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Students of all ages love Tomie dePaola. Although created for a
third grade class, with some simple modifications this unit can be used with advanced second graders
and all the way up to fifth graders too! This author study can be done as a whole class
project or assigned to individuals as part of an independent reading
program.
- Major
Goals:
The most important goal of course is to create an enjoyable and
educational learning experience for children. Exposing children to
good literature is the only way to ensure their appreciation of literature. You will find that
even the most reluctant reader enjoys stories written by Tomie dePaola.
Mr. DePaola writes in many different genres, but he always finds a way
to capture a child's interest and imagination. Tomie dePaola is
great to use when doing a unit on folktales around the world. Not
only has he written many books about his family's cultural heritage
(Italian and Irish), but has also written and research other cultures
too. Hopefully, students will become motivated to gain a deeper
appreciation and knowledge of their own heritage by reading Tomie's
books. Tomie's books are also great to use in expanding the
children's knowledge of geography.
-
Instructional
Objectives:
Students use the Internet
as a research tool.
Students work with maps.
Students use their research in a variety of graphic organizers such as
t-charts and Venn diagrams. Students will create an original slide show in a program such
as Kid Pix.
Students work in cooperative groups to produce a
research report and oral presentation. Students create point of
view essays.
- Time
frame
:
Before starting any author study ask yourself the following
questions: how much time can I spend and what materials do I have? Decide
how much time you have to dedicate to an author study in your classroom.
Do you have enough copies of the book to assign for homework? Would
parents be willing to purchase these books for their children?
Because I only had one copy, when my class started reading 26
Fairmount Avenue, I read aloud to them for one period each week.
We were able to finish the book within a month's time. All of the
other books used here can be read within one class period. I would
take the books out of the library and read them to my class. We
would then work on an extension project of the book. You can use
all or just one of the books I have included here, each book and
activity are independent of one another.
- Setting
:
This program was created to use in a 3rd grade classroom with 4
Internet available computers. However, I set these pages up so
that your students can complete the activities as independent
assignments. What is important is to give students the opportunity
to connect to the books that they are reading in a creative and
meaningful way. Each teacher knows that abilities of their class
and can modify each activity to suit their own needs.
Standards:
-
Knows the location of places,
geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
-
Understands that culture and experience
influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
-
Gathers and uses information for
research purposes.
- Ask questions and support answers by connecting
prior knowledge with literal information found in, and inferred from,
the text.
- Comprehend basic plots of classic fairy tales,
myths, folktales, legends, and fables from around the world.
- Determine what characters are like by what they say
or do and by how the author or illustrator portrays them.
- Determine the underlying theme or author's message.
- Students write compositions that describe and
explain familiar objects, events, and experiences.
Additional Resources:
-
Tomie
de Paola in the Classroom, written by Sharon Rybak, Illustrated by Gary Mohrmann, Good Apple- A
division of Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc. Copyright 1993 (This
book contains lesson ideas, bulletin board ideas, and reproducibles for
12 of Tomie's books. Information about the author is included
also).
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A Visit with Tomie dePaola
1996, 25 minutes, Produced by Red Eft Productions,
Distributed by The Putnam & Grosset Group, VHS videotape
Visit Tomie dePaola at his home and in his workplace.
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Tomie Live in Concert
1999, 65 minutes, Whitebird Inc.,
VHS videotape
Tomie dePaola presents a "live concert" to 500 children of all ages.
He reads. He draws. He gives an art lesson. He tells stories of
childhood. He even tap dances.
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Both tapes can be found at your
favorite bookseller.
Or, order from Morgan Hill Bookstore at 603-526-5850, Eastern time.
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For teaches who have access to the
Hallmark Cable Channel, please go to
Series: Telling Stories with Tomie dePaola to find when the series
airs in their location.
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Search
Weston Woods
catalog for Tomie DePaola stories which are available in different
languages and formats.
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Tomie's Unofficial Home Page
a simple web site created and maintained by one of Tomie's workers.
This is a good starting place for those of you who want current and
background information regarding Tomie dePaola. It's an
informational site.
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Tomie dePaola : Teacher Resource File
Offered by the Internet School Library Media Center, you'll find
biographical resources, bibliography and lesson plans on Tomie dePaola.
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Culminating
Activity:
Ask students to bring in a
homemade dish representing one of the countries that you read about.
Go to your local library or order one of Tomie's books that has been
animated. Bring in popcorn and watch one of Tomie's live videos.
Have students write to Tomie dePaola. Produce a class bulletin
board having each child contribute their favorite piece of work from the
unit. Ask the Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers in your school if
your students could read their class a book written by Tomie dePaola.
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