Craft Lesson 6

Picture books, Sidewalk Circus, by Paul Fleischman, and Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis

Discussion
I believe that by children consistently using their imagination through school and play they are developing their minds by promoting mental proceesses, and fostering creativty. When children are actively using their imagination they discover new things and expand on ideas.

How to Teach It
During my reading of Sidewalk Circus I will involve the children by asking them questions and having them make predictions. Before I open the book, I will ask them what they think it will be about just by looking at the cover and reading the title. Throughout the story, I will ask students prediction questions and also what they think about it and we will confirm these predictions as we continue through the book, if possible. I will ask the students to share, using their imagination, what is going on in each page. When they share an idea, I will ask them to expand on it by being as creative as they would like. On the very last page we will see the little girl. I will ask students to think in their minds how she is going to use her imagination. I will allow them to share a couple of their ideas before they go to there desks to write about where her imagination will go.