Pat Shea

Pat Shea-Bischoff, IS 24 Staten Island

Literary Valentines

Purpose of the Project

This highly motivational unit provides a unique vehicle for students to reveal their understanding of literary characters and the complexity of their interrelationships.

E/LA Standards addressed in this unit: Reading: Reading books of quality; Writing: Producing a response to literature; Speaking, Listening and Viewing: Participating in Group meetings; Preparing and delivering individual presentations; Conventions, Grammar and Usage: Demonstrating an understanding of the rules of the English language in written and oral work; Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness. Produce work in a genre that follows the conventions of the genre.

Academic Objectives:

As a response to literature, students will demonstrate an understanding of character traits of literary figures, as well as, the interrelationships of characters from a story or book. Students will compose sentiment/verse in the style of a Valentine greeting from one character’s point of view.

Art & Technology Skills Targeted:

Students will create a Valentine greeting using computer software programs including: the word processor and/or art/design software. Students will learn how manipulate the design elements of the software, including use of: geometric design, scaling, color, borders/frames, and lettering fonts.

Student Activities:

Student Aim: To create a Valentine Greeting from a literary character’s point of view.

Motivation: Display various hand-crafted and commercially made Valentine Cards. Point to the array. How many of you have received a Valentine from a parent or loved one? Why do people send cards at Valentine’s Day? Discuss. Share the cards on display with the students, reading the “sentiment” or verse with the students. How the cards are similar/different? What is the author’s/sender’s purpose?

Development:

1. Motivation.

2. Write the names of three of your favorite characters from stories you have read this year in class or independent reading in your classwork book. If the character was to send a Valentine to another character in the book, who would it be?

Examples: Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatchet, or Aunt Polly to Tom Sawyer (from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain)

3. Ask volunteers to share some of their responses.

4. Aim on Board.

5. Introduce the project idea, i.e. Students will select a character from a story or poem as the sender of the Valentine greeting, and another character as the recipient. Write a verse from the sender’s point of view relating the special sentiment the character has for his/her Valentine.

6. Brainstorm/discuss stereotypical Valentine symbols used in the display cards. Ask students about traditional colors (reds/pinks), shapes (hearts, flowers, etc.) and other common characteristics . Why are these colors and shapes used? What is their symbolism? Discuss.

7. Students should select characters, compose verse, using the writing process, editing, and revising it before creating the greeting cards

8. After the verse has been revised, it is ready to publish.

9. Students utilize the computer word processor program and/or greeting card design software to create their Valentine cards.

10. Students cut and paste clip art, including: symbols, borders, etc. to design the greeting cards using the computer software.

11. Print out (preferably using a color printer) on card stock or other textured paper.

12. Students share projects with their classmates through oral presentations.

13. Afterward, greetings should be posted.

14. Students self-assess their greeting cards using checklist presented in the beginning of the period.

Options: Students may wish to enhance the project by utilizing “Victoriana” materials, including: paper lace doilies, ribbons, doubled paper folds, pop-up designs, marbled or patterned paper, and heart shaped hole-punchers, etc. Students may also wish to scan photos or illustrations.

Technology Utilized:

Computer software, such as: ClarisWorks, Arts and Crafts/Greeting Card software, Hallmark or American Greeting Card, Microsoft Home Publisher, or PrintShop.

Scanner should be available. A color printer may be used to print greeting cards.

Other materials:

Paper envelopes of various sizes and colors, rubber stamps, and old greeting card images may be used.