been tweaking it each year.
> For example, last year was the first year that we wrote to the authors. I
> also forgot to mention that when the real Caldecotts are announced we make
> a
> big deal of comparing our choices to theirs. I do the unit in Nov/Dec to
> ensure that we finish before the ALA announcement. I'm sure I'll think of
> a
> lot of little details that I forgot to mention so please preface your post
> by saying that it is very much a draft and a work in progress.
>
> Thanks again Nancy!
>
> Shannon Minner
> smm2p@mtsu.edu
> Murfreesboro, TN

   
  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


  Lesson: The Caldecott Connection

Integral to developing information literacy in young students, especially in an era 
where visual media dominates, is a link to visual literacy or the higher order 
thinking essential in "reading pictures". This lesson intends to expose and develop 
nascent visual literacy skills while meeting Northville's elementary media first 
grade curriculum focus on literature appreciation of Caldecott award winning 
picture books.

Objective: To encourage students to gain knowledge, apply criteria, and synthesize 
learning of visual or picture "reading" skills through exposure, discussion, 
experiential learning, design and application of an award that students will apply 
to key picture books published in the last year.
(Note: this is lesson 2 of a project integrating technology; the use of KidPix for 
design, that will end in January)

Goals:

- "Read" a variety of illustrations for information.
- Identify and convey story elements (character, setting, and plot) through 
illustration.
- Identify techniques used by illustrators to convey information.
- Partake in a variety of independent literacy-building activities.
- Model use of technology as a productivity tool.

Procedure/Activity:

Read "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats (read a short bio of the 
author/illustrator) and introduce story elements of character, setting, and plot 
through illustrations. Explain to students that a good picture book has 
illustrations that "tell" a story all on their own. Have students look through a 
Caldecott award winning picture book on the table and see if they can discern the 
characters, setting, and plot of the book. A reporter from the table will share the 
information. Add story elements to the list of criteria for selecting an award 
winning picture book (we have already selected mood/tone or emotion).

Once each table has shared, we will move to book selection and check out. Next 
week, we will complete our selection criteria information. Once medals have been 
designed in KidPix, we will print them in color, laminate them, and the students 
will form "librarian" panels to choose bewtween 2 books and announce/share their 
award choice with the class."

RUBRIC

"My Picture Book Medal / Award Checklist


As you make a medal in KidPix, circle each of these.

* Our medal has a unique name inside the medal.
* Our medal has a shape (circle, square, triangle) with a picture inside.
* Our medal is unique.
* Our medal shows that we know it is used for awarding the best pictures in a book. 
* Our medal will fit on the front of a book (it's not too big).
* Other readers know it's a medal because it is not too small-they can read it.

Your medal will be graded using the following checklist:

-Your medal has a clear name and picture inside.
-Your medal shows that it is for the best pictures in a book (no drawings from 
movies or computer/video games inside)
-Your medal shows how unique and imaginative you are.
-The medal will fit on a book."

Laura Brooks
Media Specialist
Amerman Elementary
brooksla@northville.k12.mi.us 

   
   
  Thank you to everyone that sent me information to use for my Newbery and
Caldecott lessons.  I tried to send an email back to everyone that sent me
information to thank them personally, but if I forgot, please forgive me.
Here is the information I received:

I do this Caldecott lesson with 4th grade.

1.  Review the Caldecott Award.
2.  Explain the activity.  Each student will read a Caldecott Award book
and then summarize it in 6, 7, 8 sentences.
3.  Tell a well-known folktale such as Goldilocks and the 3 bears.
4.  You can either model writing the story using only 7 sentences OR
have the sentences already written and have the kids put them in order
(as a class).
 Focus on using sentences (subject and verb) and only the important
parts of the story (beginning, middle and end).
5.  Share some favorite Caldecott Award books and some of the award
books that will NOT work (i.e. Tuesday, Three Pigs, My Friend Rabbit)
6.  Hand out a page with the Caldecott Award titles that work listed.
Students mark 3 titles that sound interesting.
7.  I have the Caldecott Award books in one area so there is no need to
use the computers to find call numbers.  The students just need to take
turns at the Caldecott shelf.
8.  Next, they read their chosen book over the next 3 - 4 days.
9.  They write 6, 7, or 8 sentences that summarize the entire story and
write those sentences on one side of an 8 1/2 x 11 paper (we use
cardstock)..
10.  Then, they draw a picture that describes the story on the other
side of the 8 1/2 x 11 paper.
11. Last but not least (and this is the part they really don't like),
cut the sentences apart and give them to a classmate.  The classmate
reads the sentences and puts them in order.  They know the sentences are
in order if the picture is correct.


I am getting ready to do a Newbery project with 7th grade special ed
students. They are going to research a Newbery author and take notes. Then,
using their own artwork, they will create a puzzle piece that represents the
author based on their notes.


