Mentor Text: Writing Connection
Three writing connections from Nonfiction Mentor Texts: Teaching Informational Writing Through Children's Literature, K-8 by Lynne R. Dorfman and Rose Capelli.
Time Line
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In this activity from Chapter 3, students can create a time-line of Philo Farnsworth's life, incorporating his major life accomplishments or including every main event in his life. Students could use this visual aide to provide a clearer picture of the timing and events within the text and can be used to retell the story. I think students will be surprised to realize how fast everything happened for him and that he first made the TV a success when he was only twenty two. It would also be fun (after further research and maybe as a whole class project) to create a timeline of all technological inventions of the U.S. history and see how quickly things began to flourish. There are a variety of angles to take this activity and each can provide the student with more understanding and clarity on the topic chosen.
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Second Person
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In this activity students take on the second person narration and use voice within their writing. I feel this would be a great activity for students to repsond to this text. Much of the topics surround communication, via radio, talking movies and eventually-the TV. Students can write a short peiece telling someone about Philo Farnsoworth so help spread the word of the true TV inventor. My example is: So you enjoy the televsion, correct? Well who ever knew who invented that. I bet it's not the same person your grandparents think it is. It is in fact, Philo Farnsworth. Now you know...
Students can even record themselves with an audio recorder |
Writing a Recipe
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Student can write a recipe for success from Farnsworth's experience.
Students must pick out his personal characteristics i.e. passion, determination- as well as what he did to come this far i.e. peruse science magazines, play the violin to make money, invent machines to make farm work easier, limit sleep. All of his hard work and his passion mixed together in a great big bowl baked in the oven might come out as a working TV. When creating something so seemingly simple, student may not notice the work they are doing as they try to put the pieces together of all the aspects necessary for Farnsworth to be a success. Student could also take these same ideas and create a visual collage board to share or to extend this lesson. |