Writing Workshop - The Elements of a Good Story

A small group of older students have been discussing the important elements of a great story. First we considered setting and the children created a drawing or map of a place or setting that intrigued them. The following week we discussed character and the importance of considering the inner as well as outer traits of a character. Children created character sheets listing their main character’s outer (physical) traits as well as his/her inner traits. Inner traits include thoughts, feelings, and dialogue. Finally we discussed plot and the importance of having a beginning, middle and end to a story. Often children struggle with ending their stories so it took effort to think of a problem and events leading up to its resolution! 

When asked what were the elements of a good story the children shared: 

• good stories have adventure, problems and a plot. Good stories have settings.
• a good story has interesting vocabulary and words.
• a good story has humor.
• a good story has feelings and characters.

When considering what makes an interesting character the children shared: 

• a character has to have personality and we need to know what motivates him or her.
• a character has to show his or her feelings.
• a character has to have a way of speaking.
• we need to know what a character likes or dislikes.

Book Club: Two Tickets to Freedom

The oldest students have all read Two Tickets to Freedom: The True Story of Ellen and William Craft, Fugitive Slaves by Florence B. Freedman. This has been part of their social studies unit on the Civil War. After completing the assigned reading, they met in small groups to discuss questions that not only exercised their comprehension of the reading but opened up discussion about the fugitive slave law, conditions of slaves, risk, the emancipation proclamation, unalienable rights, the constitution and the beliefs of slave owners compared to abolitionists. Each student also mapped the journey of Ellen and William. 

Lego Class

In Lego class we have been learning about simple and powered machines using hands-on activities.

We investigated structures and forces, incorporating both rigid and flexible shapes in our deck chair and drawbridge.

Applying principles we learned about levers, we made a drumming machine and windshield wipers. Attaching a motor provided opportunities for further exploration. 

After figuring out how to make the motorized windshield wipers clap together, the children created an impromptu band, complete with pencils and water bottles!

Our exploration of wheels and axles included building a vehicle with a flywheel. When two vehicles appeared to be the same but one did not work properly, we discovered how important it can be to follow the instructions. Changes, such as wheel size and attaching a motor, provided opportunities for measuring and comparing distance traveled, speed, and climbing ability.

Although the children work hard in Lego class, it mostly feels like play.

Vanessa Johnson, Mystery Guest

Our storytelling unit has begun! The gifted Vanessa Johnson kicked it off as our fifth mystery guest. She started her presentation with a clever interaction between herself and three future generations, played by our own Glady, Frannie and Lola! Artfully she demonstrated how stories are passed on from one generation to another and how we can all end up with hundreds of family stories to tell! Vanessa then shared one of her own personal stories – of her grandmother bravely trying to buy a dress in a fancy department store in the segregated south. Her grandmother, like hundreds of other blacks, bravely fought back the injustices forced upon her. Vanessa had time to tell two more stories. One taught us the importance of never giving up on a dream. She involved her audience by teaching them a chant which was interspersed in her tale of a frog who dreams of singing and has to repeatedly battle naysayers. Her last story was a cautionary tale told in Africa to warn children about strangers. In her story the child is told to never talk to a snake or pick it up! Hissssss…..

Lower Case Printing

A small group of students have been meeting once a week to practice their lower case printing. While working their way through the alphabet they have looked at similarities between lower case letters to help them form their letters correctly. The “magic c” for example helps them write the lower case o, d, g, and q. The students are now practicing their letters by writing words and sentences in their printing folders as well as using all lower case letters in their workbooks and on other writing assignments.