Ten Black Dots is a book that works in the classroom on two levels. On the first reading, the book is a basic counting story that matches numerals with the same number of black dots. On another level, it illustrates how black dots can visually represent different things (e.g., the eyes of a fox or the wheels of a train). I use this book for a class math lesson and as an art lesson. Even JK/SK aged children can grasp the abstract idea of one object representing something else!
I have read The Moccasin Goalie, (written and illustrated by Canadian William Roy Brownridge), many, many times in my life. When my son Dean was younger it was his favourite book. He loved it so much he wanted to write to the author and ask him for tips on playing hockey! Of course we did (and he wrote Dean back). The story is loosely based on a childhood memory of the author. He loved hockey but was born with a club foot and so he couldn't wear skates. He wore leather moccasins on the ice when he played goalie. The story depicts when the main character Danny and his friends were not picked for an organized hockey team because Danny couldn't wear skates, Anita was a girl and Petou was too small. The students understood the injustice of this decision and over several readings could identify the feelings of the characters at the beginning, middle and end of the story. A great winter-themed book.
No comments:
Post a Comment