Workshop 1: May 2, 2011
Workshop 2: May 17, 2011
Workshop 3: May 25, 2011 (Barbara Korein only)
Grade 6
In a three-part Behind the Book program, 6th graders at PS 165 read Andrea Pinkney’s
Bird in a Box. Ms. Pinkney began with a PowerPoint and talked about her writing and
researching process, as well as where her inspiration comes from. She then had the
class meditate for a few minutes and think of an object that makes them happy, as a
way to focus them. Students had questions prepared for Ms. Pinkney about the book
and were given time to ask them. Ms. Pinkney asked the students to bring in an object that is special to them before her second visit.
In the second visit, Ms. Pinkney started the process of brainstorming. She would give word prompts (using large categories such as “food” or “sports”) and students would volunteer answers. Ms. Pinkney talked about the elements of a story, such as genre, beginning, middle, and end, and the presence of an opening hook. Students also had been asked to come in with three potential titles for their story, which they narrowed down.
In a third visit, artist Barbara Korein did an art workshop about silhouettes (which Bird in a Box illustrator Sean Qualls used). The students made silhouettes of objects like basketballs and stuffed animals.
