It is early Monday morning and Mrs. Syverson starts her mini-lesson by checking in with her students about what they accomplished the previous Friday while she was out. She chooses a few kids to share the “ALL ABOUT” books they have begun. The topic is penguins, and BOY do these kids know a lot about penguins!
They are using special new paper for their all about books. It has room for two separate pictures on each page, and supporting text alongside each one. They are to write a single penguin fact by each box and then draw a picture with details tosupport the fact.
Mrs. Syverson leaves no doubt that she is excited about what the kids accomplished on Friday when she was gone. Today, she instructs them, they will need to add more penguin facts to their book. Several students share ideas for possible facts, and Mrs. Syverson reviews with them the list of ten penguin facts they have previously listed on chart paper.
Bringing the content of their penguin study together with the power of non-fiction writing is a perfect illustration of an integrated curriculum. Elementary school teachers are constantly at the mercy of time, and forever wondering how to “fit it all in”. Bringing writing together with the content areas in this way is just plain smart!
I watch these young writers at work asking themselves the important questions required to create their "ALL ABOUT PENGUINS" books . . . What have I learned about penguins? How could I communicate my learning in the form of a written fact? What details can I add to my drawing to best support the fact I have written?
Pretty powerful thinking for 5 and 6 year olds, early on Monday morning, wouldn’t you agree?
