You might try other kinds of tools as well -- a mix of kitchen, household, shop, and lawn tools might be interesting (and could keep the game going for a long time).
And if you think your kids might enjoy seeing adults play this game, you can always either tune into "Ask This Old House" on PBS, or see if you can find an old show at the library. They end each show with a "guess what this tool is" segment. They bring in an old or specialty tool, and each of the guys (carpenter, plumber, electrician, landscaper and gc) takes a guess at what it is. They usually suggest goofy ideas. The kids might like the off-the-wall approach -- and since the Ask This Old House guys' goofy answers are drawn on solid schema (these are all "tool guys") and smart inferences (either off-the-wall, or right on target -- but smart either way) you have an entertaining ready-made model of just how challenging and fun this game can be. Great suggestion Pam! Always good to read your posts. Dave Middlebrook The Textmapping Project A resource for teachers improving reading comprehension skills instruction. www.textmapping.org | Please share this site with your colleagues! USA: (609) 771-1781 [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 1:05 AM Subject: [MOSAIC] inferences > > Here is a fun activity that I did with my kids that they really seemed to > enjoy... but if I know you .... probably "you've been there and done > that".... > but here goes. > I keep trying to make the point that these strategies of comprehension > are > not just for reading text but are necessary life skills that help > everyone to > think deeply and carefully so..... > I brought in five unfamiliar kitchen gadgets and asked them to sit at a > power table so that four kids looked at the same tool. EAch was given a > recording > sheet where they drew pictures (visual image), labeled their > observations,(determined importance) made connections to other tools that > they were reminded > of, and listed questions they had about the tool. Then they shared their > questions and observations and came up with a power table inference. It > was a > fun project because although only one group actually guessed what the > gadget > was really used for....many used their recordings to think creatively and > critically. Although not correct.... many had wonderful alternate uses. > Then I asked each group to make an inference about their group work..... > The overwhelming response was that their own thinking was enhanced by > sharing not only their individual inferences but that their questions > were the ones > that drove their thinking. They also eluded to work habits and body > language > that either made or broke their power table's initiative. > Not bad for first graders! > > > > ************************************** See what's free at > http://www.aol.com. > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
