Touring The World With Tomie dePaola

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  • Student Level:  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:

 

      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).
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Both tapes can be found at your favorite bookseller.
    Or, order from Morgan Hill Bookstore at 603-526-5850, Eastern time.
     
  • 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.
  • Search Weston Woods catalog for Tomie DePaola stories which are available in different languages and formats.
  • 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.
  • 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.

 

  • 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. 

 

  • Children can write to Tomie dePaola at:
    Redwing Farm
    Whitebird Inc
    County Rd., Box 444
    RFD #1
    New London, NH 03257

     

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