Travels
With ...
This project allows the students to design a
book cover illustrating their hometown or native country. This lesson is part
of the Project Arts program and involves team teaching with an art
teacher. Because many of these students
don’t have clear memories of their native lands, the Internet was used to find
photos that provide a visual frame of reference for their original homes. The
book is titled Travels with (students name) to (student's hometown or country.
The students use a word processor to design the title of their book. The title
of the book is also written in English and their native language. The students
reinforce their English language skills through a writing exercise that goes
along with the book cover.
Teacher
Steps To Prepare
The teacher needs to introduce several new
vocabulary words:
·
thumbnail print
·
describe
·
preliminary
·
border
·
sketch
·
base colors
Also introducing basic art concepts is a
good idea.
Then the students think about their
hometown, what makes it special and come up with preliminary sketches of it.
Develop questions and activities that will help guide the students in writing
about and describing their hometown. One exercise is to have the students describe to the teacher with as much
detail as possible. This will help them
breakdown the subject to visual aspects.
Student
Activities – led by the art teacher and facilitated by
the ESL teacher.
1)
Brainstorm about their hometown and the special
places they remember as a child. What
makes your hometown special/different? How would you describe your hometown?
2)
Use an Internet search engine (www.Altavista.com or www.Yahoo.com) to find photos of
hometown/city or country.
3)
Draw two preliminary sketches.
4)
Final sketch transferred to large paper done in
pencil only.
5)
Students begin to color with base colors, fill in the
large areas. Use markers and pencils for coloring.
6)
Students move to details of picture.
7)
Students create the title for the book using
Microsoft Word.
8)
Students put the picture and title together.
9)
Students add finishing touches.
10)
Students present book covers to classmates with a
summary of their special place.
Assessment Methods
The completed book cover, the shading,
coloring, design of cover and how truly does the cover reflect their
hometown/city or country.
Standards
Addressed by This Unit
The student produces a reflective essay.
The students participate in group meetings.
Students participate in one-on-one
conferences with teacher.
The students prepares and delivers an
individual presentation.
The student independently and habitually
demonstrates an understanding of the rules of the English language in written
and oral work.
The student analyzes and subsequently
revises work to clarify or to make it more effective in communicating the
intended message or thought.
The student produces a functional document.
Teacher
Technology Skills Required
Basic desktop publishing skills with a word
processor.
Use of the Internet with the kids to find
the photos to aid in design of the book covers.
Student
Technology Skills Required
Word processing skills
Internet search skills
Software
Materials Used
Microsoft Word to design title for book
cover
Related Links
http://photostogo.com (to find photos)
Tips
As a culminating activity you can have the students scan
their covers and imbed in a web page of their narrative. You can then post the student work on the
Internet for the benefit of others.
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