Rationale: Visualization is an important part of comprehending
reading material. When children can visualize, they can better
understand their book and can therefore better enjoy their book.
The construction of representational images improves children's
learning of text, as proven by consistent research. The children
will learn, in this lesson, how to visualize what they are reading to
better understand what they are reading.
Materials: The poem "Thumb Face" the book Duke Ellington, paper
for each child, crayons and chart paper.
Procedures: 1. Introduce the lesson to the children,
"Visualizating when you read, is like playing a movie inside your
head. When you can see the characters and the settings, you
can remember what happened better and you can understand what going on
better.
2. Write Shel Silverstein's Poem on the board, or have it
prepared on chart paper. Model Visualizing for the
children. Read the poem aloud then take a moment to close the
eyes to make a movie. Then read the poem a second time silently
this time and tell the children that you are "activating my
movie". Review silent reading with the children before they
practice visualization on their own. "When we read silently we
are saying the words in our head. Our own personal story".
3. Ask the kids to try visualizing. "Lets try this
together, lets read the poem together aloud. Take a moment to
visualize and make your movie. Now lets read the poem
silently. Now you guys can activate your movie".
4. Cover up the poem and pass out paper and crayons. If the
kids visualized well they should be able to draw an accurate picture of
the Thumb Face. Read the poem aloud to the kids and let them
check their accuracy.
5. Pass out Duke Ellington and allow the kids to read, starting
quietly and then silently so they can make their movies and activate
them. Ask them to try reading silently and see if they can make
and activate their movie at the same time.
6. Assessment: Ask the students the following
questions. 1) What sport did Duke want to play instead of
practicing the piano? 2) What instruments were included in Duke's
Orchestra? 3) What kind of music did Duke play? 4) What make Duke's
performance at Carnegie Hall so important?
Reference: Burt, Marcia. Use Your Mind to Make Mental Images.
<www.auburn.edu/rdggenie/chall/burtrl.html>
Pinkey, Andrea Davis: Duke Ellington. Scholastic Inc., New York;
1998
Silverstein, Shel; "Thumb Face", A Light In the Attic, Harper
Collins Publishers, New York; 1981