Teachers Notes Our Granny

Transcription

1 Teachers Notes Our Granny OMNIBUS BOOKS Written by Margaret Wild Illustrated by Julie Vivas Teachers Notes by Virginia Preddey Contents OMNIBUS BOOKS Category Title Author Illustrator Extent Binding Printing Picture Book Our Granny Margaret Wild Julie Vivas 32 pp Paperback Colour ISBN Previous publications Margaret Wild The Bush Book Club (Omnibus Books, 2014) Tanglewood (Omnibus Books, 2012) Harry & Hopper (Omnibus Books, 2009) The Pocket Dogs Go on Holiday (Omnibus Books, 2008) Puffling (Omnibus Books, 2008) The Pocket Dogs (Omnibus Books, 2000) The Midnight Gang (Omnibus Books, 1996) Julie Vivas Possum Magic Opposites (Omnibus Books, 2014) Possum Magic Animals (Omnibus Books, 2013) Possum Magic Numbers (Omnibus Books, 2012) Puffling (Omnibus Books, 2008) The Nativity (Omnibus Books, 2005) I Went Walking (Omnibus Books, 1993) Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge (Omnibus Books, 1984) Possum Magic (Omnibus Books, 1983) Introduction... 2 About the Author.. 2 About the Illustrator. 2 Activities... 3 OMNIBUS BOOKS Previous publications (Bob Brown and Ben Wood) Give Me a Home among the Gum Trees (Omnibus Books, 2007) Teachers Notes may be reproduced for use in school activities. They may not be redistributed for commercial sale or posted to other networks.

2 Introduction Our Granny is a charming and spirited book sure amuse and to stir memories. Margaret Wild s text explores just what a granny can be beyond the traditional stereotype. Some grannies work in offices; others go to university, play in a band, go travelling or even write books. Julie Vivas sympathetic illustrations capture the individuality of grannies beautifully in her portrayal of grannies of all different shapes, sizes and qualities. About the Author Margaret Wild is one of Australia s leading authors of children s books. Her many awardwinning titles include Toby, Miss Lily s Fabulous Pink Feather Boa and Woolvs in the Sitee. A recent picture book for Omnibus, Tanglewood, illustrated by Vivienne Goodman, was shortlisted in the CBCA Awards for 2013 and won the 2013 Environment Award for Children s Literature. It was also shortlisted in the children s category of the WA Premier s Book Awards for The Bush Book Club, illustrated by Ben Wood, a simple story about a bilby who is too busy to sit down and read a book, is another recent title, and is written (and illustrated) in the light-hearted style of Our Granny. Margaret was the 2008 recipient of the Nan Chauncy Award from the CBCA for her contribution to Australian children s literature. About the Illustrator Julie Vivas is an illustrator of international standing. Her second picture book and the first in a number for Omnibus Books, Possum Magic, was Highly Commended in the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award, and was a NSW Premier s Award winner and winner of the 1986 IBBY Diploma for Illustration. Julie has illustrated many picture books, including Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, The Nativity, Our Granny and Puffling by Margaret Wild, and Let s Eat!, by Ana Zamorano. Julie is one of Australia s most distinguished and most loved illustrators, and is a recipient of the Dromkeen Medal for her contribution to Australian children s literature. 2

3 Activities Before Reading the Book Although universal in appeal, the book s text structure makes it ideal for sharing with early readers. Before discussing the title of the book, ask children to look at the cover illustration. Discuss the following questions: What are these people doing? What do their facial expressions tell you? What might they be feeling or thinking? Reading the Book Read Our Granny to students clearly and with expression, pausing after each line so that children can find the illustration on the page that accompanies the words of the text. When reading that pages that have single sentences, read with even greater expression and feeling, thus ensuring a personal touch to the granny who is being described. As the story goes on, children will become more enthusiastic and engrossed in trying to identify their own granny or older people they know. Allow time for children to react to the illustrations and descriptions before turning the page. After Reading the Book Build on children s enthusiasm to begin a discussion on grannies: Do any of the grannies in the book remind you of your own granny, auntie or older person you know? Which granny do you think seemed the most fun? Why? Why are grannies special? Are grannies the only ones who do the things that the grannies do in the story? Shared Book Reading Re-read the story to the class, pointing to and pausing after each line. The author s use of subject lists will be helpful in developing reading cues and recall. Help students pick up the theme or subject of each page, e.g. where grannies live, what they might wear. This will make recall easier and give them confidence to join in and read with the class as the teacher points. 3

4 Discuss the children s reaction to the text, with questions such as: Do you think what the author has written is true? Is this what grannies really do? Can you think of any other things grannies might do that are not mentioned in the story? Encourage children to draw on their own knowledge and experience to brainstorm their own lists on grannies. Write these ideas on large pieces of paper under headings: Some grannies live in Some grannies have (descriptions) Some grannies wear Some grannies work Some grannies play After writing their ideas under these heading (or others), ask children to point to and read whole sentences at random e.g. Some grannies like to play tennis. Re-read the book, drawing attention to the structure of the text. Ask children why the words and sentences might be organised in this way. Discuss the author s use of lists and how she chose to add a more personal touch to the granny who is the main character of the story. Language Ask children to recall some of the descriptive words adjectives/modifiers used in the text. Have them look at what these words are used to describe. Ask them to think of other words that might also be used, e.g. what other word besides interesting might be used to describe hair? List children s suggestions on flash cards. Read through these words together and then at random ask children to think of other things these words could describe, to make sure children understand the meaning of the word. Look at the word wobbly. Discuss how the sound of the word suggests the action it describes (onomatopoeia). Ask children to say the word slowly. What else could it describe? (e.g. wobbly jelly). Ask them to think of other onomatopoeic words. Brainstorm a list of these words. 4

5 Innovation on the Text Using a similar structure to Our Granny, children could write about other family members, e.g. Our Mum, Our Grandpa, or Our Baby. These stories can be written individually, in groups or as a whole-class activity. Publish these as a class Big Book with illustrations also done by the children. Creative Writing Ask children to write their own funny story about a granny, e.g. The Day Granny Went to the Moon. Children might like to write about their own granny, discussing: Why my granny is special Things we do together. Or they might like to write a story, poem or letter to their granny, aunty or older friend. Art Look carefully at the illustrations in the book. Discuss the media the illustrator might have used and the way she has worked with colour and tone to achieve detail. Discuss also how the illustrations have been positioned on the page. What effect does this create? Draw children s attention to the action pictures and bird s-eye views as well as the exaggerated body shapes that add humour and reflect the author s view that grannies are special no matter what. Ask children to draw or paint their granny or make a model with clay or plasticine. Drama Ask children to pretend to be a granny (or grandpa): How would I move? How would I talk? What work would I do? What sport would I play? 5

6 Encourage children to move about the room taking on the physical appearance of their granny. After exploring the movement of their character, ask them to develop the voice they would expect their character to have. Allow children to interact in their chosen voice as they move about the room. While still in role, children could pretend to be caught up in a long check-out queue, waiting at a bus stop or attending a seniors volleyball game. Other Host a Grandparents Day. Invite grandparents to visit the school and encourage them to share their memories of school days. Students without grandparents could share or adopt a grandparent for the visit (neighbour, auntie or uncle). Children could bring in old photos of their grannies to make a class display titled Our Grannies. Ask them to label their photo and write a brief description of their granny for the display. Recall the story of Little Red Riding Hood, particularly the role played by the grandmother. Ask children to re-tell the story where the granny is replaced by a modern granny. Children may like to work in groups to complete this activity. 6