I purchased a large blank puzzle from The Community Puzzle
http://www.communitypuzzle.com/ideas.aspx
and will then have a puzzle with info about Newbery books and authors in
library for other students to put together.

A while back someone posted something about having their students choose a
Caldecott award winner and create their own illustration for the cover,
which the librarian would then use AS the cover for the books.  I thought
that was a neat idea.  My son's librarian has the 3rd grade do an
illustration of their favorite Caldecott book which she then "matts" (on
construction paper) and she hangs them up in the halls.

Just this week I've been playing an "I Love This Book" trivia game with
my 4-6 graders; the questions are all fiction based, and most are
Newbery or Caldecott related.  I divide the class into 3 teams, each
team gets to work together to answer the question and win the point, and
if someone else blurts out the answer, their team loses a point.  I also
made sure the questions all relate to books I have in my collection, b/c
when no one knew (knows) the answer, I could give a mini-book talk and
then have the book available if someone wanted to check it out.

I made numbered question cards and a game board (w/ team pockets), and I
figure I can use the question cards for other activities as we go along.



Missy Small, Media Coordinator
Moss Hill School
Kinston, NC
msmall@lenoir.k12.nc.us
   
   
   did a Newberry focus for 4-6 last year, AND boy was I dissappointed!!  I
>started out looking over the list of Award and Honor books to begin book
>talks for my lessons.  Wow, most of the books would never interest the 4-5
>and only a few top notch readers in 5-6.  I moved to the Newberry award
>winning authors instead.
>
>  It was a life-saver for my lesson ideas.  You know how they introduce
> actors as "Academy award-winner actor ________", well I created a lesson
> about Newberry based on the authors isntead of the books.  Then, I picked
> the authors who have written things that the students in my school would
> like.
>
>  This year I stayed with the award-winning idea and I created lessons
> about the awards focusing on award-winning authors.  It has been much more
> successful for me.
>
>  Authors:
>
>  Russell Freedman
>  Kate DiCamillo
>  Patricia Reilly Giff
>  Avi
>  Linda Sue Park
>  Polly Horvath
>  Richard Peck
>  Joan Bauer
>  Sharon Creech
>  Louis Sachar
>  Karen Hesse
>  Jerry Spinelli, etc.
>
>  Students love many of these authors other works, and then warm up to the
> award winning books.  They feel important reading "award-winning" authors.
>
> Kelly Kelsoe <Kelly.Kelsoe@LCSK12.ORG> wrote:
>  I am doing a Newbery Program with my 3rd-5th graders.
> I am an elementary librarian in a K-12 school setting.
> I was wondering if you all knew of which Newbery books would be
> appropriate to have/add to my elementary collection and which ones
> should remain in our secondary/hs collection only.
>
> THANKS
>
> Kelly Kelsoe
> Elementary Library Media Specialist
> Clements High School
> Athens, AL 35611
> Phone:(256) 729-6564 Ext. 329
> Fax:(256) 729-1029
> kelly.kelsoe@lcsk12.org
> www.clementshigh.org/library
   
   
  Check here -

http://www.embracingthechild.org/caldecott.html#caldecott

Betty Winslow, Media Center Director
BGCA
Bowling Green, OH
bgcalib@wcnet.org
   
   
   
  Click on the link below to access an annotated list of the Newbery and Caldecott 
books.  You’ll find the lists under “Nationally Recognized AR Reading Lists.” 
Students can search for some titles that they would particularly want to read at 
their ZPD reading level.  The lists can be printed by clicking on the link in the 
left green border.
   
  http://www.quizlistinteractive.com/AcceleratedReader_BookLists.aspx
   
  Another idea:  I cut up old Newbery and Caldecott posters, putting the cover 
pictures and call numbers on card stock placeholders for students to use to 
practice finding the books by their call numbers.  I keep the placeholders in a 
decorated container (oatmeal round container) on the checkout desk for further use.
   
  Jo
   
  Jo Lewis, M.L.S.
  Staff Librarian
  Redmond, WA 98053
  www.quizlistinteractive.com
  jo.lewis@comcast.net
   
   
  I don't do anything amazing - I discuss the difference between what the
gold and silver medals are - what the award itself is for and read an
assortment of winners and honor books over a certain amount of weeks.
We then do a vote and I tally it for display in the hall using the
graph/ chart feature on Microsoft Excel.  The students really do stop
 to
see what won!

This is mine from last year.

Susanne Stutheit

Librarian
Birdville Elementary
Haltom City, TX
817-547-1500 ext. 1592
South Birdville Elementary
817-547-2315

   
   
  I play Newbery Bingo with my kids. It is a purchased game, but you could probably 
make your own cards.  Also we put all the newbery books on the tables and when that 
title is called they hold up the book and tell the year it won the prize. (I have 
written that inside the books) 
   
  Debbie
williams.debra@lee.k12.al.us
   
   
   
  
 
  

  

  



Angela Williams
spartangirl68@yahoo.com
       
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