We just finished up our third Common Core English Language Arts unit which focused on point of view with an emphasis on animals as characters. We looked at animals that are personified such as Ralph the Mouse and Desperaux. We also looked at animals that don't take on human characteristics such as the Black Stallion and Winn Dixie. We also researched animals and then compared how they are portrayed in narratives versus their real-life characteristics.
Our culminating project has been animal stories with a research component. The students chose an animal to research and then created a short informational film using the iMovie app. They are currently writing narratives with the same animals as the main characters. We are linking their videos to QR codes that will be put at the end of their stories so that their readers can find out information about the animal in the book. I think it is so important that students realize that nonfiction reading can be linked to their fiction reading. I always stress that if they are reading a story about a certain subject, such as the Titanic, then they should also find a nonfiction component to go with it.
This is the first time they have published a piece using the iMovie app. Here is a sneek peek at a few of their pieces...
Mrs. Worthy
