Finding Big Ideas in Nonfiction-The Penguins

Pictures are fun to look at, but in nonfiction they are not "eye candy."  Visuals in nonfiction represent the critical messages sent to us in the 21st century world.  We live in a visual society, messages are articulated through image more than 94 percent of the time. To equip our students for that world, we must teach them to understand, analyze, evaluate, the messages these images represent. 

This lesson does just that.  Give it a go with Fran Lantan book in Penguins!

Think about what Fran intended readers to know and understand about Penguins.  What is his BIG IDEA?  Here are some questions to get you started:   

• What is emphasized in the image?
• How does Fran use color, line, contrast, tone, ...to make his point?
• What does Fran want us to understand about penguins?
• What is Fran's purpose for the text?
• His message? 
• The Big Idea?
• Can you put it into your own words?

Try it out, and I will be sharing how kids responded.  Love to hear how it went for you!

               

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Comments

[Deb Olson]

This is a great lesson and was well received by both students and teachers in my district. The key is simply trying. It may not work exactly the way you would like the first time but it will the more time you practice with kids. Think of the difference it makes in the true understanding of the written words and images. Children today are bombarded with an assundry of media in all formats and I believe it is important for them in becoming smart critical consumers of all types of information. Not only has this lesson changed my perspective on student learning but it has altered my own.

[Angela Maiers]

Deb, I completely agree. It is not enough to simply hope our students will become critical consumers of information, it is our responsibility to show them how. This lesson is one that can enhance ALL of our thinking and learning. I am so happy that teachers have been having these important conversations with students. Keep up the great work!

[Arica Jansen]

I was happy to see you shared again on the blog, Angela. The Penguin lesson is a Clinton favorite and we are searching for other mentor texts like it as I write. At the middle school level, it provides the opportunity to teach rigor in the vocabulary used in discussing all of the author questions about Fran's purpose, message, big idea, and so forth. It is also a great piece of literature for point of view. It definitely provides literacy-altering experiences in our schools. Aloha to literacy believers in Hawaii!