Rebecca V. Looney
Students discuss illustrator's intent using wordless picture books in small groups. By the end of this lesson, students in second and third grade will identify the different ways visual characteristics are used to convey ideas.
This lesson will take approximately 2-3 forty-minute classes to complete.
Students in second and third grade will be divided into small groups (3-5 students each) and each given copies of a wordless picture book (multiple copies of the same book for each table) and a piece of paper each. They will have half the class period to read the book. They will then individually choose an illustration that they like in the book and write down the things they notice in it. The teacher will collect and review these. During the next class, the groups will be shown the illustrations chosen and have to put them in the proper sequence following the order in which they occurred in the story. They will then discuss with each other why the illustrator chose to use the elements in the composition in a certain way. Throughout the class, the teacher will be circulating to each group, asking higher-order questions such as "What do you see that makes you say that?" in order to assess the students' understanding.