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Taking Photos of Curious George: Exploring Character Through Images
|Grades||K – 2|
|Lesson Plan Type||Standard Lesson|
|Estimated Time||Six 30- to 60-minute sessions|
MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY
- Curious George by H.A. Rey (Houghton Mifflin, 1973)
- Additional Curious George books
- Curious George toy or paper cutout
- Camera (preferably digital)
- Computers with Internet access
- LCD projector
- Photo Story 3 (optional - download)
- Photo Story 3 Instruction Sheet
- Windows Movie Maker 2.1 (optional - download)
- Windows Movie Maker Instruction Sheet
- PowerPoint (optional - download)
- PowerPoint Instruction Sheet
- How to Create Talking Books in PowerPoint 97 & 2000
- Overhead projector and transparencies
- Catching the Bug for Reading Through Interactive Read-Alouds
- Celebrate Reading with Curious George!
- ReadWriteThink Webbing Tool
- Create Your First Photo Story
- Windows Movie Maker 2: Atomic Learning
- Create Home Movies Effortlessly with Windows Movie Maker 2
|1.||This lesson will work best if you have access to an LCD projector. If you have a computer with Internet access in your classroom, you should arrange to have the projector hooked up to it for Sessions 1 and 6. If not, arrange to use your school's computer lab during these sessions.
If you don't have access to an LCD projector, you will need to make a transparency of the Blank Sample Web or copy it onto chart paper.
|2.||Familiarize yourself with the procedure for interactive read-alouds using "Catching the Bug for Reading Through Interactive Read-Alouds."
|3.||Obtain and familiarize yourself with Curious George by H.A. Rey. Review the list of questions included in Session 1 and add to the list as necessary. Look at the Sample Web for an example of the type of web you will create with students during Session 1.
|4.||You should also gather multiple copies of other Curious George books. Find all the books listed at Celebrate Reading With Curious George! In between Sessions 1 and 2, you want students to complete reading and discussion of these books with the aim of exploring George's character. You might have students do this working with partners or in small heterogeneous groups. Or, you may choose to have students work with a reading "buddy" from an older grade. You should arrange for reading time and partner or buddy meetings before beginning this lesson.
|5.||Visit and familiarize yourself with the ReadWriteThink Webbing Tool. Add it to the Favorites list on the computer you will be using to demonstrate with students.
|6.||After reading Curious George books, students will be taking pictures to make their own Curious George "book" in Photo Story 3, Windows Movie Maker, or PowerPoint. Arrange to use a camera (preferably digital) during Session 3. You will also need either a stuffed monkey to use in your Curious George photographs, or some kind of cardboard cutout of him that you can pose.
You will be taking pictures all around your school and playground. As a courtesy, you may wish to send an e-mail or note to teachers and other staff to let them know about the timing and objective of this lesson. Some teachers will close their doors so you do not disturb them, while others will welcome you to visit their classrooms. Office and custodial staff usually enjoy these visits by students but will appreciate the advance warning.
|7.||Students will be experimenting with multimedia effects and how they can enhance the telling of a story. Photo Story 3, Movie Maker, and PowerPoint offer the opportunity to use effects that can add interest to their digital photos. For example, if George is running, students might use a transition to make the photo scoot out. You will need to decide which software you would like to use prior to the lesson.
If you decide to use Photo Story 3 or Windows Movie Maker, experiment with using effects. Prior to having students use the program you should know how to import photos into the software, place photos on the storyline, insert transitions, insert picture effects, create narration, and write words on the pages. These skills are all outlined in the Photo Story 3 Instruction Sheet and the Windows Movie Maker Instruction Sheet.
In addition to these sheets, detailed instructions for using Photo Story 3 can be found at Create Your First Photo Story. Windows Movie Maker 2: Atomic Learning and Create Home Movies Effortlessly With Movie Maker 2 both have basic information about how to use this program.
(Note: If you have a Windows operating system on your school computers, Movie Maker should be included in the "All Programs" list or in the "Accessories" folder on your machines; otherwise, you will need to download it.)
If you decide to use PowerPoint, practice using the different effects and transitions. How to Create Talking Books in PowerPoint 97 & 2000 offers a tutorial in how to make digital books using the software. Before demonstrating it to students, you will need to know how to import photos, add text, use screen transitions, and apply effects. The PowerPoint Instruction Sheet lists directions for how to create a simple book with digital photos.
|8.||You should have a variety of independent centers ready for students to work at during Session 6. Some examples of activities are:
|9.||Students will be working in groups of five or six to create their storyboard screens. Assign these groups, placing together students with mixed abilities in a wide variety of literacy areas (reading, writing, speaking, listening, viewing, representing) and technology skills. Heterogeneous groups will help students put their strengths together to create their texts.
|10.||Make two copies of The Adventures of Curious George: Storyboard Screen Sheet for each of the groups you assigned in Step 9.|